Panic - Blood cancer? White blood cell count

[JustLaura]

Hi

I'm starting to panic.

Just read an article on blood cancer.

For the last 5 months I have had an elevated or borderline white blood cell count.
High CRP (C-Reactive Protein) which is a sign inflammation.

GP hasn't said what can be causing it but I keep getting asked to repeat the blood test every 4 weeks.

White blood cell count is always borderline or elevated and CRP C-Reactive Protein is always triple what it should be.

Any ideas anyone?

Anyone been in a similar situation that can share their situation?

Thanks

I used to see this at work. There are other bloods that should be done. Can't remember off hand but liver tests and a few others. We had guidelines available.
CRP isn't too high. Are you overweight or a smoker this can cause this.
Often never found any cause so stopped testing once trend in bloods clear (IE stable or rising)

I'm overweight and Perimenopausal.

I've had liver tests done and ones for arthritis - all ok. I have some of the symptoms I've read but NOT the weight loss, drenching sweats, bruising or bleeding but I realise the other symptoms could probably be put down to Perimenopause.

I think the CRP range is 0-5 and mine has always been 9-20.

I'm a couple of stone over ideal weight and my CRP is pretty much always around 7 (although when tested when I was very unwell was 10 times that iirc).

I've been told raised CRP can be linked to being overweight/obese. Not sure if that's reassuring or not?!

I had it raised with gut inflammation. Came back to normal when the inflammation subsided. A lot of things can cause it to rise.

Thanks @MassiveOvaryaction

I am overweight so that is oddly reassuring!

I'm probably reading too many things on the internet.

I keep fluctuating between I've got some sort of virus (all these blood tests were sparked off by a swelling after COVID then joint pain) and worrying that I've known for years that I have a blocked fallopian tube, so I keep thinking that's related as I have hip pain that side! (But I don't even know if a blocked fallopian tube can actually be felt!?)

Thanks @CrunchyCarrot

I might try some probiotic drinks. I'm at the point where I'll try anything!

How long did it take for your level to decrease?
Do you know what the levels were before and after?

I'm trying to lose weight but it's far more difficult than I ever imagined. The weight has crept on and on and my GP attributed it to lockdown and Perimenopause.

So it turned out I had developed severe gluten intolerance. I already knew my CRP values previously as I have Hashimoto's so I had tracked it for some years and it was always normal. Have attached a pic of mine from 2020, you can see a peak (5.81), that was the end of last year. Back to normal now (0.15) by avoiding gluten!

Weight gain at peri seems fairly standard, but if you have hypothyroidism you'll get it too - have you had thyroid labs done?

Oops forgot chart!

Thanks @CrunchyCarrot

Yes thyroid has been checked on once over the 5 months.

My CRP is always around the 15 area! I didn't know that when I've had it tested many years ago (prior to being able to see my test results online) that it's always been high. I was shocked about that. My previous GP had attributed that to having eczema but I'd only ever had 1 flare up?

My eosinophils on WBC are always high too but I believe that is usually an allergic reaction of some type so maybe that causes inflammation?

GP hasn't explained what it could be or given suggestions to try x, y or z.

@CrunchyCarrot

My blood test shows as CRP but yours shows as CRP-HS. I wonder if that's the same test? The range for my CRP test is given as 0-5 for normal.

The HS one is the 'highly sensitive' version of the test. So the test I had is more sensitive and able to detect smaller increases in the CRP level. The HS version of the test is often used to look at one's risk of heart disease (obviously not the cause in my case!). It just happened to be the one that is included in the iron panel tests I bought from Medichecks.

If you had cancer your white blood levels would be sky high, not just slightly elevated.

You do not have leukaemia, a high CRP is over 100.

A bit of gum inflammation can cause it. Been to the hygienist recently?

Covid does weird things to you. - I've also had high CRP for ages but I was having continual viruses post COVID so I think that was why

Just for reference, when dp had acute pancreatitis his CRP was in the hundreds.

Mine is usually between 9 and 20 but weirdly it's come back down now and I can't say I feel any different to when it was higher (I'm also in peri menopause). I also have endometriosis and I wonder if that caused it. It's one of those weird ones isn't it.

Do you feel like you might have a virus? Or any other condition like endi etc.?

Thanks @NeverDropYourMooncup

I never even thought of that! I have got a dental check-up next week.

Thanks @Mutzadell

Since COVID, I've had a virus every other month. It was getting so ridiculous at how I was getting cold after cold, that my GP told me NOT to go for my blood tests if I had cold symptoms so I have to gauge it in between viruses! I was reasonably healthy prior to COVID. I have knowingly had COVID twice. Since then all this has started up!

I have a blocked fallopian tube.

How long did your CRP take to decrease? Did you do anything to try to get it to drop?

It's literally just decreased now so about 2 years after my last bout of Covid. I was getting every virus going. It did something very weird to my immune system. I also put on weight post Covid.

I've stopped drinking, started taking Sambucol (the one with Zinc in), cut out gluten as much as I can (ie no bread) I've actually stopped exercising completely because I think my body was just under too much stress in general and very slowly my body has started to get better. But it has taken ages. I think we often think we need to do more - exercise more - but sometimes we need to do less!

You could try going gluten free. It's a pain but worthwhile if it actually helps, you never know! Gluten does cause inflammation. You'll have to be strict though, it does take getting used to.

Thanks @CrunchyCarrot

I'm definitely going to look into that and how soon I might see a change.