Posts by Nicholas Myers

Kimberly Morris said:Hi everyone. I’m mostly hoping that either brightgull95 or Nicholas Myers can weigh in on my question.

Ma'am,

Have you had a fecal calprotectin test or serology for celiac disease done yet?

Peter White80 said:Hello,
I ran the tests again. My blood counts look normal now. However, the phosphate levels came back elevated. As for symptoms: I’m constantly exhausted and sleeping all day. I originally thought it was related to low ferritin, but those levels are fine now. I also have constant tinnitus and pulsing headaches at the top of my head. Back in 2021, things were okay, just some issues with alpha-amylase. In September 2022, my Calcium was high. I am currently taking atenolol and Nexium.

Hello,

The calcium and phosphate results you provided aren't concerning and likely aren't linked to the symptoms you're experiencing. Have you had an abdominal ultrasound done?

Chloe Patel10 said:Hi there,
Can someone help me make sense of these results? I did an overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test. Blood was drawn in the morning around 9 AM. My cortisol level after the dexamethasone came back at < 27.6 nmol/L. Is that within the normal range? Thanks, best regards

Yes.

Emily Ortiz27 said:Thanks.

Any advice on what else should be checked via lab work given the situation? I definitely plan on asking about Vitamin D levels, but I'm not sure if there's anything else I should watch for regarding my CBC, minerals, vitamins, or similar.

I still suggest getting three occult blood stool tests. Regarding the Tamoxifen, you should monitor KKS, liver function, calcium, coagulation profiles, and lipid panels. Additionally, get a bone density scan, an eye exam, and a gynecological exam.

Matthew Young4 said:Greetings,

Can someone analyze these results? Thanks.

https://ibb.co/rGSrY9J
https://ibb.co/P5fsZZG

Sir,

Analyzing labs is impossible without knowing the context—why were they ordered in the first place?

Peter White80 said:Sir,
I just got new results back. Now the urates are elevated? 🤦 ALT continues to rise. It's been high for quite some time. Is it possible that long-term use of Nexium 40 and Atenolol 50 could cause liver damage? Triglycerides also went up by 0.1, though I'll likely attribute that to weight. I'm 96 kg, 194 cm tall, and 19 years old.
View on imgur

Sir,

One needs to rule out or confirm Gaisbock syndrome, given the combination of polycythemia, hypertension, and obesity. These factors align with your current findings, though Polycythemia Vera must be ruled out as well. Liver markers and urate levels can also be linked to excess body weight.

Brenda Alvarez24 said:I’ve never actually gotten a clear answer from my doctor regarding what kind of follow-ups are necessary once an APL diagnosis is made. What specific tests should be done?
Do we need periodic checks for clotting, LAC, antibodies, and so on?
My primary physician told me that once I tested positive for Cardiolipin - IgG antibodies, there was no point in repeating those tests. Still, I have, and even though my rheumatologist gave me a few questions to ask, I haven't received a straight answer on what to test for or how often.
I could have posted this under the SLE thread, but I stumbled upon this one instead...

There aren't any official guidelines regarding mandatory follow-up protocols after the initial diagnosis.

Donna Lopez79 said:Respectfully,

Over the last year, I’ve started writing posts several times only to delete them because I didn't know what to say.
I haven't had any specific testing done, and I haven't been seeing a neurologist for follow-ups either. I was given an INR monitor, so I stopped seeing my GP for those checks; I just manage it myself at home.
A few days ago, I finally decided to see the neurologist. He gave me a lab order and gave me a bit of a lecture for not getting bloodwork done over the past year (as if anything would have changed by now). Since I mentioned the constant pressure in my head, he noted on the referral that he recommends switching from Warfarin to Pradaxa, though the hospital neurologist will make the final call once the results are in.

Now I’ve set an appointment with my family doctor for bloodwork, since I’ve had blood in my stool three times in the last six months. On top of that, I’m dealing with constant itching.
When we got back from our vacation, everyone in the house started itching. We went to an urgent care clinic, and they diagnosed it as a skin irritation. We used Permetina and I kept buying various creams at the drugstore. Everything was covered up, but the itching persists. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if it isn't just skin-deep, because I’m spending a fortune on creams. I'm hoping the bloodwork reveals if this is a reaction to my medication.
By chance, we met a doctor who looked over my files and told me the data was inconsistent. He didn't understand why I was still on Warfarin and suggested that my current hospital wasn't doing enough for me. He recommended I seek treatment at a specialized clinic in Heidelberg, noting that the specialists there are better equipped to handle complex cases like mine. He mentioned that both my doctor and I probably should have sought a second opinion sooner, given the lack of progress here.
I am so physically and mentally exhausted that I can't even put into words how I feel—and that's not even counting the pain. (The head pressure hasn't even been constant; I've had five days out of the last thirty without it.)
I'll be getting bloodwork done next month, and I'll share the results when they come in. I’m also planning to schedule an appointment in Heidelberg in a few days, hoping their doctors can finally sort through this mess. Honestly, if I could just get off the Warfarin, I think I'd feel significantly better.
That was a lot of rambling, but there it is.

I'll update you all once the new results are in.

Best regards,

Hi there,

It’s possible the itching is linked to taking Warfarin, but other anticoagulants can cause this too. Even dabigatran (Pradaxa) might trigger itching—perhaps even more frequently than Warfarin does.

Based on everything you’ve shared so far, I have to agree with your doctor's confusion regarding why you're still on Warfarin.

Have you tried an antihistamine yet?

Let me know once you have new test results.

Steven Gray2 said:My bad, I wanted to lay everything out on the table. I know there’s a specialist over on the lupus thread who breaks down lab results, so I figured I’d list everything I’ve done here so maybe someone can offer some advice without me clogging up that other section. I get it—this whole thing reads like a novel. Honestly, I’m terrified because when you're dealing with the systemic version of this disease, it’s pretty brutal. Even today, I went to see a department head privately just to get a second opinion, but since my blood work looks perfect, she refuses to give me a diagnosis. She’s acting like it can’t possibly be an autoimmune issue just because my numbers are clean. My CRP is 0.2, ESR is 2, RF is low and hasn't budged from the last test, and my CBC has been steady for years—everything is totally normal. My ANA came back negative at the Chicago University Hospital Center, and they don't run ENA tests there if the ANA is negative, which makes sense from a cost-cutting standpoint. I decided to pay for the extra ENA parameters myself at Medikol, and they were all negative, including Scl-70. Still, I know there are rare cases where the ANA is negative but an ENA comes back positive. It's rare, but it happens. In my line of work with animals, I've seen lupus and Cushing's, but experiencing it in a human is a whole different ballgame. This disease manifests in so many weird ways; if your blood work is normal or you don't have the classic symptoms of advanced stages, people tend to miss it, even when you're actually feeling the symptoms.

Sir,

I've read through your entire post, but I'm struggling to understand what specifically leads you to suspect systemic sclerosis or Cushing? What exact symptoms are you experiencing? Given the lab results you provided, a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis would be highly unusual.

Arthur Bennett14 said:Does anyone know what it means if my hospital bloodwork shows elevated IgG for gluten? The reading was 20, while the normal range is 1-5. Celiac disease hasn't been confirmed by biopsy—meaning they haven't sampled the stomach or duodenum yet. What kind of diagnosis do you give based solely on an allergy confirmation? My doctor actually told me it doesn't mean anything at all! lol!!

I assume they were testing for anti-tTG IgG antibodies due to a selective IgA deficiency?

In any case, when you have conflicting results between serology and a biopsy, you have to make sure you were actually consuming enough gluten leading up to the procedure. If you were, then the next step is determining DGP and EMA, along with HLA typing for the DQ locus.

If the other tests come back negative, then a celiac diagnosis is unlikely, making the necessity of a gluten-free diet questionable.

Emily Ortiz27 said:I've been struggling with low iron and low hemoglobin for quite some time. My doctor attributes it to heavy periods and isn't making a big deal out of it, refusing to refer me for further testing.

The current labs indicate sideropenia. Given that the previous hemoglobin was 97 g/L, and considering the context of breast cancer, I still believe further investigation is necessary. I suggest showing that previous result of 97 g/L Hemoglobin to the oncologist.

Paul Ramirez59 said:Update... unfortunately, I’m seeing some of our doctors on duty. Yesterday, we had an emergency CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast; everything looks fine—no abscesses or anything similar. However, CRP rose to 48. Yesterday, last night, they changed the antibiotics, though I'm not sure what's being administered now. Temp today peaked at 38.2°C, but it's still lingering. Please, I need some input....

I see no reason to change the antimicrobial therapy; the results point toward a viral illness.

Nicholas Johnson8 said:I have my inguinal hernia surgery scheduled for December 15th.
My blood work and coagulation panels were done back on November 7th.
Will those results still be valid for the surgery, or should I get everything redone right before the procedure?
I want to avoid showing up at the hospital for surgery only to find out they need to draw more blood because something isn't current, forcing me to head home to finish unfinished business...

Hello,

You really ought to check in with the anesthesiology department at the hospital where you're having the procedure. In my experience, for instance, they usually don't require fresh labs if they were completed within four weeks; however, once you pass that window, they typically ask for new ones.

Emily Ortiz27 said:New checkup for a child with lymphadenopathy.

Could someone take a look at this cytology smear? What would slit lymphocytes and low monocytes imply given his clinical history so far?
The atypical lymphocytes seem to have cleared from the picture for now.

Hello,

I don't like seeing slit lymphocytes on a report, though fortunately, we're talking about a very small percentage here. Still, I’d recommend a consultation with the hematologist managing the child to review this in person.

placidangler13 said:Can someone help me make sense of these HLA typing results?

Suppose the systemic issue involves... the gut, joints, and so on. I won't go too deep into the details here, but I am running every possible test available. Even the specialists can't figure out what this is. I would be grateful if anyone could take a look at this and offer some insight:

HLA locus, serological equivalent, allele, allele.

Primary sample: whole blood
SER. EKV.
Class I / HLA-B B8 B50(21) *08 *50
Class II / HLA-DRB1 DR17(3) - *03 -
Class II / HLA-DQA1 *05 -
Class II / HLA-DQB1 DQ2 - *02 -
Notes:
- = possible homozygosity
Method:
Molecular typing via PCR-SSO using the Lifecodes HLA-B kit Lot 3012346 and the Lifecodes HLA-DRB1 kit.
Using the Lifecodes HLA-B kit Lot 3012606 and the Lifecodes HLA-DQA1/B1 SSO Typing Kit Lot 3012027. Results cross-referenced with the MatchIT DNA IMGT/HLA database 3.45.

Dear Madam,

There’s a predisposition for celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and potentially sarcoidosis—maybe even inflammatory bowel disease down the road.

Emily Ortiz27 said:Trying again. I made sure to uncheck the "delete" option this time. 😕

Definitely worth processing!

Sam Taylor22 said:Hello.

Can I get some feedback on these results? I’m specifically looking at my platelet count. I went in for a checkup because my levels are sitting right at the upper limit following my bout with COVID-19 and the vaccine.

D-dimer is 188, while the reference range is div>

The results look good.

Rachel Davis said:Can someone help me make sense of these urine results? They’ve been consistently poor for at least eight months now, even though I don't have any symptoms. I've gone through two rounds of antibiotics—specifically Klavocin—but nothing seems to be moving the needle.

http://https://postimg.cc/8jLn4xPm

Time to get screened for chlamydia, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma, plus a full gynecological exam.

Laura Morris16 said:These results are from September 29th. I also had a chest X-ray and an EKG, and everything came back normal. Liver function tests look fine too.
I should mention that a few days after the blood draw, I developed a sinus and ear infection. I'm currently on Makcin antibiotics.

So, there was indeed an infection. Once that clears up, you'll need to redo the CBC to see how the numbers are trending. Given that the elevated white cell count seems to line up with when the glucocorticoids were started, I'm inclined to agree with the hematologist's take.

goldenmoose25 said:The doctor gave me a referral for parasite testing, plus a follow-up for CBC and differential in 10 days.
Of course, I'm reading everything online and spiraling into a panic.
Does it make sense to redo the differential earlier, say in 5 days?

No, it doesn't make sense. You have to rule out parasites first—and I don't just mean stool samples, but serology for tissue parasites as well. Only once those come back negative can you move on to allergy and hematology workups.

Emily Ortiz27 said:I'd like someone to take a look at this breast smear cytology report.
The exam was done six months after the last one, which showed nothing but foamy phagocytes.
Is this still considered "idiopathic galactorrhea"?
Thanks.

There are no epithelial cells in the sample, so we can't determine if there's another underlying cause for the galactorrhea. The cause remains unknown based on this.

Drew Scott20 said:Could someone explain this typing result? It was ordered because of a rash that isn't responding to topical treatment—possibly psoriasis.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20...e655a62062.jpg

There is a genetic predisposition for psoriasis here.

Michael Campbell34 said:The doctor says the blood work looks fine and we just need to stick to iron supplements, but honestly, I’m skeptical. When he stopped taking the iron, his levels plummeted from 24 down to 7 in just four months. On top of that, his other markers—hemoglobin, hematocrit, the whole works—are in a steady decline. I’m wondering if he needs a full hematology workup to find the actual root cause, or if this is just considered "normal" for someone who has survived stomach cancer? This is a family member, and he is visibly wasting away. He’s lost all his muscle mass, and there's almost zero body fat left. To make matters worse, he was diagnosed with sciatica four years ago, and they just tell him he needs to exercise. How is he supposed to manage that?
I would be genuinely grateful if you could point me toward the next steps. Best regards.

To whom it may concern,

They found the reason for the workup. I need to have three stool tests for occult bleeding and a urinalysis done, then move on to further testing—likely with a gastroenterologist, and potentially an oncologist.

hiddennomad34 said:Hi, if someone could take a look at these results, My Vitamin B12 and Vitamin VIII 8C levels are elevated.Anyway, I've been dealing with some liver issues over the last two weeks—fatty liver, mostly because I overdid it on the Tylenol. My liver function tests have started looking a bit better lately, though; I actually went to see a gastroenterologist about it. On top of that, I've been on Eliquis for over a year now to manage DVT. Thanks..

Vitamin B12 levels can sometimes reflect liver disease or underlying damage. Similarly, an elevated factor VIIIc can be a red flag for inflammation—whether that's triggered by an infection, malignancy, surgery, trauma, or other causes. The real concern here is that it increases the risk of venous thrombosis.

Nicholas Johnson8 said:My brother, 53 years old. His levels are sitting below the reference range, so he’s spiraling into a bit of a panic.
The blood work was done while I was coming down with something—you know, that typical cold, congestion, all that.
Is there any reason to be concerned?

The results suggest we need to dig deeper. Next steps: Iron, UIBC, TIBC, ferritin, three stool tests for occult blood, and a urinalysis. Once those are in, we'll decide on the next phase of testing.

Laura Morris16 said:I should mention I’m dealing with two autoimmune diseases. My current regimen includes pain management, blood pressure medication, corticosteroids, and methotrexate.

Ma'am,

Glucocorticoids typically bump up white blood cell counts by about 3 to 5 x 10*9/L. In someone taking steroids, seeing a count up to 15 x 10*9/L is expected. A reading of 20 x 10*9/L isn't standard, though it could simply be a side effect of the glucocorticoids. In these instances, I suggest ruling out infection or other underlying issues by checking CRP, ESR, procalcitonin, along with standard routine tests like a urinalysis.

Olivia Bennett81 said:Hello,
I’m looking for some clarification on lab results from a few days ago.

Non-HDL cholesterol (calc) (s) 4.0 H
Alpha-fetoprotein (s) 7.3 H
HOMA-IR (s) 2.7 H
eGFR CKD-EPI 78 L
ALP (s) 57 L
GGT (s) 96 H
Cholesterol (s) 5.8 H

I am 55 years old, 180 cm, 80 kg. I deal with arrhythmias (despite having had several ablations) and take Rythmonorm and Concor.

Should I be worried about these markers?

Thanks in advance

You could be looking at the development of metabolic syndrome based on these numbers—specifically insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. Given the elevation in liver enzymes (GGT) alongside the rise in alpha-fetoprotein, I’d say the bare minimum is getting an abdominal ultrasound. Essentially, you need further investigation.

Betty Collins45 said:Could someone please explain these results?

It’s possible we're looking at an infection that explains the elevated IgA and IgG, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal issue. However, there isn't enough clinical history here, and without seeing the rest of the panel, a detailed interpretation isn't possible. It is worth noting that the immunoglobulin increase isn't monoclonal, which is a positive sign; otherwise, we'd be leaning toward more malignant pathologies.

Zachary Rivera40 said:Hi, can anyone tell me what this might indicate? My rheumatologist sent me to get these values checked (among others) due to suspected Raynaud's.

View on imgur

Hello,

Without medical history or a physical exam, interpreting this is difficult. If these results suggest that Raynaud's isn't primary but secondary to an underlying condition, the data could point toward systemic lupus erythematosus.

Carl Thompson26 said:Hello,

Could you explain these results?

Thanks

"In the bone marrow sample, cells show lymphocyte-sized cells (14%), monocytes
(8%), and cells in granulopoiesis (78%). Analysis of mononuclear cells (= lympho + mono,
22%) reveals T+NK (38%) and B-cells (10%), cells with a monocyte phenotype (19%), as well as
immature myeloid cells (17%), including 9.5% cells with a myeloblast phenotype.
Of the total cell count in the sample, T+NK cells account for 8%, B-cells 2%, monocyte-type
cells 4%, immature myeloid cells 3.8%, including 2% cells with a myeloblast phenotype, alongside
granulopoiesis cells (78%). Findings show no pathological signs in the
bone marrow mononuclear cells.

Hello,

The final sentence summarizes everything: no pathological signs were found in the bone marrow mononuclear cells. In plain English, nothing looks wrong here. If I recall correctly, you're being evaluated for granulocytopenia. It’s possible this is caused by increased cell destruction outside the bone marrow—for instance, the body producing antibodies against granulocytes. That might shift the diagnostic focus toward autoimmune issues, though I can't make that call based solely on this report.