Posts by velvetmoose9

Decided to wait until after the holiday rush to give you guys a more thorough answer.

brighttrucker41 said:So, my doctor switched me over to Lexapro since Zoloft is totally out of stock right now. I'm starting on half a pill tomorrow.

Just hang in there, you should start feeling the benefits of the meds in about three or four weeks.👍

If things don't start looking up by then, it might be worth talking about adjusting your prescription—just make sure you clear everything with your primary care physician first.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Could you weigh in on this one too?
THANKS

Sandra Brooks91 said:Wait, so my results aren't interesting enough? 🙂

Oh, they’re definitely interesting.
Just a heads-up, everything I’m saying comes with a massive disclaimer since I don't know why these tests were ordered in the first place—I haven't seen the full clinical picture or any medical history here.

Your cholesterol and triglycerides are through the roof.
It’s definitely something that needs more follow-up.
Honestly, there's a pretty slim chance that just cleaning up your diet and hitting the gym will be enough to bring these back down to earth; you might end up needing some medication to help things along (unless there’s an external factor at play that can be cut out completely))

Is it stress? Diet? Medications? (Maybe a long-term steroid use could explain the high fats and lower potassium?) Or perhaps it's just familial hypercholesterolemia?

Ferritin is a bit low; maybe tweak the diet slightly and then re-test in about 12 weeks.
Potassium is also running just a little low.

P.S. The serum was described as clear, so there's a very low chance this was just some lab error.

EDIT: And hey, even PCOS could be part of the reason behind these numbers.

fadedcrane36 said:27g, M

Just a regular guy here, sent in for some tests because my white blood cell count came back high. No history of health issues or anything like that, really. Just hoping someone can help me 'read' through these results and let me know if there’s anything specific I should be keeping an eye on.



Thanks. 🙂

Hmm, first thing's first—let's call it "laboritis." You should probably just get the labs rerun to start with, and make sure to include ferritin, TIBC, and UIBC this time.
Then, you've got to look at the full picture—your medical history (things like stress levels, what you've been eating lately, any recent bugs you might have fought off...), plus a physical exam, before we can really dig deeper.
Right now, these results are super non-specific. They could point to the early stages of something, but honestly, most likely everything is perfectly fine.

Still, it's best to follow the doctor's advice and get those follow-ups done first.

Roger Cruz said:Can anyone help me out here?
How worrying is it to find blood in my urine at 50 Ery/ul when the reference range is 0? Everything else looks totally fine.
I actually went in for tests because I've been dropping weight like crazy... without even trying to diet, obviously.
Like, 20-something pounds in just 3 or 4 months...
thanks
best,

That’s a pretty concerning finding, unfortunately. 👎
But honestly, there isn't enough info here to make any kind of serious call on it.

Grace Lewis6 said:I’ve got another question popping up, though it isn't actually about my own stuff—it's for an older woman I know. 😉
How much should we be sweating a blood glucose reading of 6.9 when the lab's upper limit is sitting at 6.1 or 6.2?

This was from last year, and everything before that looked totally fine. She's a pretty healthy lady overall, just managing with some Scopril, Concor, and Rosix.
Her primary care doctor basically shrugged it off and said it looks okay.

It would probably make sense to run the test again first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, or maybe go with the old-school OGTT method.

Most likely it’s nothing to lose sleep over, but you know how it goes—health and illness are both moving targets, and things are always shifting. 😉

lonesailor36 said:Hey everyone.

I wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has ever dealt with something like this... honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. About four months ago, my husband passed away at just 38 years old from stomach cancer—diffuse type. But the thing is, he didn't actually die from the cancer itself; it was a pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and sepsis that took him. It’s all just so surreal because from the moment we found out about the cancer to the moment he was gone, it was only nine days. That timeline feels so impossible and strange. A month before the diagnosis, he started getting these cramps and some mild pain in his calves. Since he plays tennis recreationally, he just figured he’d pulled something or strained a ligament. He went to his primary doctor after two weeks, who sent him for some basic blood and urine work. As luck would have it, he ended up seeing an internist because they found a tiny bit of blood in his urine—though the doctor thought it might just be because he hadn't stayed hydrated enough the day before. For the leg pain, his regular doctor just told him to take some magnesium. When he saw the internist, who happened to be a nephrologist, he assumed it was just a pulled muscle too, but the doctor decided to order a kidney ultrasound just to be safe. My husband was working a full schedule, totally fine, no issues at all. We were even planning a summer vacation; he had never been sick a day in his life. During the ultrasound, the doctor noticed fluid buildup in his abdomen and immediately admitted him to the hospital without telling us much, just saying they needed to run a full battery of tests. He skipped work that day, July 14th, to stay put. Physically, he was doing great—no pain, just those calves. On July 15th, he had a gastroscopy, and that's when they found the stomach cancer, even though every other test afterward came back normal. We were waiting for surgery, but he kept running a fever that delayed things while they tried to clear it up with antibiotics. He wasn't even on any heavy meds for the fever, just Tylenol. His prognosis still seemed okay. Then, suddenly, on July 21st, he started having trouble breathing and they had to put him on oxygen. Even then, he seemed okay, telling us everything was fine, just that lifting things was getting hard. By July 23rd, he was gone. We were talking to him at 1:00 PM—he was talking normally, just struggling a bit for breath—then around 2:00 PM they moved him to the ICU, and by 3:00 PM, he was gone. We were absolutely devastated. It felt like if he hadn't been feeling up for it, he could have just walked up to the ICU on the third floor himself since he felt so physically strong. He hadn't lost any weight at all. His discharge papers say he died from a pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and sepsis. I can't help but think that fluid buildup in his abdomen might have been the trigger. Was there really no way to drain that fluid? How does someone die in nine days? One day he's working a normal job with nothing but calf pain, and the next, everything is over. I can't believe it. I keep wondering what would have happened if he hadn't gone to the doctor for those legs. Would it have been the same? I've never heard of someone dying within nine days of a diagnosis with no symptoms other than leg pain caused by fluid buildup. Has anyone else in their family gone through something similar? Thank you.

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss...

Unfortunately, a pulmonary embolism is one of those frequent culprits behind sudden deaths.
When someone is fighting cancer, the body often becomes prone to excessive blood clotting, which means a clot can easily "travel" and end up in the lungs.
The pneumonia adds another layer of complication to the situation.
Symptoms hit like a freight train, and even in the most prestigious medical centers in the country, the mortality rate for something this aggressive remains extremely high.

Paul Ortiz13 said:He was admitted to internal medicine because of jaundice.
They've run several sets of tests already.
There's some suspicion regarding a brain tumor.
Patient is 66 and a smoker.
Had his gallbladder removed two years ago.
Lkc. 3.22
Erc 4.65
Hgb 133
Hematocrit 0.420
MCV 90.3
MCH 30.4
MCHC 337
RDW-SD 21.0
RDW-KV 14.9
TRC 121
MVP 8.7
PV 1.16
INR 0.90
Urea 4.9
Creatinine 95
AST 56
ALT 86
T-bil 392
K 3.8
NA 135
What’s really worrying is the CEA at 3.56 and the CA 19-9 being 1000—if anyone could give a professional opinion on this, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

Like it was already mentioned over here.
I'm afraid those suspicions seem pretty justified, unfortunately...

Kate Mitchell87 said:Is it actually possible for someone not to wake up six days after gallbladder surgery? They’re sitting in the ICU right now, unable to breathe on their own. Before the procedure, they were relatively hydrated and mobile, but their blood work and liver function were looking pretty rough. It was a high-risk surgery, but even with the congestion issues, the medical board decided to go ahead with it. How does someone crash this hard?

Look, every single surgery carries its own set of risks.
General endotracheal anesthesia itself is a gamble—even if it feels— incredibly minor—for even the healthiest person out there.

To get any real clarity, we'd need the specific numbers from those labs, a full history of pre-existing conditions, age, and what medications they were already on...
Without getting a deep dive into the actual lab results, the clinical picture (maybe an discharge summary?), and the specific surgical protocol used, it’s impossible to offer even a ballpark opinion.

If I’m reading this right, the patient was fully conscious beforehand and understood the potential risks before giving the green light to proceed?

John Taylor10 said:Does anyone have a recommendation for someone I can reach out to regarding this stuff?
I’ve heard about Dr. Kovac over at Dubrava Hospital, but it looks like he doesn't take private patients, and I really need someone in private practice since the patient isn't an American citizen.

thanks

I don't see any real issue there; just because a doctor works at a public hospital here in the States doesn't mean they can't see someone without citizenship.🤷

You just head to the administration office and pay for the exam, the diagnostics, the procedure...

It ends up costing basically the same thing you'd pay a private specialist anyway.😉

So, I’d say start with a house call from their primary care doctor just to get eyes on the situation firsthand.
He can put in a request for home health care—assuming they haven't cut those programs entirely lately—but honestly, you’ll probably want a specialist's referral too, like a physiatrist or a neurologist, if you're looking at getting physical rehab done right there at home.
The United States, or specifically Medicare, definitely has some kind of reciprocal agreement or coverage framework with neighboring countries in the region. 🤔

As for how the healthcare network is set up over there, I know from what I've heard that things are pretty spread thin, which is a real shame. 😢

But, looking at everything you've described, it feels like there isn't much more that can be done given the circumstances. 🤷
You really ought to look into finding a solid placement with a proper foster family or a specialized caregiving home.

Bottom line: you need to get in touch with Medicare to sort out the insurance status first; that's the only way to kick things off.

It’s going to be a whole lot easier and way less confusing if you just lay out your question in a clear, readable format.
I mean,

Basically, list it out like this:
-how old they are
-what specific diagnoses we're looking at
-which medications they're currently on for those conditions
-their mobility level—whether they're walking fine, struggling, or completely bedridden
-their mental clarity—are they sharp and communicative, or more disoriented and incoherent?
-their financial situation, like any pension, income, or property they own (since that matters if we're talking about placing them in a foster home or assisted living)

Just give us some actual data to work with...

And obviously, you'll need to get in touch with the local Department of Social Services and the local Medicare office to make sure their basic health insurance is all squared away.

@Brandon Lopez6, looking at what Nicholas Myers laid out, I should probably mention that sometimes the physical look of the ovaries on an Abdominal Ultrasound just doesn't line up with the clinical picture or the endocrine lab work. Like, the ultrasound might not look "bad" enough to fit that textbook definition of PCOS if you're going by the old-school standards.

To be honest, I'm really not sure if we can rule that diagnosis out for certain just yet.🤷

What you’re describing happens all the time, honestly.
The whole anesthesia process isn't exactly a walk in the park, but let's be real—modern medicine would basically grind to a halt without it.

It’s actually a good sign that most of the work is being handled during the day 👍, because it suggests that once they get discharged and head back to their own familiar surroundings, things will likely settle down and normalize.

Nighttime is when things get messy. That sense of disorientation—especially in a hospital setting where you're hooked up to all sorts of tubes, IVs, and bandages 😵—really hits hard, particularly with older patients.

In cases like that, Haloperidol is pretty much the gold standard. 🙏

EDIT: Just realized they're a smoker, which definitely doesn't make the recovery any easier.

brightheron14 said:I ended up breaking my navicular bone and spent about seven or eight weeks stuck in a cast. My surgeon looked over the X-rays, gave my hand a little squeeze to check the pain levels, and when I told him it didn't hurt, he just sent me off to physical therapy and told me to swing back for a follow-up in a month.

So, I tried going to the PT at the local community clinic, but honestly, it felt like nobody there actually cared about the patients, so I just bailed. I started trying to do some exercises on my own at home, but unfortunately, I lost steam pretty fast and wasn't really consistent... Now, it’s been two months since they took the cast off, and my hand still doesn't have the same function it used to, so I've started getting back into the strengthening and stretching routines. I'm also starting to get a bit worried—like, maybe the bone didn't knit back together properly? Maybe that’s why my hand still lacks its old motor skills and strength even after all this time.

My specific questions are:

How long does it usually take after an injury like this for things to get back to normal, or am I just panicking for no reason?
Also, when I'm working out, I hear this clicking sound every now and then; what could that be about?

Read more:

You're hearing "clicking"? 🤔

Could be pseudoarthrosis.
Get a follow-up X-ray, see a serious orthopedic specialist, or find a physiatrist who specializes in sports injuries.

Man, I don't even know where to start with this one.

I honestly can't imagine how I'd go about proving your neighbor's claim in a courtroom.

Angela Wright really nailed the breakdown of the situation here.👍

But, look, if you're asking me...🙂
I know exactly how I'd build a defense for you.

If you've followed every single rule and regulation in the book here in the US, I could probably 🙂 :danebudemprost:

The reality is, there’s a pretty high probability that once someone gets stung by a bee, they're much more likely to have an anaphylactic reaction the next time it happens (though 🙄 a lot of different factors play into that), but it's not a guaranteed thing—that involves desensitization, which is a whole other rabbit hole we could spend days talking about.

Unfortunately, you're probably going to need to hire a heavy-hitting lawyer, because when the State gets involved, things get messy. 🤦

jadebadger54, give it a rest already.
Just make sure you get that supplemental health insurance sorted out beforehand.

Looking at everything you've laid out, it’s totally possible you’re dealing with some kind of chronic inflammation—maybe some mucosal edema or something along those lines.
You really ought to have someone check what's going on inside your paranasal sinuses, too. If there's a constant drainage of inflammatory discharge—usually from non-infectious causes—that’s a super common culprit for the kind of stuff you're feeling.

Could be a vocal cord polyp, maybe?

Or perhaps an enlarged thyroid, like a goiter?

Any allergies acting up lately?

redpilot37 said:I had a Streptococcus infection, and my CRP was up at 88.8 back then.
I had a fever, chills, and by the end of the Silapen therapy, I was dealing with these aches in my joints or muscles—honestly, it's hard to even tell which is which—and just feeling totally wiped out.
Afterward, I got some labs done:
CRP is 3.3 (which is normal),
CBC Panel results were all within the normal range,
the only thing bugging me is my blood Creatinine because every lab site seems to have a different reference range, but mine came in at
50 (ref. 49-90).
Is there any chance that could be causing the muscle and joint pain, even if it's right at the bottom edge of the normal range?
Also, I'm currently being worked up for dizziness. Thanks so much!

Hmm.
It would probably be pretty smart to get checked out by an infectious disease specialist and a cardiologist as soon as you can (definitely make sure to get an Echocardiogram done too).
Streptococcus can be a real nasty piece of work when it comes to your joints, kidneys, or heart—that lack of energy might even be a sign that your heart muscle is taking a hit.

dustymaker642 said:I just got my urine culture results back.

The first day's report said: contaminated urine, more than three types of bacteria present. Please repeat the test following our instructions.

The second day's report said: rare leukocytes. physiological flora (10 per 3).

The third day's report said: rare leukocytes, culture: sterile.

Since the results from the second and third days look normal, can I just ignore that first day's finding? Honestly, I really don't feel like doing it all over again.. 🤷

Probably.
But then again, it kind of depends.

1. Are you actually feeling any symptoms, and if so, what are they?
2. What was the original reason for getting the culture done in the first place?

Bradley Morgan5 said:So, exactly one week ago, my Achilles snapped—total nightmare. I ended up having surgery on Tuesday and I’m still stuck here in the hospital, even though honestly, I’ve been feeling pretty great for the last three days... zero pain, which is a miracle in itself. I was wondering if anyone else here has gone through this? Specifically, how long were you actually stuck in a hospital bed after the procedure? Some of the doctors told me I’d be heading home in maybe 3 or 4 days, but now they’re saying I might have to stay until Tuesday... apparently because of all the injections and the constant blood work they have to do to make sure I don't develop some kind of blood clot or thrombosis. I’ve already had about five or six shots in my shoulder, and yesterday I was popping three pills just to manage... Is this actually standard procedure, or are they just keeping me here longer because I don't have private supplemental insurance and they want to squeeze more money out of me? Seriously, I’m losing my mind sitting here—I’ve got no energy left for this, and all my responsibilities back home are just piling up higher and higher...

It’s pretty unlikely they’d keep you in surgical recovery any longer than absolutely necessary.
The medical staff gets paid the same regardless of whether it’s coming out of your pocket or through Medicare.