Chris Morris96 said:Writing to you guys from France, so I figure you’ll get the gist of what’s going on here.
MY DATA THESE ARE THE VALUES THAT SHOULD BE NORMAL
Leukocytes 5,400 M/L 4,000 TO 10,000 Erythrocytes 3.80.000 M/L 3,800,000 TO 5,800,000 Hemoglobin 11.3 g/dL 11.5 TO 16.0 Hematocrit 33.6 % 37.0 TO 47.0 Anisocytosis Index 13.6% INF TO 15.0 MCV 109 fl 80 TO 100 MCHC 34 g/dL 30 TO 36 MCH 37 pg 27 TO 32
NEUTROPHILS 35.1% 1895 M/L 2000 TO 7500 EOSINOPHILS 0.1% 5 M/L INF TO 800 BASOPHILS 0.4% 22 M/L INF TO 200 LYMPHOCYTES 56.5% 3051 M/L 1000 TO 4000 MONOCYTES 7.9% 427 M/L 100 TO 1000
PLATELET COUNT 63,000 M/L 150,000 TO 500,000 MPV 7.7 fl 6.0 TO 12.0
I would be incredibly grateful if someone could explain what’s actually happening with me. Why are some of these numbers high and others low? I'm worried about whether there's a virus or—God forbid—a tumor. My doctor hasn't given me any pills or therapy to bring these back to normal, just blood transfusions.
Thanks a lot. These results were taken on August 4, 2011.
Your platelets are low. Everything else is slightly off, but honestly, I can't give you a precise breakdown without knowing your actual symptoms and medical history. You can't tell if it's a virus, a tumor, or bacteria just by looking at a blood count.
He’s hit exactly 50. But honestly, this whole mess is just the fallout from him living life way too recklessly.
Anyway... what’s the actual outlook here? Is there any chance of real progress—like, am I actually going to see him walking around and living a normal life again?
The big thing is keeping his blood pressure and glucose levels in check, plus staying on top of those anticoagulants if his doctor put them on the script. As for the neurological side of things, it’s hard to give a straight answer. Recovery from a stroke is a total wildcard; some people bounce back better than others, while some struggle more. It really depends on which part of the brain took the hit and how extensive the damage was. Working with a physical therapist is non-negotiable if you want any kind of rehab results. You should also make sure he sees a neurologist regularly so you can talk shop about the long-term effects and what the options are for regaining lost functions. Not gonna sugarcoat it—he probably won't be exactly who he was before the stroke, but putting in the work during rehab is the only way to find out how far he can get. Also, keep a close eye on that clot in his left ventricle. As long as that thing is sitting there, the risk of another stroke stays high. Check with the docs about whether surgery or something similar is even an option, like I mentioned earlier.
brighteagle26 said:It’s not stiff, just feels a bit numb. I can move it fine.
I really doubt this is anything serious or linked to some neurological disorder. The pinky finger is serviced by branches from the C8 nerve root—so, if you had issues with your cervical spine, you might feel some tingling in those specific areas. Honestly, my guess? You probably just slept on it wrong and compressed a nerve, causing that numbness. It's likely just minor compression damage that'll clear up on its own. If it doesn't go away in a day or two, just go see a doctor at the Mayo Clinic.
driftingfox19 said:My dad ended up in the hospital a month ago and now they're basically trying to discharge him because they've run out of ideas. Doctors, any advice here? What are we supposed to do? He can't even start rehab yet because he still has an untreated thrombus in his left ventricle.
diagnosis: Ischemic stroke, right MCA region. Left-sided hemiplegia. Hypertension. Hyperlipidemia Type 2 Diabetes Thrombus Left ventricular thrombus Status post myocardial infarction Right Carotid stenosis 35% and Left Carotid stenosis 20% Status post thrombophlebitis, right lower leg, stage II Status post cholecystitis
How old is he? Look, from where I'm sitting, the absolute priority is this: get that blood pressure under control with meds, stay on top of the cholesterol stuff, and dial in those glucose levels perfectly. He’s probably already on some kind of blood thinner—whatever they gave him, whether it's aspirin or heparin—and you can't mess around with that. Take it seriously. As for the Carotid, it doesn't look like the narrowing is bad enough for surgery yet (at least, that's my take). You really need to get a solid opinion from a decent cardiologist regarding his heart and that LV thrombus, plus a vascular surgeon or cardiac surgeon to weigh in on the clot itself. Bottom line: for now, your main job is making sure his blood pressure, glucose, and lipids are strictly managed and that he actually takes his prescribed blood thinners!!
Kimberly Edwards2 said:My eosinophils have been high for 4 months now. They were at 26%, and now they've hit 29%. The parasite screening came back negative. I don't have any allergies. When I went back for a follow-up blood count, everything was within range except for NEU 30.0 MCV 81.3 (K) HB 118 Medical Report Bilirubin 26
In what kind of situations would eosinophils be this high—like 29%—and what am I actually looking at here? Help me out...
You can't just drop lab results and expect an answer. How old are you? Any actual symptoms? Why did you even get the blood work done in the first place? And what's your LDH looking like? There are way too many possibilities.
Zachary Peterson6 said:So, I think I got stung by a wasp or something yesterday morning. I’m pretty sure it was a wasp because I know from experience how much they make me swell up. It hit me right on one of my toes, and now the whole thing is looking a little puffy. I’ve been slathering some Synopen on it, but I’m wondering if that’s actually going to cut it? I'm a bit torn on whether I should just head to the ER or an urgent care clinic. The thing is, last year I had to get two different shots because I had a nasty allergic reaction to a wasp sting—it hit my neck and my tongue started swelling up, which was terrifying. Does anyone have any other advice on what I can put on this swelling to calm it down?
Look, if you were going to have a full-blown allergic reaction like last time, it probably would've happened by now. Synopen is fine for just local irritation. But honestly, since you've already dealt with those nasty systemic reactions from stings before, you should probably check in with your doctor just to be safe. You likely won't have a major issue this time, but if you start feeling weird or think something's off, don't wait—just go to the doctor. In the meantime, stick with the Synopen and maybe throw some ice on it. Not much else to add there.
Brenda Garcia91 said:Yes, exactly that... it hit my kidneys a little bit and my blood pressure is incredibly high right now, but I’m hoping for a steady recovery
Yeah, that high BP is directly tied to the kidney vasculature being messed up. Honestly, it’s hard to call—you could be looking at a full recovery or just a permanent dip in kidney function. It’s a toss-up. Maybe someone here who's dealt with this before can weigh in. Fingers crossed for the best outcome. 🙂
If we're talking allergic vasculitis, we're looking at a reaction triggered by something you bumped into—could be a medication, could be anything in your environment that sets off an allergy. Honestly, I'd take this over other types of vasculitis any day. If it's truly autoimmune, you're playing a different game. With this, the prognosis is generally better because you treat it like most other allergies: hit it with antihistamines and corticosteroids and just stay away from whatever the allergen is. It can clear up after a while. But look, it’s not that simple. You have to consider which blood vessels are actually involved, if any organs are getting hit, whether there's existing stuff like asthma in the mix, and just how someone is doing overall... there are tons of variables. Two people could have the exact same diagnosis and be dealing with two completely different realities.
Maria Bailey52 said:If someone actually has this disease, does it just get worse and worse over time? Or can you have a good day followed by a really bad one? I'm asking because the doctors aren't even sure if my brother has it yet—they just did blood work, he hasn't had a spinal tap done.
Honestly, this is just total guesswork at this point. You don't get a meningitis diagnosis without an LP. Medicine is unpredictable; things can improve, they can spiral into a coma, or you could end up dealing with hearing loss after the infection hits... It’s irresponsible to try and give a definitive answer to this without more facts.
Brenda Garcia91 said:My apologies if this topic has already been covered elsewhere. A very close friend of mine was recently diagnosed with vasculitis. Since they are quite young, neither of us has much experience dealing with this particular condition. I am trying to understand if there is a possibility of a full recovery, or if this is something that will recur periodically. I read somewhere that it might be an incurable condition where you can only manage the symptoms through periods of remission. Is that accurate? Can someone with this diagnosis still lead a completely normal life? I appreciate any insight you can provide...
There’s no way to give you a straight answer on this because vasculitis is way too broad. There are tons of different types; some show up on their own, while others are just part of some other underlying condition. Most of the time, it's autoimmune stuff. If you can drop the specific diagnosis, I might be able to give you a better answer—maybe someone else here has dealt with the exact same thing or has some insight. 🙂
Jessica Jones18 said:Just a couple of weeks ago, I went for one of those vitamin and mineral screenings, and honestly, it showed I'm deficient in absolutely everything. It caught me totally off guard because I eat tons of veggies, even if my fruit intake isn't exactly stellar. I really don't want to just choke down a handful of supplement pills every morning; I’d much rather get what I need from actual food. Can anyone suggest some superfood staples that are packed with specific vitamins or minerals? Thanks!
Someone seriously needs to write an exposé on this so people finally realize it is physically impossible to measure your exact vitamin and mineral levels with those little handheld gadgets!!!!! You aren't "deficient" in everything. Minerals are just basic elements—stuff like Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Chlorine, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, and so on. If you actually have a deficiency or an excess, you’ll feel it through physical symptoms. If you eat a normal, varied diet, you're getting plenty. Don't fall for those scammers trying to convince you you're sick just so they can sell you expensive supplements.
Maria Bailey52 said:Wait, isn't the rule for bacterial infections that blood counts and everything have to be elevated?
I’m not entirely sure what you mean by "blood and blood count being elevated"—I’m guessing you mean "abnormal." Basically, yes, bacterial inflammation usually shows up more clearly in blood work (think high WBC, elevated CRP, ESR...). But look, nothing in medicine is ever 100%. You can't just rely on a standard blood panel to confirm suspected bacterial meningitis; that's exactly why they check the spinal fluid. To put it simply, the brain is isolated from the bloodstream by a barrier, acting like a relatively closed system. The CSF is in direct contact with the brain and its linings, so it shows specific lab changes during the process that help nail down a diagnosis. If we could prove bacterial meningitis through a simple blood draw, nobody would bother with lumbar punctures. Obviously, the doctor managing the case has the best grasp of the clinical picture and medical history, so if they ordered an LP, they probably have their reasons. Besides, it’s not like it’s some terrifying procedure.
Seems to me like this is just fear of the test itself. It’s not nearly as scary as people make it out to be. If the doctor thinks it’s necessary—just get it done.
Maria Bailey52 said:What happens if you refuse a lumbar puncture when there's a chance it's viral meningitis? And how long do the symptoms usually hang around?
It really depends on which specific virus we're talking about and whether it's actually meningitis to begin with. Generally speaking, viral cases are "milder" than bacterial ones, but that's why they do the spinal tap in the first place—to run a full microbiological and biochemical analysis on the CSF. That fluid check is what actually confirms whether you're dealing with a virus or something much nastier like bacteria. It’s hard to give a straight answer on what could go wrong because, honestly, anything can happen if you don't know what you're fighting and you aren't getting the right treatment. Good luck.
Linda Rogers4 said:Alright, so it’s been five days now and I’ve got this incredibly annoying pain in my thigh. It’s bad enough that I can’t sit, lie down, or even sleep properly, though it feels way better when I'm actually walking. At first, I just figured I pulled a muscle, but honestly, I have no idea how that happened since I haven't even worked out in two weeks. Five days of intense pain seems like a bit much for just a simple strain. Since I'm just here in New York City for school and don't have a primary care doctor, I was thinking about heading to the ER at Mount Sinai. I wanted to ask you guys—do you think they'll just blow me off because it doesn't look "life-threatening," or should I go anyway? Also, does anyone have any clue what this could be? The pain is brutal; I'm basically living on painkillers right now, and the second they wear off, the pain wakes me up. I'm starting to worry it might be something serious and I really don't want to wait another two weeks to see my regular doctor back home. Thanks for any help 🙂
Just head over to the surgical department at Mount Sinai to get checked out, especially since you don't have a GP, which is something every student living in New York City really ought to have sorted out 🙂 Pain can be totally harmless, but it can also be something major, so getting an exam is definitely the move.
brisktiger553 said:So, about six months ago, I was in this car accident, and among other things, I took a pretty hard hit to my breast. The swelling and the actual pain died down after a while, but then a couple days ago, I started feeling this localized ache, and when I felt around, I found this little lump—maybe like a centimeter wide? Is it even possible for that to still be some kind of leftover hematoma, or should I actually be getting worried here? Who even do I go see for an exam like this? Can anyone help me out?
It’s likely from the accident, but honestly, don't just brush it off. You could grab a private appointment with a gynecologist who does breast ultrasounds if you want to skip the wait. Otherwise, check with your primary care doctor to see what's available nearby—depends on where you're living, obviously. You could also swing by a plastic surgery clinic for a quick checkup; they can order whatever imaging you might need...
In my town, they’ve been doing this at the local clinic for a while now. It’s basically up to the patient if they want to get their blood drawn right there with the doctor or trek all the way out to the main hospital lab. From what I gather, the samples taken at the clinic are handled exactly like the ones from the big lab—storage, transport, all that jazz. I mean, the medical pros supposedly know how to handle biological material properly; if they don't, then 🤷. For an old lady living in the neighborhood where this doctor works, grabbing her blood work done at the clinic is a hell of a lot easier than hopping on a city bus to head down to the general hospital. Honestly, I actually dig the system they have in New York City, where the health center has one central lab serving several different offices. The concept is solid; it just needs to be executed well—which, let's face it, is how everything goes in the end.
This is basically the future of medicine here in the States, provided they can actually get the logistics to work in the real world. Ideally, you’d be able to handle most of this stuff right at your primary care doc's office so people aren't wasting their lives wandering around massive hospital complexes just to get basic blood work done. I’m all for the decision. As for hygiene standards or whether a nurse actually knows what they're doing—well, that should go without saying. There are protocols for a reason, and anyone on the job ought to know how to follow them. If they don't, that’s a localized mess within that specific clinic, but the policy itself? It's a solid move.
Look, you’re definitely dealing with demyelination, but here’s the thing: demyelination isn't a disease with its own name and social security number. It's just a process. A whole bunch of different things can trigger it. Multiple sclerosis is technically a demyelinating disease of "unknown etiology," but doctors won't slap the MS label on you unless you check specific boxes in their diagnostic criteria. Plenty of viruses or bacteria can kick off an immune response that leads to demyelination. You’re probably being watched right now because you don't meet the formal criteria for MS—or any other specific diagnosis—so they’re waiting to see if the clinical picture clears up enough to point toward a final answer. Everyone’s body works differently. For one person, MS is aggressive and moves fast with a grim outlook; for someone else, they could have brain lesions for 15 years without a single symptom, with those lesions either lying dormant or "regenerating" and popping back up. Basically, MS in one person isn't the same thing as MS in another. My advice? Don't just sit there listening to a neurologist. I know it sounds out there, but Stage 3 Lyme disease can mimic MS or similar syndromes after years of being hidden. Tons of people get misdiagnosed with MS when they actually have Lyme. Half the time, patients don't even remember getting bitten by a tick, and in the US, we see thousands of cases reported every year. Get a serology test for B. Burgdorfer to rule it out if you haven't already. Hang in there.
cosmicwolf27 said:I had this super creepy sensation twice today and honestly, it freaked me out... I felt this weird pressure in my left arm—specifically the lower forearm and hand—and then my fingers just started cramping up.😕 It only lasted a few seconds, though. Should I be worried?!
I'm jumping on board with what was said above. Honestly, I feel bad that you're stressing out and finding out about this diagnosis in such a rough way. If it helps at all, this kind of situation can actually be considered a "good" outcome because once they get in there and perform the surgery, that tumor doesn't usually come back—or if it does, it rarely pops up in the exact same spot—and it won't spread to distant parts of your body. Hang in there.