[lenjan]

Any nurses or MDs out there?

I saw my pdoc today and mentioned that all I do in my spare time is sleep, and I have the hardest time getting out of bed. My appetite also has been very low. As we all know, these can be symptoms of an impending depressive episode.

But, I hadn't had any bloodwork done in a while, so he sent me off for some labs. Two of them came back low: platelet count and white cell count. And my thyroid looks a little low, which I have been trying to tell doctors since my frigging TEENS, but they've all just said, "low side of normal, too bad, no meds." Never mind that every female in my immediate family is on meds for low thryoid....sigh.

Anyway, I'm freaking out over here and I need to know if I should be freaked out. Too much Trauma: Life in the ER and things like that for me, LOL. I just want to know if I'm dying or if I just need to take vitamins. If it's relevant, I had arm surgey a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks for any help.

Candy

[dottie]

Candybear...I believe in taking vitamins everyday. The Centrum Silver Vits. are very good.

Keep on talking to your doctor about the thyroid medicine. I think you should be taking it. If ya' keep asking him...he'll cave in!!

TGC

[Yack]

My white count is low too. Like a 4.

Freaks me out a little bit.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

Depends on how low they are....which white cells are lowest .....

low white cells in general minus meds messing with them means you are at increased risk of infection

Low platlet makes one more prone to bruising and bleeding..again it depends on meds you are on

Which theyroid test was done? They have more detailed ones you should have done by an endocrinologist....DON'T FREAK....These are general guildlines

[lenjan]

has anybody told you why it's so low?

[(JD)]

I agree.. without the actual numbers I couldn't even guess. Sometimes for me, especially with regards to potassium, it doesn't even have to be below the parameters and I need K! Guess it's something you have to learn about yourself. My numbers are out of bounds, but better than they have been, so MD isn't concerned duh. Feel better, ok?

[drunksunflower]

Centrum?

I don't know about the silver but I've been told that the normal Centrum do jack %#@&#! (there have been some big studies done on efficacy).

I have Usana but they are very expensive (a friend used to sell them and I got them cheap - probably won't get them again for this reason). Very good though.

white blood cells fight infection. the more you have the more the infection. the fact that yours are down says there is no infections in your body. Your red blood cells can be down for any number of reasons the main one low iron and dehydration. Im not a doctor but have my blood drawn every 6 months to make sure my cancer, anemia and eating disorder is in control. I go along with the others in saying take vitamins (that is if your doctor told you too. believe it or not there is such a thing as having too many vitamins and minerals in your body. I found that out when I decided to go on vitamins without consulting my doctor. and the ones I chose were centrum one a day. vitamins may be over the counter but the only time they should be used is when the doctor recommends them) also make sure you are getting plenty to drink the average person needs 8 tall glasses (equals 64 fluid ounces) of water a day. Any sugar containing drinks take away the water in the body so soda and so on does not count at least according to my doctor.

You're not dying and given that the doctor has given you the results if he didn't tell you anything special to do then you are completely physically healthy.

[lenjan]

Nope, I'm not dying. WHEW! But, I *am* anemic, and my thyroid is fairly low. And I have a lovely little ear infection to make my life complete.

[cwiktorski]

You mention wanting to sleep all the time, have you asked your doctor about possibly being anemic? A few people I've known in the past have had very similar problems with never wanting to get out of bed, etc, but of course that can be one of a million things. I just figured I would chime in my 2 cents.

On a side note, I've actually done quite well with the Centrum vitamins and taking an omega 3 suppliment as well. I definitely notice it on days when I forget to take them. I've since decided to carry around at least 3 days doses in case I'm caught anywhere for a period without them.

[lenjan]

yep, i'm anemic, and my pdoc mentioned the fish oil, so i bought some today when i picked up my prescriptions. thanks for the tips!