This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

I am having a lot of medical issues and whatever is causing it is causing some heart strain and feeling out of breath. Completly taking a toll on my body, super exhausted, just finished a zpack and still experiencing difficulties and failing nuerological exams such as horizontal nastagmus and hyperflexia as well as when one leg kicks the other one does too. Also brain scan came back with white spots on frontal lobe even though in 2013 brain scan was clear..one taken last week did show white spots on frontal lobe..legs stop working sometimes snd start iut with uncontrollable shaking/jerking and even jumping but no answers what that could be yet. For now though, Does anyone know what causes chronic high WBC's for a period of several months? (Leukocytes, Neutrophils, monocytes & immature granulocytes), i have checked into a blog for this but have had a hard time getting any real insight and my doctor has just retired so not sure how to have this monitored all over again like they asked and have to start all over again. Not getting any real answers and feeling really frustrated. Please let me know if you may know anything about why... Thank you. I would REALLY appreciate some info on this, please. Please. Please & thank you!!!

maria3698 wrote:For now though, Does anyone know what causes chronic high WBC's for a period of several months? (Leukocytes, Neutrophils, monocytes & immature granulocytes)

I ma not a doctor, and have no specific knowledge on the top[ic, but, it sounds to me like an effect/process related to the immune actions of MS. My thinking stems from the fact that Gylenya is thought to work by lowering the circulating WBC. I am on Gylenya, and I have a very low WBC; as they are trapped in my Lymph nodes. again. not as a doctor, but it would sound to me that you may be a good res ponder / candidate for Gylenya.

I appreciate your insight thank you. Wish these doctors had better answers but they arent neurologists so it isnt their area of expertise & i am getting in pretty quick to see a neuroligist who will be able to give better answers...i guess but I cant understand why a blood result is that difficult to give insight on from an urgent care & an MD..it is easy for them to call me and say needs to be monotored & when they call to tell you something wrong but cant answer your questions or give insight it will only raise more questions they have no answers to. Vicious cycle. Smh. I will keep in mind what you said & see if that could be an option.. Thanks again.

Have you been tested for Lyme Disease or any other chronic infections?

i am not a doctor so i am not really sure if a complete CBC test, tests for those things or not but they did do a complete CBC & tested my thyroid also. All fine. Only bloodwork that came back with anything is the WBC's which is at 11.5 and they said is around 3 or something like that is the norm. My memiry & cognative ability is not the same either so I apologize. They did say i have low pattasium but nothing a banana a day cant fix...There is a node on the side of my neck that is still very swollen and painful so they tested the thyroid just in case. I do have the gene for Ankolosing spondilitis and my Rhumotologist seems to suspect i have ut but the neuro problems have nothing to do with it. I did have a horrible side effect to Lyrica in the middle of all this and wonder if it caused more issues for me. My throat tightened up almost shut, couldnt swollow hardly even water & pilks got stuck in throat. Had horrible constipation with upper quadrants not moving at all, then once that cleared a vein burst & lost roughly 1.5 cups of blood, they said it was an internal hemmeriod but never had isdues with hemmroids before so I am pretty sure Lyrica caused that issue too. The whole GI tract was super inflamed from throat down. They other issues had been going on long before but body is super stressed tired fighting whatever this is. BP goes crazy and jumps 150's, 140's, 130's, and then sometimes still reads my norm 120's. Im totally dizzy & can nit climb our stsirs anymore without feeling strained in the heart as if my body is tired enough and just about anything is too much

I also have burning pain in most of the spine, a pinced nerve and protruding disks in my cervical spine. My lumbar region has been giving me lots of issues since it was injured when i was deployed. There are protruding disks there and there is some sort of ripped spinal fissure and narrowing of the nerve root there which when inflamed gets irritated more. I have resting tremors from God knows what and Clonus as well. All of that said and all if those answers and tedt results leave me more confused than where I started. Feeling really hopeless and frustrated. I almost wonder if the Anthrax vaccines are what caused this also. Those were quick and new on the market when they gave them to our deploying military & i had a quarter size ball shaped knot, in the back if my arm at the i jection site that lasted several weeks. This only happened to one other military member, in our battalion, no one else seemed to have reacted to it the way her and i did.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, maria3698.

Since vitamin D is needed by almost every cell and system in the human body, symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency can be all over the map. I have seen one list of vitamin D deficiency symptoms that includes:

1. Chronic Pain
2. Muscle Weakness
3. Skin Itchiness
4. Constant Overtiredness
5. Depression
6. Sweaty Head
7. Flu/Respiratory Infections
8. High Blood Pressure or Heart Disease
9. Chronic Kidney Disease
10. Constant Infections
11. Asthma Attack
12. Chronic Gum Disease (Swollen, Bleeding Gums)

Adults with high blood pressure tend to have lower vitamin D levels. Since your BP has been an issue, this indicates a need to test vitamin D – it does not mean that treating with supplemental vitamin D would necessarily normalize BP, although I think it might.

Gut problems are common with vitamin D deficiency Inflamed bowels may not absorb vitamin D efficiently; and, vitamin D is known to reduce inflammation.

Vitamin D is crucial for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland – your doctors suspected the thyroid and tested, just in case. A vitamin D deficiency may be affecting your thyroid, but it may be too early to show up with thyroid testing.

Vitamin D deficiency usually results in neurological symptoms; because vitamin D is involved in the relaxation of muscles, symptoms of a deficiency include cramping and constriction of blood vessels.

There is even a connection between ankylosing spondylitis and vitamin D deficiency.

If a simple vitamin D blood test (the "25-hydroxy D test") has not been done, I suggest that you:
1. See your GP or any of your doctors and ask for this test (do not take any supplementation before you are tested).
2. Make sure they order the correct test. It is the 25(OH)D test (a.k.a. 25-hydroxy D test). This is not a routine, standard test – it must be specifically requested.
3. In your CBC (Complete Blood Count), there is usually a line for your calcium level; if this was not tested, you should also have your serum calcium levels checked. Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium.
4. Ask for your own copy of all the test results, make sure they give you the actual figures.

In my opinion (I am not a doctor), all your symptoms could be related to vitamin D deficiency. A test is relatively inexpensive (about $50-$70 out-of-pocket, if your health insurance doesn't cover it); it is a simple blood test; it can reveal important information.

Please let us know how it goes.

Thank you so much and i will definitly do that.. I do have a calcium of 9.9 and shiws within standard range.. & i guess WBC is 13.5 not 11.5

I can look up my chart app and see blood test results and urine results so if you have any questions and i can answer them i will try