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

Megan Jones27 said:The only thing I’m actually taking is Ferzym plus.

Any idea what might be driving those elevated levels?

Does diet play a role here? What about kidney function or the thyroid?

Calcium levels are only slightly off, and phosphate is just marginally higher than calcium. You’ll need to rerun the labs and include a magnesium test this time.

I doubt there's any direct link between Ferzym plus and these specific lab results, but it wouldn't hurt to play it safe. Skip the Ferzym entirely for at least 48 hours before your blood draw. Just avoid all supplements during that window.

There are several reasons why calcium and phosphorus levels might spike. Most often, it comes down to excessive vitamin D intake, overusing supplements containing calcium and phosphates, or reactions to certain medications. If you rule all that out and the numbers still come back high upon retesting, we have to look at underlying diseases or metabolic disorders. That requires a much deeper dive.

Gregory Kim5 said:Just a routine checkup for my Crohn's. It's currently in remission. I'm staying on Azathioprine.

The numbers are only slightly off. In a certain percentage of patients—over 10%—dealing with IBD, specifically Crohn's, you see elevated amylase and/or lipase levels even when they aren't feeling any symptoms. My take? If you aren't experiencing discomfort or showing signs that you've slipped out of remission, there’s likely no reason to panic. However, since I don't specialize exclusively in inflammatory bowel disease, you should wait for your gastroenterologist to give you the final word on what these results actually mean.

Angela Moore63 said:Regarding urination, I sometimes feel like I haven't fully emptied my bladder, even when there's nothing left. I also deal with frequent mild vaginal inflammation, which I manage with various over-the-counter treatments. My Pap smear was fine, and I recently had a gynecological exam where the doctor said everything looks perfect.

It seems you might be dealing with some urinary tract issues after all. You should definitely get your urine tested again.

Have you had cervical swabs done to check for Chlamydia or Mycoplasma? Standard urine cultures don't typically pick up those specific infections, so if these symptoms persist, that’s an avenue worth exploring.

If a microbiological screening comes back clear and the cause remains elusive, the next logical step would be a consultation with a urologist.

Maria Fisher46 said:The calcium levels are only slightly off, and phosphate is just a bit higher than the calcium. You should have these tests repeated, making sure to include magnesium this time.

While I don't believe Ferzym plus would be directly linked to these specific results, it wouldn't hurt to skip any Ferzym or other supplements for about 48 hours before your next blood draw...

There are several reasons why calcium and phosphate might be elevated—most commonly from excessive Vitamin D intake, supplements containing calcium and phosphates, or certain medications. If those factors are ruled out and the levels remain high upon retesting, we would then need to investigate potential underlying medical conditions...

Thank you so much for the response!

I'll be heading back for some blood work (including Mg) in about three weeks, so we will see where things stand then...

I am still experiencing occasional dull pains in my lower back and abdomen... sometimes accompanied by an urgent need to use the restroom...

Maria Fisher46 said:It appears there might be some underlying issues with your urinary tract after all. You should definitely go back and have that urine analysis repeated.

Have you undergone cervical swabs specifically testing for Chlamydia or Mycoplasma? It’s important to note that a standard urine culture won't typically flag Chlamydia or Mycoplasma, so if these symptoms continue to persist, you really ought to consider looking into those specific tests as well.

If the microbiological screening fails to pin down the root cause, then the next logical step would be a full urological consultation.

I went ahead and did the swabs for Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, and Chlamydia. The results came back positive for Urea and Myco, but negative for Chlamydia. I finished a course of Doxycycline—taking two tablets daily for the first five days and then tapering down to one tablet a day for another eleven or twelve days. Throughout the treatment, I completely cut out milk and dairy products, and I made sure to abstain from any sexual activity. Now, I’m waiting to go back for my follow-up swab. The confusing part is that I never dealt with these kinds of symptoms or abdominal pains before, even though I clearly carried those bacteria. My boyfriend took antibiotics as well. I honestly can't wrap my head around how I even contracted this. Everything says these are transmitted exclusively through sexual contact, yet I don't change partners. His only previous relationship was with his first girlfriend, and they always practiced safe sex.😒

Angela Moore63 said:I had swabs done for mycoplasma, ureaplasma, and chlamydia. I tested positive for urea and myco, but negative for chlamydia. I took doxycycline/Hemomycin—two pills a day for the first five days, then one daily for another 11 or 12 days. I completely cut out milk and dairy products. I didn't have any sexual intercourse during this time either. Now I’m due for a follow-up swab. However, I never had these symptoms—this abdominal pain, for instance—even though I clearly had those bacteria present. My boyfriend took antibiotics as well. I honestly don't understand how I even contracted this. It says they are transmitted exclusively through sexual contact, yet I haven't changed partners. Before me, he only had one girlfriend—his first—and they used protection. 😒

A swimming pool?

I dealt with ureaplasma myself once—my husband tested negative for everything (and naturally, I haven't been switching partners)—so the only possible way I caught it was from a swimming pool or a public restroom. I'm ruling out the restroom because, at the time, only my husband and I were using our toilet at home, and frankly, I avoid public bathrooms like the plague; if I absolutely have to use one, I literally hover over the seat 😛 and, according to both my gynecologist and my own gut feeling, the only culprit was the pool—specifically a pool that wasn't being treated with any chemicals whatsoever.

Maria Fisher46 said:Your symptoms are pretty varied. Some of what you described could point toward a rheumatic disease. What I've noticed is that you're doing things in reverse order—you should see a rheumatologist first, then get targeted testing, rather than running subspecialty tests and trying to guess the disease based on the results alone.

To diagnose a rheumatic disease, a patient has to meet specific criteria. Lab results are just one part of that puzzle, so without a proper clinical exam, we can't really talk about a diagnosis.

If we all ran every possible immunological and rheumatological test, most of us would probably have at least one positive result, but that doesn't mean we actually have a rheumatic disease.

Hi there,
Thanks again for the answers.
The back pain is still hitting me hard. I happened to have already gone through all those tests, so I started digging around and wondering if this is actually a rheumatic issue.
I saw a physiatrist who recommended physical therapy, so I started seeing a private physical therapist, and I'm heading to a chiropractor soon too, also per the physiatrist's suggestion. My physical therapist agrees with one doctor who thinks my muscles have atrophied and that's where the pain is coming from.
I also went to a pain clinic and got a block in my L4-L5 facet joint, but the pain is still there. I'll see what they suggest next time. Maybe I'll try a block in the SI joint just to rule it out, even though most doctors said it's not the SI joint.
So, I don't know. For now, the plan is to work out with the private PT and massage the sore spots, then hit the chiropractor in a week and physical therapy in a month and a half.
One last question: since I don't really know anyone else dealing with this, is it actually possible for atrophied muscles to hurt that much??

Thanks!!

Can someone explain what
means? For allergies: my total IgE came back at 3.10, while the reference range says up to 100 kU/L

Sam Kim12 said:A swimming pool?

In my case, I tested positive for Mycoplasma, yet my husband came back negative on every single swab—and we haven't seen anyone else, so there's no question about infidelity. That leaves us with two possibilities for transmission: a public pool or a restroom. I’m effectively ruling out the restroom because, at home, it was just the two of us using it. Besides, I have this neurotic habit of avoiding public restrooms entirely; if I absolutely have to go, I practically hover over the seat rather than sitting down on it. 😛According to my gynecologist—and honestly, I agree with her—the most plausible culprit was a swimming pool, specifically one that wasn't being properly treated with any sanitizing chemicals.

Then it’s entirely possible that I picked it up from a toilet seat. This past summer, I spent some time at a summer camp, which meant I was forced to rely on public restrooms for about ten days straight. Even though they were being cleaned multiple times a day, it doesn't change the reality of the situation. Regardless, I share that same sentiment; I tend to hold it in rather than risk using a public or shared restroom seat. 😵🕺

I really need some quick advice here...
I just had some blood work done because I’ve got a minor procedure coming up, and everything looks totally fine except for my AST being slightly elevated at 38 (ref range is 8-30) and my MPV sitting at 10.8 (ref range 6.8-10.4).
Should I be worried about this? Everything was perfectly normal when I had my labs and enzyme checks done back five months ago...

Maria Anderson59 said:I urgently need some input here.
I just had my blood work done because I have to undergo a minor surgical procedure—everything looks fine except for my AST (38, ref 8-30) and my MPV (10.8, ref 6.8-10.4), which are both elevated.
Is this cause for concern? When I had my metabolic panel and enzyme tests checked five months ago, everything was perfectly normal.

AST is a liver enzyme—elevated levels are most significant when diagnosing liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, toxic liver damage, primary or metastatic liver cancer, and then there’s myocardial infarction, progressive muscular dystrophy, or dermatomyositis. You might also see elevated AST levels in cases of acute pancreatitis, hemolytic disease, gangrene, muscle contusions, or a pulmonary embolism. Even a slight or moderate elevation in AST can occur after consuming alcohol or taking certain medications like penicillin, salicylates, or opioids. — Based on these results, your enzymes are moderately elevated, but you are absolutely going to consult with your doctor about this.😉

MPV represents the average platelet volume in the blood—a 10% increase above the upper limit is still generally considered a normal, or at least acceptable, finding.😉

I’d be super grateful if someone could take a look at my blood work and tell me what you guys think. I’m dealing with contact dermatitis right now, and I’ve been running a low-grade fever—around 99°F—every single night. Other than the constant itching from the dermatitis, I don't really have any other symptoms.
I'll just list the stuff that's out of whack, with the normal reference ranges in parentheses:
Platelets 122 (150-425)
PCT 0.14 (0.16-0.43)
Neutrophils #1.83 (2.00-6.50)
Lymphocytes 3.81 (1.00-3.40)
And also
Neutrophils 29.6% (45.0-70.0)
Lymphocytes 61.6% (20.0-45.0)
IgE 143.4 (div>

Hey there,

Does anyone happen to know what electrophoresis and immunodiffusion actually are? I've been trying to Google them, but the search results are all over the place and cover so many different topics that I'm feeling pretty lost.

dustyhound38 said:I would be incredibly grateful if someone could share their thoughts regarding my blood work results. Currently, I am dealing with contact allergic dermatitis and have been running a low-grade fever of about 99°F to 99.2°F every night. Aside from the itching caused by the dermatitis, I don't have any other symptoms.
I will simply list the values that fall outside the standard range, followed by the normal reference ranges in parentheses:
Platelets 122 (150-425)
PCT 0.14 (0.16-0.43)
Neutrophils #1.83 (2.00-6.50)
Lymphocytes 3.81 (1.00-3.40)
And again
Neutrophils 29.6% (45.0-70.0)
Lymphocytes 61.6% (20.0-45.0)
IgE 143.4 (div>

Here is what I understand based on my own reading, but I am certainly no doctor, so please wait for or seek out a professional medical opinion.

PCT represents the volume percentage of platelets within a unit of whole blood (typically 0.200 to 0.500).
A decrease in platelet count—known as thrombocytopenia—is defined as having a platelet count below 100,000 per microliter of blood. If the count drops below 50,000, there is an increased tendency to bleed from even minor injuries. Spontaneous bleeding can occur if the count falls below 20,000.
Conversely, thrombocytosis occurs when the platelet count exceeds 500,000 per microliter. An elevated platelet count can arise from various underlying medical conditions.
From what I gather, neutropenia combined with an increase in lymphocytes is often triggered by certain viral infections—essentially, it’s what happens when the body is actively fighting off a virus.

I know there’s no need to panic, but I figured I'd ask...
I just got my Calcium and Phosphate lab results back.
Calcium is at 2.48 (normal range 2.14-2.53)
Phosphate is 1.50 (normal range 0.79 to 1.42)

I have an SLE diagnosis and an unspecified collagen disease.
About nine months ago, I had an echocardiogram, plus scans for my kidneys and lungs, along with an EKG...
Everything came back looking fine then.

So, that's the situation—does this slight elevation in phosphate mean anything specific, and should I be worried given my diagnosis?
Thanks

restlessangler said:I know nobody wants to worry, but I figured I'd ask.
My Calcium and Phosphate results just came back...
Calcium is 2.48 (range 2.14-2.53)
Phosphate is 1.50 (range 0.79 to 1.42)

I have been diagnosed with SLE and an unspecified collagenosis.
Back in September, I had an ultrasound for my heart, kidneys, lungs, and an EKG...
Everything turned out fine then.

So, yeah—the question is what these slightly elevated numbers mean, and if I should be worried given my diagnosis?
Thanks

Your calcium is within the normal range... being close to the high end doesn't really change much—I don't think you need to worry about that part.
As for the phosphate, I looked some things up online, and I wouldn't panic immediately upon reading this... since it's such a minor elevation, it might not signify anything at all. If you're feeling anxious, though, maybe check in with your doctor again.

Phosphorus is a key element involved in bone formation...
An adult's body holds phosphorus in the form of phosphates, which are distributed both inside and outside the cells. Intracellularly, phosphates are parts of phospholipids and phosphoproteins (organic phosphates). Roughly 85% of extracellular phosphate exists in inorganic form as hydroxyapatite. Hormonal regulators for inorganic phosphorus concentrations include PTH, calcitonin, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.
Measuring the concentration of inorganic phosphorus in the blood is an important indicator of bone formation or breakdown.

Reference values:
Men and women: 0.79 – 1.42 mmol/L

Elevated:
Increased levels of inorganic phosphorus in the blood can be caused by increased intake or decreased excretion—for instance, acute or chronic kidney failure, low PTH or PTH resistance, Vitamin D toxicity, phosphate redistribution during tumor tissue breakdown or heatstroke, hypoparathyroidism, acromegaly, respiratory acidosis, or lactic acidosis.

rapidpanther8 said:Your calcium levels are actually within the normal range... whatever looks slightly elevated isn't really a big deal—you don't need to worry about it...
And regarding the phosphate, I looked some things up online, so don't freak out the second you read the results... it's a very minor elevation and likely won't mean anything. If you're feeling anxious, though, definitely follow up with your doctor...

Phosphorus is a vital element involved in building bone density...
An adult's body holds phosphorus in the form of phosphates, which are distributed both inside and outside the cells. Inside the cells, phosphates are part of phospholipids and phosphoproteins (organic phosphates). About 85% of extracellular phosphate exists in inorganic form as hydroxyapatite. The hormonal regulators for inorganic phosphorus concentrations include PTH, calcitonin, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.
Measuring inorganic phosphorus concentration in the blood is an important indicator of bone formation and breakdown...

Reference ranges:
Men and women: 0.79 – 1.42 mmol/L

Elevated levels:
High levels of inorganic phosphorus in the blood can be caused by increased intake or decreased excretion—things like acute or chronic kidney failure, low PTH or PTH resistance, Vitamin D toxicity, phosphate redistribution during tumor tissue breakdown or heatstroke, hypoparathyroidism, acromegaly, respiratory acidosis, or lactic acidosis.

Well, I've seen that stuff online too 😬 but since I'm more Old School, I know it doesn't necessarily have to be anything. Doctors know which specific elevations or drops are actually worth panicking over.
The only thing crossing my mind is maybe something involving my kidneys, since this condition could potentially turn systemic and affect the kidneys among other things—though, like I mentioned before, I had a kidney ultrasound about six months ago and everything looked fine...
I have checkups coming up soon anyway, so my doctors will take a look at it, but yeah... just thought I'd share...😬

Hey everyone—just got my bloodwork back today. For the most part, everything looks pretty standard, except for my eosinophils. Mine came back at 1.7%, while the "normal" range is supposed to be between 2% and 6%. It doesn't feel like I'm way off the mark, but whenever I try to look up what low eosinophil counts actually signify, the internet just gives me vague answers. If anyone here knows what this might mean, I’d really appreciate the insight. 😁

restlessangler said:I know there's no need to panic, but I figured I'd ask...
I just got my Calcium and Phosphate results back.
Calcium is 2.48 (ref range 2.14-2.53)
Phosphate is 1.50 (ref range 0.79 to 1.42)

I have an SLE diagnosis and an unspecified collagen disease.
About nine months ago, I had an echocardiogram, kidney ultrasound, lung scans, and an EKG...
Everything came back fine then.

So, my question is—what do these slightly elevated numbers actually mean, and should I be worried given my diagnosis?
Thanks

One more thing. My Vitamin D came back too.
- 22 - ref range (>75)

Is that considered really low? I'll probably need a supplement, but at what point does the level become truly alarming?

So, I went in for some routine bloodwork last week and my liver enzymes were way up—AST was at 195 and ALT was sitting at 111.
I've honestly never had any issues with them, or even anything regarding my liver in general.

Fast forward to today—I just got more blood drawn, hasn't even been a full seven days, and boom, everything is back within the normal range.
Is it actually possible they messed up the measurement last time? Or can those levels really drop that fast in just a week? It feels like they should indicate some kind of liver damage, but does the liver really bounce back that quickly, or was it just a lab error?

Thanks! 🙂

Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone could take a look at these lab results in the link—specifically those bolded values for MCV and Monocytes

Thanks!

http://oi59.tinypic.com/fadidz.jpg

So, I'm 29 and decided to get bloodwork and a urinalysis done because of a few things going on

1. This weird throat secretion thing—lots of clearing my throat... it feels like there's this popping sensation in my mouth after I swallow, and it’s been hanging around forever. Not sure if it's some random allergy or sinus issues... I already did swabs for my throat and nose and everything came back negative. For the last couple of days, I've been checking my temp in the late afternoon and it hits around 98.6 or 98.8 (basically hovering right around that low-grade fever mark). I'm not coughing and I wouldn't say I'm exhausted, and my body doesn't ache, but I just feel... off. Like something isn't quite "right."
Maybe my breathing feels slightly labored, and my heart feels like it's racing a bit even though my EKG was totally fine.

2. About two weeks ago, I started feeling this mild to moderate tension in my lower right abdomen, down toward the groin—almost like I really needed to use the bathroom. It settles down overnight, then comes back the next day as this slight tightening or cramping. Honestly, I can't even tell if it's triggered by sitting too much or maybe just anxiety... it just popped up out of nowhere and hasn't left since. I saw my doctor and they checked the area; they aren't worried about appendicitis or anything since it doesn't hurt in that specific way. I also tested negative for H. pylori.