There are five types of white blood cells in the human body.

Human nature being what it is, the minute the doctors started seeing low counts they tested everything. They would have wanted to know precisely what was going on. They are doctors, that is how their minds work.

Like I said, when I went on Methimazole for Graves disease they tested everything- the whites, reds, platelets. Easy to do. Not some major production that needed reagents in short supply when this started. We saw the EOBs from our insurance plan, a few hundred bucks for all that and thyroid hormones too. It isn't a major financial thing to test white cells.

So, they know what white cells were being lowered, and if it paralleled with HIV. They knew. They had to have looked at all five white cell types.

So if there is no correlation, why didn't the doctors in this study, and the ER doctor in New Orleans seeing lowered counts, say so? Why isn't there at least one sentence that says that the specific action of HIV on white cells was not observed in these cases? Isn't that the very first thing they would look for and be thinking of?

The early genome decoding out of India about the HIV inserts was big news. Surely it would be a major major huge piece of information to say that there is no parallel with HIV in the lower white cell counts. But nothing is being said. You know the mantra:"don't make people panic".

Hey, nothing we can do but ask God for mercy and keep our immune systems up. Be quick to forgive and let go of all bitterness, be kind to those around you and grateful for every day.

Really appreciate the replies. This has hit me hard. 5 kids, grandkids, lots of people I love. Still processing it emotionally.