Neutropenia - Low platelets and white blood cell count

Wow your post is prescient ToinetteA. My husband had a routine blood test last month that he asked for as he’d not had an MOT for 3y. He’s not on any meds and had no concerns.

Anyway he got a letter from the surgery asking him to arrange a repeat blood test - he goes on Wednesday. Apparently his cholesterol is low at only 3 and his platelet count is lower than normal.

I’m a bit anxious about it to be honest although he, like most men, seems unconcerned.

I hope you (and he) both stay well. Perhaps someone will come along with reassurance and more knowledge on this for us?

This can sometimes be a genetic condition too. Or a blood-c lotting disorder ? So long as you have a good diet and if there's nothing " nasty " going on it'll be manageable.

Sometime the low platelets count is caused by auto immune diseases but especially if you are feeling fine, often there is no known cause. Surprised at the low cholesterol as being a problem as it has been drummed into people the need to lower it and keep it low. Better be guided by your GP but don't always assume there is a sinister reason for it.

My late mother once had unexplained bruising, she just had to kneel on the floor to cause bruising to her knees. This was back in the '70's. She was admitted to hospital, and had every test available. She had very low platelet count with no obvious cause. She was discharged without a diagnosis, but with a prescription for high dose vitamin c tablets. She took the vitamin c for several months and had blood tests repeated weekly at the surgery. He platelet count recovered, and the condition? never reappeared.
I hope that you feel better soon.

I have an auto immune disorder and become neutropenic when on Azothiaprine for too long- I couldn't feel anything except perhaps a bit more tired than usual. Is low cholesterol a problem - mine always seem to be 3.5 GP thinks that's OK good in fact.

Check whether they tested you for MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain origin). It's commoner as you get older, is linked to autoimmune diseases and unfortunately to things like leukaemia.

Usually, it's found when they are testing for other things and they should have tested for this. The good thing is that once discovered, they test you regularly so any change will be monitored. It has a low rate of progression to worse things. Just a thought, don't worry but do go back to them and don't let things rest!

It seems that it's fairly common to pick up that something is wrong while testing for something else. I'm normally pretty healthy so it was a bit of luck that I decided to have a blood test for a minor complaint. My second blood test was to see if I was deficient in vitamin B12 and folic acid. It was then decided that I had to have a bone marrow biopsy. I was absolutely terrified but with the help of gas and air it really was not that bad.

Thank you all for your replies. I will check to see if they have tested me for MGUS. I know that they checked to see if I had a genetic problem. No one has said anything about keeping my cholesterol levels low. It's about average but I think I can do better. It looks like I will be monitored for quite some time to come. Urmstongran I hope all goes well with your husband. I can understand how worried you must be.

I also have a low white cell blood count, had lots of different blood tests and nothing was found.
I have had this for over 10 years so GP said it must be normal for me.

Thank you ToinetteA I’m not as anxious as I was a my husband looks so well and has plenty of energy and no symptoms.

I will post on here after he’s had his results.

A low platelet count doesn’t always indicate a problem. I have had a low platelet count for years and had to have an annual blood test to monitor it. It was assumed I had idiopathic thrombocytopenia but I had none of the symptoms and never had a problem with my blood clotting if I cut myself. When I had to have a lumpectomy for breast cancer and the pre op showed my platelet count was under 100 the surgeon wanted advice from the haematologist on how to proceed which increased my waiting time for the surgery. After looking at my blood under the microscope the haematologist told me that I have platelets that clump together when they are tested therefore several platelets are counted as one. She explained that a EDTA Tube is used to prevent the blood sample clotting and some people have agglutinins in their blood which react with the anti-clotting agent causing platelets to clump together. If a different anti clotting agent is used the platelet count should be more accurate.

Just an update to share.

My husband’s platelet count is back to normal. Such a relief! It had dropped to 140 (normal = 150 and over) and it’s now 195.

Maybe he was getting over a virus or some such the first time?

I hope others who are awaiting test results also get good news. x

Urmstongran I'm so glad all is back to normal with your husband. My platelets are 49. I have no problems with blood clotting and feel pretty healthy. So it's a mystery.

If your neutrophils are also low, take care to avoid infection. Toinette eg avoid anyone with flu or other infectious diseases and be careful if gardening, wear gloves and avoid getting dirt in cuts etc.

I hope they get to the bottom of this and your blood counts pick up soon.

It is good to know that in this case and many other instances, the unusual blood results don't mean anything alarming. We rely far too much on dr Google nowadays and scare ourselves silly when there is no need.

Callistemon my neutrophils are 0.84. It seems that 1.5 is considered low and 0.5 is critical. I was warned about being extra careful to avoid sick people and being very hygienic but the consultant said that the figures are not low enough to cause an immediate problem. I must check my temperature if I feel ill and call an emergency number I've been given if my temperature reaches 38 degrees. I hope that I go back to normal soon. In the meanwhile I will continue to have blood tests every month and will see a consultant every 3 months.

I had a routine blood test earlier this year, young GP rang me to say I had a low white blood cell count and she was referring me to a haematologist. Panic... googled it and of course found all the sinister things. Saw the haematologist who went through everything thoroughly, back through tests over the last 10 years when the white cell count was low and I'm still here! He explained that it could just be normal for me but is monitoring me. Diagnosed mild neutropenia.I tried to interpret all the figures as we can see these on line now and got thoroughly muddled. I don't have any symptoms, rarely get colds or other infections. Can't do what I used to do but then am 64. Hope you feel reassured

Toinette, yes, just take care and have the regular blood tests. Another thing to watch out for is insect bites, so perhaps using an insect repellent particularly if you are out in the evening could be a good idea, no soft or blue cheeses, unwashed salads etc. Just sensible precautions and I hope your bloods have improved next time.

I have had a white blood cell count for over two years and one problem which seems to recur is that even a use my normal spray deodorant after a shower in the evening, by morning my armpits and breast bone smell very stale. Hs anyone else had this and how did they cope, please?