Saturday, June 12, 2010

Folic acid

My white blood cell count has been low the past few months. So I figured this is why I got sick, (a sore throat/running nose etc) this past week. & before that was my ear infection. As I was googling I found that folic acid contributes to the production of white and red blood cells. & well I haven't been taking my folic acid. So I then realized I had caused this myself. This is what I THOUGHT! Buuuut a few days ago they said it was at a 3.5 and 3.8 is normal so it had went up on the last blood test. (The one i took before realizing i better start taking my folic acid again) So i'm not so sure anymore. Either way i'm back onto taking folic acid daily as well as a daily vitamin (the adult gummy ones! yum!) Other weird things that have been happening was that 2-3 weeks ago i started developing red marks of some sort on my hands, near the corner of my eyes and one on my chest. This was the main reason I was googling side effects of different things. I still don't know exactly what it is but it has been getting better since I started back on folic acid so I'll have to bring this up to my rheumy when I see him next month.

Other then that i'm still doing the syringes for my Enbrel and i'm still getting the site reactions :( red, puffy and itchy! *sigh* It's worth it right now though cause I have been feeling pain free lately.

On a brighter note I am going to disneyland & cali adventures with my boyfriend and my cousin and her man on the 21st. So we will get to see the new world of color! i'm so excited! :D

6 comments:

  1. Hi! Just to say I have joined your blog. I am Jenni, am now 34 and was dx with RA when I was 21. I live the other side of the atlantic to you but reading the blog makes me realise how similar some of our journeys are. I took Enbrel for a while and did pretty well on it although I got into trouble and had to stop it in the end. I am taking a brand new anti tnf now- you could read my blog about the dose no 1 when you get time and not off to exciting disney with your other half.

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  2. Thanks! Glad to have found yet another person to share experiences with.

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  3. Just a suggestion, research Enbrel a bit more... it dramatically reduces your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses and infections, which can contribute to your lowered white blood cell count. White blood cells are your front line defense for your immune system. Try weighing the pros and cons of this injection, and bring this up to your doctor.

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  4. He said Enbrel won't lower them, it doesn't work that way. It's a different process.But we are stopping Enbrel and MTX, take a look at my recent post. :(

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  5. let me repgrase he said it's extremly rare that it would happen, but it could be a possibility. I'm hoping that it's the medicine effecting me and not something else.

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