I can understand why you would be concerned. Hopefully the. Dr will get back to you very soon. Please let us know what the dr says.

I had a bunch of my blood work come back high. I didn't get a call, so I went in and asked my doctor. He said the numbers weren't high enough to be significant.

I am not sure what your results mean, but there is only one way to find out, and that is to go see your doctor. My feeling, is that if it was serious, they would have called you already. But it never hurts to check up!

So I finally got an answer back from the dr office today about my labs I asked about and the pain I've been having behind my knees. He said the Rituxan should not have been causing the reduction in WBC. He said it is probably from the Arava I had been taking up until August. The documentation I've read says both drugs can do it.

He also said I can make an appt for an mri of my knees although ins probably covers only one knee so I have to decide which one hurts the most. It just drains me to think of this mri and a new problem to focus on plus another set of infusions coming up next mo a 4 hr drive away! And I'm looking for a part time job, I need the income. Hope I can handle it.

Thanks for listening and caring...

Thanks buddhacat! Yes, the plan will be to stay on top of these things. His nurse said they will draw blood when we do the infusion. So we'll see on that.

TTP is short for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Another autoimmune disease but of the blood. Affects the body's reticulocytes, their shape and count and platelets, etc. Then all heck breaks loose in the body. Can be very deadly and almost was. It's why anything out of the ordinary makes me jump. 33% of people within 10 yrs will relapse; it's been 18 yrs for me so far. But my RA is my 4th autoimmune disease! Ughh!

I was seeing a hematologist after that for a long time but I suppose I will go back if the rheumy sees the need.

I know someone who was on remicade for many yrs and is now in remission. But he doesn't speak highly of it. And it seems that Arava is a pretty harsh drug for most, I know I will not go back to it. But, the alternatives are just as bad

Oh, btw, I don't use NSAIDs at all. None. I do take hydrocodone for my pain but I remember my pcp telling me one time it would be best not to take NSAIDs. Must have something to do with my other illnesses. I do stick by Rituxan, it has saved me before and I'm counting on it now!!

Thanks for the comments and advice....

Hey, just remember the labs are one thing but it's important to look at your symptoms as well. Are you showing signs of increased bleeding? Brusing alot more, bleeding gums that don't stop within a normal time.. Etc
As well as your vitals , blood pressure and pulse normal? do you have a fever? Chills? Signs of infection?.. They take that into consideration as well :)
Goodluck!

Hi RAsucks....and omg it sure does. Thank you for those points you are right maybe that is something I just had not considered.

No chills or fever. I don't have any gum bleeding or anywhere else but I have always bruised quite easily. The only thing on your list that is constantly bothering me is my racing heart. I do have hbp but he knows and whenever they take my vitals my heart rate is high too. So, I guess it's not new. It concerns me because where does that come from, the RA? I'm not overweight, my bmi is 19. Lack of decent excercise I suppose.

I think I'm going to need another med added and I'm afraid if my labs look like this we may not be able to. Or even if we do, it's going to just make me feel so much worse with side effects again. And have my hair fall out again. For the past mo, I've been in a medium flare and I've just been waiting on these infusions coming up. I hope it'll be enough.

Thanks for commenting! And I hope you are doing well too!