Posts by vividsailor7

urbanlynx23 said:Yes, exactly—ENT... didn't I mention that? I thought I had! 🙂
Basically, she told me it’s allergic, specifically atopic rhinitis, because my mucous membranes look exactly how they should for that condition. On top of that, the prick testing confirmed I'm allergic to dust mites. My total IgE and specific IgE levels are actually normal, but the prick tests don't lie—dust mites and some preservative. And that makes sense, too, because I break out in a rash whenever I use Nivéa shampoos since they all use that same damn preservative...
The ENT basically told me "that's it," and argued it would be the diagnosis even if the prick tests had come back negative...
Though, I find myself leaning more toward what the pulmonologist said. Honestly, I don't see the point in taking allergy pills (she prescribed Aerius)... I can get behind the two nasal sprays she gave me, since I have localized inflammation, but those tablets feel totally pointless because I don't actually have typical allergy symptoms. Aside from my nose being constantly stuffed up 😁 and running the second I step out into the cold, I've got nothing. No rash, no sneezing, no watery eyes, no shortness of breath—nothing. For the sprays, she put me on Avamys and some Sterimar which isn't even prescription. Frankly, it feels overpriced. The pills are $13, the Sterimar spray is $20, and Avamys is just as bad. We're talking about $160-$57 a month. Thank God I have supplemental insurance, otherwise this would be even more ridiculous. It’s bizarre that there aren't any generics or something with the exact same effect that won't drain my bank account... Don't get me wrong, I will pay for my health, but this feels stupid. There has to be something similar out there that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
I'm just a bit stuck now because the pulmonologist is saying one thing and the ENT is saying another. 🙂

ENT specialists deal with these kinds of lapses in judgment all the time. If I were you, I'd listen to the pulmonologist.
As for the treatment, you could try getting a blue prescription for something like rinolan + Tafen-na.

Maria Fisher46 said:Ma'am,
..............
But why? It’s standard practice for dermatologists to hunt for an underlying inflammatory source when they see allergic, immune, or ID reactions breaking out on the skin—which often includes testing for H. pylori. Or is there some other procedure involved?
..................

Look, I get what you're saying. It makes sense. But I just don't see any actual indication—just "a few stubborn breakouts on the chin"—that justifies an H. pylori test. Seriously. Especially when you consider that roughly 60-70% of the American population is positive for H. pylori or carries the infection. My take on eradicating H. pylori is simple: don't go through the trouble of eradication unless there are clear symptoms present, whether that's gastrointestinal issues or skin conditions like urticaria or rosacea. So if there are no symptoms, why on earth are we even running these tests? That's exactly what's happening here.

ambernomad3 said:............
I am an allergy sufferer—quite severely when it comes to parabens. Right now, the reaction has flared up on my palms and my left wrist, so that could definitely be the culprit. Honestly, these recent numbers have me a little spooked because when I had my iron levels checked just three months ago, everything was perfectly fine.

Thanks so much!

You really ought to see an allergist. My dermatologist isn't giving me a straight answer, but hey, at least we know what's going on.

Kenneth Campbell75 said:Greetings,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice regarding my urinalysis results.

I'm 28 years old and recently went in for a medical screening for work. My bloodwork came back clean, but they're saying my urine results aren't right.

1st Exam (01/12/2012)

2nd Exam (01/13/2012)

3rd Exam (01/30/2012) - I caught a cold that day, but I'm feeling a bit better now.

.....

Did they perform a urine culture?
It would also be a good idea to get a 24-hour urine calcium test.

Chris Kelly50 said:Could someone please interpret these results? I'm 33 weeks pregnant.....

In my opinion, the results look fine.
Perhaps one of the other colleagues here has something to add.

ambernomad3 said:I went in for bloodwork this morning to check my iron levels—which look great—and to test for H. pylori, which came back negative. While I was at it, I decided to run a full CBC just to be safe. One thing that caught my eye and actually has me a bit worried is the eosinophil count; it's sitting at 7.6%, while the lab's reference range tops out at 7%.

White Blood Cells: 6.0 ... 3.4 to 9.7
- Neutrophils 49.9% ... 44 to 72
- Lymphocytes 34.1% .. 20 to 46
- Monocytes 8.1 ... 2 to 12
- eosinophils 7.6% ... up to 7
- Basophils 0.3% ... up to 1
- Neutrophils 3.0 .. 2.06 to 6.49
- Lymphocytes 2.0 ... 1.19 to 3.35
- Monocytes 0.5 ... 0.12 to 0.84
- eosinophils 0.5 ... up to 0.43
RBC 3.94 .. 3.86 to 5.08
Hemoglobin 123 ... 119 to 157
Hematocrit 0.360 .. 0.356 to 0.47
MCV 91.1 ... 83 to 97.2
MCH 31.1 .. 27.4 to 33.9
MCHC 341 .. 320 to 345
RDW 12.4 ... 9 to 15
Platelets 178 ... 158 to 424
MPV - Mean Platelet Volume - 10.5 ... 6.8 to 10.4

Thanks for the help!

High eosinophils can show up if you have allergies.
Are you having any digestive issues?
Everything else looks normal.

Sam Kim12 said:Look, if you aren't absolutely certain about what you're claiming, then please, just stop. I could go on forever regarding Dr. Richter, but honestly, one experience was enough to tell me everything I need to know. My mother might be exaggerating a bit, but the facts speak for themselves: they sent my child home straight from the ER! The kid had a fever of 104 that we simply couldn't break, along with Lkc 4. Then, sure enough, the very next day, the child had to be rushed into emergency hospitalization at the pediatric infectious disease ward due to Adenovirus pneumonia, dehydration, and total exhaustion—even though the little one had been drinking over two liters of fluids! If that isn't enough for anyone to get the point, his sheer lack of professionalism says it all. His communication style is utterly rude, whether he's dealing with people in person or acting out on forums like this. It’s pathetic.

Temperature and CRP levels can absolutely be linked to allergies. They often show up as side effects, and if you're dealing with a food allergy that's actually destroying your intestinal lining, your CRP is going to spike. It’s a direct connection.
You still haven't told me what anyone's actual specialty is! Honestly, I’m putting all my faith in Dr. Sarah and Dr. Boris over at Rebro. They actually take the time to listen to their patients. That’s more than I can say for those other "allergists" out there who just slap a diagnosis on you based on some textbook test results without even looking you in the eye.😉

It’s honestly infuriating how many doctors out there operate. The second they see an Lkc 15 and a CRP of 30 on your labs, they immediately jump to conclusions. They start shouting about bacterial infections like it's some absolute certainty. We all know that's just plain wrong—it isn't always that simple!☕

As far as my medical specialty goes, I'm a gastroenterologist. So, since you're asking, let me settle this once and for all by quoting two specific passages from the standard internal medicine and gastroenterology textbooks.
Anne Hathaway – Chapter 33: Food Allergies
The diagnostic process.
Honestly, these lab results don't carry much diagnostic weight on their own. If you really want to get some useful insight, you should be looking at the lymphocyte and eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood instead. That's where the actual story is.
Boris Vucelić and his team. Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
XII 3 ALLERGIC AND PSEUDOALLERGIC REACTIONS
Branimir Čvorišćec, Asja Stipić-Maraković
4.4 NUTRITIONAL ALLERGIES
The diagnosis.
If you're looking at your lab results, keep an eye out for eosinophilia in your peripheral blood. It's one of those things that can pop up on a standard panel.
Internal Medicine: Dr. Božidar Vrhovac and his team.

It would be great if you could actually tell me where you're getting this information. Are we talking about actual medical textbooks here? Because if you claim to have a more relevant source than that, I’m all ears—just say the word.
As for Richter, I trust him implicitly. If he decided to let you go, believe me, there was a legitimate reason behind it. At the end of the day, how people communicate with you—and more importantly, how they treat you—is entirely up to how you choose to carry yourself.

Aaron Clark5 said:I'll list my iron levels for you—it's at 26, which isn't much higher than the upper limit, but it worries me because I usually struggle to even hit the minimum threshold. As for my sedimentation rate, the normal range is supposed to be 0 to 22, but mine is actually double the maximum allowed. I’ve never had any medical tests done before, and I haven't dealt with any health issues until now, aside from being chronically anemic.

The results look perfectly normal to me.

Ashley Watson said:He’s already dealt with bronchitis twice now. On top of that, they even ran a full battery of allergy tests on him.

Look, in my opinion, those numbers for DOB are looking a little on the low side. Now, don't get me wrong—I’m an internist, not a pediatrician, so you absolutely need to get a specialist's take on this. You really should have a pediatrician weigh in. My suggestion? Supplement the workup with some protein testing and definitely get a follow-up with an allergist or an immunologist just to be safe.

Ashley Watson said:What temperature are you even talking about? He didn't have a fever!

My bad! That was actually meant for Sam Kim12, but it looks like I totally missed the quote on her post.
I’d really appreciate it if the moderator would just step in and fix this once and for all.

Sam Kim12 said:I’d bet my life the cause is some kind of food allergy. I don't know, neongardener6, do you remember? I dealt with the exact same thing with B when he was about a year old. Nobody could figure out what was going on until I finally sat down with an amazing doctor at a Mayo Clinic branch and another specialist over at Mount Sinai. We suspected three specific foods, cut all three out, and boom—the problems vanished. We were dealing with fevers hitting 104+ almost constantly, and sometimes skin rashes too. The doctors at Cleveland Clinic tried telling me it was just insect bites every single time I pointed out that the rash appeared specifically whenever the fever spiked and always in the same spots.

During those high fever episodes, we were frequently hovering around 100-101°F.

And our IgE and CRP levels were through the roof, which is totally standard when you're dealing with food allergies.

EDIT: neongardener6, if these symptoms keep up, demand a referral to a metabolic specialist at Mount Sinai, especially if vomiting or diarrhea starts happening.

Temperature and CRP have absolutely nothing to do with an allergy (you literally have Dr. Richter's answers right there)!!!

Ashley Watson said:serum proteins________________________ref. interval:

Immunoglobulin E - 16 H IU/ml ___________less than 15
Immunoglobulin G - 3.39 L g/l______________3.5-11.8
Immunoglobulin A - 0.11 L g/l______________0.36-1.65
Immunoglobulin M - 0.56 g/l______________0.36-1.04

The child is a year old... what do these low G and A values actually mean? Is it too low, or is it something we can live with?
And since the E is elevated... does that mean it's a sign of an allergic disorder?

Why were these tests even run first??

urbanlynx23 said:thanks 🙂
I’ve gone through all those steps and everything looks fine (meaning the stuff under point 3 🙂).
I have an EGD scheduled for next week...
The hematologist referred me because of this persistent low-grade fever that’s been hanging around for three months. It turns out my IgG antibody titer for CMV is high—it was at 500 AU/ml, while anything over 6 is considered positive. My IgM antibodies are normal, so my pulmonologist suggested that might be why I've been running this fever for so long. But then the hematologist tells me there's no treatment needed because antiviral therapy is only reserved for severe cases, and apparently, everything else is perfectly fine except for this damn subfebrile temperature....
And now, I've started noticing the fever actually dropping. Out of 7 or 8 times I check it, I can catch it falling maybe twice now. So my pulmonologist is asking if I'm even "subfebrile" anymore if the temperature is actually coming down?
On top of that, it turns out I have allergic rhinitis, even though my RIST and RAST levels aren't elevated and my nasal swab for eosinophils came back normal. My doctor claims I still have it—she calls it "atopic" in my case since it lacks the typical lab markers—but she says the changes in my nasal mucosa prove it, so she prescribed some treatment. Since I have a history of dust mite allergies confirmed by prick testing, she insists I treat it with sprays, but my pulmonologist thinks the whole thing is nonsense! He says I need elevated eosinophils in the swab and high RIST/RAST levels to call it an allergy. So, here I am, completely lost 😁 one specialist says one thing, the other says something else entirely 😁

I’m with the pulmonologist on this one. If the IgE, spec.IgE, and prick tests all come back clear, you don't have allergies.
Is it possible that doctor is an ENT instead?

neongardener6 said:There’s no history of allergies in our family. He just had some dermatitis when he was an infant—we had to use Mustela products because his face and eyebrows were covered in crusty patches...

I'll tell you this much: they need to issue a referral for iron testing...

Can anyone tell me if it's actually possible for my child to run a fever every three or four weeks and have it be caused by an allergy? ....

We're all athletes, basically. We deal with dystonia, or rather we used to struggle with hypotonia, and there’s also some degree of cerebral hypoxia involved... staying healthy is absolutely vital so we can keep training...

That’s why I am so incredibly desperate to pin down what is causing these fevers.

An allergy cannot be the cause. Period. If you're asking me what *could* be causing this, I'll give it to you straight: I don't know. You need a comprehensive medical evaluation.

neongardener6 said:Don't go banging your head against a brick wall; you're just going to end up with a massive headache. 😉

IGG 7.03 g/L
IGA 0.54 g/L
IGE 133.40 kIU/L
IGM 0.61 g/L

RBC 4.37 10^12/L
HGB 113 L g/L
HCT 0.339 L L/L
MCV 77.5 L fL
MCH 25.8 L pg
MCHC 332 g/L
RDW 16.3%
PLT 143 10^9/L
MPV 7.7 fL
WBC 10.8 10^9/L
NE% 72.4 H%
LY % 18.8 L%
MO% 8.4 %
EO% 0.4 L%
BA% 0.0 %
NE# 7.9 H 10^9/L
LY# 2.0 10^9/L
MO# 0.9 10^9/L
EO# 0.0 L 10^9/L
BA# 0.0 10^9/L

Is this better?

Well, if we're talking about headaches, it's a little late for that now.😉 Obviously, things look much better this time around.
Does anyone in the family have atopic dermatitis or allergies?
Those mildly elevated neutrophils suggest there was some inflammation present. The immunoglobulins are fine, except for that high IgE which points straight toward an allergy; nothing too crazy here, but it would be worth checking his iron levels.
Everything else looks normal.

neongardener6 said:Can someone please help me make sense of my little boy's lab results? My pediatrician refused to give me any details over the phone, and I am honestly going to lose my mind waiting until her office opens at 4 PM tomorrow.

He was only 6 months old last year and kept running 104-degree fevers almost every single month... and now he’s caught another virus and is back to running a fever. He's 14 months old now.

RBC 4.37
HGB 113
HCT 0.339
MCV 77.5
MCH 25.8
MCHC 332
RDW 16.3

IGG 7.03
IGA 0.54
IGE 133.4
IGM 0.61

Thanks.

This isn't how this works. You need to type out the full results including the units of measurement.
It's the same thing every single time.🙂

Ronald Anderson93 said:A few years back, my father dealt with TB, and about two months ago, he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and fears that the TB had resurfaced. They managed the infection with antibiotics, but the bronchoscopy results were concerning:

" ... dark tumor found in the third bronchial segment on the right side. Pathologists cannot provide a definitive diagnosis regarding the specific type of tumor. I recommend a CT scan of the chest and upper abdomen."

The CT findings:

".....on the right side along the bronchial application, both posterior and anterior segments show solid tissue sporadically interspersed with calcifications of varying sizes, which most likely corresponds to post-specific cicatricial changes. Mildly dilated bronchi and an attracted horizontal interlobar fissure appear to be consequences of the described scarring. Similar changes in extent, location, and appearance are visible in the upper lobe on the left, accompanied by somewhat more pronounced bronchiectasis ...."

Now, as much as I can make sense of this as a layman, the CT report seems to point toward nothing but scar tissue resulting from the old TB, yet the bronchoscopy explicitly flagged a tumor.

The pulmonologist is pushing for surgery, but we are hesitating. He’s 64, and let's face it—complications from a procedure like this are always a massive risk.

Should we pull the trigger on the surgery, or would it be smarter to redo the bronchoscopy or hunt down a second opinion?

Thanks in advance!

It would be incredibly helpful if you could provide the full reports rather than just these snippets.
If I were in your shoes, I'd definitely get that bronchoscopy repeated first.

Hannah Fox said:Thanks so much! But what’s the deal with my red blood cell count?
I dealt with some ovarian and kidney inflammation a while back, and I'm still running to the bathroom constantly—could that be related?

Are you even sure it was a kidney infection?? Do you have an actual lab report or a formal diagnosis from a doctor? Because your red blood cell count looks perfectly normal to me.

Hannah Fox said:Sorry, I was rushing earlier. I'm 17, and I just had some bloodwork done through my primary care physician because my gynecologist is incredibly irresponsible—he didn't even bother doing an exam or ordering labs before telling me to start birth control.
Here are my results; the first number is my value, and the last two are the reference ranges.
red blood cell: 3.90 ---- 4.07-5.42
Hemoglobin: 122 ---118-149
Hematocrit --- 0.376 --- 0.354-0.450
MCV 96.4 --- 76.5-92.1
MCH 31.3 --- 24.3- 31.5
MCHC 324 --- 304-346
PLATELETS 206---178-420
WBC- 7.2 -- 4.4-11.6

Iron: 11.1 --- 6-31
s UIBC 60.2--- 31-72
s TIBC 71.3--- 53-84
s AST 18 -- 14-32
s ALT 10 --- 10-29
s GGT 14 --- 10-24

PROTHROMBIN TIME- INR: 1.02

For macrocytic anemia, the MCV should be over 100, unless the red blood cell count is only very slightly low, in which case everything looks normal.

Hannah Fox said:So, I was hoping for some help. I just had blood drawn at my primary care physician's office for a full CBC, liver function tests, and everything else, but I don't have my follow-up appointment to talk to the doctor for another week. In the meantime, I'm wondering what these results mean regarding how safe it is for me to stay on birth control pills...
My RBC count is low—way below the normal range. What does that even mean? My MCV is high, also above the normal limit. My MCH and MCHC are right on the upper edge of the border, so they are practically elevated too... what does that signify? :S
My S ALT is low, which I assume relates to coagulation...
And honestly, what does my blood work actually look like???

Seriously, did any of you actually bother to read the very first post? Do you honestly think a moderator posts stuff just because they have nothing better to do with their lives? It’s unbelievable. It is stated clearly right there: you MUST read the opening post.
I am completely lost as to what you people are thinking. Fine, here is the protocol for you:
Guidelines for posting questions in the Lab Results - Opinions thread:

To ensure you get the most accurate and precise answers regarding your lab interpretations, we strongly suggest you include the following when transcribing your results:

- Full results - many values cannot be correctly interpreted if they are listed in isolation without the rest of the data.
- Reference ranges - if your report includes reference ranges, please include them. Different labs use different standards, so a number means absolutely nothing without its specific reference range.
- Age - you don't need to give your exact age, but a general range like "early twenties" or "late forties" is vital, as standard values vary significantly across different age groups.
- Reason for testing (your symptoms) - this is the most critical part. No one can 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 underlying health conditions, list them. It provides a much more complete picture.
- Other factors - it's also important to mention if you are pregnant or dealing with similar circumstances, as that heavily influences the readings.

Megan Gray said:We also did lactate from venous blood, plasma carnitine, and serum amino acids, which all came back normal. The first Klan was done pre-op (for testicular surgery), and the others were ordered by the neuropediatrician because of delays in motor development and extremely low muscle tone. Otherwise, the child isn't prone to getting sick.
I haven't even thanked you yet for taking the time to look over these results 🙂

We aren't going to get anywhere like this.☕
1. List every single one of his diagnoses.
2. So, in addition to those previous tests you mentioned, are these the only ones you've actually had done?
The way you're presenting this makes zero sense—you're doing everything except what's actually necessary.
And unless it's some big secret, which hospital is managing this child's care?

ruggedtrucker said:Hey there,

I'm new to Washington, D.C. and I'm completely lost. I need to get some bloodwork done—specifically testing for copper and ceruloplasmin—and I have no idea where to go.

Can anyone help me out? Where can I get blood drawn and what are the hours? I assume any hospital would do it, but where would be the best option?

Thanks

They definitely handle that at Mercy Hospital and Rebro Hospital. I'm not 100% sure if you need an appointment, though I'd bet you do for Rebro Hospital. You can find the lab phone numbers online, so just give them a call and ask.

Susan Booth85 said:Thanks.
So, what’s the typical outlook when dealing with a situation like this?

Since we're looking at a Gleason 4+3, we have to be realistic—that indicates a more aggressive tumor. It is notoriously difficult to give anyone a definitive prognosis, but in my opinion, the outlook leans toward the tougher side.

Megan Gray said:Lactate was at 286 ( Does the whole panel point to something specific? We've already scheduled an appointment with a hematologist.

1. Are there any other lab results you want to share—or maybe some you're holding back?
To be honest, I'm completely lost on who actually ordered these tests and what they were looking for. Specifically, that acid-base status—was it arterial or capillary? I'm assuming capillary, but I don't know. And why on earth was blood drawn first, then again a month later, and now just a week after that? It makes zero sense.