Posts by vividsailor7

copperraven53 said:Can someone please explain these high and low values in my blood work? I'm 31 and currently pregnant. I just had my routine prenatal blood panel done. As part of my treatment, I've been taking Levothyroxine 350 and Bayer Aspirin Low Dose.
.................................Given that I've been on Levothyroxine 350 daily for two and a half months now, shouldn't my iron levels be higher? And this elevated cholesterol—is that dangerous during pregnancy?

The results look fine. It is perfectly normal for cholesterol to spike during pregnancy, and honestly, these numbers aren't even a concern. Usually, you'd want a full lipid panel—you know, checking Total Cholesterol, Trigger, LDL, VLDL, and HDL.
Did they actually test your Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity?
It would also be smart to get your ferritin checked to get a much clearer picture of what's actually happening with your iron stores.

Terry Reed13 said:Can anyone help me make sense of these labs?
Male, mid-to-late 20s, and I have a minor surgery scheduled in a few days.
.........................................

So, this is just standard pre-op prep.
From what I can tell, everything looks perfectly fine.

crimsonharbor50 said:I was actually thinking about a transfusion, yeah... I think I'm starting to lose my train of thought here.🙂

How can anemia have nothing to do with leukemia? (In my opinion, there's definitely a connection) because the body—specifically the bone marrow—starts producing more white blood cells than red ones, which essentially leaves her blood feeling almost "watery." Since she’s been diagnosed with acute leukemia, she went to Washington, D.C. five days ago to get that blood transfusion so her condition wouldn't take a turn for the worse.

Her overall condition improved quite a bit after the procedure, but then this happened... I know it might sound silly or uneducated, but as a layman, the best way I can describe it is that her kidneys are "holding onto" or "accumulating" blood, rather than urine... they aren't passing anything at all. The doctors told her it was blood, and well, anything is possible—maybe a blocked vessel or something else entirely. They are planning to filter it, perform a puncture, or perhaps even surgery... they should find out later this week.

I promise that if I learn more, I'll write back... specifically regarding the medical side of things and using the proper terminology.

It's hard to say much of anything here.
Now you're bringing up acute leukemia into the mix. Look, just saying "acute leukemia" isn't enough because not all types are treated the same way—you've got acute myeloid, acute lymphocytic, and all those different subtypes. No one can (not that they won't) give you any real advice or an explanation right now because, at this stage, it's simply impossible to know.

analogorca33 said:I honestly don't get it...

The blood work was mostly ordered because of my sedimentation rate—which is totally normal, by the way. Then they just prescribed that antibiotic again as if the first dose didn't even touch the infection...

...plus, those slight deviations weren't even addressed. I have no clue what they actually mean or if they’re linked to this inflammation or if they're just independent issues unrelated to my throat infection.

My answer remains exactly the same.

crimsonharbor50 said:I was just speaking quite broadly there... I can't say for certain, nor do I truly know. All she really shared with me were the terms ABI diagnosis and kidney insufficiency.

I suppose one might draw some meaning from the fact that blood is pooling in the kidney, which has caused it to become enlarged. The scans didn't show any signs of kidney stones or cysts.

ABI stands for Acute Kidney Injury, or renal failure.
Honestly, you all make this sound so incredibly simple. If it's such a walk in the park, I'm surprised you aren't treating her yourselves! Your data lacks any actual diagnostic significance.
The causes of AKI are massive and varied—it could be a single isolated issue, or it could manifest as part of a complex syndrome.
1. Hemodynamic issues—this could involve hypovolemia, shock, trauma, DIC, vascular occlusion, ischemia, and more.
2. Infections and infectious states—like sepsis.
3. Chemical agents.
4. Primary kidney diseases—most commonly acute glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, or systemic autoimmune diseases that attack the kidneys, such as SLE/Lupus.
5. Metabolic causes.
It can also be categorized as prerenal, intrinsic, or postrenal.

analogorca33 said:Here are my blood results:
erythrocytes - 5.52 (4.34-5.72)
hemoglobin - 136 (138-175)
hematocrit - 0.434 (0.415-0.530)
MCV - 78.6 (83-97.2)
MCH - 24.6 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC - 314 (320 - 345)
RDW 12.8 (9-15)
platelets - 201 (158-424)
MPV - 8 (6.8-10.4)
leukocytes - 11.6 (3.4-9.7)
ESR - 9 (2-13)
I have a throat infection that didn't clear up after taking Bristol Myers Squibb treatment, so I was sent for blood work. I got the results back and was prescribed the antibiotic Pfizer.
I'm wondering if the other abnormalities in the blood work point to anything else, besides the elevated leukocytes which clearly show the inflammation is still there.
Thanks in advance............

It makes absolutely zero sense to me why they just switched to the exact same antibiotic—amoxicillin/clavulanate—just from a different manufacturer. Like switching from Pfizer to Bristol Myers Squibb. It's the same damn thing!
You need to get a full workup done—CBC, CRP, Iron, UIBC, transaminases, and maybe even a throat swab. And for heaven's sake, get a proper physical exam.

crimsonharbor50 said:A young woman I know, who is 28, is dealing with some incredibly intense pain in her right kidney. The real concern here is that the kidney is actually collecting blood, which is clearly visible on her imaging results due to the swelling. She’s also currently right in the middle of her menstrual cycle, having expected her period a few days ago. About a month back, she was admitted to Washington, D.C. General Hospital because she’s struggling with anemia, where she underwent a blood transfusion and was also treated with homeopathy. While her overall health seemed to improve after that, she’s now facing this major issue with her right kidney retaining blood—something she has had issues with in the past and has undergone numerous tests for, though nothing ever quite this severe has happened before.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar, perhaps regarding specific treatments or recovery processes?

I would truly appreciate any insight or advice you might have to offer, thank you very much.

Could you please list her specific diagnoses, lab results, or any current medications?

driftingwalker18 said:Hey everyone, I just got my bloodwork back from a routine checkup. Everything looks fine except for my bilirubin levels—they're sitting at 50, while the standard range is supposed to be between 3 and 20. Is this actually dangerous? I’ve been training pretty hard lately, averaging about an hour and a half to two hours of intense workouts every single day, so I'm wondering if that's the culprit. Has anyone else dealt with this because of heavy exercise?🤷 😕

Thanks!

Check the very first post in this Laboratory Results thread—it explains why your post will likely be moved anyway.

Melissa Kern6 said:Hi everyone.
My mom is 60. She deals with high blood pressure, which she manages with medication to keep it within a normal range. However, over the last few months, she’s been dealing with significant swelling due to fluid retention. Her kidneys and heart are supposedly fine. On top of that, she’s having a really hard time walking uphill. What else could be causing all this fluid buildup? You can clearly see how swollen her ankles have become. Thanks.

What medications is she currently on? Is it something like amlodipine?
Who actually confirmed that her kidneys and heart are okay?
What specific tests has she undergone regarding this issue?
For now, the thyroid can wait.

Amy Ross5 said:Pre-op tests—X-rays, endoscopy, and esophageal manometry—all pointed toward AHALAZIJA. From what I gathered, the manometry showed a low-pressure lower esophageal sphincter and ineffective peristalsis, which is actually somewhat atypical for achalasia. After they performed the cardia disruption (which was done because the radiologist concluded it was achalasia), there was zero improvement. They also didn't find any other underlying issues, like neurological or myological conditions, that would explain the weak peristalsis. Following that, I was prescribed Reglan, but it didn't help at all; if anything, it made things worse because I started having more frequent nighttime regurgitation into my trachea. At my last checkup, they just recommended eating soft foods in smaller, more frequent meals and taking Controloc as needed... and then they scheduled me for an 18-month follow-up???
Regarding the lung/bronchial inflammation... after some heavy coughing, labored breathing, and a fever lasting four days, I went to the ER. They diagnosed me with a respiratory infection and prescribed Azithromycin (500mg once a day for three days), which cleared up the symptoms. Now, I'm wondering if that's totally unrelated to the achalasia, or if it's tied to it—specifically this coughing and spitting up mucus and food during the night (I should mention this used to happen maybe once a month, then weekly, but lately, it's happening every single night)
I hope that clears things up a bit... and I'm really hoping for some advice... thanks in advance! :-)

This case is definitely atypical. The hallmark feature of a manometry reading for achalasia is either an absent or incomplete relaxation of the LES. Furthermore, the resting pressure is usually elevated, sitting around 30-40mmHg.
Normal is 10-20mmHg, plus there's aperistalsis.
Look, unless you transcribe the results for me—or better yet, send over the actual images—it’s nearly impossible for me to give you anything concrete or coherent.

Amy Ross5 said:Hi,
I was diagnosed with AHALAZIJA about a year ago, so I went in for balloon dilation at a clinic in Chicago under Dr. Pulanić... which honestly didn't help at all. My symptoms haven't budged (it's hard to swallow anything thick or solid, I get sharp pains in my chest, and I deal with acid reflux into my windpipe at night, causing coughing...) but the doctor decided after the procedure that since the X-ray looked fine, I don't need any more dilations. It feels like they're totally ignoring the fact that my symptoms actually got worse... I even ended up on antibiotics recently for some bronchitis/lung inflammation, which I'm pretty sure was caused by that nightly reflux where food residue from dinner ends up in my lungs and I have to cough it out.
I'm really not sure what my next move should be... especially since I've been reading that these balloon dilations might not work or only offer short-term relief. Are there any alternative options out there, maybe acupuncture... or some way to get my esophagus working properly again? If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it! :-)

It would be helpful to see the test results from both before and after the procedure. Also, could you go into more detail about this "pneumonia" you mentioned? What medications are you currently taking, and what were you on previously?

Maria Fisher46 said:I’d like to jump in here and build on what my esteemed colleague just laid out—and I really tip my hat to him for outlining those potential next steps. Listen, Kimberly Martinez7, you need to understand something crucial: you can't just look at a single lab result for an antibody and call it a day. That isn't how this works! To actually diagnose an autoimmune condition—specifically a systemic connective tissue disease—it isn't just about one isolated blood test. It’s much more complex than that. You have to meet very specific clinical criteria that have been established for every individual disease. This requires a deep dive into your full medical history and a comprehensive physical examination. That entire process falls squarely under the expertise of an immunologist or a rheumatologist. That is exactly why my colleague recommended seeing a specialist as your immediate next move. Get it done.

Look, let me be crystal clear about this: a single positive test result isn't a golden ticket to a definitive diagnosis. It’s just one piece of the puzzle. You have to meet the full set of clinical criteria before anything is official. I’m stressing this because I don't want you to lose your mind if you see an immunologist and they still won't give you a final answer after the exam. It happens. It’s actually incredibly common. Some patients spend months—sometimes even longer—just sitting in that gray area, waiting for every single symptom and marker to line up perfectly so the doctors can finally check all the boxes. Don't let the uncertainty throw you off; it's part of the process.

To the editors at Kimberly Martinez7, I wish you nothing but the absolute best.

Hey there! Good to see you. 🙂

Thanks for the add.🙂😉

Magic potion? Give me a break. Honestly, I am so tired of seeing people chase these "miracle cures" like they’re some kind of holy grail. It’s pure nonsense. You see it all over social media—some influencer claiming they found a secret elixir that solves everything from joint pain to fatigue overnight. Newsflash: there is no magic potion. There is no shortcut. If you want actual results, you have to deal with the reality of science and hard work. You can't just swallow a bottle of mystery liquid and expect your life to change while you sit on the couch. It’s exhausting watching people get scammed by these pseudo-scientific fairy tales. Stick to what actually works and stop looking for a quick fix that doesn't exist. kaže:
Here I go again. 🤣
Can someone please take a look at this urinalysis and give me your thoughts? 🙂
....................

Everything looks solid. Clean results all around.

Eric Morales62 said:I'm looking for some insight on these lab results:

Hematology and biochemistry are all within the normal range; it's only the immunology panels that show deviations:

ANA (ENA) IIF speckled titer <1:20
dsDNA negative IU/ml <100negative 100-120weak pos >120positive
Histone negative U/ml -II-
SS-A 300 U/ml -II-
SS-B negative U/ml -II-
Sm negative U/ml -II-
U1-RNP negative U/ml -II-
DNA-topo1 negative U/ml -II-
Jo-1 negative U/ml -II-
CENP-B negative U/ml -II-
CH50 normal titer 50%hemolysis at:0.2 0.2-0.5(normal) 0.7(weakly low) 0.9 (low) >0.9(severely low)

Regarding symptoms (over the last three years): I feel this burning sensation, a heat in my muscles (even though my body temperature is normal), slight swelling—mostly in the back of my neck, above my knees, and above my elbows—and a general sense of fatigue. I haven't been taking any medications or other treatments.

Thanks!

SS-A levels are elevated in Sjögren's syndrome and S&P Global. Advanced immunology.

Grace Lee44 said:I’m starting this thread because I need to vent. I've been dealing with back pain for a few years now, and I just keep putting off seeing a doctor. I’m relatively new here in Washington, D.C., and I haven't quite figured out how everything works yet—not that I’m great with doctors anyway. I honestly don't even know if I'm looking at the right medical specialty 😁).

Which specialist should I actually see? Should I head to a specific hospital or a local clinic? How do I even make an appointment, what's the wait time like, and do I definitely need a referral from a primary care physician? Is the process still the same as what was mentioned on the previous page, or has the system changed recently? I'm assuming I'll need a full spinal workup, X-rays, and maybe even a foot exam too.

First things first: you have to go through your primary care doctor. From there, they'll send you to a neurologist or a physiatrist.

Hannah Alvarez52 said:Can someone please explain what this lab result actually means and what kind of implications we're looking at?

My anti-tTG-IgA came back at 228, while the reference range says anything over 20 is positive.

Waiting on an answer here.😕

Whoever owns this lab report has elevated tissue transglutaminase antibodies.
Read the very first post.

restlesscobra9 said:To be honest, I’ve always had a much stronger craving for salt than for sugar, but lately, that urge for something salty has become almost overwhelming. It gets to the point where if a craving hits me in the middle of the night, I’m prepared to drive across town just to find something savory.🤣
Since I’m dealing with frequent digestive issues, it feels like I’m constantly losing electrolytes through my system,🤷 so I end up drinking a massive amount of water.
On the flip side, it feels a bit counterintuitive because I struggle with hypoglycemia quite often, yet I almost never feel the need to reach for sweets.😕
There have been nights where, if I haven't eaten anything for dinner, I’ll wake up drenched in a cold sweat, shaking and feeling completely drained. It’s like I only have a tiny two or three-minute window before I actually collapse before I can get some glucose into my system. Once I do, the relief is instant.
I’m trying to wrap my head around how this connection between salt and sugar works, because to me, these two sensations seem to be pulling in opposite directions. Does anyone know what kind of blood work or specific tests I should ask my doctor for to figure this out?

First thing you need to do is see a primary care physician and get a full biochemistry panel done.
Then, have them refer you to a specialist, either a nephrologist or an endocrinologist.
It would be wise to run a lipid panel, CRP, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and check your Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Chloride, AST, ALT, GGT, creatinine, insulin, urea, and urates.
You also really need to check aldosterone (serum/urine), ACTH, cortisol, plasma renin activity, and get a renal ultrasound specifically looking at the adrenal glands—maybe even a CT scan if needed. Don't forget a 24-hour urine collection.

wanderinghawk22 said:I’m looking for some advice here. Any takers?A few months back, I got hit with this nasty virus that absolutely leveled me. I spent an entire week stuck in bed, running a fever anywhere from 99 to 102 degrees. Honestly? I wasn't even complaining at first. It was actually kind of nice to finally stay home, curl up, and binge-watch movies—you know, all that stuff I never have time for when life is actually happening. But my husband? He wouldn't hear of it. He practically kicked me out the door to go see the doctor. Once we got to the clinic, they decided to run blood work for both of us. Everything seemed fine with him, but then the next day, he gets a call from the doctor's office. Get this: they told me I have to go back in three months to get my blood drawn all over again! Meanwhile, his results were perfectly normal. Can you believe the runaround?
I’ve really started questioning what is actually going on with me. My grandmother passed away from leukemia, and Dr. Lang recommended that I stay on top of regular checkups because of it. Honestly? I feel absolutely miserable. There are days when I can barely even pull myself out of bed, but I just keep brushing it off and blaming it on everything else. And let me be clear: I am NOT interested in being poked with needles again anytime soon! To make matters worse, I haven't even sat down with my primary doctor to go over our family medical history. What am I even doing?
Just so we're clear—it’s been three full months now, and I haven't donated even a single drop of blood, yet I feel like I need liters of it just to function.

Advice on what, exactly? You can't just drop a vague question like that and expect a meaningful answer. Give me some context! What are we talking about here? A career move? A legal headache? A bad investment? I’m sitting here ready to weigh in, but I need substance. Don't just throw a hook into the water and wonder why you aren't catching anything. Lay it out. Details matter.
I honestly have no clue what the initial results were, let alone which specific tests they even bothered to run in the first place.
Nobody can force anyone to do anything. Period. But I still don't think Nada was off base when she argued that we need constant monitoring. Besides, I haven't even been told which specific type of leukemia we're dealing with here.
And I honestly don't get why everyone is getting so worked up about not wanting to have blood drawn. Look, if you don't want to do it, that's your call. Period. It's your choice.

dustycrane14 said:Is this urea value actually correct? It says 95, and honestly, that’s exactly why I’m freaking out—it seems way too high.🙄

This has to be a lab error. There is almost no way this result is accurate, especially since it doesn't correlate with the creatinine levels at all. It makes zero sense. You absolutely need to rerun the tests for urea, creatinine, potassium, and urate immediately.

Megan Ross36 said:We headed in there because it was the exact same story just eight days ago. My kid ran a fever of 101.3 one afternoon, and right after that, these little sores started popping up all around her mouth—I’m assuming it was just her immune system taking a hit after that virus. I was desperate for some kind of cream to clear them up, especially since they hadn't budged even after eight days of waiting it out.🤷

Things are finally starting to make sense. Honestly, at this point, I think all we can do is keep a close eye on how this unfolds and run our own checks to make sure nothing gets missed.
WBC, CRP, and the ESR—not to mention just how much I feel like absolute garbage overall.

dustycrane14 said:Good evening!
I’m not entirely sure if this is the right thread for this, but given that I'm staring at my latest blood work results, I figured I’d drop them here:

My mom has her chemo scheduled for next week, and she just finished getting her routine blood work done today—specifically checking her urea and creatinine levels.
I have to say, the results caught me completely off guard. My urea is sitting at a staggering 95 mmol/L, even though my creatinine is only at 110 umol/L. I’m spiraling a bit here—does anyone have any insight? What should my next move be? Is this an immediate red flag that requires action right now, or can I actually afford to hold my breath until I see her doctor this coming Tuesday?
Look, I need to lay this out clearly because the situation is heavy. About two years ago, she underwent surgery to have a stomach cancer tumor removed. Things seemed to be moving in the right direction, but we’ve hit a massive roadblock. Recently, malignant cells were detected in her ascites—that's the fluid buildup in the abdomen—which means the cancer has resurfaced. Because of this development, she’s already been scheduled for...
Chemotherapy. Since urea is directly tied to kidney function, is there actually anything happening to them? Is the kidney taking a hit?

Thank you!
I am seriously concerned.

Is this urea lab result actually written correctly? Does it actually say 9?.5 mmol/L. Look, I’ll be blunt: the data provided here is incredibly thin. Even if I had more to work with, there isn't enough substance here to draw any meaningful conclusions. Without being able to review the full medical history or get a comprehensive look at the entire health profile, anyone trying to make a definitive call is just guessing. It's impossible to say anything significant without the full picture.
We need to get a handle on kidney function—specifically checking that creatinine clearance—but let’s be clear: there is nothing major going on here. We're looking at Stage I renal insufficiency, which isn't exactly a cause for panic just yet.

Megan Ross36 said:Since we already got burned once by giving unnecessary antibiotics, I'm wondering if a doctor would prescribe them based on blood work like this:

WBC 12.9 (5-13)
Gran% 75.1 (30-72)
Mid% 4.3
Lym% 20.6 (15-55)
Gran# 9.7 (1.4-8)
Mid# 0.6
Lym# 2.7 (1.4-5)

RBC 4.62 (4-5)
Hemoglobin 132 (109-138)
Hct 0.383 (0.320-0.404)
MCV 82.9 (73.8-89.4)
MCH 28.6 (24.3-29.2)
MCHC 345 (300-350)
RDW 12.5 (11.9-16.2)
Platelets 288 (150-450)
MPV 7.6 (6.9-11.3)

CRP 11 (0-8)

The child is 7 years old. General condition is good—no coughing, no drooling, throat is red, lymph nodes look okay. Temperature hit 101.3°F yesterday afternoon after taking Tylenol, but hasn't gone back up since.
The pediatrician immediately prescribed Augmentin. Please explain how to distinguish between a viral infection and a bacterial one in cases like this. Would it have been better to send her for a throat swab and redo the blood work in two or three days before jumping straight to antibiotics?

Why did you even go to the pediatrician in the first place?
In my opinion—and full disclaimer, I am NOT a pediatrician and this is just an online forum—there’s no need for antibiotics here, let alone swabs at this stage. If anything was actually happening, you'd see it in a follow-up CBC, CRP, or maybe a urine test.

Olivia Scott86 said:Results are in. If anyone understands this, please explain.

Edit: They removed my entire thyroid about a month ago... if you need any other results, I can type them out.

Thanks 🙂

FT4 1.72 pmol/L
FT3 0.94 pmol/L
TSH 75.47 mU/L
(Reference ranges not provided)
CT Scan: Basic activity in the neck area, no focal accumulation

Pathology report: Thyroid findings: hashimotov.
Material from the left paratracheal node shows reactive changes, no tumor. Material dissected from region II on the right yields about 15 primary nodes up to 2 cm in diameter, all showing reactive changes without tumor. Region IV on the right yields three small reactive lymph nodes without tumor. In the right paratracheal specimen, 10 lymph nodes were found, one containing tumor tissue. In region III on the right, 8 primary nodes were found, one containing tumor tissue.

It tells you everything in two words: hashimotov.

Sean Jones12 said:Someone mentioned muscle weakness earlier. I’ve been fighting a fever for a few days now, along with a runny nose and a scratchy throat, but my lungs feel fine. Last night, they had me on an IV drip just to get my temperature down, but tonight it's spiking again. They even talked about giving me a shot straight into the muscle. Since I've been a heavy smoker for years, they suggested I provide a sputum sample for testing, but I couldn't even do it because I don't have a cough to speak of. Oh, I forgot to mention—my ESR levels came back at 20.

Was I not being clear enough?