Little purple cells

Hi, I am new to this forum, SO let me start with my history. I was first Rx with ITP back in 1997. After 3 years on pred. My level were at zero and I had my spleen out. I have been great ever since... platlet wise! My counts last month were 455.
I am here today because of a puzzling medical issue. I will explain to you as my Oncologist explained it to me. So here goes.
I have a purple cell gang. They look funny but do not appear to be doing any harm. It is kind of like if you have a gang of guys who lived on street A. They all dress alike, walked alike, talked alike and just plain looked wierd but they cause no trouble however the local police think they need to be watched.
That is how my Dr explained what is happening with me. My lymphocyctes are constancely high and I have clustering of cell in my abdomin but not showing any cancers when he did a CT and several blood test including FLOW.
My question is... Has anyone here ever heard of this? Is this normal after spleenectomy? My Dr says no but they can be wrong...right?
Any and all insight will be happily read. I go back in Feb for more testing to see if my "purple gang" is still being have!

Thanks,
Heather

Heather, did he give you a more technical term for this? "Purple gang" isn't something that can be researched.

This is the only thing I know of that is affected after splenectomy. I'm sure there is more, but I'm not aware of it:

Howell-Jolly bodies
small, round or oval bodies, probably nuclear remnants, seen in erythrocytes when stains are added to fresh blood and found in various anemias and after splenectomy or reduced splenic function.

medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Howell-Jolly+bodies

no that is why I am so confused. He simplified it so much, I can not research it! All I know is I have a constant high lymphocyte count. By constant I mean since 2005ish. I just want some answers

Maybe you can have the office send you a copy of your latest results and ask for his diagnosis in writing. I ask my doctor to spell terms for me so I can research them.
Erica

How high are the lymphocytes? If they are just above normal, it's probably nothing to worry about. If they are really high, I'd ask him what he thinks about that.

It is listed as lymphocytic leukocytosis.
white blood cell count 14.2 (normal is 3.8-10.
Lymph count 6.5 (normal is 0.6- 4.1)

Immunoglobulin A 503 (normal 70-400)

Diagnosis of peripheral blood with Lymphocytosis and no definitive evidence of acute leukemia or lymphoma.

No one can tell me why I have these 'little purple men' aka lymphocyctosis. but EVERY time I have to go to the dr. I get sent for more testing... since 2005! I am so tired of all the testing.

Thank you all for reading this far and replying to my post questions!

Heather:

It seems like your doctor is just being cautious and monitoring things, which is why you get tests every time. I don't think that's a bad thing, better to be proactive and stay on top of things. Some things can take years to develop or, as he says, things can linger and never cause a problem. No need to worry unless he tells you to.

Something from Mayo Clinic, not super helpful but not bad: www.mayoclinic.com/health/lymphocytosis/MY00360

Erica