Expert: John Pilcher, MD - 4/15/2010

Question
I just want to thankyou in advance for any information you can help me with.  I had RNY on July 5, 2005.  It was a diificult surgery for me because I lost a dramatic amount of blood due a miscommunication about medications I was taking (excedrin pm).  After my recovery, I was referred to a hematologist/oncologist to discover the reason and we determined that it was the aspirin in the excedrin.  Because my mother passed away due to Multiple Myeloma, he also tested me for that and it turned out that I have MGUS.  I've been monitored consistently for any changes and have been in the clear.  My last blood work (yesterday) showed a very low WBC (2.9) and a very low hemoglobin count.  I am trying to find out what is considered a "normal WBC" for a post surgical bariatric patient.  I also had total knee replacement surgery on March 2, 2010 - surgery went well and recovery has been excellent.
Again, I thank you for any information you can share with me.

Answer
Kitty,
Most of the time after a Gastric Bypass, the WBC count is in the usual normal range.  In other words, there is no different "normal" for gastric bypass patients.  Your low WBC might be just a random chance, or it may represent a nutritional deficiency, or a blood disorder.  Fortunately, with your recent hematologist workup I suspect that blood disorder is very unlikely.

I recommend you continue follow up with the hematology doctor, and probably also with your bariatric surgeon to look at your overall nutritional status.

Best of luck,
Dr JP