Blood counts

RA2010
RA2010 Member Posts: 21
edited 8. Jan 2011, 14:56 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi there,

I'm curious to know if anyone here ever achieves 'normal' blood counts (just full blood counts) while on medication (or off)?It's only about 3 months since I was diagnosed with RA and SLE, and at 2nd test while on meth most counts were close to normal, then suffered a cold and white cells went very low, now they are back to normal (except lymphocytes) but now red cells are all low!

Is it 'normal' with our conditions to always have abnormal results? not terribly concerned, but just curious as to what everyone else is like?

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My bloods are fine. I am on injected humira (fortnightly), methotrexate (injected weekly), one folic acid tablet (weekly) and one alendronic acid tablet (weekly). I take sulphasalazine, omeprazole, and oral steroids daily, together with Ramopril and Bendrofluorazide for BP. My bloods have been OK for about the last 17 months. We are all different in how we react to meds: the constant monitoring is a pain but it does mean that possible problems are picked up early on, which can only be a good thing. I have had figures all over the place but have never cared much about it. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi RA

    I think mine are always wrong in the white cells or something.

    If the docs are happy-ish so am I :smile:

    The meds do have an impact for definite :smile:

    Love

    toni xx
  • ritwren
    ritwren Member Posts: 928
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My blood results are usually fine and I don't worry about them. It is good they monitor them so closely but sometimes when I'm really sore my counts are fine. I don't understand that part.
    rita
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh same here, ritwren. Despite my inflammation markers being in single figures the pain has never decreased to match: if anything, it's increased. I suppose that must be down to joint damamge or summat - I can't be bothered to find out. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • nanarose
    nanarose Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have had high liver results for the last month, but Rheumy nurses say not to worry, as it's quite 'normal' for those of us on mtx to have little blips in our tests. So long as they are OK, with things, then I am too - we have to trust their judgement as they have plenty of experience.

    I have enough to worry about, so although I do check my blood tests myself, I'm not giving myself extra pressure.

    My inflammation markers are still in double figures though, so I guess at some point, they will add yet another drug to the potion!
    Oh the joys of arthritis! x
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    In the arthritic dark ages, before disease modifying drugs were born, I had three months when my two small boys went down, in succession, with chicken pox (both), mumps (elder) and severe whooping cough (younger who, due to vaccine scare hadn’t had it). Then the elder one was carted off to hospital with viral meningitis. With knees like balloons and ankles having disappeared, how I managed to crawl to my rheumatology appointment I’m still not sure, but I was assured that, according to their blood tests, I was fine. I’ve taken them with a large pinch of salt ever since.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • RA2010
    RA2010 Member Posts: 21
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I guess as time goes on with these things we figure out what is 'normal' for us with our abnormal lives! and in reality I bet if 'normal people' had such regular blood tests they may find they are not so normal either - it's just a case of what is normal for each individual....

    doc has said though he wants to wait another month before starting me on any other meds to give things a chance to stabilise - suspects B12 deficiency now! doesn't want me to go back onto meth (funny just over a month ago he was so happy with how well it was working, but now says maybe it was working too well and suppressed my immune system a bit too well!), so is thinking of leflunomide! after 3 weeks of no meth feet are feeling it, so looking forward to a steroid injection in the ankle to help that (not!)....
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Surely the whole point of these meds is to 'switch off' the immune system, so our bodies stop attacking us. Dodding socs: they love the theory, we live with the reality. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • lizzie7ne
    lizzie7ne Member Posts: 154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My blood tests have never been normal in fact my GP puts on my computer records for some results - abnormal to be expected. I have RA and its either my inflammatory markers, liver function test or something else that isnt quite right - I am currently off my methotrexate and leflunomide due to elevated liver enqymes. However, although my inflamatory markers have been close to normal at times my Rheumy nurse and I now look at what is "normal" for me as far as my inflamatory markers are concerned

    lizzie

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