low WBC - how far to take medical testing

[Guest guest]

I would like to hear about other people's experiences in dealing with a

low white blood cell count, as far how much testing people have done to

discover the cause. I have read about the 31% WBC decrease found in

the Biosphere 2 participants (page 44 of Dr. Walford's Beyond the 120

Year Diet and

http://biomed.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/6/B211).

I am inclined to believe that my low count is due to the calorie

restriction diet I have followed consistantly for the last 2 years, and

inconsistantly since 1989 (after reading Dr. Walford's original 120

Year Diet). However, my most recent annual blood result for WBC was

2.4 (I also had one other really low reading from March, 2002 - 2.6),

and my general practitioner sent me to a hematologist. The 2 visits

there have produced readings of 3.0 and 2.9, with B12 deficiency and

folic acid deficiency and abnormalities in the microscopic view of the

blood ruled out. The hematologist says the next step is a bone marrow

biopsy. I am postponing that for now.

I would appreciate hearing about anyone who has encountered the dilemma

of whether to agree to a bone marrow biopsy (or other testing) or just

let it drop. If anyone could share their WBC results, that would also

be appreciated.