Hi
Today I got my blood test results following my first month on Tecfidera. My lymph count was 1.0 down from 1.6 but everything else fine, I have been told to have another full blood test in a month.
I am hoping that next month it will not have dropped again as then who knows what happens next.
Any thoughts?
Tracey
hi tracey
they are just checking your lymph levels for your safety.
if you drop to a dangerous level they will take you off tec.
don’t worry, it’s quite reassuring to know that we are well looked after.
carole x
Hi Tracey
Don’t worry. Lymphocytes at 1.0 are ok. I started Tecfidera at only 1.3 so it’s not a problem. It’s when they go down below 0.5 that they start thinking about you stopping the drug.
To my way of thinking (get ready for some non-scientific nonsense here) the whole point of Tecfidera is to lower your lymphocytes in order that your immune system has a chance of not attacking its own myelin.
Therefore, lowered lymphocytes to some extent are expected - even useful. But when they get too low, then they’ve sort of gone into overdrive and just don’t know how to stop.
So, stay confident that your Tecfidera is doing its job. Get your blood tested next month and if it’s still at 1.0 then you know it’s all good. If it drops down to 0.8, then it still might recover. If it goes down to 0.5 or less, they will probably keep on going on the drug (and get it re-tested a month later) but it’s at that point that you start to think it might be curtains for the 'Tec.
Btw, mine went from 1.3 pre Tecfidera down to 0.4 after 6 months, they re-tested monthly but after a couple of months I stopped it. It’s now been about 6 months since I stopped and it’s around the 0.6 mark. Gradually it will recover. I’m not too bothered now I’ve got my head round it.
Sue
just to add to the excellent wisdom and insights provided already…
your lymphocyte does indeed take an initial ‘hit’ when starting tecfidera and it is supposed to.
i belive acceptable, normal level is between 1.0 and 1.8
for me, i was at the top of this range before Tec, at the bottom of this range after one month and the 75% back up to where i started by month three. and luckily (touch wood) i have been there ever since.
so a dip, a recovery, a plateau - precisely what you should expect to see. text book!
even with her ‘non-scientific nonsense’, ssssue offers a superb post 
i feel the exact same way; about the annual MRI too; as boring, noisy and claustrophobic as it might be. 
I have been told I have to stop tec because my lymphocyte count has dropped and isn’t recovering. Safe to say I was gutted But at least they have been watching for it.
I have to see the neuro in June to discuss new treatment options. Will have been without DMT for 6 weeks by that time which is disappointing.
It’s all a bit of a pain, but not as much of a pain as my spastic and spasming right arm which has been getting worse over a few weeks. My MS Nurse forgot to send the prescription for baclafen through to the GP for it, which I have already chased twice 
17 days and counting. The spasticity seems to have peaked so I might be on the way back to normal(ish) before I get the pain relief!
Hasn’t been the best of times.