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

I don't really have a serious question or anything—more just curious about something. My OB-GYN sent me in for some blood work, and the results look fine overall. My monocytes are a little low (4.6, when the range is 5.00-13.00), but I'm assuming it’s totally fine since she didn't say anything and everything else came back normal. What I'm actually wondering about is this note in the results: "serum weakly lipoidal!" Does anyone know what that even means? 🤔

I’ve got a bit of a situation here. I recently underwent surgery on both my shoulder and hip. After spending 15 days in the hospital, I was finally discharged to recover at home. Since getting back, I’ve noticed I can’t maintain an erection like I used to. Even if I manage to get one, it fades away almost immediately. Both my wife and I are feeling pretty frustrated by this. Is this actually normal? Will things ever go back to how they were? I was reading online that erectile dysfunction isn't uncommon after hip surgery because of reduced blood flow. Does being able to achieve an erection, even briefly, mean I'm not technically impotent? Or could there be something else going on? For context, I’m 29 and I’ve never had issues with this before. My lifestyle hasn't exactly been the healthiest, but I can't remember it ever being a struggle. If anyone has any advice or has gone through something similar, please help!

Carl Taylor said:Hey, my dad (born '53) just got his results back and it shows elevated TPA. I tried Googling it but didn't get much—from what I gathered, high levels in women can be linked to breast cancer... Can someone explain what this actually is and why it might be high?

Here’s the quick version regarding TPA...
- tissue polypeptide antigen
- higher concentrations are linked to proliferative activity
- both normal and tumor cells produce it
- elevated levels are seen in inflammatory diseases, as well as various benign lung, liver, and urogenital tract issues...

Hope that helps even a little bit...

Thanks 😉

Grace Jones3 said:I don't really have a serious question, I'm just curious about something. My OB/GYN sent me for blood work, and everything looks fine. My monocytes are slightly low (4.6, while the range is 5.00-13.00), but I assume that's okay since she didn't mention it and everything else is normal. What I'm actually wondering about is this note on my results: "serum weakly lipidic!" What does that even mean? 🤔

Your serum should be clear and pale yellow. Yours is a bit cloudy, which means there's extra fat in your blood. This usually happens if someone doesn't follow the rules and eats something within 12 hours of the test.

Everything is fine. No need to worry.

hollowtinker18 said:A 39-year-old male.
Before the war, I had severe poisoning from green caterpillars, which left me with significant liver damage.
During the war, I was wounded, received a blood transfusion, and contracted Hepatitis C.
Afterward, I struggled with PTSD, alcohol, and addiction.
I haven't touched alcohol in 10 years.
I refused a biopsy because "my mom kept pulling me away from it."

Yesterday's results: MCV—average red blood cell volume—99 (ref. 83-97)
RDW (red blood cell distribution width) 16.2 (ref. 9-13)

Can someone explain this, please?
Also, transaminases—ALP 81 (ref. 60-142)
GGT 110 (ref. 11-55)
AST 117 (ref. 11-38)
ALT 220 (ref. 12-48)
LD 244 (ref. 124-241)

HDL cholesterol is 1.3.

Please explain, if you can be detailed. I'd be grateful for any advice on what to do and if my liver can regenerate since I've been on medication for years. I try my best to watch what I eat, avoiding high-calorie foods and physical strain, but I'm a bit high-strung.
Thanks a lot.
Regards!

These labs point to very serious acute liver issues. (But you already know that.)

Since you’ve laid everything out and clearly understand your condition, I don't have much to add besides a few tips.

First off, stick mostly to cooked foods with minimal salt and seasoning. Think lean meats like chicken, veal, lamb, and white fish.

Cook all kinds of vegetables with a little salt and, if possible, some olive oil.

Fruit is okay too, maybe as a compote—especially apples—but fresh fruit should be eaten in limited amounts, ideally between meals when your liver isn't under load.

Pay extra attention to how fresh your food is and where it comes from. Ideally, get stuff from a local farm where they aren't using pesticides, herbicides, or other toxins.

Goat milk can be a good aid for the liver, but again, only if it's from a farm where the goats graze freely in nature.

Avoid pork and beef due to their high cholesterol levels.

Alcohol and soda are strictly off-limits. You clearly know this, but you have to stick to it religiously..

Stay away from canned goods and deli meats of any kind; maybe a high-quality deli meat once in a while.

Eggs are fine twice a week, but don't hard-boil them.

It would also be wise to use boiled water, and the best thing to drink is a homemade tea blend sweetened with honey.

That's all from me...

Hey, I need some help looking over these results. Can someone tell me if I’m at high risk for developing osteoporosis?

Right forearm - BMD = 0.467 g/cm2. This value can't be commented on.
Left hip - BMD = 0.751 g/cm2; can't really say much about this value.

BMD is 0.774 g/cm2. This bone mineral density value sits 2.2 standard deviations below the population mean for people in my age group.

I have one more question regarding blood work. My specialist sent me to get the following tested: CBC with reticulocytes, iron studies, ferritin, total proteins with serum protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis, bilirubin, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, CK, AP, Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, Zn, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folic acid, cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL, glucose, HbA1c, PV, fibrinogen, APTV, and tTG.

So, my doctor wrote these on my referral: KKS, SE, liver panel, cholesterol, glucose, PV. I'm wondering—did he leave out iron, or is that already included in the CBC?
Just so you know, I've been drinking Ensure shakes. Should I stop two days before my blood work?

Thanks in advance for the answers!

Total cholesterol 25, LDL 5.18 (high risk >4.90), triglycerides 2.49 (elevated >2.28)

I didn't eat anything for 12 hours before the draw, so the numbers aren't high because of food. What I'm really wondering is... besides changing my lifestyle, should I go get a carotid Doppler ultrasound? I'm honestly a little worried that all this junk might have already started building up in my arteries... 🤷

Anthony Garcia12 said:25 g, cholesterol 8 (3.5-5.2), LDL 5.18 (high risk >4.90), triglycerides 2.49 (elevated >2.28)

I hadn't eaten anything for 12 hours before the draw, so there’s no way these numbers are spiked from a recent meal. What I really want to know is—aside from the obvious need to overhaul my lifestyle—should I be heading in for a color Doppler ultrasound of my arteries? To be honest, I'm a bit spooked that all this junk might have already started piling up in my vessels like sludge in an old pipe.🤷

Look, that kind of buildup doesn't happen overnight; we're talking about years of accumulation, not some sudden flash flood...
how tall and heavy are you?

Sophia Moore38 said:But hey, this stuff builds up over years... it doesn't just happen overnight...
how tall, how much weight

I'm 6'5", 198 lbs, non-smoker. My levels have been high for two years now (ever since I started getting my blood checked regularly), but they've never hit this high before. Honestly, it caught me totally off guard... Guess I'll start paying closer attention to what I eat and cut back on the drinks. I'll see where things stand at my next checkup in six months...

Anthony Garcia12 said:I'm 6'5", 198 lbs, not overweight by any stretch, but for two years now—ever since I started monitoring my bloodwork—my levels have been elevated, though they've never hit this high before. Honestly, it caught me completely off guard. I guess from here on out, I’ll need to be much more disciplined about my diet and cut back on the drinking. I'll see where things stand at my next checkup in six months. This was a real shock to the system.

Hey... well, you certainly are a stunner... hehe
You definitely need to watch your intake, without a doubt... so, what do the rest of your parameters look like?

Sophia Moore38 said:Hey... you're quite the catch... hehe...
You definitely need to be careful... what about the rest of your numbers?

Everything else looks fine. Last time things got a little weird because I had ketones showing up in my urine—so on one hand, my lipids were high, but on the other, it looked like I was starving myself. Even my doctor was 😕 🤣

I don't want to hijack this thread, I was just wondering if I actually needed that color Doppler scan. Honestly, I'm thinking I probably don't need it yet...

What does eosinophil cationic protein actually tell us? (I'm wondering if it just points to an allergy, or if it can also indicate something like asthma?)

Hey guys, I was hoping someone could take a look at my blood work and give me their two cents. The whole reason I’ve been running through all these tests in the first place is because of this nagging pain on the right side of my stomach (I actually wrote a whole separate post about that over on this forum if anyone wants the full backstory).

L 8,5

E 5,6

HTC 0,43 Hgb 160 T 194

Hgb 160

T 194

Thanks in advance! 🙂

neonharbor93 said:I’d appreciate some insight on these blood results. The reason I went in for testing was due to pain in my right side (I’ve gone into detail about that in a separate thread here on this forum).

L 8.5

E 5.6

HTC 0,43 Hgb 160 T 194

Hgb 160

T 194

Thanks in advance. 🙂

From what I can see, everything looks fine. 🙂

I am asking for your assistance in interpreting my mother's lab results, as everything has been flagged because the values fall outside the standard reference ranges (she is 47 years old)
these results pertain to her thyroid hormones

TSH 19.8
T4 72.4
anti Tg 288.1 IU/L
anti TPO 369.5

Can someone make sense of these results?
leukocyte -- 12.6 (3.4-9.7)
erythrocyte – 5.52 (3.86-5.08)
Hb – 145 (119-157)
hematocrit – 0.434 (0.356-0.470)
MCV – 78.6 (83-97.2)
MCH – 26.3 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC – 334 (320-345)
RDW – 13.5 (9-15)
platelets – 276 (158-424)
MPV – 10.3 (6.8-10.4)
neutrophils – 82.3 (44-72)
lymphocytes – 2.7 (20-46)
monocytes – 4.7 (2-12)
eosinophils – 0.2 (00-7)
basophils – 0.1 (00-1)
non-seg. neutrophils – 10 (0-4)
CRP – 3.2 (00-3)
Urine
Blood +
bilirubin – negative
urobilinogen – normal
ketones - +++
proteins - ++
nitrites – negative
glucose – normal
pH – 8.0 (4.5 – 8)
Specific Gravity – 1.000 (1.004-1.04)
Urine microscopy – WBC ++
Urine sediment – WBC – 33 (00-5)
Urine sediment – erythrocyte – 5 (00-2)
Sedimentation/Epithelial cells – 16 (00-1)
Male epithelial cells – 0 (00-1)
Hyaline casts – 0 (00-1)
bacteria – plenty

Reason for testing—suspected appendicitis; pain on the right side. Is this blood work extremely concerning? It’s obvious there’s inflammation—likely a urinary tract infection—but several parameters are quite high... I’m currently at the coast, so I can't get to my doctor immediately, and I’m not exactly an expert at reading blood panels, so if anyone could share their thoughts... thanks in advance 🙂 (and yes, I know corticosteroids can affect blood counts, which I'm taking for allergies)

Amy Fowler85 said:Please help me interpret my mom's lab results. Everything was flagged because the values are outside the normal range (she is 47 years old).
It concerns thyroid hormones.

TSH 19.8
T4 72.4
anti Tg 288.1 IU/L
anti TPO 369.5

Assuming these are T4 values (not fT4!) and expressed in nmol/L (so T4 at 72.4 nmol/L), we might be looking at subclinical hypothyroidism. In this scenario, TSH is elevated while T4 remains within the normal range. Subclinical hypothyroidism essentially means thyroid function is dipping, even if the patient isn't feeling much yet. Given the high antibody levels, the culprit could be Hashimoto's thyroiditis—a chronic inflammation of the thyroid driven by autoimmune factors.

Regardless, an endocrinologist will need to take a look. They’ll likely order more blood work or perhaps an ultrasound...
The patient's own input is also vital here—what symptoms are they experiencing, how long have they lasted, and are there any other underlying health issues?

With this condition, hormone levels can fluctuate significantly—moving from high to normal, or even dropping low. Eventually, it usually settles into overt hypothyroidism, where hormone levels are low and require thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

All in all, I don't see any reason to panic.
But definitely, take these results to a doctor who can determine the specific next steps.

Donna Anderson6 said:Can someone make sense of these results?
Leukocytes -- 12.6 (3.4-9.7)
erythrocyte – 5.52 (3.86-5.08)
Hb – 145 (119-157)
Hematocrit – 0.434 (0.356-0.470)
MCV – 78.6 (83-97.2)
MCH – 26.3 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC – 334 (320-345)
RDW – 13.5 (9-15)
Platelets – 276 (158-424)
MPV – 10.3 (6.8-10.4)
Neutrophils – 82.3 (44-72)
lymphocytes – 2.7 (20-46)
Monocytes – 4.7 (2-12)
Eosinophils – 0.2 (00-7)
Basophils – 0.1 (00-1)
Band neutrophils – 10 (0-4)
CRP – 3.2 (00-3)
Urine
Blood +
bilirubin – negative
urobilinogen – normal
Ketones - +++
Protein - ++
Nitrites – negative
Glucose – normal
Reaction (pH) – 8.0 (4.5 – 8)
Specific Gravity – 1.000 (1.004-1.04)
Urine microscopy – WBC ++
Urine sediment – WBC – 33 (00-5)
Urine sediment – erythrocyte – 5 (00-2)
Sedimentation Platelets – 16 (00-1)
Small epithelial cells – 0 (00-1)
Hyaline casts – 0 (00-1)
Bacteria – many

Reason for testing - suspected appendicitis, pain on the right side. Is this blood work very concerning? It's clear there is inflammation, most likely a urinary tract infection, but several parameters are elevated... I'm currently at the beach so I can't see my doctor immediately, and I'm not particularly skilled at reading blood panels, so if anyone could share their thoughts... thanks in advance 🙂 (and yes, I know corticosteroids can affect blood counts, and I'm using them for allergies)

A quick glance at these findings suggests a possible urinary tract infection. The urine analysis points strongly toward this: significant bacteria, leukocytes (inflammatory cells), plus protein and blood in the urine. Additionally, ketones are present while glucose remains negative, which often indicates you haven't eaten for a while. In the bloodwork, we see an increase in inflammatory cells (leukocytes), specifically neutrophils, which aligns with a bacterial infection in the body.

So, based strictly on these numbers—without knowing the patient's full clinical picture—my first thought would be a UTI.

However, lab results alone, stripped of patient symptoms and other diagnostic data, cannot provide a definitive diagnosis.

I'm not sure if you've been seen at an ER or an urgent care clinic, or if you've started any treatment (like antibiotics) and whether that has helped.

Finding the actual cause of abdominal pain isn't always straightforward; sometimes, the true diagnosis remains elusive.

Regarding the corticosteroids: they can impact blood counts if taken as pills or injections. But if it's just a spray, cream, or drops, absorption is minimal, so they likely won't significantly alter the bloodwork.

It's also worth noting that multiple issues can exist simultaneously; having a urinary tract infection doesn't necessarily mean it's the sole cause of your discomfort.

redeagle96 said:what does eosinophil cationic protein indicate? (I mean, does it just show an allergy exists, or could it point toward something like asthma?)

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) acts as a marker for allergic mechanisms; essentially, it can spike during allergic reactions. Measuring ECP levels can help identify allergic inflammation within the respiratory system, among other things. However, you can't pin a diagnosis of asthma solely on elevated ECP values.