Had my CBC done again today, with continuing low results. In fact after they did the quick count in Sleepy Hollow, the nurse called Dr. Klimek, the hematologist, in NY for instructions.
The testing done in Sleepy Hollow is not as accurate as the counts done later in the day at Sloan Kettering in Manhattan. The first count of my absolute neutrophils came in at 0.6, just above the danger zone of 0.5, and well below the normal low level of 1.5. They then re-ran the test and came up with a abs. neut. of 1.1 and a total white count of 1.7 (low normal is 4.0).
So they called Klimek to see if I should get another shot of the white blood cell booster, neulasta. I had seen her last Friday Tom Faranda’s Folly: Health Update and even though my counts were low then, she decided not to give me the neulasta and see what would happen (the last neulasta I got was on March 8th – so five weeks ago). And today she again said let’s not give the booster.
Later in the day Dr. Klimek’s nurse called me and said the NY results (more accurate) showed a WBC of 1.6 and abs. neut’s of 0.7. This is down from last week’s counts of 2.8 and 1.1. They still want to see how I do without the neulasta, but if I get a fever, etc, etc, to call Dr. Klimek and/or go down to the Sloan Kettering Urgent Care area in New York.
This is all fine with me. I feel good – sinusitis seems over – and am having good workouts in the gym. So I am happy with doing nothing.
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