Low white blood cell count and stomach/abdominal pain

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

Hello everyone,

I am trying to figure out possible causes of my symptoms. I've seen different doctors for the past couple of months and have yet to figure out what is wrong. I started crossfit in May and have lost twenty pounds until my doctor advised me to stop exercising completely in late October due to much fatigue I have been experiencing, and continue to experience today, until we find out what is going on. I am a 22 year old male, weighing approximately 158 and am 6 feet tall.

In mid-July I was started to feel a lot of discomfort in my stomach and abdominal area along with nausea, bloating, and constipation. It got worse after eating. All the symptoms left in early August but then came back in early September. So, I went to my family care doctor and he ex-rayed my stomach to show that there was air in my colon. He then referred me to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist checked for blood in my feces and there was none and he did a CBC and CMP blood test. The only thing that came back wrong was a low white blood cell count. So for the next month, my family care doctor ordered three more CBC tests, along with a SED Rate test, Peripheral Smear (immaturity not observed), CRP C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, Parvovirus, IRON AND TBC, HIV, HEPATITIS PANEL ACUTE, EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS, and COMP METABOLIC PANEL blood tests. Everything was normal and good except that my white blood cell count values were low from 2.8-3.8 during that time, a high monocyte percentage of 11.8, and it was noted I have bilirubinemia. Through much of October and early November my symptoms went away again except for the fatigue but now I am experiencing much of the same symptoms again.

As of last week I was referred to a hematologist and he took my blood in four or five tubes. I go back in mid-December to see what he says.

The hematologist also asked me to go to a gi doctor while I wait so I did today. My gastrointestinal doctor said it was mostly out of his hands because all my blood tests only show a low white blood cell count. So, he put me on two medicines to help me use the restroom (#2) more frequently.

Could anyone lead me to possible causes of the low white blood cell count with the stomach/abdominal pain and the fatigue? I am quite nervous about what it could be because at this point I have no clue. Any help is appreciated. Thanks! 

2

Hi Tyler,

I am sorry to hear about this. I also have a low blood count and was trying to find out what was causing it, so after about five years a new doctor recommended a bone marrow test. That test revealed I had cll leukemia. Then Iater on I started a rash and I am still trying to find out the cause of that. My allergy test revealed that I am highly allergic. What I did that really help me was to change my diet. I stopped eating processed sugar, drink plenty of water, exercise daily and eliminated gluten. This has helped be feel much better. I suggest you might ask for an allergy test and maybe a bone marrow test. Good luck to you Terry!

3

Hi Tyler,

II'm experiencing the same issues. I am a 21yrs old female and i have also been to the doctors about pain in my stomach/abdomen alongside nausea, bloating, and constipation. The doctors did a blood test and everything came out fine apart from... I also had a low white blood cell count! The doctor told has got me an appointment to have an ultrasound scan on my abdomen. I'm still waiting to receive a letter with my appointment date. But in the meantime, I wondered if you had any luck finding out the causes of your stomach/abdominal pain and low white blood cell count? It would be really helpful to know what is causing this as it has been going on for a long time and it does affect my life daily as I'm always worried that another episode might happen while I'm out or at work. 

Thanks, Lydia 

4

Hello Tyler and Lydia- my 21 year old son has the same symptoms as both of you. He has had a colonoscopy, cat scan and endoscopy and was told that his tummy is fine. He get bad gas and stomach pain when he eats and has lost lots of weight. He was told his white cell count was low and he has to go see a hematologist. He was totally fine until he got a bad stomach flu 2 years ago

5

Hi Tina, I’m sorry to hear your son is going though the same thing.  After having different tests and scans and finding nothing but low white blood cells my doctor is writing to the hematologist for advice on what could be wrong with me. Has your son been to see a hematologist? I would really like to know if you have been given a diagnostic as it would be really helpful for my own. 

Thanks, Lydia x 

6

Hi Lydia,

My son has an appointment with the hematologist tomorrow. He has started taking Metamucil every night and that has helped his tummy quite a bit.

7

HI again Tina, my hematologist hasn’t answered my doctors letter for advice yet. I was wondering what your son was told by his hematologist? 

Thanks, lydia 

8

Hi, I was wondering if anyone found anything out. My 10 year old son has the same symptoms. He goes to see a Hemoglobin specialist on Thursday. Any one find anything that gives relief to the stomach pain? He has been pain free for almost 2 weeks so I was hoping if was getting better but the stomach pain is back and I don't know what to do to help it. TIA.

9

Hi Lydia the Hematologist ran a bunch of tests and confirmed that he did not have any type of blood disorder. Still not sure what is causing this

10

The nightly Metamucil and small frequent meals helped my son a lot. Still not sure what is causing this

11

My daughter,18, has been having similar problems compounded by a low WBC.  Just starting on this journey and I feel a bit overwhelmed.  She has had an irritated stomach on and off for about a year.  Symptoms are gas, bloating, pain after eating ( especially a large meal), pain can get really localized and it can be all over her abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite.  We found the Low WBC when we brought her to the ER to rule out gallstones.  Now we are off to GI clinic and more blood work follow up.  She also has a swollen lymph on her neck.  Advise?

12

Hi Amy, 

My son’s symptoms started 2 years ago after a bad stomach bug. He has dropped over 100 pounds. ( He was chubby so he did need to lose weight) he has had upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, his liver and gall bladder ultrasound, catscans and biopsies. 

He also went to a hematologist and had tests due to his low white blood cell count. 

All of the tests were negative. The hematologist said the low white blood cell count could be from taking Nexium.

He had the exact same symptoms as your daughter.  I have heard many cases of this among 18-22 year olds. It makes me wonder.

Did your daughters symptoms begin after a stomach flu?

13

My child has been having stomach pains and sickness and has been having low white cells for the last few months now and theyve been ruling things out but still no answers which is so frustrating. Any andvice on what youve all been told. Hes lost a lot of weight too. 

14

After many tests they ruled out crohns, diverticulitis, colitis, leukemia, celiacs and diabetes. It has been shown that his digestion is extremely slow. He takes 2 T of Metamucil at night and eats small frequent meals.

This has helped a lot. Still wondering what caused this.

15

Theyve done those tests on my child and have ruled out most of them. Its so frustrating not knowing the cause. its awful watching a child be ill but seems quite healthy. I'm hoping to get some answers this week fingers crossed.

16

Let me know what you find out.  Praying you get answers.

17

Have been told that white blood cells of 2.8 is nothing to worry about and they thinks that its acid reflux.

18

Pretty much the same story with my son, but he still has tummy issues

19

I've been told to take him back for more bloods to be lestes in a few weeks. I'm hoping these meds will work but I'm not 100% convinced with their decision though. If je gets ill in the mean time I will be taking him straight back. also waiting to be seen at the hospital again for further tests.

20

I also got low white blood cell count this time around last blood test 8-14-2018. It was fine in January15-2018 and now its low .

I been diagnosed with IBS and sibo .

I had gastritis and took a PPI from October to June . Wonder if it has anything to do with it ?

I had nausea, bloating and constipation. Since my gastritis healed I no longer have nausea but still have occasion bloating and constipation on and off.

I am in a low fodmap diet for my IBS.

Please if anyone gets an answer keep me informed.