Can we please take a poll on blood counts. Cause they scare me!!

[Mary]

If ANYONE could please list their blood counts it would really be great. My Lymphocytes are always low and now my total protein was a tad high (which should be low for Crohns). So I google it and it scares me. The total blood protein does say it could be high due to chronic inflammation.

 

[Dustin]

I can't say what mine are, because I don't know. My doctor just looks at the test results and says they're normal - once in a while my white blood count is up, but he doesn't say numbers.

Hopefully other people can give you some numbers.

 

[kenny]

the lab sends them to the GI clinic and a CC to my GP's office. I figure these guys studied for 10 years or so and ought to be able to take care of that for me. And between the 3 factions involved they are probably billing enough that they darn well better be taking care of it

 

[shazamataz]

I would suggest trying not to think about it too much if it's causing you stress. Google can be an issue if you are a bit of a hypochondriac! I used to get my blood checked all the time and go through the results looking everything up. And it always scared me. I have a card to go monthly for inflammation and everything to be checked. At the beginning of the year I decided not to go unless I felt there was a problem lasting more than a few days. It's actually quite a relief not knowing all the time!

 

[Cookie]

I agree with Shaz. I think with this disease it's easy to get caught up in worrying about what might be wrong with you or something that could happen, but it really does you more harm than good. I think it's important to really focus on feeling your best.

 

[RachLG]

Hi there Mary - did your doc explain any course of action (ie further testing) to look into abnormal numbers? If not, you may not be so far outside the "normal" range that you cause a doctor's red flag (and this is good). Remember the ranges that are considered "normal" are an average of the population and you may just naturally fal a bit outside those ranges. Maybe call your doc and just ask if he/she is concerned about it - googling makes me bonkers so I generally try to make sure I stay away from investigating every little thing myself. Hope you find your answers!

 

[Tan]

I have to agree with all the above, you will drive yourself nuts if you google every single thing that you think might be wrong with you or results that come back. Like Kenny said these doctors have gone to school for many years and know what they are looking at, generally if anything comes back out of the ordinary they will contact you for further testing.
I don't have a clue what any of my results are, but do know my cholestrol always comes back high but I haven't worried about it yet as my doc is getting me to go for monthly tests to keep it in check, when they want to see me about it they will call and organise for me to come in and go thru my options. Doesn't faze me at all as I know they are keeping an eye on things and know when to act on them.
I have to admit I do google things sometimes my hubby pulled me up on it and said that is was bad idea as you can read into things too much which I have to agree although I only google stuff after the doctor tells me whats wrong so I can better understand it ie. when I was dx with crohns and of late when they told me I have dry socket after getting my wisdom teeth removed cause I didn't have a clue what it was. Apart from that you are best to leave it too the doctors to manage your health.
If you stress about every little thing you could get from meds or this disease you will sit at home in a ball all day rocking back and forth from stress. Im sure with less stress you could enjoy life alot more! Good luck.

 

[LadyVik]

In general my CRP is high when I'm in a flare (in a "normal" person should be 5 and under - mine is usually about 100 in a flare, but "normal" for me is about 10 - 15) Again my white blood cells are generally higher than a "normal" person, but around 15 is the norm for me, umm not too sure on protein levels or anything but I do know that again most of my results are either higher or lower than the average persons but are normal for me. When I Googled my CRP (inflammation marker) and looked it up to be 100 and I scared myself rigid, but that one just generalizes inflammation, it doesn't tell you where, why or how? So Google is BAD!! Just ask your doc, they will tell you all about it, they're the professional and it's their job! Best of luck.

 

[InkyStinky]

Hi Mary,

I keep track of all my labs (I always ask for copies). My protein is usually right in the middle of the reference range, and I can't remember what my Lymphs are off the top of my head. I keep track of my blood work because I can't really trust my doctors to be on top of my labs - my GI never returned any of my 4 calls after my alt liver level was a bit elevated (this was almost 2 mths ago) and my rheumy has never returned my call about my labs to check for a possible clotting disorder. Maybe I just have bad doctors, but if they don't return my calls are they even paying attention to my blood work (that they order!!!)?

Anyway, I think the important thing is to track you own levels and see what they trend like over time. Then you can know what's "normal" for you, and if tests come back a lot different than your "normal" you can ask your docs about it.