Advise Please

debsmartin

Hi

After singing the praises of enbrel in previous posts, I had a bit of a scare over the weekend, a letter arrived saturday morning telling me to stop mtx and enbrel until after I'd had another blood test done, I have spoken to rheummy today and they says its a precaution as my white blood cell count has dropped but she never explained what this meant just said it was nothing to worry about but that's easier said than done. Just wondered if anyone else has had this happen to them as I have to wait until wednesday so that its a week between blood tests and I'm a bag of nerves as I seemed to be doing so well.

debs

stickywicket

Hi Debs, I've never taken enbrel but I have similar tests for methotrexate. I'm sure someone'll be along soon who does do the enbrel but, from lots of previous posts on here, it's pretty clear that there's nothing to fear from the odd blood test showing something up. Being asked to leave off the meds i n the meantime is just your medics doing their job well and taking all necessary precautions. They may keep you on the enbrel & MTX or take you off one or the other but I'm pretty sure nothing nasty will happen to you in the meantime. If you're very worried you can always ring back.

skezier

Hi Debs,

Not on those 2 drug, only the mtx but the white cells are the ones that fight infections but also the ones that attack your joints/fluid etc in the inflammatory arthritisis. The drugs are there to knock them down but they don't want them going too low cus then you open to a lot of potential infections as well.

I am sure they are just checking and its not anything to worry about and they might be able to knock your dose back a bit maybe?

never sure why they don't explain things better as to understand it makes it so less scary. Fingers crossed the next lot of bloods will show they have stabilized. Cris x

dreamdaisy

Everything fluctuates and the point of the constant monitoring is to nip any prospective trouble in the bud. This is probably just one of those blips, nothing more - at least you know that they are noting what is going on and not just blithely assuming everything is OK. I hope the next test shows an improved level of the white cells. I wish you well. DD

barbara12

Hi Debs
I cant really help with your question, but I suppose at least you know they are watching out for you.
Hope it all resolves itself very soon.

julie47

Hi Debs

Just want to say I hope when you have your next blood test, It is back to normal and that you can start your meds again.

Take care
Juliepf x

woodbon

Hi, I'm not a medic but I know that the white blood cells are the ones that fight infection, so if yours are a bit low, they will want to check you over and get things back to how they should be. All it means is that you are more likely to pick up an infection and I think that the doctor wants to make sure you keep well, but as I said I'm going on things that have happened to me, I'm not a medic :shock:
Hope things get sorted for you and back on the meds again soon. Love Suexxx

tillytop

Hello!

Sorry you have had a scare. But, as the others have said, I would try not to worry too much. If it was of serious concern, I think the doc would have phoned you, rather than to wait for a letter to reach you. In line with the other peeps have said, I think I'm right in saying that, whilst these meds suppress the inflammation, sometimes they do too good a job and you can become over immunosuppressed - hence the decision to stop the meds and recheck the bloods. Hopefully, the next blood test will be fine and you can get back on the meds.

Love Tilly xxx

tjt6768

I know it's easy for me to say but don't worry too much, I'm sure, like the others, that it's just a sign of your rheumys doing a good job.

Best of luck,

Let us know how you go on when you next see them..

debsmartin

Thanks everyone for all your posts, I'm not so panicky today, as you say if it had been very serious it would have been a phone call and not just a letter. I have my blood test tomorrow and then have to phone for the results on friday afternoon, so I will let you know.

Thanks again

debs