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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> High White Blood Cell Count
        
(Message started by: Braindead on Mar 18^th, 2008, 10:52pm)

Title: High White Blood Cell Count
Post by Braindead on Mar 18^th, 2008, 10:52pm

Since 2003 (only documented test timeline I have on record) I have had an elevated WBC up to 24,000 sometimes it's 16,000.

Once since 03 it was normal like 9,000. Ok so a little history, I have had CH every year for 15 years.

So my regular docs says I am concerned, so he sends me to a hematologist.

The hemo docs say the high WBC is from the adrenaline increase from fighting these clusters every night. Kind of like a bar fight per night.

That adrenaline he said makes the WBC go high in an effort to fight what’s next, which never happens cuz it's a cluster head not a bullet wound.

Does anyone else know of this?

Thanks in advance,

Denis

Title: Re: High White Blood Cell Count
Post by purpleydog on Mar 18^th, 2008, 11:50pm

Never heard of it. Although I've only been getting CH for 8 years now, been chronic for 4.

Being chronic, I have the luxury of getting hit multiple times daily. I've had some nasty mini-cycles, getting whacked every 90 minutes around the clock, with kip 9's and 10's. These have lasted from 20 hours to 4 days.

My white blood cell count has always been normal. I don't make an appt. to have one, but have had an appt. with my doc for other things, and mini-cycles or not, I've been fine. My neuro, who is pretty good, has never said anything about my blood count changing, or that it would change.

Quote:

That adrenaline he said makes the WBC go high in an effort to fight what’s next

.

I'm not a doctor, nor a hematologist, but it seems to me your WBC would only go up AFTER you have an infection of some kind. Not in anticipation of one. Go see another hematologist, and have your blood drawn. I have never heard of having a WBC count being high because of CH.

Title: Re: High White Blood Cell Count
Post by Braindead on Mar 19^th, 2008, 11:24pm

Thanks for the input. I asked this question on the mayo clinic web site. The answer just came back as yes it can elevate due to stress. Which I am certainly under an anormous amout during a hit. So that answer makes me feel better. Yes infection and a host of other things can do that as well.

Denis

Title: Re: High White Blood Cell Count
Post by MJ on Mar 20^th, 2008, 1:03am

I have heard this before.

It's my understanding that stress can indeed increase your white cell count, so can many medications.

Never had mine checked.

Its like the troops are massing at the border just in case something may go wrong.