RE: Call from Rheumatologist's office

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I think your doctor is just being cautious. I'm not sure which white cells are

low and

just how low they are, but leukopenia (low white blood cell count) is very

common and has

many causes.

If this lab result is something new for you, it could even be due to the

antibiotics your

are/were on for your dental work.

Since white blood cells fight infection, your physician wants to wait until they

come back

up before increasing the MTX (since MTX can lower the white blood cell count,

too). I

wouldn't worry too much about it. See what happens next week when the test is

repeated.

In the meanwhile, here are some links on white blood cell counts:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003643.htm

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/wbc/test.html

http://www.rnceus.com/cbc/cbcwbc.html

[ ] Call from Rheumatologist's office

> Hi all. I just got a call from the nurse at my rheumy's office telling me

> not to increase the MTX, after all. They got my blood work in, and my white

> blood count was low. He wants me to stay at 10mg, and have another CBC done

> next week. I guess then they will let me know if I can go ahead and raise

> it.

>

> Has anyone else had this happen with MTX? What does this mean? Should I be

> concerned? If my white blood count is low, should I be having a flare? I

> would think that if my white blood count is low, I should be feeling good,

> from an RA standpoint. Or maybe I'm getting sick? Help!

>

> Hugs,

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Thanks, , for the links and the reassurance. They called and it really

frightened me. I thought " Oh geez, what now! " I'm so grateful for your

medical knowledge.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Hugs,

Carol

Re: [ ] Call from Rheumatologist's office

Carol,

I think your doctor is just being cautious. I'm not sure which white cells

are low and

just how low they are, but leukopenia (low white blood cell count) is very

common and has

many causes.

If this lab result is something new for you, it could even be due to the

antibiotics your

are/were on for your dental work.

Since white blood cells fight infection, your physician wants to wait until

they come back

up before increasing the MTX (since MTX can lower the white blood cell

count, too). I

wouldn't worry too much about it. See what happens next week when the test

is repeated.

In the meanwhile, here are some links on white blood cell counts:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003643.htm

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/wbc/test.html

http://www.rnceus.com/cbc/cbcwbc.html

[ ] Call from Rheumatologist's office

> Hi all. I just got a call from the nurse at my rheumy's office telling me

> not to increase the MTX, after all. They got my blood work in, and my

white

> blood count was low. He wants me to stay at 10mg, and have another CBC

done

> next week. I guess then they will let me know if I can go ahead and raise

> it.

>

> Has anyone else had this happen with MTX? What does this mean? Should I

be

> concerned? If my white blood count is low, should I be having a flare? I

> would think that if my white blood count is low, I should be feeling good,

> from an RA standpoint. Or maybe I'm getting sick? Help!

>

> Hugs,

> Carol