I know this isn't a formal medical report, but if anyone could help me make sense of this EEG for my nine-year-old, who is on the autism spectrum, I would be so incredibly grateful: The recording was done after sleep deprivation, though the child couldn't actually fall asleep. There were variable amplitudes and mixed frequencies; the baseline cerebral activity consists of alpha and theta waves, followed by drowsiness patterns. During the 60-minute session, suspect sharp wave formations appeared in a couple of spots—specifically in the left occipital region and one other posterior left area. IFS shows no changes; cerebral mapping during wakefulness shows symmetric alpha and theta activity in the posterior regions. Conclusion: Findings are suspicious for focal changes in the left occipital region, independent of CT results.
The doctor noted there aren't enough elements to diagnose epilepsy, so she wants us to monitor this with follow-up scans every six months and schedule an MRI. She also mentioned that in neurodevelopmental disorders, EEG abnormalities tend to pop up sooner or later anyway. According to her, we shouldn't worry unless seizures occur—which can happen to anyone, though children on the spectrum might have a slightly higher risk, regardless of this specific finding.
Since I don't really understand what these "sharp formations" mean or why they show up in a specific spot, does the fact that they are in the occipital region tell us anything? Can I actually learn more about his brain from this? I understand we need to monitor him, but what should I be doing in the meantime? Should I just act like everything is fine? Is there anything I can look out for myself, besides classic seizures, that would signal it's time to call the doctor for an earlier EEG? He doesn't really have any issues outside of the typical ones related to his diagnosis; we only did this EEG because I insisted, since it had been two years since his last one. He isn't experiencing headaches, dizziness, or fainting; everything is exactly the same as when his previous results were normal.
A fellow forum member, free.thinkerica, gave me some guidance regarding post-COVID issues after I shared my struggles. It’s been six months since I dealt with the Delta variant, and I’m still struggling with my sense of smell and taste. 🙂 After an initial phase lasting just over a month where I lost both senses entirely, they partially returned, but for the last three months, everything I smell comes with these distorted, unpleasant flavors. The worst part is dealing with strong foods—things like garlic, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, dairy, and meat. Everything smells rancid to me, and most tastes come across as sour or rotten. Is there any way to speed up the recovery process, or could this be permanent? Could there be some kind of neurological damage involved?
Zachary Gomez If you're dealing with hypoglycemia, I'm pretty sure intense hunger is one of the most common red flags. As for the weight gain, I'm honestly not sure what the trigger is; I’ve always struggled with my weight, but when I eat poorly and combine that with antidepressants—which definitely slow down my metabolism and spike my appetite—the extra pounds don't surprise me. Is it just a side effect, or could it be an insulin issue? My doctor actually suspected insulin resistance, mainly because of this constant hunger, the weakness, and those massive cravings right after eating heavy carbs. It also lines up with my OGTT results, which kept trending lower at every measurement. I noticed similar weight gain during my first pregnancy even though my glucose tests were perfect back then—I ended up gaining 26 lbs. Now, I'm up 24 lbs at 33 weeks (though I'm on bed rest now, whereas last time I was rushing through my first two weeks of college before my due date). Usually, my fasting glucose stays around 70-80 mg/dL, and I've never had an OGTT look like this—not even three years ago when I had one outside of pregnancy and everything was totally normal. But with this relentless hunger, I feel like the only thing that actually satisfies me is hitting up a bakery. Anyway, it's clear something has been off for the last year or two.
Megan Jones27 said:I'm not quite sure how to interpret these OGTT results. My doctor isn't overly concerned about the lower values; she mentioned we’ll just repeat the first one in a month. As for the other two, they are technically a bit low, but she says there's no need to "investigate" further. Should I be worried?
Is a fasting glucose level between 0 and 5.2 mmol/L acceptable? For pregnant women, shouldn't we be aiming for anything under 5.1?
Glucose level at 60 mg/dL—is that a bit low for someone under ten weeks pregnant?
Is a blood glucose level of 120 mg/dL at 12 weeks too high if you're aiming for under 85 during pregnancy?
I just finished my OGTT at a local clinic, and man, was it crowded. Since the wait was getting intense, I asked if I could spend the time between blood draws back at my place. They told me that was fine, as long as I just took a slow stroll. I live literally about a block away from the clinic—maybe a two or three-minute walk—so I definitely wasn't power walking or anything. I even double-checked if it was okay to use the restroom, and they gave me the green light. Now I'm staring at these results and wondering: is this reading artificially low because of that little bit of movement, or am I looking at an actual issue? For context, during my last pregnancy, my initial numbers were identical to these, but the progression felt much more normal: 5.2, 7.8, 6.4. What do you all think?
Theoretically speaking, this result already points toward gestational diabetes since one of the glucose levels in the OGTT falls outside the normal range—specifically the fasting glucose level. That said, don't you think these diagnostic criteria might be a bit too strict? Interestingly, there is some hypoglycemia visible at the two-hour mark, given that the sugar levels dropped below 60 mg/dL.
In cases of gestational diabetes, we often see what’s known as a delayed insulin response that unfolds in two distinct stages. First, there is an initial period of diminished response, followed by what can be called a "late response," where insulin levels spike significantly enough to bring glucose concentrations back down. Isn't it fascinating how the body attempts to recalibrate itself?
As I mentioned recently to Roger Rodriguez, some research has turned up some interesting data. In studies following pregnant women who experienced hypoglycemia—specifically dropping below 70 mg/dL—usually about two hours after their glucose tolerance test, there was a significant trend. It turns out that these dips often played a major role in why their final results showed elevated glucose levels, particularly when fasting, ultimately meeting the criteria for gestational diabetes. Isn't it fascinating how those fluctuations can impact the whole picture?
In that case, you should definitely follow your gynecologist's advice. After all, isn't their recommendation what matters most?
Exactly, I was actually hoping to pass your response along to the original poster. 🙂 Here is an update on my latest lab results. My doctor actually suspected insulin resistance before even checking my insulin levels—could she be right? She based her opinion not just on my dropping OGTT numbers, but also on everything else I’ve been feeling lately: the weight gain, that intense hunger surge after carb-heavy meals, and those exhausting energy crashes following sudden spikes throughout the day. Once I've finished with my pregnancy, I plan to schedule some more in-depth checkups—especially if adjusting my diet doesn't help clear up these symptoms. Wouldn't it be better to be thorough? From what I can gather, is this the kind of situation that eventually leads to Type 2 diabetes? My diet is mostly carb-heavy; I tend to make pasta and sweets a daily staple, usually just adding some veggies on the side. Protein and fiber? Not really my thing. I haven't gained any weight, but ever since last spring, I’ve been dealing with these sudden waves of fatigue and weakness right after I eat.
We just got a notification from the school today saying one student tested positive, but they’re only requiring one close contact to isolate—everyone else stays in class. 🤦 So, this student had a headache without a fever for three days, and their home test was negative; it wasn't until the fourth day that a positive PCR result finally showed up. For those three days, kids were sitting in a classroom for four hours straight without masks, yet only the one person who happened to be within arm's reach for those four hours has to isolate, while everyone else breathing that same air stays put. Now, I try not to label people as intellectually backward just because of a few bad calls or poorly phrased sentences, but this recommendation? This decision simply defies common sense. Just a month ago, an entire class had to switch to remote learning because of a single student, and within ten days, six more kids developed symptoms. Now Omicron is here, which makes the protection from that previous outbreak basically non-existent. For ten days, the media has been sounding the alarm about the healthcare system being overwhelmed and doctors and nurses being completely exhausted, yet they decide to scrap isolation requirements for about 90% of people because most have either been vaccinated or recovered from Delta over the last four months. Given that, shouldn't we expect the whole class to be infected within ten days? Between the fifteen students and their families at home, we’re looking at nearly a hundred people affected by just one positive test. And then we’ll get to read all about how the system is overloaded again!?
It wouldn't be considered hypoglycemia, as we typically define that during pregnancy as glucose levels dropping below 63 mg/dL (or sometimes even 59 mg/dL).
The pattern you saw on your OGTT isn't standard, given that we usually look for a steady decline in sugar levels.
What’s most unusual is seeing that initial drop in the first hour while the second hour shows lower values despite higher readings in that first hour—though I suppose that does happen occasionally.
The exact significance of such a pattern during an OGTT remains unclear. Some studies have followed pregnant women who experienced true hypoglycemia (below 63 mg/dL)—which almost always occurs after the two-hour mark rather than the one-hour mark—and found that these episodes were often linked to eventually meeting the criteria for gestational diabetes, especially regarding fasting glucose.
However, that doesn't apply here since you didn't meet the primary threshold of dipping below 63 mg/dL.
Perhaps the wisest move would be to coordinate with your OB/GYN to decide on a monitoring strategy, particularly since you're feeling so unwell.
Thank you so much for the response! I spoke with my OB/GYN, and she’s actually quite happy with the results. She thinks my anemia is a much bigger concern than this sugar dip and attributed all my symptoms to that instead of the glucose. My symptoms are pretty classic—dizziness, fatigue, and heart palpitations—but I also deal with intense hunger and constant cravings for sweets and carbs, which leads to weight gain. She mentioned that could also be due to my low blood pressure (90/50). I totally get why a doctor might just glance at the reference ranges and react based on whether they fall within the norm without digging deeper—that's not their specialty—but I think I'll take the initiative and go for another OGTT just to see if this was a fluke or if something is actually off. It's honestly overwhelming because I can't tell which symptom is coming from what. Between the strange glucose readings, low blood pressure, anemia, recovering from COVID-19, and the pregnancy itself, there is just so much going on at once. Anyway, I'm going to try a different lab for the next test—one that uses a proper glucose solution rather than that thick syrup they gave me. I didn't end up with diarrhea from that stuff, so maybe I can compare how I feel with and without those digestive issues. 😁
Is it normal for my blood sugar levels to actually drop after taking the glucose drink compared to my fasting levels? My OGTT results: Fasting: 4.3 1 hour after load: 4.0 2 hours after load: 3.6
Just a heads-up: between those last two readings—after the one-hour mark but before the two-hour mark—I dealt with a sudden bout of severe diarrhea. I'm not sure if that threw the numbers off, though the doctors just told me to avoid any sudden movements.
I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant, and we were actually worried about gestational diabetes because I've been gaining weight rapidly and feeling constantly hungry and exhausted.
Are these lower values under 4.0 even considered normal, or am I looking at hypoglycemia?
Joshua Myers9 said:🤣 😍 By the next appointment, you'll know for sure! Honestly, I'm putting my money on a girl! 😁
I’m starting to believe her too—when the doctor said she wouldn't make a call unless she was absolutely certain, it felt sincere. Not that it really matters to me, but I’d love to finally have a name so I can start visualizing our future together. Though, I have been reading that some women don't find out until after the 30th week just because the baby refuses to settle into the right position.
Robin Adams24 said:I guess the pregnancy was what caught me off guard the most, though I have to say, this constant nausea is really starting to get under my skin. 😁
Aren't you being modest? 😁 I’m still dealing with it myself; I’ve actually gotten so used to feeling sick that it feels strange when I wake up and *don't* feel like throwing up. I really hope it passes for you soon so you can finally feel like yourself again! 😁
Joshua Myers9 said:What week is this? Is this it? 😁 The second one, the side view, I think is around 12 weeks. They both look like they've got a little something going on, looks like steps lol
I actually just Googled this myself. 16 weeks. In the first photo, it looks like a girl because of that line down the middle, but there's also something sticking out. It's a total toss-up. 😁
In the second shot, everything is leveled out, so nothing is poking out. I got a little carried away during the ultrasound and told the doctor I thought it was a boy, even without my glasses on, only for her to tell me it was just a leg. Later, looking at the photo, I realized it was just a leg 🙄 and nothing was actually protruding. With my first son, I didn't have to guess or search online at all since his "antenna" was clearly visible by around 14 weeks.
Everything is just getting on my nerves lately—absolutely everything and everyone. It’s especially frustrating because I have this ultrasound image of my baby's bottom and genitals, yet the doctor can't even tell if it's a boy or a girl. 😠I had no idea determining whether there's actually a penis present was such high-level science! To make matters worse, she tells me she thinks it's a girl because she sees a "hamburger." A hamburger. And I actually paid for that opinion. Honestly, I should have just stuffed the cash in my pocket and gone to grab an actual burger instead. On top of that, my little one's bladder won't empty properly, which makes getting a clear view on the scan even harder. Can anyone help me make sense of this ultrasound? 🙂
Looking at these results, there aren't any actual abnormalities when you account for the pregnancy; it's quite common for certain values to shift specifically for expectant mothers compared to non-pregnant women.
For instance, it's standard to see an increase in white blood cell counts due to neutrophils, which matches exactly what you're seeing here. During the first trimester, the upper limit for white blood cells can be as high as 13.6 x 10*9/L, and neutrophils up to 10.1 x 10*9/L, without any underlying infection being present.
On the other hand, TSH levels often dip slightly during pregnancy, but your value of 0.78 mIU/L is perfectly within the normal range.
As for the dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and other symptoms you mentioned, I won't dive too deep into those here since they require much more data and further testing—plus, those specific issues don't seem to correlate with the lab results provided.
Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation! I had no idea white blood cell counts could vary like that during pregnancy. Regarding the dizziness and weakness, I've already seen a physical therapist (dealing with osteochondrosis and some cervical spine alignment issues), as well as a neurologist (who didn't find anything significant). However, I am struggling with some pretty intense psychiatric issues; I'm not on any medication because of the pregnancy, aside from Normabelle, and it’s hard for me to accept that my dizziness might just be blood pressure or anxiety. My mind immediately jumps to worst-case scenarios like a tumor or MS, and I even wondered about neurosyphilis since I can't recall if I was ever tested. My psychiatrist believes it’s a combination of hormonal shifts and mental health struggles. The dizziness feels more like spinning or pressure in my eyes and temples. It hits hardest in the morning while I'm at work, though I feel better after eating or if I can just lie down and nap. At least now I know it isn't anemia or hypoglycemia. 🤷
But hey, having no abnormalities in my bloodwork is great news! 🙂
I'm 10 weeks pregnant, and while my blood and urine tests were just routine prenatal checkups, some of the results have me feeling a bit uneasy. Is it actually normal during pregnancy to see elevated white blood cell counts (specifically neutrophils) alongside lower lymphocyte levels? On another note, my swab showed an isolated ureaplasma 10 at 4, and I just finished a course of Augmentin and Genoistina last week. Lately, I've been struggling with daily dizziness, nausea, and a loss of appetite—though I am surprised by my iron levels, since they were at 11 just two months ago; the only real change is that I've started eating more chokeberries. I'm also dealing with low blood pressure (90/50), intense fatigue, and insomnia. My urine culture from a month ago came back clear. Even if the ureaplasma count was relatively low, could it still be causing these kinds of symptoms? Also, my TSH is quite low (it was around 1.20 before I got pregnant)—is that something to worry about? I did have a soda right before my blood draw🤦—could that have impacted my glucose levels within that hour, or can I be confident that my sugar isn't actually too low?
Is there a radiologist or someone here who might be able to take a closer look at a neck X-ray? I’m not actually looking at the bones, but rather something else—on all four images, I noticed a shadow near my throat area. I can't tell if it's my thyroid or what; I've been searching for neck X-rays online, but I can't find anyone else with this specific shadow (it looks somewhat like a spiderweb) on the front of the neck. I originally went in for an X-ray due to some neck issues and really nasty symptoms, but now I’m just shaken up by this little spot I found. I’m honestly not even sure if the radiologist will mention it in the official report, which makes me even more anxious because I have no idea what it could be. 😠 If anyone here has a bit more expertise in reading internal imaging, could you please help me out? 🙂
Is it possible for GGT levels to spike while taking Xanax? I'm asking about a 34-year-old male who drinks occasionally, though usually in large amounts. All his lab results were perfectly fine three months ago, but since he started treatment, his gamma levels have been climbing steadily month after month. He started at 35 (with 55 being the upper limit of normal), then hit 50, then 68, and now he's sitting at 98. He takes half a tablet every day. He isn't experiencing any symptoms; if he weren't getting regular blood work, would he even realize what was happening to his liver?
CBC Neutrophil Gran % 46.5 (44-72) Lymphocyte % 30.2 (20-46) Monocyte % 16.3 (2-12 rel%) Eosinophil Gran % 7.0 (0-7) Basophil % 0 (0-1) Neutrophil Gran 3.00 (2.06-6.49) Lymphocyte 2.00 (1.19-3.35) Monocyte 1.10 (0.12-0.84) Eosinophil Gran 0.50 (0-0.43) Basophil 0.00
AST 15 (8-30) ALT 13 (10-36) GGT 11 (9-35)
Female, 29. I had some bloodwork done to check my iron and thyroid because I’ve been feeling heart palpitations. My thyroid levels and everything else—glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.—are all normal, so I didn't bother retesting those. My monocytes and eosinophils are elevated. I feel fine overall, though I did have a cold about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Right now, I don't have any major symptoms aside from dermatitis that I've been battling for months. It's currently at a stage where my skin is peeling and breaking out into sores; I apply topical steroids, it clears up for a few days, and then comes right back. I see online that elevated monocytes can be linked to all sorts of serious issues. I honestly don't know if this specific increase is considered minor or something to worry about. I'm seeing a cardiologist on the 16th to go over everything, but until then, I'll probably be panicking twenty times a day! If anyone could help explain these results, I would be so incredibly grateful.
It looks like this matches what was mentioned in the article above. Thanks for the help! 😁 Since he has a physically demanding job, he can't really afford to have his hand out of commission, so I’m really hoping this just clears up on its own. Based on what others have shared, things usually return to normal after the procedure. I'll make sure to tell him to stay away from those fences.
Does anyone happen to know what those unknown things actually feel like? If they have a gelatinous texture, is it possible for them to feel hard? Is there any pain involved? I took this photo of my dad's wrist. Two weeks ago, he had this soft swelling that was painful to the touch. Now, the lump has turned quite firm, and it hurts whenever he tries to bend his hand or move his thumb. We’re definitely heading to the doctor, but I’d love to hear from anyone who might recognize what this could be.
Grace Ross20 said:Rachel Williams, if you don't mind, could you explain how your health took such a turn for the worse? Lately, for the last ten days, my heart has been racing terribly, I'm struggling to catch my breath, and I feel like I'm going to faint. I think seeing my dad end up in the hospital with an embolism just completely broke me.
I just want to stabilize, find some peace, and accept things; I don't want to destroy myself permanently. How can I protect my mental health? When these symptoms start hitting me, I feel like I'm losing my mind.
It sounds like you're dealing with anxiety. I'm not sure if it ever peaks into full-blown panic attacks or if it's just a constant, low-level dread, but this is a frequent physical response to stress. Honestly, that intense pressure you're putting on yourself to "just calm down" and accept everything often backfires, driving even more anxiety. If you have the option to start psychotherapy, please do so as soon as possible. I'm not sure where you're located, but the Mayo Clinic is truly excellent.
Angela Wright said:Grandma probably has oral thrush because she isn't producing enough saliva. You should pick up some Rojazol gel at the pharmacy for oral use. Forget about Hexoral or anything like that—it will just irritate her lip mucosa even further. Try giving her water that has been infused with crushed flaxseed. Just take some crushed flaxseed, dissolve it in a glass of lukewarm water, and let it sit for half an hour. The flax releases a mucilage that does a wonderful job coating and protecting the mucosal lining. She can actually drink it too, as it’s great for the stomach and esophagus. You definitely need to introduce some stronger probiotics. You can find them in powder form, which you just mix into water. And one more thing: insist that her primary care physician performs a home visit so they can prescribe field nursing care. She is entitled to full coverage for this—up to 7 days a week, with visits lasting up to 45 minutes each. A nurse would recognize issues like the tongue condition immediately. They handle the daily cleaning and changing, and even help with a weekly bath so you don't have to shoulder it all. It was such a huge help to me, even though I handled my mom's baths on weekends once we had a solid routine working for our specific situation.
Thanks for the reply! I'll look into the flaxseed right away. I'm so glad I didn't suggest Hexoral. The visiting nurse comes every other day, and the doctor stops by too, but everything feels so disorganized. For instance, the doctor mentioned she wasn't drinking enough because her urine output was low. I suggested to Grandpa that he get some Rehydromix so she doesn't get dehydrated and encouraged him to have her sip it slowly throughout the day. When the doctor returned, he actually praised the choice! He said it was a great call and could really help her. It's not that I'm trying to dictate terms, but he didn't even mention an anti-decubitus mattress or the fact that she's entitled to one, or even a hospital-grade bed. Honestly, if it weren't for the internet, she'd be lying on a click-clack sofa and just taking Neofen for the pain. The visiting nurse definitely helps with washing and changing her. They'll be there tomorrow, so I'll tell Grandpa to have them keep an eye on her tongue. She keeps her hand over her mouth constantly because she's embarrassed that she can't close it properly and that it's so dry; maybe she was just too shy to show the nurse. I'm sending them the Prolife tomorrow, too. Hopefully, it provides at least some relief.
