high white blood cell count

[imajenarry]

can anyone help.my friend has blood regularly and her results from last november showed a high white blood cell count.after a delay(she'd moved house and letter calling her back had gone to old address) there's been a further blood test which still shows high white blood cell count. does anyone know what could be causing this. i know it's a sign of leukamia but i hope to god it's something a lot less serious.have searched on net but all i've found is that it's a sign of an infection or something like the flu the body has been fighting.could this be the case for this long?

[DrChandra]

It is unlikely any of those suggestions could be the reason.Usually when this is the reason the white blood count would return to normal pretty much straight after the infection/virus had been killed.Also I am sure your friend would have some symptoms if there was a virus in her body.My advice would be for your friend to see a Doctor.The fact she gives blood probobly has nothing to do with it.

[tictactoe]

Hi imajenarry,

Do you mean your friend has a regular blood check, or gives blood? Your first sentance reads 'my friend has blood regularly'.....

The very fact that they have called her back for a further test means they are keeping a check on her, so don't start worrying unduly until they give her the results. When younger I suffered from anaemia, and my white cells outnumbered the red due to my condition, so it might be this.

Try not to worry too much, as you can only wait and see the results before trying to guess (and getting it wrong) as to the cause.

n00dles

[whiffey]

There are many many reasons for a raised white blood count, and many many reasons for not expecting a solution on B&S. Running for a bus can raise your WBC. Leukaemia can *lower* your WBC as well as raise it. Also the differential nature of the rise.

Get the problem sorted by pathologists, best wishes.

[tictactoe]

Have just seen your further post...

If you make a mistake imajenarry, just post it on your 1st thread where it will be picked up by the ABers....

n

[imajenarry]

ok thanks will do and thanks everyone for answers.my friend's being referred to a haematologist so hopefully she'll have some answers soon. just wanted to find out more so can give her reassurance so she doesn't worry too much.

[crete]

i see the doc is back i hope he could spell better when he was in practice as a G P.