Posts by vividsailor7

nimblestag112 said:Hi everyone,
So, I'm pregnant (35 weeks along) and just got my urinalysis results back:
appearance: cloudy
color: yellow
protein: positive (+)
glucose: negative
ketones: negative
bilirubin: negative
urobilinogen: negative

Microscopic sediment exam:
epithelial cells: many
leukocytes: 10-12
erythrocytes: 5-6
bacteria: many
mucus: many
salts: phosphates

Can anyone tell me what this means? I am incredibly worried, and my follow-up appointment isn't until next week... Thanks.

Looks like a possible UTI. Get a urine culture done ASAP. Keep an eye on your blood pressure regularly. You need to repeat this test.

Sean Jones12 said:I see everyone on these forums talking about rising creatinine levels and what causes it, but I can't find a single decent explanation for what a specific number actually means. My level came back at 48 umol/L—what does that point to for an adult male? Sorry if this isn't the right subforum for this kind of thing.

It’s nothing. Your results are perfectly fine.

Nancy Rogers58 said:I insisted on getting quantitative testing for my ASLO and RF levels, and here are the results:
ASLO 293 IU/ml (normal range 0-200)
Rheumatoid factor 7 IU/ml (normal range 0-14)
What’s the standard treatment protocol when ASLO is elevated?
If anyone out there has the patience—and better expertise than I do—🙂 please give me some answers!
Thanks.

An elevated ASLO level typically points toward a recent Group A Strep infection.
Treatment usually involves antibiotics like penicillin, amoxicillin, or Penicillin V.
Honestly, though, the number isn't even that high; it just suggests there was an infection present at some point.
It wouldn't hurt to have your thyroid checked too, just to be safe.

Nancy Rogers58 said:Hi everyone, could someone please help me make sense of these lab results? Some values are outside the normal ranges:
Gran% 69.5% (50.0-70.0)
AST (GOT) 39 U/L (Ref up to 37)
ALT (GTP) 47 U/L (Ref up to 40)
Creatinine 46 µmol/L (Ref 53-115)
RF-latex positive
ASO-latex positive
CRP 0.98, and ESR 7/21.
Thanks.

Nancy Rogers58 said:I just went back and read the first post, my apologies! I'm 33 years old. I had these tests done because of muscle pain that lasted for 10 days. I also lost 26 pounds over an 8-month period—not through dieting, just by changing what I eat and doing miles of power walking😲 which is why I decided to get bloodwork done. I stopped taking birth control about a year ago. My thyroid levels (family history of hypothyroidism) were normal 11 months ago. Thanks.

It is painfully obvious you didn't actually read the first post—especially my point about needing to provide the full set of results.
To make it easier for you: CRP, creatinine, and Gran are all within normal limits.

Nicole Fisher5 said:Dr. George, could you please make sense of this for me?!

It’s most likely nothing, but it could be a UTI, which I find unlikely. Maybe just redo the urinalysis.

frozenmaker33 said:First off, thanks for getting back to me.

1. You haven't actually addressed any of the points I brought up.
2. My specialist endocrinologist thinks I need a full workup from a hematologist (since I’m managing Type 2 diabetes).
3. I don't have any digestive issues, and neither does anyone else in my family.
4. Can someone please just tell me what these results are pointing toward?

My bad—I completely forgot to mention what those labs actually indicate.
They point toward macrocytic anemia, which usually stems from a deficiency in Vitamin B12 and/or B9 (folic acid).
Honestly, I'm with the endocrinologist on this one. There isn't much for a general practitioner to do here.
Bottom line: you need to see a hematologist.

frozenmaker33 said:Hey everyone,
I’m feeling pretty stuck regarding my red blood cell counts. This issue has been dragging on forever, and honestly, every new lab report looks just a tiny bit worse than the last.
One doctor is pushing me to see a hematologist, but my primary care physician thinks I'm overreacting and says it isn't necessary.
Here are the numbers from my latest blood work:
RBC 3.64
Hemoglobin 130
Hematocrit 0.368
MCV 101.1
MCH 35.6
MCHC 352
RDW 18.1
HDW 44.5
WBC 10.5
Anisocytosis ++
Macrocytes +++
Hyperchromic erythrocytes +++
Hypochromic erythrocyte ratio 1.6
Polychromasia +++
ferritin 177

Everything else falls within the normal range.
I don't really have any major symptoms, except that I've been feeling absolutely exhausted for months now and occasionally deal with some brief dizzy spells.
I'm trying to figure out what these results actually point to and whether seeing a specialist is actually worth it.
Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

1. Have you done any follow-up tests yet—things like Iron, UIBC, fecal occult blood, B12, Folic Acid, etc.?
2. Which doctor (what kind of specialist) is the one insisting on a hematologist?
3. Is there any history of digestive issues or anything similar running in your family?
4. You definitely need more investigation—see a hematologist first, then let those specific results dictate the next steps.

I don't even know where to begin with this. It’s absolutely infuriating how much energy I have to spend just trying to make sense of these endless discussions. Every single time I log on, it feels like we're circling the same drain, repeating the same arguments without ever actually getting anywhere. It's exhausting! kaže:
It’s that constant, nagging stinging sensation while you're peeing—and even worse, that lingering burn right after you're finished. On top of all that, there's this dull, heavy ache in my abdomen, almost like I have this phantom urge to go again immediately. It's incredibly frustrating.

Then we might as well just make it the USA.

Rachel Gomez81 said:Thanks for the response! 🙂

Wouldn't it be best to just hold off on redoing it until he’s completely finished his course of Prilosec?

So, my thyroid hormone levels and CEA results finally came back the other day, and everything there is sitting right in the normal range. But I’m still staring at this elevated ferritin level. If we rule out the obvious stuff, what else could high ferritin actually be pointing toward? 🤷

Prilosec isn't going to hurt you. And for the record, ferritin is used for anemia—it’s a basic TM marker.

Paul Ramirez59 said:Dr. George, if you could please take a look at these lab results and walk me through what they actually mean?
It’s the exact same story: swelling in the right parotid gland, accompanied by some mild discomfort, but nothing else is going on. I already went in for an ultrasound on those glands, and here is what the report says:
Salivary gland ultrasound results are in: The right parotid gland shows diffuse swelling with lower echogenicity. There are also some intraparenchymal lymph nodes present, measuring up to 15.5mm, which show reactive echomorphology and vascularization. Fortunately, there are no cystic or solid lesions detected within the parotid region.
The rest of the salivary glands—specifically the left parotid, plus the submandibular and sublingual glands—look completely normal on the ultrasound. No significant changes or abnormalities detected there.
The scan shows signs of inflammation around the left parotid gland.
..........................
Can someone please give me some advice? I really need a hand here.

Look, we really need to get this sorted out once and for all, and frankly, there’s only one way to actually settle the matter: we need a proper medical exam. No more guessing games.
So, have those digestive issues finally settled down?

Elizabeth Davis10 said:Dr. George, I would really appreciate it if you could walk me through these results and give me a bit more clarity on what we're looking at here. Thanks in advance!
I’m not taking any thyroid medication right now, but I just got prescribed Concor tablets and some Normable to take as needed—because honestly, my heart feels like it’s about to lose its mind. 😁
Here’s the breakdown from my latest scan results: My thyroid is looking asymmetrical, specifically with an enlarged right lobe. While the radioactive iodine uptake seems relatively even across the rest of the gland, there’s a "cold" nodule sitting right in the lateral part of the bottom two-thirds of that right lobe.
Bottom line: a nodular goiter with a non-functional nodule.

Month 1 hormone levels:
T3 1.68 (1.1-3.1)
T4 112 (60-165)
TSH 0.079 (0.4-4.0)

Month 2 hormone levels:
T3 1.26 (1.1-3.1)
T4 148 (60-165)
TSH 0.021 (0.4-4.0)

It looks like an autoimmune thyroid condition causing hyperthyroidism. Whether or not medication is actually necessary is up to the endocrinologist, but if you ask me? They definitely need to start therapy.

Rachel Gomez81 said:Listen, dear,

thank you so much once again. 🙂

Yes, the unit is µg/L. They ran both iron and TIBC tests; iron came back at 10.6 umol/l (range 8.0-30.0), and TIBC was 59.4 umol/l (range 49.0-75.0).

I’ll definitely make sure to check my ferritin levels once I'm done dealing with ControlCorp.
That said, all this talk has me spiraling down a thyroid rabbit hole. Should ferritin be significantly higher if we're looking at hyperthyroidism?

Thanks again.

The result is just a tiny bit elevated, but honestly, I think it's negligible. For peace of mind, though, you should get it retested.

Nicole Castillo41 said:Hey there. So, I ended up in the hospital getting an IV because of some nasty diarrhea, and while they were at it, they ran a urinalysis. I’ve been dealing with chronic bladder infections forever—it feels like a losing battle. I actually just finished my last dose of an antibiotic nine days ago. Here is what my sediment results look like: leukocytes 3-5
epithelial cells 15-20
transitional epithelial cells 2-3
mucus present
bacteria present
amorphous salts present

Can someone make sense of this for me? Since I was just on antibiotics, I assumed the inflammation wouldn't show up in the sediment, much like how it often doesn't show up in a urine culture if you test just a few days after finishing meds. If these results indicate active inflammation, should I still bother with a urine culture? It mentions bacteria here, but I know those have to be isolated in a culture to count. Or do I need to wait at least two full weeks after the antibiotics clear my system?

Are you experiencing any pain or trouble when you go?

Melissa Perez68 said:DEAR ALL, GOOD DAY!

I have a question regarding my son's blood work results from today. If anyone could help me make sense of some of these discrepancies, I would be incredibly grateful...

I am quite worried about several abnormal values in his blood count. My son is an athlete, 15 years old, and the values falling outside the normal range are as follows:
RBC 4.28, MCV 75.4, HCT 32.3, RDW 13.4, HGB 12.0. I would kindly ask you to explain if I should be concerned (though I suspect his hemoglobin is low), but I don't really understand the rest.
Thank you in advance for your responses. 🤷

He’s iron deficient. Period. You need to get his Iron, UIBC, and potentially ferritin levels checked immediately. Most likely, his doctor will put him on an iron supplement.

Rachel Gomez81 said:We just finished the manometry today. The results should be ready by tomorrow, so I’m going to take this opportunity to bug you guys a little more. 🙂

Could this lead to weight loss?

Thanks so much. Seriously.

It absolutely can cause a loss of appetite, which leads directly to weight loss. Based on what we know, the results point toward jejuno-gastric and duodeno-gastric reflux. It is incredibly important to monitor these patients histologically—for instance, distinguishing between foveolar hyperplasia with hypercellularity versus actual dysplastic cell forms. Histology also shows edema in the lamina propria, elongated and twisted foveolae, and other changes, but with very sparse inflammatory infiltrate. If a stronger inflammatory reaction is found, there is a very high probability of an H. pylori infection.
Once you have those manometry pressure readings in hand, you'll have a much clearer picture of what's actually happening.

Chloe Garcia10 said:My potassium levels always seem to be hovering right at the bottom edge of the normal range. I had some bloodwork done yesterday because I was running a fever, and my potassium came back at 3.52 (the lab range is 3.9-5.1).
Is that considered dangerously low?
Should I start taking supplements, or what's the move?

I’ve also really noticed this heaviness in my legs at night over the last 10 days or so. Maybe that's linked to it.

That result isn't pathological. You just need to step up the intake of potassium-rich foods in your diet.

Rachel Gomez81 said:My apologies. 🙂

Here it is.
..........................
There you go. Much appreciated. 🙂

We are looking at bile reflux here. To get this under control, you really ought to be on an IPP and a prokinetic. You might even need to undergo manometry testing. Everything else I already covered in my previous post.

Rachel Gomez81 said:I need some help interpreting these blood and urine results. 🙂

My mom has lost quite a bit of weight recently, and since she’s been struggling with digestive issues, we started running a battery of tests. They diagnosed her with chronic gastritis along with GERD, and on an X-ray, the doctor noted that her liver appears slightly brighter than it should be. She had gallbladder surgery about 13 years ago to have the gallbladder removed. Sometimes she feels a sharp twinge in her right abdominal area—in my opinion, right where the liver or pancreas would be (?). The blood work finally came back, and the only things outside the normal range are these three enzymes in her urine:

GGT 40 (9-35)
ALP 61 (64-153)
AMS urine 508 (<400)

Are these deviations significant? Are they pointing toward anything worrisome?

Thanks in advance,

Carl Barrett11

Has anyone actually bothered to read the thread title "[MUST READ 1ST POST]"?
Look, just write out or post a photo of the full results, including symptoms, diagnoses, and existing conditions. Period.
Basically, the amylase vs. "intestinal amylase," the ALP is fine, and the GGT isn't a major deal.

driftinglynx52 said:Can someone please help me out here? A few days ago, I had a bout of supraventricular tachycardia just from bending over. It felt like my stomach thudded a couple of times, and then my heart went completely haywire. Before that, I dealt with some acute pharyngitis that left my throat feeling raw and stinging. Following that tachycardia episode, I started getting this tightness in my throat—it feels like I’m trying to swallow thick gum. Every time I swallow, there's this pulling sensation stretching all the way down my esophagus. Now, eating solid food is a struggle because I get this terrifying sensation that a bite is getting stuck in my chest, which is pretty painful. About six months ago, I had an EKG and an endoscopy covering my esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Everything came back fine, except for an elongated stomach. Honestly, I'm terrified to eat because of that sensation, and after reading too much online about esophageal cancer, I'm spiraling. Has anyone else dealt with these exact symptoms? Would doing another endoscopy actually be worth it at this point?

1. How can you be certain it was SVT?
2. Why was the initial gastroduodenal X-ray even ordered in the first place?
3. You need to contact your primary care physician. Based on your clinical symptoms, they will refer you to the right specialist or determine the next steps.

cosmiclynx98 said:Once I get my CRP results back and finish up with the KCC, we’ll finally see what the next steps are. But honestly, I'm mostly wondering—is this kind of thing even normal?
Honestly, we can just completely ignore the blood work results. The idea of just accepting this as some kind of "tolerable norm"? Give me a break. Absolutely not. Since there aren't any other major symptoms popping up—aside from this constant, nagging joint pain and arthritis, which might actually be the root cause of everything else.
Thanks for the help!

It’s just something you have to accept as the new normal.

graniteviper8 said:Hey everyone, I recently noticed some white patches appearing on my skin, and they seem to be spreading. Since I deal with an autoimmune liver condition, there's a chance I might be developing vitiligo. That said, I also have hypothyroidism, which can cause all sorts of skin issues. On top of everything else, my condition leaves me with deficiencies in vitamins D, E, K, and A. I'm wondering who I should talk to about testing for these vitamin deficiencies and what the diagnostic process actually looks like. 🤷

I work at the Mayo Clinic.

cosmiclynx98 said:Thanks for the reply. Here are the full results:
Medical biochemistry:
. ......
We’re going to run more tests for CRP and a CBC, but what do these currently suggest?

If there isn't a major risk for coronary artery disease, I don't see any need to start statins yet. CRP points toward inflammation in the body, while a CBC looks at issues with white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
I’d get those two tests done first, then decide on the next move. Honestly, maybe they just had a nasty cold.

cosmiclynx98 said:She just had her latest labs done because she’s seeing a cardiologist to deal with some blood pressure issues.
Everything in the complete blood count looks normal, aside from high cholesterol (6.5) and those specific values we discussed. (I don't have the lab report right in front of me, but if you need them, I can type everything out tonight)
CRP wasn't tested.

You really ought to redo the KCC and CRP tests before that cardiology appointment. As for the rest, I can give you my take once you've transcribed the full results. Just keep in mind that joint inflammation can definitely drive up your ESR.