Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Maria Fisher46 said:The answer depends on a few things—does the kid have phimosis, did you clean him properly before he peed, how long was the urine sitting before the test, any symptoms like pain while peeing, a fever, etc.? Also, the kid's age...

There’s a reason the instructions for the first post in this thread are highlighted in the title!

Frequent urination, barely holding it. Kid is 3. Urine was tested shortly after peeing. No fever.

So, I was looking over some lab results... just that whole hematology side of things. It’s honestly kind of a lot to wrap your head around sometimes, you know? All those different numbers and markers floating around in your bloodwork. It can get pretty overwhelming when you're staring at a sheet full of technical jargon. I guess I'm just trying to make sense of how everything connects—like how the white cells, red cells, and platelets all play their parts in keeping us upright. It's a lot to process!
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(K) SE 11 mm/3.6 ks ( 4 - 24 )
So, I was looking at my latest labs... looks like my Red Blood Cell count came back at 4.49 x10e12/L. Checking against the standard range they gave me—which was 3.86 to 5.08—it seems like everything is sitting pretty much right in the middle. I guess that’s good news? Everything looks totally normal, which is a relief, honestly.
So, I was looking over these labs and noticed my RDW is sitting at 13.6%, which is just a little bit below the normal range of 14.6% to 16.5%. Honestly, I'm not totally sure what that actually means for me right now, but I guess it's just one of those little things on the paper. Maybe it's nothing, or maybe it's worth mentioning next time I see my doctor, but I'm just trying to make sense of it all!
So, I checked my Hemoglobin levels... looks like it's sitting at 136 g/L. Honestly, looking at the normal range being between 119 and 157, I guess I’m right in the sweet spot? Seems okay to me, I suppose.
So, I was looking over the labs... looks like the Hematocrit came back at 0.404 L/L. Honestly, that's right in the sweet spot since the normal range is usually between 0.356 and 0.470. Everything seems totally fine there, I guess!
So, looking at the labs... MCV came back at 90.0 fL. The normal range is listed between 83.0 and 97.2, so I guess that means everything's looking pretty much right in the sweet spot. Seems totally fine to me!
So, I was looking at the labs... MCH is sitting at 30.3 pg. It looks like it’s right in the middle of the normal range, which is 27.4 to 33.9, I think? So, yeah, seems totally fine to me. Just one of those little things to keep an eye on, I guess!
So, I was looking over the labs, and the MCHC came back at 337 g/L. Looking at the range they gave me (320 - 345), it seems like everything is sitting right where it should be. Pretty much perfectly in the middle, I guess! Everything looks totally normal there.
So, I just checked my labs... Platelets came back at 349 x10e9/L. Looking at the normal range they gave me (158 - 424), I guess everything seems totally fine? Seems like I'm right in the sweet spot, so hopefully that means nothing to worry about!
So, I was looking at my labs, and my WBC is sitting at 10.5... which is just a little bit higher than that normal range of 3.4 to 9.7, I guess. Maybe it's nothing, but yeah, it's slightly elevated.
So, I was looking over these labs... looks like the Neutrophil Gran percentage came back at 62.7%. Based on the standard range of 44 to 72, everything seems pretty much right where it should be. Nothing to worry about there, I guess!
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and my Lymphocytes came back at 27.2%... which is totally within the normal range of 20 to 46, I think? Everything seems pretty standard there, I guess.
So, I just got my latest labs back, and my MID is sitting at 10.1%. Looking at the reference range they gave me, anything between 2 and 19 is supposed to be normal... so, I guess this is totally fine? Just wanted to put that out there.
So, let's talk about metabolites and substrates... I guess it's one of those things that sounds super technical, but when you actually break it down, it's just how everything moves through the body. It’s kind of like the fuel and the stuff being burned up to keep the engine running, right? Anyway, just some thoughts on how all those little pieces fit together.
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So, I just got my glucose results back... it's sitting at 6.3 mmol/L. Looking at the range they gave me, which is 4.4 to 6.4, I guess I'm technically still within the normal limits? It's definitely cutting it pretty close to the top end, though. Maybe I should keep an eye on things, but for now, I suppose it's okay.
So, I checked my creatinine levels... it's sitting at 72 umol/L. Looking at the lab range they gave me, it's supposed to be between 49 and 90, so I guess everything looks pretty normal there. Not too worried, I think!
So, I just got my labs back and my Serum Urate is sitting at 340 µmol/L... which is technically just a tiny bit over that normal range of 134 to 337. It’s probably nothing, honestly, but I guess I'll be keeping an eye on it. Just one of those things, I suppose!
So... enzymes. I guess we should probably talk about them? Honestly, they’re kind of a wild topic when you really start digging into how everything works in the body. It's like this whole invisible engine running under the hood, right? Just one thing after another keeping the gears turning. Anyway, just some food for thought!
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So, I checked my labs and my AST came back at 19 U/L... which is totally within the normal range since they look for anything between 8 and 30. Seems like everything's looking pretty good there, I guess!
So, I just checked my labs and my ALT came back at 17 U/L. The normal range is listed as being between 10 and 36, so looks like I'm right in the sweet spot. Everything seems totally fine on that front, I guess!
So, I just got my latest labs back... looks like my GGT came in at 24 U/L. The normal range they listed was between 9 and 35, so honestly, everything seems to be sitting right where it should be. I guess that's good news, right? Just feels like one less thing to worry about, I suppose!
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and my ALP came in at 51 U/L... which is just a hair under that normal range of 54 to 119. Honestly, I'm probably just overthinking it, but it's a little lower than what they usually look for. I guess we'll see if my doctor even mentions it or if it's just one of those things that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Maybe it's nothing, right?
Trace elements... I mean, there's just so much to dive into here. It’s kind of wild how much those tiny little things can mess with your whole system, right? Just a few microscopic bits and suddenly everything feels off. I guess it's one of those things where you don't really think about it until something starts acting up. Maybe it's just me, but it feels like such a rabbit hole once you start looking into it.
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So, looking at my labs... my iron levels came back at 14.8 umol/L. The normal range is supposed to be between 8 and 30, so I guess I'm sitting pretty right in the middle of the pack there. Seems okay, I suppose!
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and it looks like my TIBC came back at 80.3 umol/L... which is just a little bit higher than that standard range of 49 to 75. I guess it’s not a huge deal, but maybe worth keeping an eye on? Just one of those things, I suppose.
So, I was looking at my labs and saw that my UIBC came back at 65.5 umol/L... which is just a little bit higher than the standard range of 26 to 59. I guess it’s not a huge deal, but maybe it's something worth keeping an eye on? Not sure what to make of it yet.
So, lipids... I guess we should probably talk about them? Honestly, it’s one of those things that sounds way more complicated than it actually needs to be, but it can definitely get a bit overwhelming when you start looking at all the numbers. It's basically just the fats in your system, right? But man, once you dive into the details, there's a whole lot to unpack. Just my two cents, though!
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So, I just got my labs back and looks like my cholesterol is sitting at 5.8 mmol/L... which is a bit higher than that sub-5.0 target they usually look for. Just one of those things, I guess. Might need to watch the diet a little more closely or maybe hit the gym harder. We'll see.
So, I checked my labs and my HDL cholesterol came back at 1.6 mmol/L... which is actually pretty good since anything over 1.2 is considered fine. I guess I'm doing alright on that front!
So, I just got my labs back and looks like my LDL cholesterol is sitting at 3.5 mmol/L... which is a bit higher than that target under 3.0 they want us to hit. Guess I might need to watch what I'm eating a little more closely, huh? Maybe?
So, I just got my latest blood work back... looking at my triglycerides and they're sitting at 1.59 mmol/L. Honestly? Not too bad, I guess! Since the cutoff is anything under 1.7, I’m still technically in the clear. Just one of those little wins to keep me going, maybe.
Hormones... man, what a mess. Honestly, I feel like we don't talk enough about how much they can totally throw everything out of whack. It's wild how one tiny little shift in your chemistry can just turn your whole world upside down, you know? One day you're feeling fine, and the next, everything feels off. I guess it's just one of those things you have to deal with, but it can be such a rollercoaster. Just my two cents, though!
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So, I just got my TSH results back... it's sitting at 1.75 mIU/l. Looking at the lab's range, which goes from 0.340 to 5.600, it seems like I'm pretty much right in the sweet spot. I guess that’s actually good news? Maybe? It feels okay so far, anyway.

Female, 44, pretty much a powerhouse... aside from the occasional sinus stuff, I'm doing alright. 😁So, right now I've got this weird menopause spotting going on... it's like just a few drops every hour or so, and honestly, it's been running a bit late too. I guess it's just one of those things, maybe? Just a little bit at a time. 🙄

So, my doctor sent me in for some blood work because I've been dealing with this annoying dry cough since mid-December. I actually went in to get my lungs checked out too, but they didn't hear any wheezing or anything through the stethoscope, which is... well, I guess that's good? But man, these headaches are killing me. Most of the time, it feels like my blood pressure is just bottoming out on me.

Thanks! 🙂

White Blood Cell 6.5 (3.4-9.7)
Red Blood Cell 4.34 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin 135 (119-157)
Hematocrit 0.397 (0.356-0.470)
MCV 91.5 (83-97.2)
MCH 31.1 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 340 (320-345)
RDW 12.5 (9.0-15.0)
MPV 10.2 (6.8-10.4)
Platelet 250 (158-424)

CBC
Neutrophil Gran % 46.5 (44-72)
Lymphocyte % 30.2 (20-46)
Monocyte % 16.3 (2-12 rel%)
Eosinophil Gran % 7.0 (0-7)
Basophil % 0 (0-1)
Neutrophil Gran 3.00 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocyte 2.00 (1.19-3.35)
Monocyte 1.10 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophil Gran 0.50 (0-0.43)
Basophil 0.00

AST 15 (8-30)
ALT 13 (10-36)
GGT 11 (9-35)

Female, 29. I had some bloodwork done to check my iron and thyroid because I’ve been feeling heart palpitations. My thyroid levels and everything else—glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.—are all normal, so I didn't bother retesting those.
My monocytes and eosinophils are elevated. I feel fine overall, though I did have a cold about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Right now, I don't have any major symptoms aside from dermatitis that I've been battling for months. It's currently at a stage where my skin is peeling and breaking out into sores; I apply topical steroids, it clears up for a few days, and then comes right back.
I see online that elevated monocytes can be linked to all sorts of serious issues. I honestly don't know if this specific increase is considered minor or something to worry about. I'm seeing a cardiologist on the 16th to go over everything, but until then, I'll probably be panicking twenty times a day! If anyone could help explain these results, I would be so incredibly grateful.

Hey everyone,

I’m asking for my dad—he’s dealing with this intense, sharp pain in his right shoulder. It hits hardest when he reaches up or stretches, and it’s been dragging on for months now. It’s bad enough that even just shaking hands or lifting anything slightly heavy is a struggle. He already went through 22 injections of naproxen, which did absolutely nothing. After that, he was put on 16 mg of Medrol.
He’s 60, stands about 6'0", weighs 165 lbs, and has a pretty standard build. He works a job that’s physically demanding.
I’ve attached the radiology report and the orthopedic findings here.
Radiology Report:
Working diagnosis: Back Pain
Slightly decreased bone mineralization. Cervical spine lordosis is maintained, but there’s a break in the SIIL at the C4-C5 level, with C4 sitting about 2.1mm back compared to C5. The SIL remains intact in the other segments. The cervical vertebral bodies (LL shown up to C6) have maintained height. Signs of osteochondrosis at C4-C5 and C6-C7 with marginal osteophytes.
Advanced degenerative changes in the small joints.
Calcifications are visible ventral to the C3-C4, C4-C5, and C6-C7 spaces, primarily consistent with seronegative spondylitis.
Degenerative changes in the anterior atlantoaxial joint.
Unkarthrois. Bilateral paravertebral calcification shadows in soft tissues, corresponding to calcifications along vascular structures on the AP view.
Lumbar spine imaging shows the axis is maintained on profile, though there's slight straightening of the lordosis with a break in the SIL at the L5-S1 level and L5 sitting about 4.5mm back relative to S1. The SIL is intact elsewhere. Lumbar vertebral bodies have maintained height, with mild biconcave shaping due to Schmorl's nodes.
Ventral to the sacrum and lateral on AP views, there are rounded syndesmophytes consistent with seronegative spondylitis, along with advanced degenerative changes in the small joints and visible interspinous arthrosis. The AP view shows bilateral signs of sacroiliitis.
Diagnosis: Back Pain
-------------
Orthopedic Findings:
Clinical: Severely limited neck mobility with positive signs for right cervicobrachialgia.
X-ray: C4 retroposition by 2 mm, osteochondrosis from C4-C6. Spondyloarthrotic changes in the LS spine.
Prescribed: Analgesics, topical NSAID creams, oral Vitamin B.
Next steps: Perform EMG on upper extremities. Also requesting a rheumatology consult.
Diagnosis: M75.8 Other shoulder impairments.

Since nobody is actually talking to the patient or explaining things in plain English, I’m reaching out for advice. What should he be doing while waiting for more tests? Should he be exercising or just resting? Is it better to ice the area or use heating gels? Is massage or physical therapy okay?

Basically, what works and what doesn't... because after all those heavy-duty injections and meds, nothing has changed, and no one has given him a straight answer. Where is this pain coming from? Is this a chronic thing or will it pass? If it passes, how long is the recovery/rest period? And most importantly—can he keep working his current job?

Thanks a million in advance.

ivan

Megan Morris70 said:In a 35-day cycle, all hormone levels came back within the normal range. Blood was drawn on days 3 and 21. I’m looking specifically at day 21—progesterone is sitting at 2.41 ug/L. For context, the ovulation range is 0.121–12.0, while the luteal phase should be between 1.83 and 23.9. Given the length of my cycle, that was likely my ovulation window. Is this value too low for ovulation, is it acceptable, or am I looking at something else entirely? I wanted to get a sense of this before heading to the doctor. Also, considering my age, does this suggest I might already be past the point of conception, or... I'd appreciate any insight or interpretation.

Your progesterone level on day 21 of your cycle falls within the luteal phase. As you can see, however, the value is sitting right at the bottom limit. This low reading suggests you likely had an anovulatory cycle—meaning an egg wasn't released. If you're planning for pregnancy, you really should check in with your OB-GYN to assess your ovarian reserve and discuss next steps.

Sarah Peterson57 said:Frequent urination and an inability to hold it. It’s been going on for three years now. Urine was sitting for a bit. No fever.

Based on what you've described, there's a chance the child is dealing with acute cystitis, which would definitely need medical attention.

brisknomad6 said:Laboratory hematology.
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SE 11 mm/3.6 ks ( 4 - 24 )
Red Blood Cell count at 4.49 x10e12/L (Normal range: 3.86 - 5.08).
RDW 13.6% (Normal range: 14.6% - 16.5%)
Hemoglobin: 13.6 g/dL (Normal range: 11.9 - 15.7)
Hematocrit 0.404 L/L (0.356 - 0.470)
MCV 90.0 fL (Range: 83.0 - 97.2)
MCH 30.3 pg (Range: 27.4 - 33.9)
MCHC 337 g/L (Normal range: 320 - 345)
Platelets 349 x10e9/L (Ref range: 158 - 424)
WBC 10.5 x10e9/L (3.4 - 9.7)
Neutrophil differential: 62.7% (Ref range: 44–72%). Within normal limits.
Lymphocytes at 27.2% (Normal range: 20 - 46%).
MID 10.1% (Normal range: 2 - 19)
Metabolites and substrates.
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Glucose: 113 mg/dL (Normal range: 79 - 115 mg/dL)
Creatinine at 72 umol/L (Normal range: 49 - 90).
Urate levels at 340 µmol/L (Normal range: 134 - 337).
Enzymes.
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AST 19 U/L (Normal range: 8 - 30)
ALT 17 U/L (Normal range: 10 - 36)
GGT at 24 U/L (Ref: 9 - 35). Normal.
ALP 51 U/L (Reference range: 54 - 119)
Trace elements.
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Serum Iron: 14.8 umol/L (Normal range: 8 - 30)
TIBC 80.3 umol/L (Ref Range: 49 - 75)
UIBC is sitting at 65.5 umol/L. The standard range tops out at 59. It’s a bit elevated.
Lipids
Test Result Unit Recommendation
(S) Cholesterol 5.8 H mmol/L ( < 5.0 )
(S) HDL-cholesterol 1.6 mmol/L ( > 1.2 )
(S) LDL-cholesterol 3.5 H mmol/L ( < 3.0 )
(S) Triglycerides 1.59 mmol/L ( < 1.7 )
Hormones
Test Result Unit Ref. intervals
TSH 1.75 mIU/l ( 0.340 - 5.600 )

Female, 44, pretty laid back—aside from the occasional sinus infection, I'm doing alright 😁. Currently dealing with some menopause-related spotting, just a few drops over an hour 🙄.

The doctor ordered blood work because I've had this dry cough since December 12th. Lungs sounded clear via stethoscope. I also get frequent headaches, mostly low blood pressure issues.

THX 🙂

Do you smoke? I ask because smokers often see white blood cell counts sitting just above the upper limit. The elevated urate levels (which don't warrant medication) combined with the lipid profile suggest a need for lifestyle adjustments—specifically dietary changes, weight management, and more consistent daily activity. Additionally, looking at the iron status, the elevated UIBC and TIBC, alongside a slightly low Fe/TIBC ratio (around 18%, which is under the 20% threshold), suggests iron stores might be low or right at the bottom end of the normal range.

Given how long this cough has lasted—over three weeks now—you should schedule some follow-up testing.

Sarah Wells23 said:I’m only heading to the cardiologist to have them walk me through these results in a couple of weeks. Until then, I'll probably be panicking every five minutes. If anyone can make sense of this in the meantime, I’d really appreciate it.

The numbers don't look concerning. Your monocyte levels are only marginally elevated, which is standard when recovering from various viruses—many of which we breeze through without even realizing we were sick. As for the eosinophils, they're sitting right at the top end of the normal range, which could easily be linked to that dermatitis you mentioned.

In any case, just re-run the CBC in about three weeks and see how things look then.

steelmoose57 said:Basically, what’s working, what isn’t, and how to help him... because after all those injections and medications, his condition hasn't changed at all, and nobody has given him any straight answers. Where is the pain actually coming from? Is this a chronic thing or will it pass? If it passes, how much downtime and rest are we looking at? Will he even be able to work?

Thanks so much in advance.

Ivan

From what I can see, these results don't mention the shoulder at all—only the spine—even though there's a diagnosis of shoulder damage listed in the conclusion?!

Before anyone recommends a course of action, we need to figure out what we're actually dealing with. It strikes me as odd that if these symptoms have been dragging on this long, and systemic corticosteroid therapy has already been started, they haven't performed an X-ray of the shoulder, an ultrasound, or other diagnostic imaging.

Your father needs to consult his primary care physician to get the ball rolling on diagnostics. Since the findings suggest a potential systemic rheumatic disease, a broad lab panel is mandatory. At a minimum, he needs routine bloodwork—ESR, CRP, CBC, full biochemistry, and urinalysis—alongside radiological imaging of that shoulder, plus whatever else the physical exam dictates.

Without the actual lab results and a clear diagnosis, I can't offer any real advice.

Maria Fisher46 said:The progesterone level on day 21 of the cycle matches the luteal phase, but, like you can see right there, the number is sitting right at the bottom edge. It's kind of an inadequate value, which suggests it was probably an anovulatory cycle. If you're thinking about getting pregnant, you should definitely check in with a gynecologist to get an ovarian reserve assessment and see if they want to run more tests.

Based on what you mentioned, it’s possible the kid has acute cystitis, which really should be treated.

So, do you smoke? I only ask because smokers often have white blood cell counts that sit just a little bit above the normal range. Also, those slightly elevated urate levels (which aren't a reason for meds or anything) along with the messed up lipid profile suggest you might need to tweak your lifestyle and eating habits—maybe drop some weight and get moving a bit more every day. Plus, looking at the iron status, since the UIBC and TIBC are high and the Fe/TIBC ratio is a bit low (around 18%, which is under that 20% mark), it could mean your iron stores are pretty low or just hitting that bottom limit.

Since that cough has been hanging around for over three weeks now, you probably ought to get some follow-up testing done.

non-smoker, quit 14 years ago

I have referrals for a pulmonologist

Thanks 🙂

Hi there!
Can anyone tell me what counts as a normal White Blood Cell count on a urine dipstick test?
My little one just dealt with a urinary tract infection for the second time recently (or at least, that's how it seemed to me)... they were hospitalized and then finished up another week of antibiotics at home... while they were still receiving treatment at the hospital, they took a sample for a urine culture... the report says the urine is sterile, but the dipstick shows: White Blood Cell 75-500. Is that too high? I can't seem to find the standard reference ranges for these strips online... Is it possible for the urine to show as sterile because they were already on antibiotics at the time?

Hannah Moore32 said:Hi there!
Can someone clarify what "normal" leukocyte levels look like on a urine dipstick test?
My child just finished dealing with a urinary tract infection for the second time (or so I thought)... they were hospitalized and then continued antibiotics at home for another week. While still receiving treatment at the hospital, a urine culture was taken. The results show the urine is sterile, but the dipstick shows leukocytes at 75-500. Is that too high? I can't seem to find standard reference ranges for dipsticks online. Is it possible for the culture to come back sterile simply because the antibiotics were already working?

On a standard dipstick, the normal leukocyte value is 0—essentially a negative result. Anything beyond that, even a single "+" sign, is considered abnormal.

It's entirely possible to see leukocytes in the urine even if the culture comes back sterile, especially if an infection is being treated with antibiotics; this can persist for up to two weeks. However, if leukocytes remain present while the culture stays sterile, further investigation is necessary.

Your question doesn't quite specify the timing—whether the dipstick and the culture were taken before, during, or after the antibiotic course. Typically, dipstick results aren't reported as specific numbers, but rather by "crosses" or markings ranging from negative to 1+, 2+, etc. Specific numerical values usually refer to the leukocyte count per mm³ of urine or the number of cells seen under a microscope.

Maria Fisher46 said:On a standard urinalysis dipstick, normal White Blood Cell levels are essentially zero—meaning a negative result. Anything else, even just a single plus sign or more, is considered abnormal... it’s a pathological finding.

Seeing white blood cells in the urine when the culture comes back sterile can actually happen if you're treating a urinary tract infection with antibiotics; it can linger for up to two weeks. However, if those cells are still showing up while the culture remains clear, then further investigation is definitely needed...

It isn't entirely clear from your question about the timing... specifically, when exactly was the urine sample taken for the dipstick versus the culture? Was it before therapy started, or during, or after? Usually, dipstick results for white blood cells aren't given as numbers, but rather as "plus" signs—starting from negative, then one plus (1+), and so on. Numerical values usually refer to the actual count per mm³ or the number of cells seen under a microscope field.

Thanks for the reply 🙂
The urine sample was taken after two days of IV treatment... so that was four doses total, since she was getting them twice a day, morning and night. After we provided the sample, she received one more IV dose, and then finished a seven-day course of oral antibiotics at home...
Regarding the results, there weren't any "plus" signs or crosses... it was just listed numerically, like I mentioned in my previous post. Brandon Martin seems fine now, or at least that's how it looks... we won't be able to show the results to our doctor until Monday, and then she'll tell us what the next steps are. I assume we'll have to repeat the culture in a few days... Honestly, I was really hoping to hear that those white blood cells aren't anything serious... I think I'm going to spend the whole weekend worrying...🙂

Given the timing of the sample collection, it’s likely they were part of an infection that hadn't fully cleared yet. That said, finding White Blood Cells on a urine dipstick isn't exactly a normal result; the standard reference value should be zero or negative.

Maria Fisher46 said:Given when the urine sample was collected, it’s likely part of an infection that hadn't fully cleared up at the time of testing. However, finding White Blood Cells in a urine dipstick test is never considered a normal result... the reference value should be 0 or negative.

Now I'm looking at a different urine report—not a culture, but a chemical analysis where they looked at the microscopic sediment. In this one, the White Blood Cell count is 1, and the reference interval is 0-5... which would technically mean everything is fine. But I don't get it. This sample was taken just a few hours after the one sent to the Mayo Clinic, and also before that last round of IV therapy... How can one result looks okay while the other doesn't? I mean, sure, a day or two might have passed and she could have had more treatment in between, but that wasn't the case here... So now I'm feeling a bit foolish because I just can't wrap my head around why there's such a discrepancy...

Does anyone actually know what this goat intestine finding means ?

Can someone please take a look at these urine results? I’ve been feeling the urge to pee way more often than usual, and there's this constant sensation like I'm actually leaking, even though nothing shows up on my underwear.

Urine appearance is cloudy, yellow color, specific gravity 1.020, pH 7. Nitrites negative, Proteins negative, Glucose normal, Ketones negative, Urobilinogen normal, Bilirubin negative, Red Blood Cells positive (+), Leukocyte esterase positive (+).

Urine sediment:
White Blood Cell 8-10 / ref. 0-2
Red Blood Cell 4-6 / ref. 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells 15-20, ref 0-2
Some bacteria
Some amorphous phosphates

Thanks

Can someone help me make sense of these results? My doctors are suspecting psoriatic arthritis. My CRP has been elevated for over a year now, and my primary care physician hasn't been able to figure out why. I actually ended up going in for physical therapy by accident because my foot was hurting so badly, and the therapist suggested it might be arthritis. I'm still waiting on the RF and anti-something results (I can't remember if it was ccb or something else... maybe PmSCl 7 Antiti?). I should have those back tomorrow.
Thanks.

I deal with frequent ear infections. I don't have one right now, but I just went in to get swabs taken from both ears.

The results for both ears say:

No polymorphonuclear White Blood Cells were found, though epithelial cells were present.

Specifically for the left ear:
Saprofitic bacteria.

And for the right:
Staphylococcus aureus.
Resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin,
but sensitive to ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, oxacillin, and cefazolin.

Any thoughts?

Hi everyone, I was hoping some of the doctors on here might weigh in on my recent test results. For nearly four years now, I've been dealing with constant muscle twitching all over my body... besides that, when this first started, I noticed some atrophy affecting my entire right side. Even my tongue has these tiny indentations on the right side that have stayed since then. Naturally, as soon as I typed my symptoms into Google, ALS popped up immediately. However, about three years ago, I had an EMG performed by Dr. Šoštarko, who spent a full two hours going through everything. Here is what the report said:
M. Extensor digitorum brevis lat.dex: intermediate innervation pattern with individual wider action potentials, amplitudes 8-8 mV, high firing frequency.
M. Extensod digitorum brevis lat. sin: good intermediate innervation pattern with individual wider action potentials, amplitudes 7-8mV, higher firing frequency
M.gastrocnemius (caput mediale) dex. et sin.,m. flexor hallucis brevis lat dex., m.opponens pollicis lat. dex et.sin, m. Abductor dogoti V dex et sin: intermediate innervation pattern with individual slightly higher and wider action potentials, but normal firing frequency.
M. Tibialis anterior dex et. Sin,m quadriceps femoris lat dex et sin, m. Extensor digitorum communis lat dex,m. brachioradialis lat sin, m. biceps brachii lat dex, m. Deltoidus lat dex : interfering innervation pattern, action potentials show normal parameters.
Neurological exam: all arm reflexes are medium strength, RPT is brisk and symmetrical. Neurological findings are normal.
Neurographic findings are normal.

Conclusion: signs of mild chronic compensated peripheral motor neuron lesions found in both m. Extensor digitorum brevis. Formation of large motor unit potentials in both m. Gastrocnemius and flexor hallucis brevis, but without signs of peripheral motor neuron loss. No spontaneous activity such as fibrillations or fasciculations were detected.

My most recent results from five months ago look like this:
M. Extensor digitorum brevis lat.dex😛reduced intermediate innervation pattern with individual wider action potentials, one reaching an amplitude of 10mV, with high firing frequency.

M. Extensor digitorum brevis lat. sin: intermediate innervation pattern with individual wider action potentials, amplitudes 7-9mV, higher firing frequency

Flexor hallucis brevis lat dex et sin: reduced to almost intermediate innervation pattern with individual wider action potentials, amplitudes 6-8mV, higher firing frequency.

Gastrocnemius lat dex et sin, extensor digitorum communis lat dex et sin, opponens pollicis lat dex et sin; intermediate innervation pattern with individual slightly higher and wider action potentials, but normal firing frequency.

Other muscles are interfering. Neurography is normal again. Reflexes are the same as they were three years ago.
That slight change in my feet is worrying me... though there's still no sign of fibrillations or fasciculations. I actually asked the doctor to leave the needle in those foot muscles for a bit, and she didn't hear anything. I just don't know what could be causing all this. So far, I've checked my CK levels, minerals, B vitamins, and thyroid—everything came back fine. My lower back MRI was also perfect. But regardless, the right side of my body keeps shrinking—my right calf, the right thenar eminence, my right foot, and my right forearm. And on some
of those muscles, the EMG looks great. I've also noticed that even though my skin looks normal, I have these linear depressions on my right forearm around some veins that seem deep and swollen. When I lifted the skin between my thumb and index finger, I felt small, hard lumps around those depressions. What should I do??
The doctor tells me I shouldn't worry about anything like that—that it's nothing serious. But I'm still struggling, and it's hard to keep going without any actual diagnosis. The atrophy is very mild, but it's definitely visible. The doctor even measured it on my leg, but since the EMG doesn't show any changes, she claimed it’s just natural asymmetry...

Hey,
I've been running a low-grade fever for the last few days, hitting up to 102.5°F.
Got some blood work done today.
Here are the results:
ESR 11, CRP 1.7, BILIRUBIN 13, CREATININE 70, UREA 46, AMYLASE 67, Red Blood Cell 4.73, Hemoglobin 137, Hematocrit 0.397, Platelet 197, White Blood Cell 9.61, Neutrophilic Granulocytes 76.2 H (44-72), Lymphocyte 17.2 L (20-46), Monocytes 5.9, eosinophilic granulocytes 0.1, basophilic granulocytes 0.3, neutrophilic granulocytes (abs) 7.32H (2.06-6.49), lymphocytes (abs) 1.68.

My blood work from Monday was totally fine, except for my urine, which looked like a UTI. Because of that, I was prescribed some antibiotics/urosepsis treatment and I've been taking them since Monday night.
What would cause these changes in my blood work?
thanks

Hannah Moore32 said:I'm looking at another lab report—not a urine culture, but a chemical analysis where they checked the urine sediment under a microscope. The White Blood Cell count came back at 1, with a reference range of 0–5. On paper, that looks perfectly fine. The problem is, I can't wrap my head around the logic here. This sample was taken only a few hours after the one used for the blood work, and it was also collected before that last round of IV therapy. How is it possible for one result to look normal while the other doesn't? Usually, you'd expect a day or two to pass, or for more medication to kick in between tests, but that wasn't the case here. Now I just feel a bit foolish, trying to figure out where the disconnect is.

There’s a fair amount of nuance here that people miss. First off, a urine culture isn't just a single test; it involves identifying the specific bacterial strain present and then running sensitivity testing to see which antibiotics actually work against it. That happens down in the microbiology lab. It also includes a microscopic examination of the sample to check for visible bacteria and signs of inflammation.

The issue is that urine dipstick testing is conducted within a biochemistry lab. It doesn't quite add up to see a dipstick screening listed under a urine culture report, given that they are two distinct procedures.

Bottom line: if the latest urine sample came back clean and the kid isn't showing any more signs of a UTI, there's no need to keep overthinking it.

It is entirely possible for two urine samples collected close together—say, on the same day—to yield conflicting results, where one shows a high White Blood Cell count and the next comes back perfectly clean. Usually, this happens because the first sample was contaminated. It wasn't collected properly, perhaps due to insufficient hygiene, an improperly secured collection bag, or a container that sat out too long before reaching the lab. Poor transport conditions can also skew the data. Simple oversight often explains the discrepancy.

Betty Collins45 said:Does anyone know what this goat milk test result actually means? [Link to image] ?

So, someone spotted fungi under the microscope, but they failed to actually grow on the culture medium. Because of that, we’re stuck—no way to identify the specific species or test which antifungals will actually work. Essentially, the sample needs to be collected again.

Chloe Garcia10 said:Could someone take a look at these urine results? I’ve been needing to pee much more frequently lately, and there's this constant sensation like I'm leaking, even though it doesn't actually look that way in my underwear.

Urine appears cloudy, yellow color, specific gravity 1.020, pH 7, Nitrites neg, Protein neg, Glucose normal, Ketones neg, Urobilinogen normal, Bilirubin neg, Red Blood Cells pos (+), Leukocyte esterase pos (+).

Urine sediment
White Blood Cells 8-10 / ref. 0-2
Red Blood Cells 4-6 / ref. 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells 15-20, ref 0-2
trace bacteria
trace amorphous phosphates

Thanks

The results aren't conclusive for a urinary tract infection, though one can't be ruled out entirely. The sample isn't ideal due to the high squamous epithelial cell count; essentially, the urine likely made contact with skin or vaginal secretions during collection. This makes the sample less reliable. I'd recommend repeating the test.