Posts by vividsailor7

hollowcanyon56 said:The local Mayo Clinic is my closest option.
You can get it done there... 🤷

I honestly feel pretty pathetic even asking questions like this... sorry... 😁

It isn't free.
You could go to Holy Spirit Catholic Church, for instance.

Paul Newman52 said:Woke up this morning with some weird stomach pains—honestly thought it was just those cheese curls I crushed last night....

Hit the bathroom, and yeah, things were solid but definitely not normal, plus I still felt pretty crappy
About five minutes later, the first wave of diarrhea hit. Stomach is still killing me.

Grabbed some Medtronic and dissolved one tablet in a little bit of cold water (looked disgusting, but I downed it anyway)

Since then, I've had this constant burping sensation. Ended up back on the toilet twice more with more watery stools

Roughly thirty minutes after the Medtronic, I threw up some black liquid. Felt instant relief, but my stomach is still aching, though I haven't had to run to the bathroom for 2 or 3 hours now.

I’m definitely thinking about taking another one, but can I just swallow the pill with water? Or does it absolutely have to be dissolved? That dissolved stuff is hard to get down......

thanks🙂

It sounds like you clearly have infectious gastroenteritis.
You should take the Medtronic three times a day, using 2 to 4 tablets each time—dissolved in water or tea. Most importantly, stick to a strict diet: toast, tea, boiled chicken, or plain broth. And for heaven's sake, stay hydrated!
You can also use Linex, but you have to be careful with the timing between the Linex and the activated charcoal. You need to leave at least a 2-hour gap between them.
You need to follow this regimen for at least 3 days.

hollowcanyon56 said:That’s great info, thanks vividsailor7.

But here’s the real kicker: where am I actually supposed to go to get this done?
I realize you might not want to—or even be allowed to—basically "advertise" specific hospitals, but I honestly have no clue where to find a decent lab in NYC to get bloodwork done.
Back home in Des Moines, it's easy; there's basically just one main lab in town... 🤣
but in NYC? I'm totally lost on where to go... 🤷

It really depends on where you're located, so which one is closest to you?

hollowcanyon56 said:I honestly have no clue. It looks like some random routine checkup related to birth control (Yasmin)
writes:
The lab order is for Medical Biochemistry
The preliminary diagnosis is Contraceptive procedures, unspecified
They are asking for fibrinogen

There is absolutely no need to order this.

urbanlynx23 said:Look, I get it—an ultrasound is way more precise—but I’ve already gone twice for one, seeing two different doctors, and neither of them saw a thing! So they told me to just play it safe and check my tumor markers...
They actually did a biopsy during my EGD... and let me tell you, they've done that before too, and it wasn't Celiac, and my antibodies came back negative as well..

My cholesterol is sitting at 6.4, triglycerides at 2.0, and HDL is 1.4.. but here's the kicker: I eat so poorly I shouldn't even have numbers like this....

Whatever, I'm heading back to the gastroenterologist tomorrow. I'm going to demand they redo the EGD since my last one was over a year and eight months ago..

Plus, I've got appointments with an endocrinologist and a hematologist next week, and I'm scheduled for a pituitary MRI and an abdominal ultrasound... because I've been running a low-grade fever for eight weeks straight. I've been coughing non-stop and my chest feels tight, like my lungs actually ache. I had a chest X-ray this week and there's no pneumonia, so the radiologist told me to see a hematologist and get an abdominal ultrasound. Then my primary care doctor agreed and sent me there too (even though I don't really get it... I honestly thought you could have pneumonia without it showing up on an X-ray, because I was so convinced that was what it was given the constant coughing and that "lung pain." And since I've been coughing for eight weeks now, it's officially a chronic cough. I just don't understand why I wasn't referred to a pulmonologist instead of hematology. I mean, I totally get why I need the hematologist, but why no pulmonologist? I assumed an X-ray might miss some inflammation, but apparently, I clearly failed biology class..
And I'm seeing the endocrinologist because my cortisol, testosterone, and prolactin are all elevated, which is why I'm getting that pituitary MRI

1. I have no idea why they're sending you to a hematologist.
2. That cholesterol level isn't a crisis, but it definitely needs a closer look with some follow-up testing.
2. My advice? Get that EGD redone.
3. As for your lungs, it wouldn't hurt to get a CBC, CRP, an ANA, and spirometry done.
4. The most important thing is exactly how high those levels actually are.

lonetiger98 said:Look, when I'm strictly following it, sure, there's no diarrhea. But the second I try to eat normally again after three days? It comes right back.🤷

Then you need to stick to the diet for at least a full week!

Melissa Ramirez70 said:So, I mean, it’s really not even that concerning...
Could someone please tell me if mild thrombocytopenia and platelets of unequal size could possibly be linked to a tumor?

Theoretically, I could.

dustylynx said:Is a GGT of 41 actually bad news, or should I be losing sleep over it if the max range says 35?🙂

Read the first post.
Everything looks clean. Results are in, and they're solid.

analogorca33 said:I had a urine culture done—results came back sterile.

That means there’s no infection, yet the symptoms are very much real: frequent urination (there's this intense pressure right before I go, so I have to rush to the bathroom immediately), and this slight stinging sensation in the urethra at the tip of the penis.....

What about the urine sediment results?? Or could it be an STI??

Melissa Ramirez70 said:Look, wiredcanyon2:

(vK) SE - 3 (4-24)
(vk) Erythrocytes 4.35 (3.86-5.08)
(vK) Hemog. - 131 (119-157)
Hematocrit - 0.382 (0.356-0.470)
(k/Erc) MCHC - 343 (320-360)
(k/Erc) MCV - 87.8 (83.0-97.2)
(k/Erc) MCH - 30.1 (27.4-33.9)
(k/Erc) Reticulocytes - 10.0 (5.0-21.6)
(vK) Leukocytes - 6.3 (3.4-9.7)
RDW - 12.500 (9.000-15.000)
Eosinophils - 1.0 (0-7)
Segmented - 68.0 (44-72)
Lymphocytes - 28.0 (20-46)
Monocytes - 3.0 (2-12)

MORPHOLOGY
Platelets - anisocytosis
(vK) Platelets - 128 (158-424)

METABOLITES AND SUBSTRATES
(S) UREA - 4.4 (2.8-8.3)
(S) URINE ACID - 276 (134-337)
(S) T. BILIRUBIN - 12.1 (3.0-20.0)
(S) CREATININE - 91 (63-107)
(S) GLUCOSE - 4.90 (4.40-6.40)

ENZYMES
(S) AST - 13 (8-30)
(S) ALT - 14 (10-36)
(S) GGT - 7 (9-35)
(S) ALP - 46 (54-119)

ELECTROLYTES
Sodium - 141 (137-146)
Potassium - 4.2 (3.9-5.1)

TRACE ELEMENTS
(S) Fe - 19.2 (8.0-30.0)
(S) TIBC - 54.9 (49.0-75.0)
(S)(S) UIBC - 36.0 (26.0-59.0)

And that's it. Thanks!

Aside from some very mild thrombocytopenia and platelets of varying sizes,
Everything looks pretty standard.

ruggedtinker43 said:...
Ugh, what now? I haven't mentioned this to anyone because, frankly, it's an incredibly awkward subject to bring up. Plus, I feel way too young to be dealing with this kind of stuff, which just makes the whole thing even more embarrassing...

What should I do? How do I fix this? Ideally, I'd love to handle it without having to see a doctor, a Proctolog, or whoever else handles this. Just give me some creams, ointments, pills—anything at all :/
Any recommendations?

Thanks!

It’s highly likely you're dealing with constipation, and most probably hemorrhoids too.
You can head to a pharmacy and look for some ointment or similar treatments, like Hemopropin, for example.
The following things are crucial: fix your diet
drink at least 2.5 liters of water a day
maintain good hygiene in the area
get moving more often
stick to a regular bathroom schedule (ideally right after breakfast) instead of rushing off to work or school.
And seriously, go get checked out by a doctor to confirm if they actually are hemorrhoids and to make sure there aren't any complications in the rectum.

lonetiger98 said:Seriously, how on earth can this drag on for almost an entire week?😢

And by the way, are you actually sticking to the diet?

urbanlynx23 said:You didn't predict a single thing. Not one bit.🙂 I really need to learn how to cut the fluff and just get straight to the point.🙂
...

Honestly, she’s acting like some old lady who thinks she knows everything! If you really want to fix that impression, go get a second opinion from another specialist. Seriously.
Look, let’s be real about CA 125—it’s way too vague and honestly doesn't give you enough to go on. If you actually want clarity, an ultrasound is a much better bet.
Don't even think about sliding into my DMs.
The lymphocyte count is right on the borderline. Honestly, if those IEL levels were over 25, we’d actually have something to worry about. At this stage, the only logical next step is to get a PHD from the stomach.
At the end of the day, my gut feeling is that we’re looking at gluten enteropathy—specifically celiac disease.
Look, let’s be real here: there is absolutely no substitute for a biopsy of the colon if you want a definitive answer. Everything else is just guesswork.
And what about those famous numbers you mentioned? Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, uric acid... you said the blood sugar was all normal, but give me the actual breakdown.

Linda Kim30 said:Please analyze:

MPV 11.5 H

Leukocyte high ref interval 0

SE 27 H

RDW 11.9 L

Everything else looks fine.
My doctor told me the elevated leukocytes might just be from a cold, but that was over a month and a half ago.

Do I need treatment or any further testing?

(26 years old, blood work requested by a neurologist due to occasional dizziness and pain in my arms and hands, though the exam didn't show anything suspicious)

Thanks.

Nothing to worry about here.

urbanviper12 said:1. I'm 50 years old.
2. When it hits me, it’s like... I just lose all sense of time, space, and even the people standing right next to me. It's like everything goes dark—I can't see or hear anything at all. Once I start coming back to myself, I find myself mumbling things that don't make much sense, like asking where I am or what day it is; I'm just completely disoriented. The whole thing lasts about 2 to 4 minutes.
3. Neurologically speaking, everything supposedly looks fine. However, I was told I worry too much about everything, so I was referred to a psychiatrist. He thought it would resolve itself and prescribed some meds for anxiety and depression, which I'm still taking (I've gone through three different prescriptions now), but these blackouts haven't lessened one bit. I mentioned this to my doctor, and he just keeps cycling through new medications, but nothing seems to work.
Do you think seeing a psychotherapist might actually help me here?
Or, if you know of a solid neurologist, could you recommend someone so I can go get a second opinion?

Best regards,

Thanks.

Look, since you're saying organic or neurological causes have been ruled out, then we're looking at psychological roots—though, honestly, I'm no neurology expert, so I might be wrong here. To me, this sounds suspiciously like epilepsy.
I'd strongly suggest getting a second opinion, maybe from someone over at Walmart, specifically Dr. S. Bašić.

urbanviper12 said:I was wondering if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction. I feel like I’ve been bouncing from one specialist to another, and honestly, I’m starting to lose hope because none of them have been able to give me any real answers.

To put it simply, I experience these brief moments where I completely lose my sense of time, space, and even the people around me. It’s not constant—it usually only lasts for about two to four minutes during a conversation, which is how my kids and coworkers first started noticing something was off. I’ve gone through the whole gauntlet of testing: neurological exams, blood work, CT scans, EKGs, and EEGs. Everything comes back perfectly normal, at least considering my age. Since nothing changed and the episodes kept happening, I started withdrawing from everyone and fell into a depression. Now I’m actually being treated for that, but the underlying issue hasn't budged, and it’s becoming a really heavy weight to carry.🙂🙂🙂

If anyone has any insight or advice, I would truly appreciate it. Thank you.

1. How old are you?
2. Can you be a bit more descriptive? For instance, do you experience blackouts or vision issues? How is your hearing? Any sensory glitches or sudden outbursts?
3. What was the neurologist's final takeaway?

Austin Jackson55 said:Of course, we can't talk about anything concrete without an actual exam and physical checkup. Still, you guys have been incredibly helpful, and now I can go ahead with all my tests feeling much more composed. Plus, we saved the doctor from a lot of unnecessary clutter. 🙂 Once I get a chance, I'll type out the lab results. Thanks again, everyone!

Don't mention it. Happy to help anytime.

Austin Jackson55 said:First off, thanks for getting back to me.
I’m not an expert, so I can't say for sure if every single thing on that lab order was actually covered—it was a pretty massive list. As a total layman, 🙂 I don't want to misquote anything while I'm still in the dark. Basically, the only things that look out of range are the ones I mentioned before.
The 24-hour urine test includes: total protein 0.108 (0.028 - 0.141)
(s) creatinine 92 (79-125)
(dU) creatinine 11.8 (9-18)
creatinine clearance 89.1 (90-138)
My blood pressure mostly fluctuates between 140/85 and 160/95-100; recently it even hit 180/100. It really varies from day to day. Urination is more frequent during the day.
I'm currently waiting on an abdominal ultrasound, a urine culture + urethral swab for mucous, cytological analysis of NAT and stained vit, and 3X urine cytology.
It was recommended that once everything is finished, I visit a nephrologist.
There aren't any specific kidney issues, cancers, or chronic illnesses in my family history. The only condition that surfaced was oral lichen planus, which my mother developed about 7 years ago. That's the first serious case we've had in the family.
Apologies if any of this info is incomplete. My main concern is knowing whether I need to reach out to my doctor sooner based on these blood results, or if I should just wait calmly until all the testing is done. Since nothing looks life-threateningly alarming, I'm assuming I don't need to see the doctor until the full battery of tests is complete. Thanks.

1. From where I'm sitting (and without being able to see the actual files), I don't think there's any immediate emergency to call the doctor. Just follow the advice you were given—wait until you have the full set of results and then go see the nephrologist, exactly like they suggested.
2. Based on what you've told me, antihypertensive therapy is indicated for you.
3. If you have the time, feel free to type out the rest of the results.

Sandra Jackson79 said:Should I be worried about this? My iron levels have always been low too (though I haven't checked them in my most recent labs), and as a little girl, I used to take Ferumlek and similar supplements all the time to compensate, but as soon as I stop, the results get bad again.

A situation like this isn't cause for alarm.
You really need to check your actual iron stores—get a ferritin test done; that’s the gold standard.
Also, you should rule out GI or gynecological causes for the anemia (like a stool test for bleeding on the GI side, and a pelvic exam on the gyno side).

Charles Alvarez67 said:How could it be "bad" if the result is within the normal range?

Does anyone know what it means if acid phosphatase is a bit low, even though the rest of the CBC looks fine?

I assume you're referring to prostatic acid phosphatase.
An elevated level points toward prostate cancer; a low level doesn't mean anything.
Besides, that isn't a specific method for detecting prostate tumors anyway—PSA is much better.

Sandra Jackson79 said:Zurila headed off to work this morning and only wrote down these specific notes from the side... So, here they are:
Leukocytes at 3.7 (ref range 3.4–9.7).
Erythrocyte level is 4.3 (normal range 3.86–5.08).
Platelet count is 251 (ref range 158-424).
eosinophils 2.2 (0.0-7.0)
Basophils 0.3 (0-1)
I don't have any data for iron, TIBC, or ferritin on my lab results at all. However, my creatinine is 9.46 (ref range 6.8–12.4) and my creatinine clearance is 1.15 (ref range 1.3–2.1). What does this mean—am I looking at microcytic anemia? For the last 10 years, my hemoglobin has consistently stayed below the reference values, even though I don't deal with heavy bleeding. Thanks! 🙂

Let me jump in here for a second.
Microcytic anemia basically means your erythrocytes are smaller than average—you can see that clearly from the MCV levels—and it’s almost always due to an iron deficiency.
Creatinine is looking good, and honestly, all my other labs are coming back normal too.
I strongly suggest getting your Fe, UIBC, and ferritin levels checked.

urbanlynx23 said:So, I just got my PhD endoscopy results back, and here’s the deal: duodenitis. The report says the histological picture shows mild chronic non-specific changes—basically, Grade 1 duodenitis. It sounds like one of those medical terms designed to sound much more intimidating than it actually is, doesn't it? "Mild chronic non-specific changes"... it’s such a vague way of saying, "Yeah, there's some irritation there, but we can't pin it down to one specific cause." It’s frustrating when you're looking for a clear answer and all you get is this clinical, lukewarm description. Still, I guess knowing exactly where the inflammation is helps, even if the "Grade 1" label feels almost underwhelming after the stress of the procedure itself.

I hope I managed to lay everything out more clearly this time.🙂

Here’s what I have left from yesterday.
Regarding this whole chronic small intestine inflammation issue—and I’m only being this blunt because you're a medical student, otherwise I wouldn't bother correcting you so aggressively (if I had to fix everyone's mistakes, I'd have to be on forum 0 twenty-four hours a day)—it’s perfectly normal that you won't find it in Vrhovac's textbook since it simply doesn't exist there. The only mention you'll find is in Vucelić, where it's listed as ulcerative jejunoileitis, but that primarily shows up in celiac disease cases. It's rare. And even rarer is seeing it alongside Crohn's disease specifically localized in the small intestine.
Why on earth was Doxycycline prescribed? I honestly have no clue. My parasitology and bacteriology results came back totally negative, so the whole thing just doesn't add up to me.
Wait, hold on a second. Are you telling me that when they talk about the PHD bulb, there isn't a single mention of eosinophils or mononuclear cells? Seriously? That seems like a massive oversight to me.
This is most likely the fallout from some kind of food sensitivity. Honestly, it’s almost certainly an allergic reaction to something you ate.
Why on earth did you feel the need to go trekking all over Vrhovac like that? You could have just stuck to the GI portion and called it a day.🙂
If they could just sort out the issues with the lungs and that part of the kidney, things would actually start looking up. Just get a standard CBC, CRP, and a complete metabolic panel done—and for heaven's sake, someone actually listen to me! Based on those results, we might also need to get some imaging done on the lungs, like a chest X-ray.
You really need to get a meaningful GI workup done, including potential swabs if necessary. Until that happens, my advice would be to stick with Spasmex plus some NSAIDs.
If I actually called this one, then write it down. Put it in writing.