CBC Tracking/Graphing Excell Spreadsheet

[Data]

Hello,
I started tracking my CBC results when I noticed a decline in a few parameters (RBCs, WBCs, Platelets, etc.). I made the attached spreadsheet and thought some of the folks on this forum might find it helpful.

First of all the data in the spreadsheet is just bogus data to illustrate the functions. As you enter a CBC result under the correct date it will indicate whether the value is above or below the normal values with an up or down arrow in the cell. You can change the low and high for each CBC parameter. As you enter successive values for a CBC parameter the graph will give you a visual presentation of the data over time. It is useful for seeing levels that are trending down or up or a spike at some point in time.

The graph will keep track of WBCs (Leukocytes), RBCs (Erythrocytes), Hemoglobin, Platelets, Hematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume. The WBCs, RBCs, and Hemoglobin are in red and tracked on the left Y axis. The Platelets, Hematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume are in green and are tracked on the right axis. Both axis are set to auto range. The X axis (date) will also auto range.

The spreadsheet was created in Excel 2010 and does not use any macros.

I hope this will be helpful.

Data

[edithr]

Very cool. I don't see a row for WBC, I'm sure I'm just missing it?

I was convinced for a long time that there was some kind of correlation between the values, so I tracked them. I've also plugged them into a Google Drive spreadsheet and used the widget to bounce on them thru time, it was cool to look at (like a roller coaster lol) but not very useful.

I wonder if we should add rows for bone marrow biopsy results to track those?

Thanks for sharing.

[Data]

Originally Posted by edithr

Very cool. I don't see a row for WBC, I'm sure I'm just missing it?

I was convinced for a long time that there was some kind of correlation between the values, so I tracked them. I've also plugged them into a Google Drive spreadsheet and used the widget to bounce on them thru time, it was cool to look at (like a roller coaster lol) but not very useful.

I wonder if we should add rows for bone marrow biopsy results to track those?

Thanks for sharing.

Leukocytes are also known as White Blood Cells.

Thanks

Data

[MissDaisy]

Originally Posted by Data

Hello,
I started tracking my CBC results when I noticed a decline in a few parameters (RBCs, WBCs, Platelets, etc.). I made the attached spreadsheet and thought some of the folks on this forum might find it helpful.

First of all the data in the spreadsheet is just bogus data to illustrate the functions. As you enter a CBC result under the correct date it will indicate whether the value is above or below the normal values with an up or down arrow in the cell. You can change the low and high for each CBC parameter. As you enter successive values for a CBC parameter the graph will give you a visual presentation of the data over time. It is useful for seeing levels that are trending down or up or a spike at some point in time.

The graph will keep track of WBCs (Leukocytes), RBCs (Erythrocytes), Hemoglobin, Platelets, Hematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume. The WBCs, RBCs, and Hemoglobin are in red and tracked on the left Y axis. The Platelets, Hematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume are in green and are tracked on the right axis. Both axis are set to auto range. The X axis (date) will also auto range.

The spreadsheet was created in Excel 2010 and does not use any macros.

I hope this will be helpful.

Data

How timely that I found your post tonight. I was discussing this with my hubby to see if he would create a spreadsheet to track my labs.

I don't have anything seriously wrong with me, but I am diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia. I am not neutropenic at the moment but I do have times when I am.

I will take a look at your spreadsheet and thank you for all your hard work.

MissDaisy

[Data]

Originally Posted by MissDaisy

How timely that I found your post tonight. I was discussing this with my hubby to see if he would create a spreadsheet to track my labs.

I don't have anything seriously wrong with me, but I am diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia. I am not neutropenic at the moment but I do have times when I am.

I will take a look at your spreadsheet and thank you for all your hard work.

MissDaisy

Miss Daisy,
I hope the spreadsheet helps and I hope they find the reason for your neutropenia. Don't you just love it when the medical profession comes up with a fancy name for "I don't know". There have been time when wish I could have told the commander we just had an "idiopathic 4-hour network outage". I am sure I would have had an "idiopathic pink slip".

Best of luck

Data

[triumphe64]

I've been going to various doctors for nine and a half years. My only regret is knowing to start one of these. Even If you don't change doctors, they may change where they work or their systems.

You need to be your own advocate.

[MissDaisy]

Originally Posted by Data

Miss Daisy,
I hope the spreadsheet helps and I hope they find the reason for your neutropenia. Don't you just love it when the medical profession comes up with a fancy name for "I don't know". There have been time when wish I could have told the commander we just had an "idiopathic 4-hour network outage". I am sure I would have had an "idiopathic pink slip".

Best of luck

Data

Thanks! Data,

Having CIN (yes I am a CINNING woman ) is far better than MDS. I have the whisperings of such, and one hem doc who I did not trust mentioned MDS/pre-leukemia, but fortunately all my bloodlines except one have remained fairly stable. I did have anemia and neutropenia for a brief period but that has stabilized. My monocytes and platelets are slowing trending downward but I am within normal range. Your chart will help see trends, and hopefully help my doc figure this out.

I do love my family doc as when he delivered the DX he said it was called "idiot"pathic meaning doctors don't know.

MD

[Cheryl C]

MissDaisy - I had chronic idiopathic neutropenia for 6-7 years before being diagnosed with MDS so it's certainly worth setting up a sheet and monitoring your trends. Have been tracking my key results on a spreadsheet which averages each year's results since diagnosed with MDS, and find it very useful. If I'd done it earlier I might have picked up the downward spiral sooner.

[MissDaisy]

Thanks Cheryl for your reply. I'm sorry you converted to MDS and it's something my family doc monitors. I've been truly fortunate as I've been holding my own since 2006. My monocytes have been dropping slightly but my WBC is at 3.2. The highest it's been in years.

I'd love to read more about your experiences as there seems to little information and even fewer people I've "met" online like us.

[Cheryl C]

MissDaisy - the good thing is that I don't get any more infections than I did when I was only chronically neutropenic, and my white cells were higher than now. In fact I handle infections better now than I did then because I've learned what I can do to try and knock them on the head quickly. Some history:

My MDS arrived after a few years of chronic idiopathic neutropenia, some time between a 2008 bone marrow biopsy and the Sep 2011 one which showed 10% blasts in marrow and 9% in peripheral blood. My specialist thinks I had had MDS for about 2 years when diagnosed.

I had become increasingly unwell for about 18 mths before being diagnosed and just thought I must be getting too old for my very full-on job and it must be time to retire. My symptoms were frequent feelings of shakiness in my legs, a thumping heart especially when lying down, vague nausea esp in the morning, tiredness, sometimes feeling that I was about to 'black out', and more frequent and severe infections. When I look back I don't know why I didn't ask my GP more questions! He monitored my neutropenia via 3-monthly pathology tests and I think he had got used to my results and didn't pick up that there was more going on even though I often had macrocytes ++, anicytosis +, and other abnormal comments over that time period.

It was only after I had severe bacterial bronchitis while travelling overseas in Jul 2011 and decided to take advantage of a free work medical subsequently that it was discovered that my platelets had dropped below normal as well. As a result my GP ordered a BMB via the haematologist and the MDS was discovered along with hypogammaglobulinaemia. A transplant was decided on as my older brother is compatible but I became uncomfortable about the idea and started to pray that if I wasn't meant to have it my blast cells would drop. That's what happened over the next month or so, and although I still have MDS with all 3 cell lines affected (mainly white cells) my blasts have remained in normal range since then. I am so grateful for that!

Going back to when I only had neutropenia, I have often wondered if my immune system was damaged when I had malaria (falciparum type) in the Solomon Islands back in 1998 and then again in 2002. After the 1998 episode I had UTIs for months afterwards. After the bout in 2002 I had boils for about 6 months (staph infection). From 2003 onwards I seemed to be more prone to infections and the chronic neutropenia was diagnosed in 2006. I can't point to anything else that could cause the problems in my blood.

Anyway that's some of my story. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have if you think I can help you. Knowledge is power!

[Tom C]

Hi Cherl C-I found your post regarding malaria interesting as I have been on high does of chloroquine an antimalarial for MDS-RARS. I've never had malaria by the way. There are a couple of studies that showed some promise with MDS. My Hemoglobin went from 6.8 to 9.0, but has since dropped to 6.9. There are some side effects with chloroquine...it can cause blindness, GI issues, and it bleached my hair blonde-better than the gray it once was

[Cheryl C]

How interesting, Tom. I've never heard of chloroquine being used as treatment for MDS-RARS. What component/s in this drug helps RARS?

I was given Larium to treat my malaria in 1998 and had every side effect in the book - it was horrendous. By 2002 I had done my research and took Artimisia which had no discernible side effects and killed the parasites just as quickly.

I'm wondering if there is any chemical similarity between artimisia and chloroquine. Because chloroquine is the cheapest it's the drug of choice for malaria treatment in the Solomon Islands but I've seen so many of the local people suffering from the side effects so I can understand your concerns.

[PamMc]

Thank you DATA! I made a new spreadsheet with graphs a few weeks ago before going to see my doctor. I had a sudden, but not serious drop in my WBC. Lowest I had ever had, but as I said not bad. When I showed my primary she was very impressed. I've been tracking for 18 years now. Platelets have been low that long. White cells started in about 5 years ago. I never go into normal range anymore, and rarely did with platelets. This has been a wait and watch forever.

I'm having some new things happening lately and wonder if any of you have experienced this. I'm having times were I feel as if I am running a fever, but the few times I was able to check it appeared I didn't. I'm also having this horrible shaky, jittery feeling that lasts hours. Thought it might be blood sugar and would eat something, but that doesn't help. Lying down and resting doesn't help. It's wearing me out and I'm tired a lot lately.

I am on no medications. I had my gallbladder taken out last August, have an inflamed stomach, and had lots of problems before gallbladder out (pancreatitis attacks). I'm only 54. I felt great after surgery and even noticed I was dancing with my grandchildren again, but now I just don't feel good a lot of the time. I've also noticed some pain from where the incision was made for taking the gallbladder out at the site of the gallbladder. Surgery was 6 months ago. Could an infection take that long to show? Then again, I don't feel pain as intensely as others might.

I am a positive person and very upbeat, but have wondered if it could be stress related. I guess it's time to go to doctor again. Sorry. I went on and on. I'm sure I told more than necessary. Just needed to get it out.

Thank you again DATA for the awesome spreadsheet. It is so much better than the one I made. I've saved it and will put my numbers in there. It really helps to see it all on a graph.

[Data]

Pam,
Thanks for the compliments on the spreadsheet. I had forgot about it being on the forum. I have updated it a little. The current version has individual graphs for some of the more important values. I thought the combined one on the first sheet got too busy. They are on different worksheets. You should still just have to enter the data on the first page and the graphs on all the other worksheets should update. I left my data in just to illustrate the graphs. I doubt anyone is really interested in my data. Just delete my data and start adding your own.

Cheers


Data

[PamMc]

WOW! Thank you for sharing the updated one with me. I've been doing this a long time, but am seeing a downward trend and want to keep an eye on it. Even though I've been below normal for years, the numbers keep going lower. You have a real talent for creating spreadsheets and this will really help me keep even better track of things. I had only a few things on the one I created as I was only dealing with platelets for so long, now with the new stuff the last 5 years it was time to get something better. God is so good to give me you and your spreadsheet today. Sending love and prayers your way.

[Cheryl C]

I used to get the shaky, jittery feeling a lot, especially towards the end of the day. I also often felt generally unwell. All of these symptoms improved heaps when my blast count dropped. At the same time I also started the gamma globulin infusions. My haematologist thought the shakiness and unwellness was due to my body fighting infections - even though I wasn't aware of anything specific. Now these feelings are just occasional. I used to force myself to exercise (walk) in spite of the shaky legs, and by the time I finished a walk it was often gone.

[PamMc]

Thank you for the reply Cheryl C. This has been aggravating me. I feel off. I don't like this feeling. Winter months are worse as I can't always get outside to walk. I start with a mild bit of this in the morning and by evening it is worse. I've tried experimenting to see if it is something I am eating or doing, but to no avail. It's just there. I've also been having some mild pain where the incision for removing my gallbladder is. They took it out 6 months ago. Wondering if it's infected or something. Had a follow-up sonogram last Friday and figure if that's it they will see it. I am still watch and wait with my blood levels, but on a definite downward trend. The last five years have seen white blood cells joining the platelets in going down.

[Cheryl C]

I'm really sorry you are feeling so unwell, Pam, and I hope your doctors find something simple that can be fixed! Have you ever had a bone marrow aspiration and trephine?

FYI for me the unwellness - feeling "off" - started at least 2 years before MDS diagnosis. I used to feel vaguely nauseous and sometimes a little dizzy - especially in the mornings - and then as mentioned previously by the latter part of the day my legs would be like jelly. My heart used to beat really 'heavily' sometimes and I especially noticed it in bed at night to the point where I wouldn't be able to get to sleep. I also used to get hoarseness in my voice as the day went on even though I drink lots of water.

Have you tried taking Echinacea 5000 mg capsules - a natural remedy which can help to fight some infections? I've found it very beneficial since diagnosis and the realisation that when I'm becoming unwell I need to do something about it.

[PamMc]

I had a bone marrow aspiration 18 years ago when I first started having the low platelets. I've seen a hematologist every since. My last visit was last month. Something on my histogram has him concerned. I was happy my platelets and WBC counts were up. He said he was glad they were up, but concerned. Something about a tail. This has been going on so long with platelets I hardly think nothing of it, but the WBC's is new.

Saw my primary doc a month ago and she tried to put me on a low carb diet. Made me sick. Got weak and dizzy and sick to stomach. Couldn't be some bug as I have not gone around people. After a couple of weeks, I went off it. I am believing when I get back to running I will feel better. I appreciate you telling me about your experience so I can watch with that. I will see about getting the Echinacea too. I tend to drink the air borne stuff anytime I go out in public areas. I do get sick easy. With the widespread flu and stomach bugs I've stayed home. Schools here have closed due to illness. No sense taking chances. When I get sick it takes me twice as long to get better.

[Cheryl C]

I'm connecting with all you're saying here about diet, exercise, etc Pam. Low carb is no good for me either. We need a healthy diet with all the food types including healthy fats and carbs in balance.

Ask your haematologist lots of questions and keep on until you are satisfied that everything that needs to be done is being done - sometimes I make a list so I won't miss anything.

[Bossywife]

I'm curious about the "high and low" numbers. They seem quite off from what the paperwork shows for my husband's bloodwork here in Canada.

Shouldn't there be a standard? If I use your numbers, he always has Neutropenia. ugh.

Laura

[Neil Cuadra]

Originally Posted by Bossywife

I'm curious about the "high and low" numbers. They seem quite off from what the paperwork shows for my husband's bloodwork here in Canada.

I discovered this early on. Different treatment centers and different labs that do CBC reports have different "normal", "high", and "low" cutoff points. There aren't national or international standards for blood count ranges.

The counts that we treat as either "in range" or "out of range" are really on continuous scales, so your counts could be considered very high or low, somewhat high or low, slightly high or low, borderline high or low, mostly normal, or clearly normal. Doctors know this, and look at the numbers, not the H and L marks you might see on a lab report, but patients tend to think it's a three-way choice: high, normal, low.

I suggest setting the spreadsheet to the numbers used by your treatment center, but to look at the numbers and their trends yourself, knowing that the cutoffs aren't always agree on.