WBC count

Hello. I am sorry about the diagnosis. I just wanted to share with you some things that we are going through. My husband was diagnosed with CLL. He has lived many years with it - without knowing. He was always tired but we just didn't know why. They never diagnosed him with it.

Well now he his WBC is over 80,000. So he is in the advanced stage of CLL and progressing rapidly.

If you would like to chat, I will be more than glad to listen.

Once again, I wish I never had to hear about cancer. I wish it didn't exist. Please reach out if you need someone. I may not have the answers but I will listen.

mathewnmn said:

thanks

Hello,

Thanks for replying to my post.   How old is your husband?   And how long do you think he had CLL without knowing?   Was his WBC monitored for awhile before you found out it was over 80,000?  

I found out last November that I had it, after my doctor noticed a trend in my bloodwork (for regular physicals).   I had been feeling tired a lot, but now it seems more often;  I am struggling with the feeling that it is all in my head.   I don't want to think that I am convincing myself that I am tired, that if I had the right attitude I would be okay.   I have read many people's posts on here, and many people say that attitude is very important.   So I have been trying to keep mine positive, but when I get off work I just don't want to do anything.   I am a teacher, and I feel like I can't get fired up, and be the kind of energetic person that the kids need.

Anyway, as of August, I was at 14.6, which isn't even that high, right?   So I just wanted to know if I was imagining all this, or if I need to think about early retirement and maybe doing something a little less stressful...

Again, thanks for writing.

Mathew

Hi Matthew,

So glad you replied. We are new to this crazy cancer thing. We only got his diagnosis in February of this year. So I may not be as strong as others who have been dealing with it for years.

I can tell you they always thought his tiredness and such was from his Chrones Disease. Well, part of it was. The part that was the CLL really was diagnosed almost 5 years ago - the doctors didn't think it was important enough to let us know. So now he's in the adavanced stages.

So we have gone all this time while he got worse. Makes a person's head spin! Right now we are both 47. And I will let you know that he will have me until the very end - no matter how hard things get. It may be hard for me to watch him waste away but it's harder for him because he is losing the battle.

The one thing I do get is support and encouragement from even the sickest people. I can't even imagine what it's like to be the one with cancer. And yet you see people thrive with these illnesses. Amazing.

I really believe that you did the right thing by becoming part of this Discussion Board. I didn't realize how many people care, even though you may never actually know them. And I will be there for you as well - even if it's just to talk about nothing -  I think that's just as important.

And don't diminsh you WBC. Take care of your self. Are you alone or do you have a lot of support? And kudos to you being a teacher. I have 2 teachers in my family and I think teachers are wonderful people.

Just don't lose hope. I know your thoughts must go all over the place. And they will. But anytime you want to just know someone is out there for you, think of me. I usually try to go on twice a week - I  am fairly new to this. I won't have all the answers but I am a good listener.

I will pray for you. Please keep in touch.