Posts by vividsailor7

Amanda Morgan67 said:Hey everyone,
I got a red referral slip (back in December) for blood work and some tests, but the doctor didn't write down an expiration date or even when it was issued.
Do you think they'll still take me for my blood draw if it's already been a month since it was issued?

If there isn't a date on there, how is the LabCorp staff supposed to know when it was actually issued? Honestly, even if a date *was* written, a nurse could just cross it out with white-out, slap a stamp on it, and nobody would ever know.

Sarah Morris57 said:They told me regarding that red slip that I have to go schedule an appointment at the hospital first.
And of course, they only bothered telling me that once I was already at the lab! They didn't even specify which hospital—the slip just says "Endocrinology - Contraception Procedures," even though that’s not even what I'm in for; I have way more serious issues than that, but they act like it doesn't matter. The woman there acted like I was supposed to just magically know everything, but how am I supposed to know when neither the doctor nor the nurse said a single word to me?

Just go ahead and schedule it at whichever hospital you want.

Sarah Morris57 said:What really drove me crazy was that they didn't tell me, even though I specifically asked! I only found out once I was standing in the lab, and by then it was too late to get an appointment within the timeframe because, naturally, there was a date on the referral.

I don't understand why people make such a huge deal out of the date. Just erase it, let the nurse stamp it, and move on—it's not rocket science! Besides, you can just try to schedule the appointment regardless of the date; as long as it clearly states what service you need, the clerk at the window will just let you know if you need to get it extended or whatever.

Amy Lewis73 said:Can anyone recommend a good specialist for a kidney ultrasound?

So far, I’ve found three options online: Kvarantan Clinic, Dr. Tarle’s office which offers color Doppler ultrasounds, and Sunce Clinic.

Has anyone here actually used any of these places?

Thanks in advance!

As far as I know, Dr. Tarle is an LOM/General Practitioner, and honestly, you can't always count on the ultrasound quality at those types of offices.
Besides, you can get this kind of scan done practically on every street corner in the US.

Thomas Harris97 said:Hey everyone!

I have a question regarding this topic. Basically, I was dealing with some classic symptoms—bleeding, itching, and an external lump. Since I had to wait three whole weeks just to see a specialist, I used some Fact ointment in the meantime, which actually worked wonders; the bleeding and itching stopped completely, and that lump shrank down to almost nothing. When I finally got my exam, the doctor confirmed it was hemorrhoids and told me I need to run three specific tests before coming back for a follow-up. Two of them make perfect sense (the fecal occult blood test and the CEA), but I am totally lost when it comes to the CKS test. My primary care physician only gave me the referral for the CEA, and I already picked up those lovely little kits for the blood test 😁. So, if anyone knows what CKS actually is, where I go to get it done, or if I even need a special referral, please let me know 😛?

CKS is just a standard Complete Blood Count (CBC).
You get it done at a local lab, like Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp, but you'll need a specific referral from your doctor for it.

gentlesailor25 said:I’m dealing with pretty much the same thing, mostly just these constant bouts of hypoglycemia. My blood sugar levels look totally fine on paper—you know, those standard fasting tests—but I can't help but wonder what else I should be doing about it.
Could someone maybe walk me through exactly what steps I ought to take?

And just how much is the IRS taking out of those "hypoglycemic" payouts?

I’ve had just about enough of this nonsense. Seriously, how many times do we have to go over the same tired arguments before people actually start listening? It feels like I’m shouting into a void sometimes. Every single time a new topic comes up, the same group of people pops up with the exact same half-baked ideas, acting like they’ve discovered fire when they’re really just recycling old garbage. It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating. And frankly, it’s beneath the level of discourse we should be having here. We need actual substance, not just endless cycles of repetitive whining and baseless speculation. If you don't have anything new to add to the conversation, then why are you even participating? Just stay quiet and let the adults talk. Period. kaže:
I’ve got this weird symptom popping up, and honestly, I can't for the life of me find anything useful about it on Google.
Look, I’m telling you, it’s happening again. Every single time I sit down to eat, I get hit with this absolutely brutal, bone-chilling coldness that just takes over my entire body. It’s not just a little shiver, either—it’s a full-on, deep-seated chill that makes me want to wrap myself in three blankets and hide. It’s honestly infuriating. I’m sitting there trying to enjoy a meal, and suddenly, it feels like I’ve been dropped straight into the middle of a blizzard in Chicago. It’s exhausting dealing with this.
Sometimes you get those random tremors or twitches—what could be going on there?

Get in touch with your primary care physician immediately.

Kimberly Fisher37 said:The cortisol and CRP results finally landed on my desk. My 24-hour urine cortisol came back at 39.7 nmol/dU, which is nowhere near the standard reference range of 58-306. This is frustratingly low.
My 24-hour urine volume clocked in at 500ml, which is actually below the standard reference range of 600-1600ml. On top of that, my CRP is sitting at 8.4 mg/L—definitely higher than the normal threshold of less than 5.0. Not exactly the news I was hoping for.
I’m getting another set of urine analysis results back tomorrow, so I’ll update everyone here once they land on my desk. Given everything I've been dealing with lately, I really need some perspective. What do these new numbers actually mean in the grand scheme of this whole mess, and what should I be looking into next? Any advice is appreciated.

You guys seriously need to quote your previous posts if you want me to remember what we were even talking about!

Amy James5 said:Can birth control pills cause elevated serum copper levels? I’ve been on them for 11 years now, and I'm only 28. If there's a connection, how long does it actually take for those levels to settle back down to "normal" once you stop taking them? My current reading is 31.6, while the reference range is 12.2 - 25.1.

I was wondering—why on earth did you decide to pull Copper levels from the serum during the first round of testing?

Elizabeth Fox said:I’ve been dealing with these brutal bouts of vertigo, constant nausea, and even some vomiting lately. Because of all this, my doctor is sending me in for a couple of tests—specifically a color Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries and a transcranial Doppler sonography.
Results:
Using both CDFI and PDI to map out the carotid arteries, the results show medium-width vessel lumens on both sides. I didn't see any sign of formed plaques or stenoses. The hemodynamics look perfectly symmetrical and stable. Both ACAs are showing satisfactory morphology and blood flow.

The morphological view of the vertebral arteries shows medium-width lumens on both sides—averaging about 3.9mm on the right and 4.0mm on the left. As for the hemodynamics, everything is perfectly symmetrical and falls right within the normal range on both sides.

TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER ULTRASOUND

The circulation results from the Willis circle are sitting right at the edge of the normal range.
The imaging results for the abdominal vessel circulation show that SBSK levels are slightly elevated across every single blood vessel they tested.

What does this actually mean for me? Am I looking at something that requires more testing right away? Honestly, should I be panicking here?
I'm 33 years old.
Thanks.

It’s nothing to worry about. Honestly, the results aren't concerning at all.

mistybear522 said:Does anyone know a nutritionist in Los Angeles or Chicago who takes insurance referrals? 🙂

Mayo Clinic.

Edward Thompson11 said:Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I've been reading through all the posts—all the sadness, the battles, the sheer courage... I honestly just want to say my respect to everyone here. I'm reaching my breaking point, and I can't stop wondering if there's more I can do for my mom. She's been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma—it's a plasma cell cancer. Her plasma cells are about 10-12% higher than they should be, and they've spread to her bones, even though her protein levels and blood work look okay. About 40 days ago, she ended up hospitalized because of a pathological fracture in her spine. She’s already finished five rounds of radiation, and this Monday, she started chemotherapy, which is supposed to run for three cycles before she moves on to an autologous stem cell transplant. She’s bedridden right now; she can't move at all because the tumor has basically destroyed her vertebrae. The public hospital wouldn't agree to surgery, so I tracked down a private clinic where they should be able to perform spinal surgery in about ten days. If it works, she might finally be able to walk again, though the doctors warned it's incredibly risky given where the tumor is located. They might discharge her from the state hospital the day after tomorrow. Mom is holding up well. As for the prognosis? They won't give me any guarantees, but they did say that people can live with this disease for decades... Mom is 59.

Some people have tried to steer me toward "alternative" routes, but I just couldn't bring myself to take on that kind of responsibility. A few friends are insisting that Mom needs to boost her system with homeopathic remedies and immune boosters. The doctors at the hospital aren't having it; they actually mentioned that doing stuff like that could be contraindicated with the chemo. I'm stuck. It feels logical to trust the medical professionals, especially since the chemo has already started. But then again, sometimes they're willing to sit and talk to you, and other times they act like you don't even exist. Today is definitely one of those "don't bother them" days, and it's incredibly hard. Does anyone have any actual, sensible advice? Thank you all so much!

Honestly, I really want to know how much these "friends" actually understand about Multiple Myeloma, and I'm not talking about some half-baked thing they skimmed on Google.

Maria Rogers5 said:I'm new to this forum—unfortunately, not because I want to be, but because I'm fighting this same battle... my father passed away three years ago from colon cancer that had metastasized... after about two years of fighting, he was gone. And now.... my mother discovered a colon tumor two years ago, which was operated on "in time," and she didn't receive any chemo after the surgery back then. Now, for Christmas, she found out there are metastases in her liver, which could potentially be operated on if they haven't spread anywhere else in her body. She's undergoing a PET-CT right now; we're all losing our minds waiting for the results... Mom is 54, and Dad passed at 51. ;(😢

It would be helpful to provide more details.
Primarily because the cancer appeared at a relatively young age.
As for your situation, you absolutely need to discuss this with a GP or an Internist (depending on how old you are). It might even be worth looking into American inflammatory bowel diseases or familial adenomatous polyposis.

bluemason3 said:I have a question, though I'm not sure if this is the right thread or if there's something more specific.

My grandfather has metastatic prostate cancer (he's already had surgeries and chemo, and it came back). His markers almost certainly point to cancer (I don't have exact figures right now, but the ratio is something like 300 compared to the normal 6). However, the doctor won't prescribe therapy without a biopsy, even though in his current state and given his age, the biopsy might cause more harm than good (the doctor himself said he’d start therapy immediately if it were his own father). They went to a medical board meeting to propose allowing a signed/notarized consent from the patient or guardian, but it was rejected.

Is there any other option, or is a biopsy unavoidable?

bluemason3 said:If I understood correctly, they specifically want the prostate? 🤔

But I heard that through the grapevine (my mom told me, who told my aunt, who told the doctor), so who knows what got twisted along the way? 🤔

Blondano is a massive issue, generally speaking.
But if this really is about the prostate, I don't see why there's such a huge drama surrounding it, unless there are underlying health issues—and even then, it can usually be handled.
To give any meaningful advice, you need to provide data, like the urologist's findings, PSA levels, etc.
Possibly, you'll need to check for bone metastases (via scintigraphy) if the PSA is extremely high, say 100.

Rebecca Carter5 said:I really need some help if anyone here knows what they're doing
so I just got this Advair Diskus
2x1

The thing is, my little one is still nursing
can I even take these two together?...

It’s literally written right there on the medication instructions.

Has anyone here actually bothered to go see a general practitioner or a family doctor lately?

Mark Hall10 said:I don't want to be a bore, but I have another question! So, there's a patient currently in the ICU, and since they were admitted, they've been completely disoriented. After talking things through with the doctor, we found out he's being given IV Chlorpromazine to calm him down because his agitation is just off the charts! Now I'm wondering—is it actually possible, or even normal, for him to be lying there in this "semi-comatose" state for two days straight? He can barely speak, can hardly keep his eyes open, and everything else... Thanks in advance!

Replying late here—I missed the question entirely, but whatever.
If you ask me, he was likely being administered Chlorpromazine—an antipsychotic—and everything you're describing sounds like textbook side effects from that class of medication.

graniteseal50 said:Thanks. My mom had surgery yesterday, and they moved her from the ICU to a regular room last night. I went to see her today, and while they were briefly pausing her IV, she suddenly started vomiting blood. The doctor wasn't available during my visit, so I’m freaking out—is this kind of vomiting normal after a procedure, or could it be related to the cancer?

Vomiting after surgery happens sometimes; it's not entirely unheard of.
But you absolutely have to keep an eye on it. If it keeps happening, there's a real possibility of ileus.
Usually, doctors handle that first with conservative methods—things like a nasogastric tube and IV fluid and electrolyte replacement.

Mark Hall10 said:To whom it may concern,
I’m writing about my father. He’s a diabetic who unfortunately broke his shoulder. He had surgery, which the surgeon claimed was a success, but they warned us we needed to get his blood sugar under control immediately. Because of his own negligence, we failed to manage his diabetes, leaving his glucose levels hovering around a dangerous 20. Now, the surgical wound is severely infected. He’s been readmitted to the hospital to transition him over to insulin, but after some tests, his sedimentation rate is sitting at 100, the wound is flared up again, and there's pus leaking out—it looks absolutely horrific. It’s been two months since the operation, and despite constant follow-ups with the surgeon, they aren't doing anything concrete! What do you advise? What should our next move be?

They need to run a culture on the wound to isolate the specific pathogen causing this infection—maybe even a blood culture—and then start targeted antibiotics based on those results.
Managing his diabetes is absolutely critical here. It dictates how well the wound can heal through several different mechanisms, especially since diabetes causes microvascular insufficiency by damaging the vessel walls.
It’s also worth noting that wound healing isn't nearly as simple as people think; it actually involves several distinct stages:
The acute inflammatory phase,
Granulation tissue formation,
Early scar tissue development, and
Scar remodeling.
Throughout these processes, various cells play vital roles, such as neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and angioblasts.

Jeremy Fowler45 said:I'm 28g..
The folks at the Nephrology Institute just bumped my dose from 5mg to 10mg.
The tests they ordered are: plasma renin activity, renal and renal artery ultrasound, metanephrines and normetanephrines, 24-hour albuminuria, and an ECG Holter monitor...
There's more where that came from...
Just getting the tests done will take months, and they even told me to look for a Holter monitor at a heart clinic in St. Louis.
But honestly, my blood pressure isn't dropping at all... for the last two days, it hasn't gone below 150/100.
I feel absolutely terrible—everything is moving slower, and I can barely function!

Looking at that list of tests, it seems like they are being incredibly thorough and covering every single base.
How long have you been taking Amlodipine?

nimbleharbor65 said:segmented neutrophils 0.3 (0.44-0.72)
lymphocytes 0.57 (0.2-0.46)
everything else is within the normal range...

rapiddriver23 said:MCHC 398, can someone tell me what it means when it's this high? The normal range is 320-360. Thanks

crimsonpanther7 said:my blood work has me worried because my white blood cell count is elevated at 11.6 and MPV is 5.5

I also have some bacteria in my urine and white blood cells at 10 in the urine test
what does this mean

To get more precise and accurate answers to your questions regarding lab results, we suggest that when you post your findings, please include the following details:

- complete results - many values cannot be interpreted correctly if they are listed individually without the accompanying data
- reference ranges - if there are reference ranges on your report, please include them. Different labs use different standards, so a number by itself means absolutely nothing without its specific reference range
- age - you don't need to give your exact age, but a general idea like "early twenties" or "late forties" helps significantly, as certain values vary depending on your age group
- reason for testing (your symptoms) - this is crucial. It’s nearly impossible for anyone to accurately interpret your results if they don't know why you were sent for testing in the first place
- brief medical history - if you have other health conditions, please list them. They provide a much fuller picture
- anything else - it's also helpful to mention if you are pregnant or dealing with other similar factors, as that changes how results are read

Jeremy Fowler45 said:With younger people, doctors usually hunt for the root cause of high blood pressure first—that way, they actually have a clue how to treat it.
Until they actually implement that, you're gonna have to stay on TH.
I'm on Amlodipine... and honestly, my blood pressure just won't budge.
So now I'm on a higher dose, but it still isn't budging... I can't just quit cold turkey either. What am I supposed to do? Just live with 190/120 or my usual 150/100?
No way... I'm stubborn as hell and I am going to figure out exactly why my blood pressure is through the roof.

Amlodipine is typically the go-to first choice for older patients, especially when dealing with systolic hypertension.
You didn't mention your age, but your BP is definitely elevated, so you really ought to get a full workup at the Institute of Nephrology and Hypertension at the Mayo Clinic.
They’ll need to run a whole battery of tests—things like glucose, insulin, electrolytes (K, Na, Ca, P), kidney function (creatinine, urea, urates), urinalysis, 24-hour proteinuria, TSH, VMA, aldosterone (serum/urine), cortisol rhythm, ACTH, catecholamines, a lipid panel, and so on.
Basically, it all depends on your specific clinical indications, overall status, and general findings.
Follow-up diagnostics might also include a TTE, CT angiography, renin levels, etc.

Drew Miller48 said:Here is the situation. Most of you are already familiar with my case, but for those who aren't, check my previous posts. The core issue is my elevated blood pressure.
I was recently at the cardiology clinic over at Draskovic to review my ECG results. The doctor told me my heart looks fine, just beating slightly fast. I told him I already knew that—I get anxious about all of this, and whenever I start measuring, I can actually feel my heart racing. Now, here is the other thing: whenever I mention wanting to stop taking my medication (Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide), people act like I’ve lost my mind. They claim my pressure will spike and go through the roof. I am honestly fed up with these condescending doctors who seem more interested in pushing pills than listening.
Right now, my home readings are showing 132/78 with a pulse of 72. Yet, just two hours ago while I was downtown at the doctor's office, it hit 160/110 with a pulse of 98. Despite that, he tells me there is no reason to stop and that I actually need to take two of those a day. I told him no, and that is that. My current readings suggest there is another underlying cause, because I know my baseline isn't that high.
For context, I used to weigh 240 lbs and lived a pretty sedentary lifestyle. Things have changed completely. I’ve dropped down to 176 lbs, I'm eating much healthier—lots of fruits and vegetables—and whenever I check my pressure, it stays around 135/80, give or take five points.
I am at a loss for what to do next. They are referring me to the Mayo Clinic for specialized blood pressure testing (some specific department, I'm not sure which one). I'll have to wear a Holter monitor and undergo several tests. We will see what happens, though I personally think this is all unnecessary. My only goal is to reduce this medication regimen and stop taking them entirely, because I feel great. Just yesterday, for instance, I had a sudden headache, blurred vision, and some shimmering in my sight; I ended up taking two 5mg doses of Normabel to manage it. That doesn't happen to me very often.

First off, I have no idea why you even bothered seeing a cardiologist.
You should have gone straight to a hypertension specialist at the Nephrology Institute.
A Holter monitor is an incredibly valuable diagnostic tool.

Lisa Myers said:In practice, any experienced doctor will look at your home blood pressure readings—not just what you show them in the clinic. Even I know that much, and I’m not even a professional. For example, my own pressure would regularly drop from 160/100 down to 120/80 after just a few minutes of casual small talk with the doctor, without them giving me anything at all. What does that tell you? It’s all in your head. At home, my numbers were always perfectly normal. Yet, here I am, taking antihypertensives I don't actually need. Honestly, I'm fed up with doctors who refuse to believe me when I say my home readings are fine. Only one doctor actually took the time to listen to me; she said, "You don't need blood pressure meds, you need something for anxiety because you're stressed." After that, I felt fine. But I'm still on the medication because most doctors insist I need it. Ugh, I don't even know anymore. I'm just angry.

In my opinion, it's because they think the patient is overweight! Everyone I know who is a healthy weight gets the "oh, you're just a little anxious" excuse if their pressure is high at the office. But anyone overweight? They get slapped with a prescription immediately. And that's for blood pressure, obviously. I was put on meds after just one single reading—it was very high, sure, but I was in total shock that day, so... meanwhile, my brother went for his driver's license exam with 180/120 and nobody cared. Another friend of mine, a model, saw her pressure spike after losing her job—they rushed her to the hospital immediately to run every test under the sun, only to find out nothing was wrong. But for people carrying extra weight? It's just: "Here are your pills, now go lose weight." Great. Just great.🙄.

Doctors shouldn't take this personally. It isn't an attack on them. I truly respect the medical profession (even if it doesn't feel like it right now), but this blatant discrimination really burns me up. It has honestly shattered my trust in doctors. Sometimes I feel like I'm my own best physician. (By the way, that exact realization saved me from an unnecessary surgery once, so how could I think any differently?)

Question for both of you: if you think you don't need these medications, why on earth are you still taking them?

Nicole Ortiz said:Can someone please help me make sense of these lab results?

...................

We’re suspecting anemia, so we had everything re-tested. My hair has been thinning out like crazy for about six months now, and I also deal with thyroid issues.
And please—don't just give me that "it's all because of your thyroid" line.
Everyone loves to play doctor and blame everything on a single diagnosis the second you have one. It's lazy.
For context, I'm in my mid-20s.

Thanks

Everything looks normal to me.

graniteseal50 said:Hi everyone. My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about a month or two ago. By the time the latest test results came back, it had already metastasized to her liver. About a week and a half ago, she underwent chemotherapy, but just two days after the treatment, she started vomiting blood and had black stools—clear signs of internal bleeding. From what I gathered from the doctor, the cancer has spread to the stomach and duodenum. To make matters worse, three days ago she developed a blood clot in her leg, and the doctors are trying to break it up with injections. Since Mom can't keep any food down without vomiting, the doctors are suggesting they install a bypass—from what I understand, so food goes straight to the intestines instead of the stomach. They’ve left the decision up to us: do we go through with the procedure or not? I'm looking for advice on what the smartest move is here.

BTW, the tumor is huge, about 10 cm.

A nasogastric tube is necessary to relieve the stomach pressure, along with mandatory IV fluid replacement.

wiredcanyon39 said:We finally got the unnamed ampules to use at home, but I’m wondering—should they be administered at the exact same time every day?

Look, we're talking about unnamed here. My understanding is that it can be administered subcutaneously—basically just like how insulin is used for DM—but I can't say for certain.
As for the specific dosing schedule, that is strictly up to the hematologist. I am absolutely positive that the instructions will be laid out clearly in the discharge papers from the hospital.