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Need help. In flare- leukocyte(WBC) increased to 15.5 after 10 days of internal thyme oil

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/3/2015 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I've used thyme oil 4 drops a day in a capsule daily for around 10 days. It has put me into a flare, also activated my arthritis. I did a blood test yesterday and I got the results now. Leukocyte(WBC) count increased to 15.5 . It was 8.2 three weeks ago and I was in almost remission.

Is it possible the thyme oil has stimulated my thymus and it increased my wbc count like that? I don't have any infection symptoms. I stopped using thyme oil 6 days ago. Can you think any other reasons for this huge increase- other than stimulated thymus? Maybe thyme oil did something else which resulted high wbc?

I'm thinking about using antibiotics (metronidazole and clarithromycin) for this situation. I've crohn's in the colon and antibiotics always help but I've never had this situation(this high wbc) before. I've been using hydrocortisone enema for 5 days and it is ineffective so my gi and I decided tapering it fastly and starting antibiotics 2 days ago, my gi and I will talk on friday about my results. Can antibiotics normalize my wbc count?

I really need help to figure this out. Thank you all.
Posted 6/3/2015 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I did all sorts of stool tests and they are all negative but there are too much leukocyte (wbc) in my stool.
I have thickening of the colon and narrowing (not too much).
Posted 6/3/2015 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thyme oil is believed to increase white blood cell production.

look:
/www.google.com.tr/search?q=thymus&oq=thymus&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1148j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8&safe=high#safe=strict&q=thyme+oil+white+blood+cells
Posted 6/3/2015 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Well that would seem to indicate inflammation or infection. The high WBC.

What do you normally take for inflammation (or in the past)? My fallback has always been pred and a course of antibiotics in the early years and more recently pred and Imuran which get's on top of inflammation quite fast. Maybe you could discuss either of these with your GI.

My GI and family doctor tested (and still does) test me monthly for all this during the last year and a bit on WOO/Tyme and Imuran but I have always had perfect blood test results. The Thyme I take is a little different though as it contains less than 2% thymol - maybe that has something to do with it.

Antibiotics however ALWAYS helped me with Crohn's-Colitis... and fast. If they worked in the past for you, maybe they will work now.

On a side note: At 3:30 pm today Rehill Biofarma is giving an update on their Phase three triple antibiotic trial: ir.redhillbio.com/events.cfm Click on the June 3 2015 link if interested.
Posted 6/3/2015 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing some searching and found out prednisone can cause high wbc count. I think my high wbc is from pred. Maybe active crohn's and thyme oil contributes to it for some degree.

Post Edited (xy123) : 6/3/2015 1:06:57 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/3/2015 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Huh - I have never heard of that and pred. Would be good to know perhaps for others on here.

The only thing wonky on my blood tests is Enlarged Red Blood Cells. Which I am told is a consequence of IBD. So I guess I shouldn't say it is always perfect. Just that I don't think it effects me or causes me any issues at the moment.
Posted 6/4/2015 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Prednisone makes many of your blood test items wacky. I brought a printout of my blood test results to my gastroenterologist when I was on prednisone with all of the items highlighted that were above or below the recommended values. He chuckled and said don't worry as prednisone messes with your values. He pointed to the values he cared about, all looked normal. WBC, blood sugar and others can be elevated

High WBC counts may signal infection but also occur when individuals are on corticosteroids such as prednisone.
Source: www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-tests/screening-laboratory-tests/complete-blood-count-cbc/

Another much more in depth article: www.pharmacologyweekly.com/articles/glucocorticoid-WBC-increase-steroids
Posted 1/18/2016 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am new here. I have low WBC from chemo that never bounced back. I just read some research that thyme could help that and also found this post. Any thoughts?
Posted 1/18/2016 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
for sure metronidazole can be a culprit! The Polish leaflets of metronidazole include a warning that it temporarily increases wbc. Also it may be your organism's reaction to inflammation and once you put it down, your wbc will drop :)
Posted 1/19/2016 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
The issue with thyme oil is the high 'thymol' itself. Good in a test tube for killing bacteria or whatever, but maybe not so good in your system. There is a brand that I take that has ~2% or less Thymol from Thyme Oil source and the rest is Oregano Oil. I don't think you can find it outside of Canada though.

Anyway I would just be cautious. You may find things worsening.

And of course ask your doctor, tell your doctor etc etc.
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