low WBC count - yikes

Prior to diagnosis, I was in range - 4.0, 4.5 (one was done months prior to symptoms, the other one shortly after symptoms started)

But, since then I have had low WBC during treatment.

Ranging from 3.2 to 3.7 (range = 4.0 - 11.0)

I took a break from antibiotics due to raised liver enzymes last April to July.
My liver enzymes went down and in range, and my WBC count was 3.5-3.7.

Since starting Rifampin (paired with mino or biaxin) - my liver enzymes continued to drop...now they are even better than they were prior to Lyme (go figure?) - but my last WBC count is 2.9.

My Dr.'s office called for me to go in to see her.

So, any ideas what would cause that? Especially, since my liver is doing better - I thought the rest of my body would be doing better, too.

Could it be bart bacteria dying off in my spleen? Or, am I looking at another infection coming to the forefront?
Does Babesia affect the spleen? I think the spleen is responsible for the WBC????

Hi Girlie-

Did you mention to your doctor about your bruising? From your thread about Babesia.

When you do see your doctor, please tell them about the bruising!

Maybe with the low white blood cell count, this is why you have bruises.

Maybe you are getting Bartonella under control and Babesia is rearing its ugly head? Hopefully the last layer for you!

Sarah kind of covered this already.
Low WBC is due to the immune system being sluggish/ not being able to keep up with the demand - and Babesia is the biggest culprit of this.

At one point in time before I started treatments, I had really low WBC and low RBC - poor doc kind of freaked out, but didn't know what it meant! LOL!

Girlie,

Through most of my treatment my WBC was often below range. RBC also occasionally dropped below range as well.

Besides the Mayo Clinic list of low WBC causes, some in the Lyme community say that since we are on such strong combinations of ABX, our immune system sees no need to produce WBCs to fight infections if ABX is doing the job.

Don't worry about it too much, just keep an eye on it. For the past year my labs have been doing much better with both WBC and RBC well into acceptable ranges.

I think Babs does hit the spleen, but my not be the only cause for low WBC.

Post Edited (tickbite666) : 12/4/2015 6:16:10 AM (GMT-7)

Gummo said...
She said in the mean time I need to take 5000 mcg of methyl b12 since my lab results show that I'm deficient... but I looked at my lab results myself and my b12 came back perfectly normal.

"Normal" just means in-range.

Unfortunately, many lab ranges fail us - mostly because sick people get their blood drawn more often and that's what skews the ranges towards less healthy levels.

An optimal B12 level is in the upper quarter of the reference range.

Hey Girlie,

I was just reading Dr. Shaller's symptoms checklists again.

Lo and behold, on page 108 of the following link, he indicates that WBC below 4.5 can be a sign of Lyme:

www.personalconsult.com/free/Checklists2012.pdf

thanks all for your replies.

I was 'okay' with the wbc being in the 3's. But, now it's 2.9 and when I read about it - i could be at risk with it being this low.
Maybe I will be wearing a mask in public...lol. ( I have the 'mother' of all infections....I don't need another one added to it)

Also, since treating bart - my liver enzymes have been great - after months of being raised...in fact the last few - I don't even have high bilirubin - I was diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome when I was a teenager.

So, I was surprised that on the one hand, my blood work showed I was improving, and on the other hand, I'm worse.

I will see what my GP says - the office already called for me to schedule an appointment.

happyjo - Is your 2.7 the first one you've had under 3?
What is your LLMD saying about it? And what about your PCP?

Hi Girlie,

I was just talking with my Dad about this. He has been treating Mycoplasma and Lyme for 4 months now. His WBC has been going down and he asked his/my doctor about this. Our doctor said it's like if you have an empty tool box. You have tools at 5 different work stations, all being used. It doesn't mean you don't have any tools, it just means they are busy being used.

So basically our doctor said it is nothing to worry about at this time. He said my Dad is improving and getting better. My Dad feels a lot better also. So the WBC will increase later, after more healing occurs.

I hope this helps.

I so dislike tests!! Unless it is an emergency, I will not get one.

I'm glad you have good news to share, Girlie.

While I'm sorry you even have this concern, at least it seems that it should be short-lived.

Onward and upward :)

Girly, The last two comments on this thread are on either end of the post it’s like the post flipped upside down?

A lot of good information has already been provided, and as you could see by my post, I wouldn't be much help here but to mention in your case, Girlie, as well as mine, white blood count seems to be a long term battle.

But even after all these years, you mix it with something like dizziness, weak feelings at times and other tests, and worry sets in. What helps us can also cause problems in other areas of body and in the mind. While we know the causes are probably the same ones we have been dealing with for years, it can still get in your head. I know autoimmune and taking zithromax can also cause low whites, which I am taking, but a doctor can send my mind into another place.

I think it makes us all a little crazy.