29 replies to this topic

[CallMeLucky]

I woke up this morning feeling more tired than usual.  By midmorning I was nauseuous and I had a temp of 102.  Called Hem/Onc and they said to go to Urgent Care.  Wasn't up for traveling to MSKCC, so I went to local hospital (where I was first diagnosed).  They ran a CBC and did a chest x-ray.  Chest is clear, CBC came back with some abnormal numbers.

WBC     10.3     H

RBC     4.46

Hgb     14.1

HCT     40.7

MCV     91

MCH     31.6

MCHC     34.6

RDW SD     49.8     H

RDW CV     14.8     H

Platelets 160

MPV     9.8

Sodium     137

Potassium     4

Chloride     109     H

BUN 15

Neutro     92     H

Neutro #     9.4     H

Lymph     4     L

Lymph #     0.4     L

Mono     3     L

Mono #     0.3

Eos     1

Eos #     0.1

Baso     0

Baso #     0

Imm Grann     0

Imm Grann #     0

The ER doctor said he felt this was indicative of an infection and that is why the WBC is elevated.  I'm ok with that, but I'm not crazy about the low Lymph and Mono numbers, why would those be low?

I'm trying to take comfort in the fact that Baso is 0 the "Imm Gran", which I am assuming is Immature Granulocytes (i.e. Blasts) are 0.  I'm thinking if anything is slipping, it hasn't really slipped yet.

I hate this.  Two years ago I would have popped 2 Advil and went to bed.  Today I agonize over the meaning of each and every number.  Overall this CBC doesn't appear to be cause for alarm, but it does have me wondering.  So on top of feeling like crap, I have to sit and worry in the back of my mind that something else is going on.  I have to follow up with Hem/Onc tomorrow and see what they say.  I'm sure they'll want another CBC in a few days.  Hopefully this fever goes away quick.

If anyone has a similar situation to share that turned out to be nothing, I'd like to hear it.

[MJB]

Nothing similar to report Lucky, just wanted you to know that I understand your angst and am thinking of you. Let us know what the onc says. Want to bet its the flu? I was in a conference last week listening to all the coughing and hacking and wondering why they chose to share their germs! I quess its that time of year again!

Hang in there!

IForget

[CallMeLucky]

Thanks for touching base.  Would be good if it just turned out ot be viral, but it doesn't seem to be typical viral.  I have no congestion, sore throat, or anything like that.  The low Lymphocytes has me wondering what is going on with High neutrophils.  I would expect Lymphocytes to be high if Viral infection.  Neutro high seems more like indication of bacterial infection.  So I'm concerened what it could be.  They never suggested taking an anti-biotic or anything.

Guess I'll find out more tomorrow.

[pammartin]

You wrote what I have been saying to myself and a few others since the CML diagnosis.  Not long ago if I felt badly, I would have followed a similar path as you, taken a few over the counter meds and went to bed.  It sucks to have to worry things might be changing inside you, but the fear is there.  Although it sounds rude to wish the flu upon you, but because of the CML, the flu isn't so bad.  Keep in touch, although I am new to the group and have no experience to share with you, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Take care

Pam

[Trey]

You have an infection.  Or else you are pregnant.

The WBC shows that you have extra neutrophils and fewer lymphocytes.  The body makes what it needs.  Infections need more neutrophils, so it makes more.

[LivingWellWithCML]

Lucky,

I hear you, my friend -- it's so tough not to think the worst.  I still have a slightly swollen lymph node in my neck that won't go away (it's been a month), but no other symptoms ... just "vague" stuff.  And of course, I watched the nightly news tonight and they bring up the possibility of HPV + male throat cancer into the forefront and I start to panic on the inside. Great, so now I must have HPV and throat cancer ravaging my neck, huh?? Ugh. I will bring it up with the CML specialist in my 6-month appointment on Friday. Oh yeah, CML - I definitely have that. Fun. I did manage some red wine tonight after reviewing some respectable 6-month CML results.  Pop some good red wine after you recover ... I'm sure that Michael will cover the tab.

BTW, you can still pop a couple of Advil with Gleevec ... might actually help the situation by breaking the fever.

You always sound like a very healthy fellow, so I imagine you're just sick at the moment and need to fight through it. The fall season + kids in school will definitely do that. I get that stuff every year from my kids, and this year's no exception (my kids are 10, 8, and 6 -- all at the same elementary school that's chock full of germs).

I'd love to have your Hemoglobin levels right now, BTW.  I'm starting to run almost as fast as my college days, so there's no telling how fast I could get with HGB of 14!

Hang in there and get well soon!

[Rissa]

Feel better Lucky and please keep us posted.  I'm feeling "under the weather" myself, and I know how hard it is not to worry.  When my husband has a fever he takes a shot of bourbon and a shot of nyquil and piles the blankets on.  I'd do that but I don't think I'd make it to work in the morning. 

[CallMeLucky]

Thanks everyone, hopefully this will just pass soon and things will settle back down.  Stomach ache and headache are the two symptoms with the fever.  Not typical flu - no sore throat or congestion, wondering if I ate something bad and picked up a parasite.  Oh well, I'm just going to go to sleep and hope for the best tomorrow.

Thanks again for the input, the reassurance is helpful.

[Susan61]

Hi Lucky:  Guarantee you  got some kind of infection from somewhere or somebody you were around.  Does sound like it really hit you.  We do have a tendency to watch the numbers.  One number always reflects what another number is doing.  I never comment, because I never understand a lot of it .

I think Trey just explained it to you.  Just get that fever down, and relax.  You will probably see a drop in that WBC when you feel better.

Susan

[Tedsey]

Hope you get well soon Luck.  Sucks that we get sick on top of sick too.  I feel your angst.  It makes me think how crazy so many of us look freaking out over anything that may appear to be a negative change in our numbers.  But really, it doesn't look or seem crazy at all to me.  Thank goodness this is a place we can come for comfort, support, and reassurance.  

All the best,

Teds

[JoshLee]

Hey Lucky,

     I did some teaching in Colombia about a month ago and came back with this weird stomach flu thing. I was running a fever of 101 and rode it out for a few days and then got a CBC my WBC counts had dropped from 6.5 to 3.2...3 days later at my appt. they had shot back up to 6.8 and my platelets got to about 155 for the first time. I think different types of infections produce different results. Whether it be bacterial or viral. I think an acute fever like that is indicitive of just getting an infection. Hope you feel better soon.

[grannyd]

Lucky, Hope you start feeling better soon!!! I also hope it is the flu, hate to do that but, so much goes around this time of year!!! You are always the first to respond to everyone when they have questions or just to vent & I want you to know everyone is here for you this time!!! Take care, try not to worry til there is something to worry about, you told me this not too long ago!!!! thinking & praying for you, granny d

[janner25]

Hey Lucky - just wanted to say I'm thinking of you!  Hope you are feeling better and that it's just like Trey said (well not the pregnant part ).

Keep us posted.

[CallMeLucky]

Trey - I get that if the body needs more neutrophils, the ratios will be off.  What concerned me in this CBC was the fact the absolute lymphocyte count was low.  The Lympph count was 0.4.  Low end of normal is 1.  As to your other theory, I'm usually pretty safe, so I would be very surprised if I was pregnant.

I'm figuring this is just a snap shot of what is going on as the body fights the infection.  Woke up in middle of night with sick stomach.  Despite the unpleasantness, it was actually reassuring to see this start to progress as you would expect a stomach virus or some kind of food born parasite.  Still have a temp this morning, but not as high.  Hovering arond 100.5, which is much better than 102 over night.

Have calls going out to Hem/Onc this morning to confim they are ok with the CBC.  Then depending on how I feel, I may have to go to PCP to get an anti-biotic if this doesn't start to wind down.

Thanks again for the comments - the rational side of me knows this is probably nothing more than a virus or some food poisoning.  I just hate that it doesn't end there anymore, I always have it lurking in the back of my head "what if?"  Trying not to, but it creeps in.

Now to end with some humor - so while I was at the ER, they took me to get a chest x-ray and the nurse (who looked like she was still in college) was asking why I was getting a chest x-ray.  I told her I was there because I had a fever.  Then judging by the look on her face (that said something like you wuss, you came to the ER for a temp of 102), I had to follow up with "since I have leukemia a temp can be  sign something is wrong, so I have to check it out".  She asked if I was taking chemo and I explained that I take a type of oral chemo daily.  She then said very directly "wow, you look so good for someone who takes chemo everyday".  I had to laugh at the inside joke, I mean this was right up there with "you don't look sick".  I thought about busting her chops and follwoing up with "so I look good, or I look good for someone on chemo"?  But I didn't want to be mean.  I just decided to be happy that the pretty blonde nurse told me I looked good   You know, because young nurses typically hit on middle aged married men with serious illnesses, LOL.

[Trey]

I am having trouble conjuring up a scenario where low lymphocytes would mean something is going wrong with your CML.  But if you wish, I could keep trying.  Just sayin'

Regarding the ER visit: If you go to ERs to meet girls, you might be a Redneck.

[CallMeLucky]

I also don't know of a reason why CML would result in the low Lymphocytes, and believe me I am not trying to chase some reason down.  I try to be reasonable and rational, and objective, but I can't help but let it get to me sometimes.  I believe if you look hard enough for something eventually you will find something so I don't plan on devoting much more thought to it.  I'm hoping it clears up and I'll have another CBC in Dec where things will be fine.  In the mean time, I just want the fever and stomach ache to go away.

Thanks for the laugh

[Pin]

I had low lymphocytes recently too - my doctor suggested that I may have had a virus just before the test - I guess maybe they "recover" or something after viruses? I don't know the specifics.

Anyway, so I freaked out a little, but the next test they were back to normal. I do wonder how often "normal" people have this sort of thing happen but nobody knows because they are not being monitored as frequently as us?

Hope you are starting to feel better now

[Marnie]

Trey. . .Instead of wasting your time conjuring up  scenarios for Lucky, put your energy to good use. . .I need everyone to do a snow dance so that we have a snow day out here in Denver tomorrow.  I could use an (unpaid) day off.  Put on those spangled tights and get down!!  Oh yeah. . .Lucky was the one in the tights. . never mind.

[lala]

Hey, Lucky, what did you find out?

[CallMeLucky]

Didn't find out too much.  Hem/Onc was ok with CBC, she said the low lymphocytes were expected if I was fighting an infection.  I continued to feel sick through yesterday.  I am back at work today, not back to 100% yet (or should I say I am not back to 100% of my usual 80%).  But I am definitely feeling better.  Fever is gone so that is good.  Have a few other sporatic symptoms here and there like some chest pain today, but I'm figuring it is just the bug running out it's course.  Overall I'm happy; whatever got into me, it appears my CML has not impaired my immune system, it had no problem dispelling it.

Thanks