Posts by Chris Howard3

Thanks for getting back to me. I just had an ultrasound done, and they said everything looks fine—though apparently my liver is "non-homogeneous." To me, that sounds like a fancy way of saying there’s some slight discoloration or unevenness, doesn't it?

Here I am again! About three months ago, my liver enzymes were elevated—around 76—and my CRP was sitting high at 68. At the time, they just told me it was some acute issue that had passed, and everything seemed fine. A month ago, I had more bloodwork done and my ALT was at 39. Well, yesterday, I had to get blood drawn again because of this bronchitis and wheezing in my lungs, and everything looks normal except for an AST of 31 and an ALT of 44. Now, I’m no medical expert, but wouldn't these creeping liver numbers suggest that something might actually be wrong with my liver? My doctor brushed it off, saying it's negligible. Is it really "negligible" if the numbers are steadily climbing? To make matters worse, I’m feeling actual pain in my liver area whenever I bend over, and the fatigue is just exhausting.
best,

Hello everyone—we finally received the blood serum results for Toxoplasma gondii. Just to recap, I previously shared the lab work for my 3.5-year-old child about three weeks ago.
IgM positive
IgG 232
Avidity test performed—interpretation impossible!
We also had some follow-up blood work done:
aspartate-aminotransferase 22 (9-20)
MCV 71.0 (73.8-89.4)
MCHC 23.6 (24.3-29.2)
Platelets 513 (150-450)
Segmented neutrophils 17 (30-72)
Lymphocytes 67 (15-55)
Monocytes 4 (5-13)
Atypical lymphocytes 7 (0)

I’ve listed only the values that fall outside the normal range—but what does this whole picture actually signify? And more importantly, is this Toxoplasmosis something we need to be truly worried about? As for the liver enzymes, they seem to be trending downward during our monthly check-ups.
Thanks so much!

I can't thank you all enough! 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

A positive IgG result for a specific virus typically indicates a past infection rather than something brand new.

However—and this is a big "however"—for a truly accurate interpretation, doctors usually order what we call paired sera. This involves doing a blood draw at two different times, spaced about two to four weeks apart. Only then can you compare the results to get a definitive reading.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for the reply!
I just got the results back for my little one, and everything is negative except for Toxoplasma gondii—which came back positive.
-igm-91 UI/ml (anything over 8 is considered positive)
aviditet 0.033 LOW
What does all this actually mean? How dangerous is it, and could this be linked to those previous blood results and the elevated liver enzymes?

Thank you so much, and please forgive me for asking so many questions! 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,

Your ultrasound results might point toward what we call fatty liver—basically, fat accumulating in the liver tissue. This can stem from all sorts of things—ranging from weight issues and diabetes to cellular damage caused by viral hepatitis or exposure to toxins, whether that’s alcohol, certain medications, or various other substances. For more specifics on that, please consult with Dr. Hrvoj and the others over in the Damaged Liver thread, since we’re drifting off-topic here.

As for your child, how is his vision? How do his eyes look? Is he able to lift his head to touch his chin to his chest while lying down? Does light bother him, or is he experiencing any vomiting?

Hello,

The little one isn't vomiting; his vision seems fine from what I can tell, light doesn't bother him, and he can touch his chin to his chest.
His temperature is a bit better today—sitting at 99.5°F for now—so I'm hoping it doesn't climb any higher. I went ahead and pulled my own blood draw results.
Everything came back negative for hepatitis and HIV-1 and 2.
However, for cytomegalovirus, it was igm-negative igg 1:516, which is equivocal.
And for EBV, it was Igm-negative and IgG at 115 units/ml, which is positive.
Can anyone tell me if this points toward mononucleosis or something else entirely, and what exactly this result implies?

Thank you so much.

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

Since it seems you are either moving past the acute phase or have already cleared it, the only way to get definitive confirmation is through serology—essentially a blood draw to test for antibodies against the primary triggers of infectious mononucleosis syndrome. We're talking primarily EBV and CMV, though other tests might be necessary depending on the situation. Was this option ever brought up to you?

If those elevated liver enzymes persist without any clear explanation, you’ll need to see a specialist—ideally a gastroenterologist—who can guide you through the next steps of diagnostic testing.

For a child, it would also be wise to run a complete blood count, check LDH levels, and—depending on how things look clinically (which, let's face it, is impossible to judge accurately over an internet forum)—perform further serological testing.

Best regards. 🙂

Hello,
thank you so much for the response. I've already had a blood draw for EBV, CMV, ELISA, HCV, and HIV; the Hepatitis B results should be ready tomorrow. Honestly, I have no idea what all these acronyms actually mean, but we'll just have to wait and see. I did an abdominal ultrasound and everything looks fine, except for some hyperechogenicity in the liver, though the parenchyma is homogeneous. Meanwhile, my son has been running a fever of around or even above 38°C for six days now—is that considered normal? And his eyes are hurting him. The doctor told us to come back for a follow-up in a week.

Many thanks. 🙂

Dear all, I am reposting this because I am feeling quite anxious again.

I have previously mentioned my poor lab results: AST 53 (8-30)
ALT 62 (10-36)
CRP 68
MPV 11.1
LEUKOCYTE 11.7 (3.4-9.7)
MONOCYTES 1.33 (0.12-0.84)
NEUT.GRAN. 73 (44-72)
LYMPHOCYTES 15 (20-46)
MONOCYTES 11
Ten days after my initial blood draw, everything had improved—except for an AST of 31 and ALT of 49.
Now, my three-year-old son has a fever along with these results:
MCV 72.6 (73.6-89.4)
MCH 24.0 (24.3-29.2)
RDW 16.3 (11.9-16.2)
BANDS 3 (0-2)
SEG.GRAN. 26 (30-72)
ATYPICAL LYMPH 9
AST 59 (24-49)
ALT 44 (9-20)
He has been running a high temperature for five days now, and there is a very strong odor coming from his breath.
Is it possible that we are both dealing with infectious mononucleosis? Thank you so much for any insight.

Hello everyone,
I’ve previously posted about my own concerning labs—specifically my AST at 53 (range 8-30),
ALT at 62 (range 10-36),
CRP at 68,
MPV at 11.1,
leukocyte count at 11.7 (range 3.4-9.7),
monocytes at 1.33 (range 0.12-0.84),
neutrophils at 73 (range 44-72),
lymphocytes at 15 (range 20-46),
and monocytes again at 11.
Just ten days after that blood draw, everything had normalized—well, except for my AST which was 31 and ALT at 49.
Now, my three-year-old son has developed a fever, along with these results:
MCV 72.6 (range 73.6-89.4),
MCH 24.0 (range 24.3-29.2),
RDW 16.3 (range 11.9-16.2),
immature granulocytes at 3 (range 0-2),
segmented granulocytes at 26 (range 30-72),
atypical lymphocytes at 9,
AST 59 (range 24-49),
and ALT 44 (range 9-20).

Is it possible we are both dealing with infectious mononucleosis here? I would truly appreciate any insight you can offer. Thanks so much.

velvetmoose9 said:AST and ALT levels can spike due to medication—clarithromycin, for instance, is known to do this and it’s usually just temporary—but we simply don't have the full picture here. We don't know which specific antibiotics were prescribed previously, nor do we have the results from any throat swabs (which I assume were performed given the persistent inflammation). There's no ENT report either (I'd imagine an ENT specialist was consulted), and without previous lab work, how are we supposed to track the trend? Which parameters are climbing, dropping, or stabilizing after starting therapy? We lack details on prior medical history—like frequent bouts of strep—and there's zero info on epidemiological factors, such as pets, recent travel to tropical regions, or even the family history beyond the children's current illness. Even then, we don't know if it's an isolated virus or if the diagnosis is purely based on clinical symptoms. Ultimately, as vividsailor7 pointed out, it is incredibly difficult to play doctor when an infectious disease specialist has the benefit of seeing the actual clinical presentation and all the raw data.
The skin changes, scalp issues, and fever could be anything from a herpes reactivation to the onset of much more serious conditions like Sjögren's syndrome or TEN... if those symptoms worsen or the fever climbs, you absolutely need to get in touch with a physician immediately.
The CRP is elevated, suggesting inflammation, but again, without baseline values for comparison, we're flying blind; it could be significantly lower than it was before the clarithromycin, or it could be steadily rising.
In short, this is all pure speculation at this stage. You really need to complete the full diagnostic workup and consult your doctor regarding the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you so much for the response.
Regarding the ENT side of things, I've actually been to the specialist about ten times over the last three months. The initial diagnosis was allergic rhinitis, and I've since developed allergies to several airborne allergens, including a positive marker for dust mites. They performed swabs of my throat and nose, which showed staph in the nasal passage—though apparently, that's considered normal. Back in December, my older son had some tests done where they found Streptococcus pneumoniae in his nose and Streptococcus pyogenes in his throat; we suspect I might have caught the same thing during my own hospitalization for throat edema.
Since December, I've been prescribed two consecutive courses of Lecklar XL. My CRP was checked ten days before these latest results and was at 14.6, while my white blood cell count was fine at 9. That was only the second day of the Lecklar; these current results were taken on the twelfth day of treatment. Thank you again for your help.

So, I was really holding out hope that someone might weigh in with an actual opinion—you know, some insight into what we should even be doing about these blood results and what the next steps in this whole process ought to be.

Hello everyone!
For about four months now, I’ve been stuck in this endless cycle of pharyngitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis—which essentially means I am constantly being prescribed antibiotics. To give you some perspective, since December 5th, when I was actually hospitalized due to throat edema, I have gone through eight full boxes of antibiotics (four separate rounds of two boxes each). On top of that, I’ve been taking 10 mg of Citalopram daily for about a month to manage some mild anxiety and depression. I also deal with glaucoma in both eyes. To make matters even more complicated, my kids were diagnosed with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease just a week ago.
About fifteen days ago, I came down with pharyngitis again. My doctors prescribed Lekoklar XL for a 14-day course, but by the tenth day, I spiked a high fever and developed a rash that looks somewhat like herpes, spreading across my entire face, eyebrows, and scalp. The infectious disease specialist noted a papulocrustous, honey-colored rash on my ears, face, and scalp, along with a small papular rash on my palms. My throat shows hyperemia and aphthae on the palatal arches, and I have cervical adenopathy. Additionally, there is a systemic heart murmur of 2/6.
Here are my blood work results:
AST 53 (Ref: 8-30)
ALT 62 (Ref: 10-36)
CRP 68
MPV 11.1
WBC 11.7 (Ref: 3.4-9.7)
MONO 1.33 (Ref: 0.12-0.84)
NEUT 73 (Ref: 44-72)
LYMPH 15 (Ref: 20-46)
MONO 11

I've transcribed all the values that fall outside the normal range. What could this indicate? I saw an infectious disease specialist who is currently undecided on whether I should continue with antibiotics or not. I would truly appreciate any advice or insight you might have. As of today, I am also experiencing a strange pain in my right groin that seems to be radiating down my leg. Thank you.

Is there seriously nobody here who has any idea what we might be looking at? I’m genuinely stumped—does a prolactin level of 194 even qualify as "okay," regardless of whether there's some underlying issue with the pituitary gland?

Honestly, I just can't shake this constant feeling of something being... off—ever since my second child arrived. In principle, though, it’s not like my milk supply ever dried up; my oldest is already three and a half, and my youngest is about a year and ten months old now.

I haven't had my pituitary MRI scheduled yet, and I’m stuck waiting until October for an appointment with the endocrinologist—plus a breast ultrasound sometime in September. Basically, my entire medical situation is just one long, exhausting waiting game for an endocrinology specialist. I actually first booked that appointment back in May because my cardiologist—who I saw due to my heart rate spiking up to 115 bpm—suggested I get checked out. Now, here’s the weird part: I’m not even breastfeeding, but since I have no idea what’s going on with my body lately, I tried expressing some milk a few days ago... and yeah, there was a significant amount there. It wasn't just a little discharge; it was actual milk. On top of that, I've been feeling this constant tightness in my chest that occasionally radiates pain all the way up to my armpit—could that be caused by the pressure from the milk buildup?
Best,

I went through the whole milk supply stimulation process myself, and honestly, everything went smoothly for me—it wasn’t just about the occasional let-down, either. I could pretty much pump up a full bottle of milk whenever I felt like it without any trouble at all...

Since I’ve spent the last few months spinning my wheels with doctors to absolutely no avail—and frankly, feeling like I'm hitting a brick wall—I decided it was time to start this thread. I want to see if anyone else out there is dealing with this same frustrating mystery. To give you some context: I have two kids. My oldest son is three, and my youngest will be ten months old soon. Ever since I had my firstborn, my milk production just hasn't shut off—it's still going. As for my youngest? I haven't even breastfed him for over nine months now. On paper, some things look "fine." My prolactin levels came back at 194, which supposedly falls within the normal range. My thyroid hormones are also technically fine, yet my thyroid is visibly enlarged. On top of that, I’ve started experiencing vision field defects and some breathing difficulties—which everyone initially dismissed as asthma, though they aren't so sure about that diagnosis anymore. Oh, and I have about six swollen lymph nodes around my neck. If anyone has any insight or advice on what might be happening here, I would be incredibly grateful for your thoughts...
Best,

I read a case involving an acquaintance of mine—she’s in her early 40s—who had some pretty concerning liver function tests. She actually went in to get screened for Celiac disease, and sure enough, it turned out she had it. Interestingly enough, once she cut gluten out of her diet entirely, she started feeling significantly better.

Did they also run a TET for the cholecystectomy? I know those can sometimes cause elevated liver enzymes.

So, my primary care physician is absolutely convinced that everything I’m feeling stems from my spine. However—and this is a big however—I just wrapped up appointments with both a physiologist and a neurologist, and they both flat-out disagree; according to them, my symptoms have zero connection to my vertebrae. To top it all off, I had an EEG done, which yielded some conclusion about "insignificant accelerated electrogenesis"—which, frankly, sounds like medical gibberish to me. So, where does that leave me? I'm essentially at a total loss as to who to turn to next. Should I be seeing a cardiologist or a gastroenterologist? And out of curiosity, which specialist did you end up seeing to deal with those bacteria issues? (Pardon the typos, my keyboard is acting up again.)