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Leukocytosis and Hypochondria. I am freaking out and going crazy

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Vegas
Vegas

I noticed i been having a high WBC for almost 2 years now. But in my last 2 exams i also had high Lymphocytes. I found out about this 2 days go. My lymphocytes have been creeping up and up for over 1 year. i suffer from health anxiety/hypochondria which made me go crazy about this. 2 days ago when i found out about this i haven't slept for around 34 hours because i am so terrified that i feel like there is a gun pointed to my head, i had a panic attack and went to the ER to know more about my exams. I've been a hypochondriac for years. But i feel like i never been so close to my worst nightmares this time since it is something serious. I am completely terrified and i am obsessed about this to a very unhealthy level.

The last exam that i did it showed my lymphocytes at 5300mm³ and googling about the condition got me extremely paranoid and stressed. Im about to have a panic attack because all i see is things about leukemia (CLL). I can't sleep or eat after this. I am extremely nervous.

2 days ago when i went to the ER the general doctor quickly examined me and listened to my store and thought that it is most likely a "Reactivate Lymphocytosis" and that it is most likely not a leukemia but a reaction to something else. However he was a general ER doctor and not a hematologist. He also told me that it is not very alarming to him but i should seek a hematologist.

Researching online i found out many things. Some good and some bad. But it is very confusing.

I suffer from a couple health problems and they ""could"" be related to this current condition somehow.

-Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism (autoimmune)

-Hypogonadism (low testosterone. In my case it is EXTREMELY low)

I also took all kinds of psychiatric meds for around 10 years. Pretty much i been on most meds. At very high doses, taking multiples at once for my depression/anxiety. There is 1 med (which was one of my last meds) that caused my hypothyroidism. And this same med is known for causing Leukocytosis (high WBC) and it also could be related to this current condition. This med is Lithium.

Lithium is known for causing High WBC and Lymphocytes are a part of it. However. I read it on a academic article on google that lithium actually tend to lower the lymphocytes and not raise it like in my case. I been having elevated WBC since i started lithium over 2 years ago. My WBC oscillates bellow 20000mm³ over the years but my lymphocytes have been slowly raising and not oscillating.

I been off lithium for about 4-6 months now so this high WBC is persisting after the medication.

I been treating my thyroid and it is controlled now.

I haven't treated my Testosterone yet.

It is Sunday today and I can't even make an appointment at a hematologist because most of doctors are not working today except in ERs where i live. I will have to wait to get a simply appointment at a specialist doctor. I dont know how i will handle my health anxiety until there. It is pretty bad right now and i am fearing for my life.

I dont know what to do about this. 

I spoke with my aunt today that work as a nurse, she didn't seemed alarmed and she asked 2 hematologists at her work about my case. They haven't seen me, all they know its the story. One of them said that is likely because of the Lithium. The other one said that it is likely because of my Testosterone.

However i think it is impossible to know for sure until they test my bone marrow.

This is my blood exam for reference(only showing elevated values, everything else is normal):

WBC: 14560mm³

Lymphocytes: 5242mm³

Monocytes: 1325mm³

For quick reference this is what a normal blood exam should look:

WBC: from 3500mm³ to 10500mm³

Lymphocytes: from 900mm³ to 3100mm³

Monocytes: from 200mm³ to 900mm³

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • george16226
    george16226 Vegas

    Posted

    Lithium drugs cause leukocytosis (not leukopenia as you read in that article )and hypothyroidism as side effects,so that is normal in your case.You should think about cancer when the leukocytes reach levels of 25 to 30000.In all other cases it is rarely cancer.Leukaemia cant be diagnosed only with blood test and to think about leukaemia you should have your WBC really high-as i said 30000.Also Hashimotto can cause increased WBC(although it is a rarely observed).
  • LS1979
    LS1979 Vegas

    Posted

    My sister had an extremely low testosterone level and had very similar psychological distress, such that you are having right now. Get that fixed and then retest your CBC to check for changes. But I agree with George, the numbers you’re sharing aren’t a concern, on their own. I’m an RN with a hematological disorder, in case you wonder if I’m qualified to give advice. I also have a psych degree. wink
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