I have been having some very strange blood test results as of lately, in fact it's been going on for years just not as frequent.

First let me say I do suffer from a rare genetic disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome, I also have severe Osteo arthritis in my knees, hip, back, neck, shoulders and hands. I also suffer from IBS and Microcytic Colitis. Furthermore I never heal right.

Each time I see my physician or rhuematologist (about every 3 months) I have a bloodcount and ana done. Every time I have this done my white blood cell is elavated, it's not by a large amount but elevated none the less but I do not feel sick at all. My GP will usually gives me a dose of anitibotics to bring the count down and recheck in 6 weeks. Upon rechecking my count the white is down and the red goes up. This is happening more and more frequently.

Now my GP swears it is because I smoke, and this might be true, however, my father has the exact same problem and has never smoked a day in his life and is probably one of the most healthy people I know. My GP doesn't want to hear any of this and continues to insist that's my problem, but it does not explain why my white count is always out of wack.

I'm not sure what it is or what to do. I'd like to see someone else for a second opinion as my GP has been incorrect on diagnoses two times recently(she's a great person but lately her record is diminishing, time to find a new doc). The problem is what type of doctor do I see?

Thanks!

I have been having some very strange blood test results as of lately, in fact it's been going on for years just not as frequent.

First let me say I do suffer from a rare genetic disorder called Ehlers Danlos syndrome, I also have severe Osteo arthritis in my knees, hip, back, neck, shoulders and hands. I also suffer from IBS and Microcytic Colitis. Furthermore I never heal right.

Each time I see my physician or rhuematologist (about every 3 months) I have a bloodcount and ana done. Every time I have this done my white blood cell is elavated, it's not by a large amount but elevated none the less but I do not feel sick at all. My GP will usually gives me a dose of anitibotics to bring the count down and recheck in 6 weeks. Upon rechecking my count the white is down and the red goes up. This is happening more and more frequently.

Now my GP swears it is because I smoke, and this might be true, however, my father has the exact same problem and has never smoked a day in his life and is probably one of the most healthy people I know. My GP doesn't want to hear any of this and continues to insist that's my problem, but it does not explain why my white count is always out of wack.

I'm not sure what it is or what to do. I'd like to see someone else for a second opinion as my GP has been incorrect on diagnoses two times recently(she's a great person but lately her record is diminishing, time to find a new doc). The problem is what type of doctor do I see?

Thanks!
1. An elevated lymphocyte count is indeed a product of cigarette smoking. The neutrophil count specifically is raised by 1000 cells for each pack per day a person smokes.

2. As a person ages, the white blood cell count is supposed to drop a little percentage wise if there are no mitigating factors of infection or cigarette smoking. The body does not know the difference between simple inflammation and infection until the infection is way out of control.

3. Almost any doctor can tell you this information and a hematologist will probably tell you the same thing your doctor told you.

4. You have to consider what you would do with the information if you were told something different than you have been told at this point. Will it make your life better to believe something different. Will there be a way that you will expect to feel if the doctor you now have turns out to be telling you the complete truth.

5. The main thing you have to decide is what are you hoping to gain from this information and then seek out the opinion of a specialist in either hematology, or immune disorders.

Thanks for the advice. As I indicated, yes the red issue could be due to smoking but however my father does not smoke, never did his entire life, and he has the exact same problem. So it struck me as really odd. My red count was 20,000 over what the norm is at my last check. If smoking one pack per day only raises it on average by 1k, then where are the other 19k coming from?

I do have some problems with my immune system, part of having Ehlers Danlos Sydrome and that could also be a factor with the white count being high.

Unfortunately no, my doctor did not explain that white count could be related to smoking, she in fact was quite disturbed by it and immediately put me on antibiotics. This has been the trend with her for many years. In fact when I asked why does this keep happening to me she just brushes me off. If I keep getting infections wouldn't it be wise to find out why? I have many artificial joints, an infection can be fatal if not caught in time. I nearly died at the age of 9 when a sudden infection set in after a rejection to a prothesis.

So therein lies the problem, I am doubting what she says anymore about anything because of the treatment I have been given in the past and wanted to be sure that it in fact was correct.

I do hope you get good answers to your questions and that you get peace of mind about this.

I can see why you are concerned and looking for a second opinion.

It is true what Marimac said about the smoking causing this however I, myself, find it rather strange that your father has the same problem and doesn't smoke.
Is it possible your Ehlers Danlos Sydrome could have some factor in this?

I was kinda thinking it could be genetic since both yourself and your father have this problem. Blood disorders can sometimes mess around with your cells as they have done with my father. (I wouldnt take me 100% on this tho).

I would want to know why you keep being given Antibiotics and not being told why or where the infection is. I think maybe you should start demanding your doctor listens or stick to your original idea and get a second opinion. Second opinions are usually the best thing to do as there is the chance this second doctor will tell you a lot more than the one you use now.

Also, try doing some research on your syndrome and see if there is any records of the red and white cells being affected by this.

Im sorry I couldn't help you more. :)