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Green tea working too good?

It's seems ironic that shortly after blogging about how green tea has shown some efficacy with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) my lymphocyte count would drop about 30%.

After hovering around 70 to 90 thou/mcL for the past 2 years, my absolute lymphocyte count dropped to 46 thou/mcL today. Normally I would be delighted with those results, if it weren't for the fact my platelets also dropped to 128 thou/mcL (ref range 130-400) after ranging between 150 to 170 thou/mcL over the same time frame.

I did experience a similar drop in platelet count last year, to 112 thou/mcL, after returning from the Aureole Wine Weekend in Vegas. It did rebound the following month, and since Edie and I attended a wine tasting of Howell Mountain [mostly] Cabernet Sauvignon's yesterday (which BTW were above average good), I'm going to assume that was the reason for the drop, and it will rebound next month.

Not sure why the lymphocytes dropped. I have increased my green tea intake to between 7 and 8 cups a day from 5 to 6 cups, so maybe that had something to do with it, but I think the most likely scenario is the lab just screwed up, and it was a bad test. I'd like to think maybe after 9+ years, my body has finally figured out what ails me, and has found the right defense, although I doubt that to be the case.

Time will tell!
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Comments

Alan Posner said…
I've mentioned this before, but I think you're over analyzing your numbers. First of all these tests aren't that accurate.

Second one's platelet count varies even within one day. If you measure your platelets in the AM and then again in the PM they could be very different (certainly within the difference between 128 and 150).

Also strenuous exercise causes a release of platelets and a temporary elevation.

Stop worrying about your numbers. While stress may make the numbers higher it's not doing your health any good.
9:59 PM
Marc said…
But hey! If I didn't worry about my numbers, I don't know what I'd do with myself. At least it gives me something other to think about instead of all the ills of the world.

Thanks for the word of confidence though!
11:47 PM
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