evening all
just wondered if anyone could give me some advice at all. Ive just had my most recent complete blood counts back and usually everything is ok. My last two blood tests (both at least 6 months apart) have shown a low lymphocyte count. I have been having alot of acid reflux/stomach issues of late and have had bad stomach pains with bowel issues and wondered would that cause these to be low or is this just a sjogrens thing and should i be concerned?
many thanks
I don't know-- but I do know that the gastro problems are related to Sjogren's. My rheumy kind of shrugs it off-- saying that "it's between you and your gastro doc and it's just IBS."
My gastro doc, though, is very "up" on Sjogren's and very sympathetic and proactive. I am about to go in next Wednesday for another endoscopy. My gastro doc says that my acid reflux has been so out-of-control-- even with meds for years, diet, and every trick in the book. He is worried that I have esophageal damage. He also said that he may have to insert a band around my stomach to keep the "stuff" in my stomach, because when I eat, it comes back up, acid and all. He said that this happens quite a bit with Sjogren's patients. I started on a new acid reflux drug, Dexilant, that is better for me than the Nexium, but not 100% successful.
I also have had severe uncontrollable diarrhea for years, but have that under control with a drug Lotronex-- never mind that it costs $1,300 :o My insurance pays all but $250.
I'm not sure what to tell you about your blood work. I want to say that i just read something about that and if I find it, I'll let you know. Hope you get some answers.
k, You are right about the gastric issues being from the sjogrens. We don't make enough saliva which is what dilutes the acid in our stomach. Our stomach acid is trying to eat a hole in our gut and in our esophagus. The esophagus is most likely a combination of the acid/reflux and neuropathy in the GI tract. There are so many issues that we have. I have had the gut pain for years. It always got worse when my lungs got worse. The doc told me my gut was from my asthma. Well, low and behold, both of them are related to the sjogrens that was recently diagnosed.
People with autoimmune diseases tend to have trouble with low lymphocyte counts. Mine are always low. Also, anemia is quite common. The low lymphocytes can also be related to immune deficiency that happens in people with autoimmune diseases. Sort of a tag along illness. Have they checked your IgG levels???? Go to http://www.primaryimmune.org to see what goes on with this problem. Do not panic as this does not mean you have this. But, it is good to see if you have positive blood work and symptoms that may substantiate the positive blood work.
With autoimmune it is always something. Irish ;D
Irish,
Just curious . . how is it that our stomachs are affected by our asthma? I do notice that the two do act up simultaneously, but I always assumed it was just because I was flaring.
Liz D.
Hi
I don't know if it's relevant or not because i've never been dxd with asthma. I have complained several times about a horrible, dry, squeaky cough that has developed. My GP thinks its caused by stomach acid getting into my upper respiratory tract. That seems to fit a bit with reflux and asthma.
Take care - Scottie :)
This was back before I was being diagnosed and my doc told me that my asthma was bad and that caused stress which made my stomach hurt. Never mind that I told him that I could feel the mucus in my lungs and he could not hear it.
This was all part of the sjogrens cause I frequently get the rattly thick mucus in my bronchial tubes that I can cough out if I take my fist and pound my back while I am coughing. Sort of hard to do but hubby will pound my back also at times.
I don't have bad asthma. It is the worst when weather is hot and humid. A high dew point will really bother me. My bronchials will sort of spasm on my but I am not a cougher. I think the asthma and the GERD are sort of like the chicken and the egg. Hard to tell sometimes what comes first. Irish ;D
Thanks, Scottie and Irish. My asthma is always worse in the cold weather and I tend to have many flares from September on as the weather changes.
So right now everything is acting up!! I am hoping when the temperature in Massachusetts becomes one basic temp instead of fluctuating all the time, I will feel better.
In the meantime, I am going to call the gastro and see why my stomach has been bothering me so much again.
Liz D.