Dumb questions about my onco. visit

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Suzybelle
Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Okay, I know this is not the forum for this, but I have gotten so comfy here I can't branch out.  Undecided

Went to the onco. today for my regular 6 mo. visit.  I have an appt. with a pulmonologist on 1/3 because I'm coughing my guts out, am short of breath, and my primary care doc. says I have adult onset asthma.  I have never had asthma in my life before now and before this year, ran 30+ miles a week, but hey...with Tamox. and bc, anything is possible.  SOOOOO my onco. checks me out, listens to my breathing, does the bloodwork, and tells me I'm good to go.  But now he's got me coming back in 4 months vs. my regular 6 months and I looked at my bloodwork when I left and the GRA% has jumped over 10%. 

Is this normal?  My chest x-ray I had a month ago was clear...I'm just confused and trying to get to the bottom of this.  I hate being a nerd with an inhaler but it beats the alternatives...

Answers?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller????

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  • lisa-e
    lisa-e Member Posts: 819
    edited December 2010

     My dh was mis-diagnosed with asthma after he had pneumonia.   He saw a pulmonologist who correctly diagnosed him as having chronic bronchitis, secondary to the pneumonia.  His medication was changed and he recovered completely.  On  the other hand my dad does have adult onset asthma.  His major syptom is coughing.  So it is good you are seeng a pulmonogist.

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited December 2010

    Suzy,

    I believe %GRA=granulocytes, which are a type of white blood cell--it would have been on your CBC, and it will go up with stress, infection and steroid use (like symbicort). Nothing to worry about. When in doubt, get a copy of your labs and make the onc go through them with you, line by line.

    I think the onc is just being cautious and wants to see how you're doing.

    Things to think about: adult pertussis (whooping cough) is very, very common--that's why the new tetanus shots have pertussis in them--DTaP--and it's the "cough of 100 days". Early on, you can get special testing where they shove a special q-tip up your nose to diagnose it, but the diagnosis is tougher later in the course. When you diagnose/suspect it, you treat with azithryomycin or another drug in that class--but it doesn't decrease the symptoms, just makes you less infective.

    The pulmonologist visit can't come soon enough.

    My asthma showed up in my 30's and is usually quiet, but can act up with an illness. 

    If the %GRA bothers you--maybe ask the onc if it is granulocytes.

    Kira

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited August 2013

    Suzy--one more thing, if GRA=granulocytes, 10% is low--so more are lymphocytes. They break the white count into the various components: granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosiinophils, etc.

    Here's a link to pertussis info at Mayo Clinic :

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445

    Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough. 

    Just a thought, let's see what the expert says.

    Kira

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  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited December 2010

    Thanks, guys.  I am actually cool with waiting to see what the pulmonologist says...I'm not 'that' worried and am just going to let it go until the 3rd (day of my appointment) and enjoy my holidays. 

    It would be just like me to have something stupid like whooping cough.  Tongue out

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