high white blood cell count

[kimmerz77]

Ok big question, How high is the normal white blood cell count when you have been sick alot. The reason I am asking is because I had a wellness screening done and my white blood cell count was 13.4, but I have been sick about 3 times this winter with sinus and ear infections and have seen the doctor and got on antibiotics, this last time I wasnt taking any antibiotics and felt better but I still had a high white blood cell count. Does that seem normal for getting over a cold? I am asking because I dont want to pay for another doctors visit if it is not needed?? The wellness test is something my work does if you want it and the results are mailed to you so all I got out of that was "go see a doctor". If you could add a little food for thought that would be so helpful

[revoltofagirl]

this probably isn't helpful so I hope someone who knows answers soon... but once I was at the doctor's for a UTI and he told me I had a lot of white blood cells and he commented that it was "odd" but then he never told me what it meant!! I'm hoping it's nothing bad (for either of us)

[Dana]

Originally Posted by kimmerz77

Ok big question, How high is the normal white blood cell count when you have been sick alot. The reason I am asking is because I had a wellness screening done and my white blood cell count was 13.4, but I have been sick about 3 times this winter with sinus and ear infections and have seen the doctor and got on antibiotics, this last time I wasnt taking any antibiotics and felt better but I still had a high white blood cell count. Does that seem normal for getting over a cold? I am asking because I dont want to pay for another doctors visit if it is not needed?? The wellness test is something my work does if you want it and the results are mailed to you so all I got out of that was "go see a doctor". If you could add a little food for thought that would be so helpful

Normal WBC's are 5,000-10,000. If you have recently been in the last 2 weeks or so, it may not be uncommon for your WBC to be elevated. Was that the only thing that was elevated? Usually there are more aspects of the count.... see any other values up?

I would have it rechecked in a month when you have been feeling well to document that it is back to baseline. HIGH white counts are a problem if there is no infection in the body that we are aware of.... you's is not that high but should be watched.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by revoltofagirl

this probably isn't helpful so I hope someone who knows answers soon... but once I was at the doctor's for a UTI and he told me I had a lot of white blood cells and he commented that it was "odd" but then he never told me what it meant!! I'm hoping it's nothing bad (for either of us)

Were the WBC's in your urine or blood? Big difference.

Likely it was your urine. If you were having UTI symptoms and you had WBC's in your urine that is VERY common and hopefully they treated you for your UTI. Sometimes women can have WBC's in their urine and it can be nothing. It just shows that maybe the woman didn't use those handy dandy little towels like we ask to wipe well with before peeing in the cup

[revoltofagirl]

yeah it was urine. good to know it's normal!
(and I did use those little towelettes I swear!) haha.

[kimmerz77]

I just double checked the paper work and my hematocrit was just a little high at 45 percent but it wasnt anything that they said I should be worried about.. thanks for the advice. does the combination of the two make a difference?

[kimmerz77]

Originally Posted by revoltofagirl

this probably isn't helpful so I hope someone who knows answers soon... but once I was at the doctor's for a UTI and he told me I had a lot of white blood cells and he commented that it was "odd" but then he never told me what it meant!! I'm hoping it's nothing bad (for either of us)

Thanks as well for your thought yes and hopefully it is nothing bad for either of us

[Dana]

Originally Posted by kimmerz77

I just double checked the paper work and my hematocrit was just a little high at 45 percent but it wasnt anything that they said I should be worried about.. thanks for the advice. does the combination of the two make a difference?

Hematocrit of 45 is just fine. That is more attached to Hemaglobin. It has nothing to do with the WBC.

Again, likely the WBC was elevated due to a recent infection. You should not have to be "reseen" just to get your blood checked, at least not in this situation. In this case, I would just mail you out another lab slip and have it rechecked. If you doc hasn't requested you get it redrawn, they must not be too concerned about it.

D