Real People Stories – Ellis

Scared and freaking out very badly. High lymphocytes at 5.1 (5100).

Two months ago, I had a CBC test for a regular checkup, with no symptoms, pain, or anything at all. Surprisingly, my results indicate a high TSH, which is hypothyroidism, leading me to believe it may be Hashimoto’s disease. However, what I was worried about the most was the high # of lymphocytes at 5.1.

Anxiety and Worry

I was googling this and, consequently, am terrified, sick to my stomach, and pretty much lifeless at the thought that a possible cause of this could be leukaemia. I will see my GP in a few days; however, all my thoughts are only about this complete count test problem. Additionally, I guessed I had a big case of anxiety and hypochondria. Moreover, I didn’t feel the symptoms associated with leukaemia, like fever/chills, swollen lymph nodes, nose bleeding, easy bleeding, bruising, persistent fatigue, red spots on my skin, or sweating at night.

However, I did see mentions of elevated lymphocytes over 5.0 linking to CCL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) AT Rai stage 0, which would show none of these symptoms.

I’m very worried. I noticed sweating at night a few weeks ago, but only that time. It was because I was wearing a sweater to bed that night, and it was cold since it was winter.

Medical Consultations

I read extensively about this and asked my doctor for a haematologist to run the flux cytometry test. Consequently, I was very impatient and anxious about this. Since receiving this CBC blood test result, my mood has completely changed. As a result, I just wanted to lay in bed all day and not even eat or go to the gym and work out. I lost all motivation for a complete blood test, and I was very worried and scared.

General Information
Male, 27 years old

Results
Firstly, my TSH is 5.77 (Normal: 0.35-5.50), which is HIGH.
Next, my Neutrophiles are 0.25 (Normal: 0.45-0.75), which is LOW.
Additionally, my Lymphocytes are 0.66 (Normal: 0.25-0.45), which is HIGH.
Meanwhile, my Monocytes are 0.01 (Normal: 0.02-0.12), which is LOW.
Furthermore, my Lymphocyte # is 5.1 (Normal: 1.0-4.9), which is HIGH.

Normal Results
In contrast, my WBC is 7.7, which is NORMAL.
Similarly, my RBC is 5.17, which is also NORMAL.
Moreover, my HB is 151, which is NORMAL.
In addition, my HT is 0.461, which is NORMAL.
Finally, my Platelets are 212, which is NORMAL.

Follow-Up Results

Two months later, 2nd CBC blood test and smear came back: All normal 🙂 No leukaemia!

Only slightly low potassium levels. My TSH is back to the normal range at 2.89. My neutrophils are still low but higher than last, at 37%. As for my lymphocytes went from 66% to 37%, so in the normal range again (45-75%). As for lymphocytes #, which I was really worried about since it was at 5100, they are in range now at 3300 (normal range 1000-4900). My monocytes are in the normal range again at 3%.

Ongoing Symptoms and Reflections

Ever since, I have had occasional night sweats, but they have always been the same, with no worsening. They are always in my legs and a bit of my lower back, none on my chest or arms, etc. There is a very thin layer of sweat. When I swipe my fingers to collect them, it’s barely a droplet that quickly evaporates. I will change my sheets and see if it gets better.

Hope this can help alleviate anyone who may be in the same situation I was and having health anxiety.

Jisele

Scared to death – Possibly OC (leukaemia/lymphoma)

Hi, my husband is a 26-year-old male. He is 5’10’’ and weighs 190 pounds. Additionally, he has no medical history besides hypothyroidism and takes 100 mcg of Levothyroxine. Furthermore, his mother has hypothyroidism, and his brother had a condition as a small child where his body attacked the collagen in his skin (scleroderma??). Fortunately, he had Covid in June and recovered in 3-4 days. He had routine CBC blood work done because he had never done Complete blood work, and I encouraged him to do that. Moreover, he works out regularly and never gets sick. He does not have enlarged lymph nodes, no night sweats, no pain, fatigue, weight loss, etc.

Initial Bloodwork

Initially, he received a call from a local family CBC doctor about abnormal blood work tests towards the end of January. His neutrophils were coming in at 0.1, as well as low WBC and high lymphocytes, and they wanted us to follow up with haematology/oncology. We were told that this blood work did have a bad Complete blood smear that could affect the results. We found a CBC haematologist/oncologist with a major hospital nearby, and her office has done the lab work below.

Follow-up with Haematologist/Oncologist

We met with her today, and she said that his lab work on the 1st was insignificant and that she would have only accepted him as a client if this was his initial lab. However, she took him on since he had the initial 0.1 neutrophils with the other small practice. She said the blood work was not too off on the 1st but wanted to repeat the lab work. The CBC from the 14th was done after our appointment. She said during our appointment that if the lab work looked similar or was trending outside of the ranges, then she wanted to do a bone marrow biopsy.

We are scared shitless of tests, and this has flipped our CBC world upside down. Consequently, we are seeking your opinion on these test results. Additionally, has anyone experienced this, and it turned out to be something less serious than cancer?

Blood Results

February 14th 2023

  • L: WBC (3.6-10.6): 2.7
  • RBC (4.5-5.9): 5.17
  • Haemoglobin (13.5-17.5): 14.8
  • Hematocrit (41-53) : 43.4%
  • MCV (80-100): 83.9
  • MCH (26-34): 28.6
  • MCHC (32-36): 34.1
  • RDW SD (36.7-47.2): 37.9
  • RDW (11.3-15.6): 12.4
  • Platelets (150-400): 236
  • MPV (8.6-12.4): 9.9
  • L: Neutrophil % Auto (42-72): 34.6%
  • H: Lymphocytes % Auto (18-45): 50.4%
  • Monocyte % Auto (2-12): 10.9%
  • Eosinophil % Auto (0-5): 2.6%
  • Basophil % Auto (0-2): 1.1%
  • Immature Granulocytes (0-0.5) : 0.4%
  • L: Neutrophil, Abs (1.8-6.8): 1
  • Lymphocytes, Abs (1.2-3.4): 1.4
  • Monocytes, Abs (0.2-0.9): 0.3
  • Eosinophil, Abs (0-0.5): 0.1
  • Basophil, Abs (0-0.1) : 0
  • Immature Granulocyte, Abs (0-0.04) : 0
  • February 1st 2023
  • L: WBC (3.6-10.6): 3.1
  • RBC (4.5-5.9): 4.9
  • Haemoglobin (13.5-17.5): 14.1
  • L : Hematocrit (41-53) : 40.8
  • MCV (80-100): 83.3
  • MCH (26-34): 28.8
  • MCHC (32-36): 34.6
  • RDW SD (36.7-47.2): 37.1
  • RDW (11.3-15.6): 12.2%
  • Platelets (150-400): 235
  • MPV (8.6-12.4): 9.7
  • Neutrophil % Auto (42-72) 42.9%
  • H: Lymphocytes % Auto (18-45): 45.2%
  • Monocyte % Auto (2-12): 8.7%
  • Eosinophil % Auto (0-5): 2.2%
  • Basophil % Auto (0-2): 1%
  • Immature Granulocytes (0-0.5) : None
  • L: Neutrophil, Abs (1.8-6.8): 1.3
  • Lymphocytes, Abs (1.2-3.4): 1.4
  • Monocytes, Abs (0.2-0.9): 0.3
  • Eosinophil, Abs (0-0.5): 0.1
  • Basophil, Abs (0-0.1) : 0
  • Immature Granulocyte, Abs (0-0.04) : 0
  • February 1st 2023

CMP All within normal limits.

02/01/23 Pathology review smear report: Surgical Pathology Report

Final Diagnosis

Neutropenia, rare circulating plasma cells.

Furthermore, the concurrent flow CBC cytometric analysis is negative for an abnormal lymphocyte population. There are no significant hemolytic changes, dysplastic changes, or circulating blasts.

Histologic Evaluation

Peripheral Morphology

The leukocyte differential CBC shows that 100 cells were counted: bands/segmented neutrophil 54, eosinophil 1, basophil 0, monocyte 7, lymphocyte 37, and plasma cell 1.

Leukocytes have neutropenia. Moreover, neutrophils are mostly mature without dyspoiesis. Similarly, lymphocytes are mature and without over-atypia. Additionally, occasional circulating plasma cells are present.

As for erythrocytes, they are adequate with normal morphology.

Lastly, platelets are also adequate with normal morphology.

02/01/23 Leukemia/lymphoma phenotyping report by Flow Cytometry Report

Comment: No CBC evidence exists for increased blasts, plasma cells or abnormal lymphoid population. A Complete blood count negative flow cytometry does not exclude malignancy.

Leukocyte Differential

CD45 Dim Area: 1%

Lymphoid Area: 59%

  • -T Cells: 78%

—-CD4:CD8 ratio 1.5

NK Cells: 12%

  • B Cells: 8%

—-Kappa : Lambda ration 1.8

  • Monocytoid Area : 3%

–The monocytoid population has typical antigen expression

  • Myeloid area: 34%

–The Myeloid population has typical antigen expression

  • Additional Results
  • ANA Hep2 IFA w/ Reflex ENA
  • ANA IFA Screen: Negative
  • CMt1: ANA IFA: Negative
  • Folate Level: 11.4
  • Hep B Surface Antigen
  • Hep Bs Ag: Nonreactive
  • CMT: Hepatitis B Surface Ag
  • Hep B Core Antibody (Total) (ARUP)
  • Hepatitis B Core Ab Total
  • Hep B Core Ab Total: Nonreactive
  • Vitamin B12 Level (345-1485) – 427
  • HIV Av/Ab Combo ½ Screen
  • HIV ½ Ag/Ab Combo by CMIA: Nonreactive
  • Hep B Surface CBC Antibody
  • Hep B Surface Ab: Nonreactive
  • ESR, Westergren (0-15) – 5
  • TSH : (0.46-4.88) – 2.54
  • Hep C Antibody
  • Nonreactive
  • HCV Signal to Cutoff Ratio: 0.05
  • LDH (125-265): 139