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Hi Everyone,
I guess my topic title pretty much spells it out for me. I was just diagnosed with LC. I have a question for you though. I have had an elevated WBC count for the last 1 1/2 years. I have been seeing an oncologist for the last 8 months. I had a bone marrow biopsy, it was negative for Leukemia.
3 months ago, the D started. That's when I was sent to the GI. During the colonoscopy, he saw widespread diverticulitis.
The GI called me with the lab results last week. My question to him was, which caused which? Did the leukocytosis cause or relates to LC or vice versa. He said he did not know, I would have to ask the oncologist.
Is a high WBC common amongst you... Oh crap, "US"?
Newly Diagnosed - self pity, stress, WBC's
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Newly Diagnosed - self pity, stress, WBC's
Diagnosed July 6, 2009 with Lymphocytic Colitis. Colonoscopy revealed diverticulosis. My immune system is wack. My WBC has hovered around 17 (as high as 21) since November 2007.
Bender, I'm glad you found us. LOL to your last remark. I know Tex will be along soon to answer your questions.
Hi Bender,
Welcome to our internet family. Yep, you are one of us now, but there is hope, so don't give up just yet. Your GI doc must have been asleep in medical school, when his professors were discussing the reasons for elevated white cell count. Your WBC is typical for someone with diverticulitis. LC also presents with an elevated WBC. In fact, the primary diagnostic marker of LC, is an elevated lymphocyte count, between the cells of the epithelia of the colon. So yes, there is nothing unusual about an elevated WBC for someone with LC. The elevated WBC is simply evidence that you have active inflammation present, somewhere in your body, and it's present with any of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, (IBDs). In your case, it probably started with the diverticulitis, and the LC helped to increase it.
I suspect that it's possible that diverticulitis may trigger MC in some cases, but as far as I am aware, that has never been medically documented. Quite a few of us also have diverticulosis, which, of course, is necessary before diverticulitis can develop, and some of us have also experienced the joys of diverticulitis.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything that comes to mind.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. Yep, you are one of us now, but there is hope, so don't give up just yet. Your GI doc must have been asleep in medical school, when his professors were discussing the reasons for elevated white cell count. Your WBC is typical for someone with diverticulitis. LC also presents with an elevated WBC. In fact, the primary diagnostic marker of LC, is an elevated lymphocyte count, between the cells of the epithelia of the colon. So yes, there is nothing unusual about an elevated WBC for someone with LC. The elevated WBC is simply evidence that you have active inflammation present, somewhere in your body, and it's present with any of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, (IBDs). In your case, it probably started with the diverticulitis, and the LC helped to increase it.
I suspect that it's possible that diverticulitis may trigger MC in some cases, but as far as I am aware, that has never been medically documented. Quite a few of us also have diverticulosis, which, of course, is necessary before diverticulitis can develop, and some of us have also experienced the joys of diverticulitis.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything that comes to mind.
Tex (Wayne)
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Oops my ignorance is showing. My result was diverticulosis, not "itus". I know little about the difference between the two. "Itus", I believe is more likely to cause Leukocytosis as it is an active infection, correct? And if that is the case, is the LC enough to elevate my WBC's to that level?
I've been over-reading today. I have one more question: I go back to the GI in one month for consult and to see how the Asacol is working. Should I be asking about getting tested for CD?
Thank you all for your welcome and support.
I've been over-reading today. I have one more question: I go back to the GI in one month for consult and to see how the Asacol is working. Should I be asking about getting tested for CD?
Thank you all for your welcome and support.
Diagnosed July 6, 2009 with Lymphocytic Colitis. Colonoscopy revealed diverticulosis. My immune system is wack. My WBC has hovered around 17 (as high as 21) since November 2007.
Yes,the "itis" refers to an infection. Diverticulosis by itself, really shouldn't cause an elevated white cell count. It merely consists of "bulges" in the wall of the colon, without additional complications.
Yes, any of the IBDs, (including MC), typically cause elevated white cell counts.
If your GI doc hasn't already done a blood test for CD, it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea, since it's a simple test. The odds are very high that the test result will be negative, though, unless you have fully-developed celiac disease. Virtually all of us here, (even though many of us are highly gluten-sensitive), will always show negative results to a celaic blood test. Only those of us who also have celiac disease, test positive.
Tex
Yes, any of the IBDs, (including MC), typically cause elevated white cell counts.
If your GI doc hasn't already done a blood test for CD, it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea, since it's a simple test. The odds are very high that the test result will be negative, though, unless you have fully-developed celiac disease. Virtually all of us here, (even though many of us are highly gluten-sensitive), will always show negative results to a celaic blood test. Only those of us who also have celiac disease, test positive.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.