Posts by vividsailor7

feralmason34 said:Thanks, I'll get those other tests done.
Could my current Minocycline prescription mess with these results?

It shouldn't.

William Adams11 said:Hey there,

In my bloodwork (serology), my tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTg-FDA) came back at 139, while anything over 20 is considered positive. My IgA and anti-gliadin antibody levels were within the normal range. Since the primary suspicion—and apparently the only one, according to my gastroenterologist—was celiac disease, I went ahead with an endoscopy. However, the biopsy came back as "Marsh Type 0 according to the Marsh Oberhauber classification," which basically means it's not celiac. What’s eating at me is that my gastroenterologist admitted he has no idea why the FDA was so high. My GP told me to redo the bloodwork in two months, and if the FDA is still positive, he'll refer me to an immunologist. Does anyone have any insight into what this could be? They did mention I have some gastritis; I was taking ABC plus some supplements for a while, which caused diarrhea for a few days before stopping, but my GI doctor insists the gastritis isn't the reason for such high FDA levels. Also, I haven't had diarrhea, heartburn, or vomiting lately, but my stomach makes incredibly loud rumbling noises when I lie down (even long after eating), I occasionally feel a dull ache near my appendix area, and lately, my spleen starts acting up after walking just 20 yards. It's weird because I'm only 21, not some retiree.

First, just post the full EGD, pathology, general biochemistry, and Mayo Clinic results.

Sarah Sanders15 said:Can anyone help me make sense of these urine results?
Everything looks fine except for leukocytes at 2-5
Erythrocytes 1-3
Bacteria 3
Epithelial cells 2
Mucus 3

I had similar results three weeks ago—back then bacteria was 2, leukocytes were 8, and blood was 1.
My doctor prescribed some antibiotics, I finished them, and here we are two weeks later with these results... CRP is 1.1 and everything else is normal except erythrocytes at 4.23
Hemoglobin 103
Hematocrit 0.331
MCHC 311
MCV 78.3
MCH 24.3
RDW 17.2
Leukocytes 8.1
MPV 11.2
The rest of the Mayo Clinic panel looks okay
And it notes:
Mild microcytosis, hypochromia, and anisocytosis

The urine results aren't cause for panic, but you really should get an ultrasound.
Also, you need to address that anemia with iron supplementation.

Robert Brown2 said:Does an intestinal blockage happen out of nowhere, meaning right before the obvious symptoms kick in, or is this the kind of thing that builds up over months or even years?

Does anyone here actually have an answer to this?

It’s usually sudden.
Some causes include inflammation, metabolic issues—think things like myxedema, diabetic comas, electrolyte imbalances—as well as post-surgical complications, tumors, and so on.

copperpuma62 said:Does anyone know why my 24-hour urine test for microalbumin shows "no portion"??

You probably just didn't turn in the sample.

feralmason34 said:Here are the results from the first CBC;
eosinophilic granulocytes 14.9, ref. 0-7
basophilic granulocytes 0.4, ref. 0-1

Since I went to a different facility for the follow-up, the results don't look exactly the same, so I'll transcribe all the values here too;
granulocytes 7.7, ref. 2.06-6.49
lymphocytes 1.0, ref. 1.19-3.35
monocytes 0.4, ref. 0.12-0.84
granulocytes 85, ref. 32-68
lymphocytes 11, ref. 20-46
monocytes 4, ref. 2-12

The first one was done 8 days before the second set of results.

In the second CBC, there's no eosinophils listed in the differential, whereas in the first one, they were definitely high.
The urinalysis is normal, and regarding further testing, they could still run an IgE or a Duncker test along with stool samples, or perhaps more workup after checking the follow-up CBC/differential.

Nicole Long7 said:Hi,
my sister (15 years old) has anemia. Her first blood draw was back in February, and her iron level was 2.1 with slightly low hemoglobin. She was prescribed 100 mg of Ferrous supplements and took them for one month. She had blood drawn again yesterday, and here are the results:
there are 6-8 leukocytes in her urine, plus quite a few squamous epithelial cells and bacteria.

She’s been referred to a hematologist, obviously, but I’m wondering if this blood work could be due to the iron levels? Also, does it matter that she caught a cold two days later? Could that have any impact on the blood count?
Thanks in advance 🙂

One month is far too short to evaluate therapy.
Based on clinical status and medical history, a US ultrasound might be an option.
Consult a hematologist.

Betty Bishop7 said:hi, I have a question—is a Sedimentation of 30 concerning?

Yes and no.

feralmason34 said:I went for my routine physical, and here is what the doctor wrote in the final summary:
-Definitely repeat CBC and CMP. If eosinophilia shows up again, first run a stool test for parasites, then follow therapy based on findings and monitor via CMP.
If the parasite test is negative but eosinophilia persists, more extensive follow-up is needed (allergies, pulmonology, hematology).
-Do a urine culture; if positive, treat based on antibiotic sensitivity. Monitor urine after treatment is finished.

Now, I don't know if it matters that I had the exam just a few days before my period started, but here are my problematic values from the physical:

eosinophilic granulocytes 14.9, ref 0-7
MCHC 347, ref 320-345
MPV 10.9, ref. 6.8-10.4

About 15 days later, I did a urine culture and the results say:

Microbiological examination results
Leukocyte esterase test: negative
Nitrite test: negative
Sediment: no leukocytes
Culture:
Sterile

Ten days after the checkup, I had blood drawn again, and here are the values from that report that fall outside the reference ranges:

Hemoglobin 117, ref. 119-157
Granulocytes 7.7, ref. 2.06-6.49
Hematocrit 0.35, ref. 0.356-0.470
Granulocytes 7.7, ref. 2.06-6.49
Lymphocytes 1.0, ref. 1.19-3.35
Granulocytes 85, ref. 32-68
Lymphocytes 11, ref. 20-46

Please, I just need an opinion—is everything okay with these results, or do I need to follow up on something else?
Thanks

Post the initial Mayo Clinic labs and the follow-up ones.

Joseph Davis13 said:Is this dangerous? Here is the rest of the data from the report:

total protein 72

albumin 51

glucose 4.4

bilirubin 44.3 on the last result

What are the chances that these results can actually tell me whether I have this disease or not?

Read the first post.

hollowmoose75 said:Hi,
About 10 days ago, I had surgery. Because I was urinating constantly in the ICU, the nurses put in a urinary catheter (incorrectly), and they had to take it out after 2 hours because my bladder was full but nothing was coming through the catheter. The whole process was painful, and since then, I’ve had constant burning/stinging along my urethra with frequent urination. Doctors just advised me to drink plenty of fluids, but that hasn't helped so far; in fact, things are getting worse.

I did a urine analysis today, so I would really appreciate it if anyone could help interpret them and let me know if there's any indication for treatment, or if this will just "fix itself"?

MICROSCOPIC SEDIMENTATION ANALYSIS
Erc: 1 (0-2(x400))
Granular casts: 0
Hyaline casts: 0
Mucus: significant (0(x400))
Fungi: 0
WBC: 5 (0-(x400))
Bacteria: significant (0x400)
Old squamous epithelial cells: 7 (0-1(x400))
Crystals: 0
Salts: 0

It is absolutely essential to run a UK + ABG. You cannot just jump into empirical therapy—like starting Cipro or Xanax—without those results first!

Rebecca Phillips25 said:Listen, I am seriously about to lose my mind here. I need someone—anyone—to help me make sense of this because I am on the verge of a total meltdown. Back in February, I went in for a gynecological exam. To be honest, it wasn't even primarily for gyno issues; I had been dealing with this absolutely relentless bladder infection that had been dragging me through the wringer for two straight months. But I thought to myself, "Hey, why not just get a Pap smear and a full checkup while I'm at it?" I figured maybe there was some connection between this nagging bladder issue and my reproductive health that I was missing. I wanted to rule out the possibility that they were linked.
So, here we go.
Diagnosis: Stage II ovarian cancer.
I just got the pathology results back on that PhD CIS adenocarcinoma papillare mucinosum GI, and honestly, I am absolutely livid at how complicated this all feels. It’s one thing to deal with the uncertainty, but seeing these technical terms thrown around like confetti is enough to make anyone lose their mind. It’s a mess. A complete, clinical mess. You spend days staring at the ceiling waiting for news, and then they hand you a string of medical jargon that sounds more like an incantation than a diagnosis. How are we supposed to process this? One minute you're fine, and the next, you're wading through a sea of "mucinosum" and "papillare" nonsense. It’s exhausting. It’s infuriating. It feels like they’re speaking a different language just to keep us in the dark.
I have a question. Why on earth was I given a Stage II diagnosis if the cancer was only located in my ovaries—or even both of them? It makes zero sense to me. They didn't provide any specific details regarding the second part of that classification either; they just noted that there was some enlargement and a cystic appearance. Everything else—my bladder, uterus, cervix, intestines, omentum, liver, stomach, lungs, and even the abdominal cytology—came back completely clear with no malignant cells found. So, what gives?
Thanks for the reply.

There is just so much ambiguity here, and frankly, it’s infuriating. You can try to hide behind all the complicated formulas and technical jargon you want, but let's be real: none of it actually clears things up. It's all just noise.
I’m telling you right now: get a second opinion at a major medical center like Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins. Don't just take one doctor's word for it.

ruggedmarlin2 said:Thanks a million for the response!

My mom is almost two weeks out from her surgery—they had to remove her ovaries, uterus, part of her bowel, glands, the peritoneum, the whole works—and now she’s suddenly decided she’s a wellness guru. She’s started diving headfirst into all these "superfood" supplements to "strengthen her system." We’re talking flaxseed oil, beet juice, blueberries, aronia berries... you name it, she's trying it. Then you’ve got some moldy mushrooms and apricot pits tossed into the mix. Just great.Green tea, Vitamin C... yeah, we’ve all heard the drill. It’s all "proven" and "scientifically backed," but honestly? I’m sitting here wondering if it’s actually too soon to be loading up on all that stuff right after such a brutal surgery. Is it even worth it this early in the recovery process?

It’s just too damn early—from birth all the way to death. It's premature.

Brenda Price53 said:? Is it a bad idea if I turn in yesterday's urine sample?

I already prepped everything in the vial, but I don't head out until tomorrow..... ? ITKOOO

Yeah.
You need to use the first morning catch—midstream.

Jose Cruz42 said:I’ve got some kind of allergy going on—honestly, I can't quite pin it down. Basically, whenever my body temperature spikes, I break out in this stinging rash that looks just like nettles all over. I tried taking Xyzal, but it didn't do a damn thing. I play soccer, and as soon as I start warming up during a match, the rash flares up, though it slowly subsides while I keep running. It clears up once I cool down; if I just lie down and relax, it fades away. Aside from the look of it, everything feels fine—my breathing is normal and there’s zero itching, it just looks terrible when it happens. I just want to know what the hell is causing this one massive ?

You really ought to get a full blood panel done first—check your CK, CRP, urea, creatinine, glucose, TSH, anti-TPO, anti-TG, ANCA, ANA, IgE, and maybe even a skin prick test for dust mites and inhalation allergens.
What you actually need is to stay on an antihistamine long-term—daily, month after month...
plus follow a diet free from preservatives and avoid any heavy physical exertion for at least two hours after eating.
Unfortunately, this sounds like a chronic situation.
AVOID these:
1. Canned goods, jarred items, anything in a tin.
2. Tetra Paks, unless it's just plain pasteurized milk (and definitely not chocolate milk or anything flavored like that).
3. Processed deli meats from the grocery store—you can eat meat if you make it yourself, provided there aren't extra preservatives besides salt.
4. Obvious preservatives, like various acids, pepper, Lawry's, or other spice blends—they are all loaded with additives.
5. Store-bought sodas (fizzy or still), fruit juices, or teas (including those tea bags; basically, any colored drink). WATER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!
6. It would be best to bake your own bread, because commercial bakeries are always pumping in additives and preservatives.

analogbison13 said:It’s really not that big of a deal. Just Google Cholinergic Urticaria.

I'm with them on that.

Nicholas Howard4 As follows:
🙂 God, I really hope you’re right about this...

Alright, here it is—I’m going to quote a section from a post that Nicholas Myers put up on this thread back on December 3, 2012 (post #3116):
I am really not in the mood to mess around with this and end up facing something like liver cirrhosis. I think I’m actually going to go ahead and get that HFE gene test done after all. Either way, thanks for the input!

I’d strongly suggest getting a proper gynecological exam and just stop making up illnesses.
And that’s it. Nothing else.
Everything came back perfectly normal. All the results look clean.
Regarding that quoted post—I think I totally missed commenting on it before—but if my memory serves me right, that girl was dealing with elevated iron levels.
Regarding that HFE analysis—specifically looking at the C282Y/C282Y and C282/H63D mutations—we had to foot the entire bill ourselves. There wasn't an ounce of medical justification for insurance to cover it. And honestly? Even if you do find something, it might not even be linked to HFE. You could be looking at a mutation in the transferrin receptor 2 instead. It’s a complete toss-up.
These tests aren't cheap, and they aren't just thrown around randomly—they're ordered based on what each specific patient actually needs.
Cirrhosis isn't just some sudden medical event—it’s a slow, agonizing descent. It's a long, grueling road that leads straight to cirrhosis.

Keith Howard4 As requested by:
Greetings,

Alright, here’s the bottom line: we're dealing with a household member born in '53. They suffered a stroke about two and a half years ago, and since then, things have been rough. Mobility is a major struggle, appetite is practically non-existent, and they're dealing with frequent vomiting. On top of that, they're diabetic. Their medication regimen is heavy—they’re taking pills for blood pressure, heart issues, diabetes, and sleep. Specifically, they're on Glucophage, Norvasc, and similar meds, plus they stay consistent with their vitamins and Plivit total.

Here’s the situation: I’m dealing with someone who is barely eating anything at all. Swallowing is a massive struggle, and they won't touch meat. It’s almost exclusively fruit and sweets—think puddings and pancakes. As for actual cooked food like vegetables or soup? They can't even get it down without immediately throwing up. Since this person is incredibly stubborn and it's an uphill battle just to get them to agree to any kind of hospital treatment, I have to ask: could this be psychological? Is there a mental component driving this? Also, are there any specific pills that can help prevent the vomiting? I’ve attached the three most recent and critical lab results in the links below. What I really need from you all is your take on whether an endoscopy is necessary here.

With all due respect.

http://upload.slike.com/slike/L98ec.jpg

http://upload.slike.com/slike/BTRZ9.jpg

http://upload.slike.com/slike/ybJ6.jpg (By the way, in my previous blood work, both my MCH and MCHC levels were elevated.)

The EGD results point toward erosive antral gastritis and a hiatal hernia, but honestly, neither of those is cause for panic. There’s also no mention of any weight loss, which is a relief.
You could try taking IPP / Acipan at a dosage of 2x20mg. After that, it might be possible to introduce Reglan—but only after consulting with a neurologist, because you have to watch out for extrapyramidal symptoms!
The biochemistry results are mostly within the normal range, with one glaring exception: those elevated liver enzymes. I’ll need to have them retested in about three months once I've stuck to a diabetic-friendly, low-lipid diet—and that’s assuming we get the HbA1c results back to see the full picture.
Is there any kind of correlation between starting metformin/Gluformin or calcium channel blockers like Norvasc and the onset of these issues? And what about the connection to Levodopa?
Further diagnostic workups might involve esophageal manometry.
Nausea can definitely be a side effect of those meds, but there’s actually room to pivot. You could swap out the calcium blocker and the metformin for something else—maybe try Trajenta 5mg once a day or Ramed 2.5mg once a day instead.
You absolutely have to avoid maxing out on NSAIDs and Aspirin at all costs.
He could also try adjusting his diet with Enteral nutrition if he's losing weight while on TT-Glucen or Nutren.
Make sure he stays under the strict supervision of his primary diabetologist and neurologist, as previously arranged.
NOTE: Everything here is being stated without having personally examined the patient or reviewed their clinical status.

Gary Ross6 said:Thanks for getting back to me.

I have a few more questions on my mind.
Do I need to get a full blood panel done before every single phlebotomy session, or is it enough to just check specific markers like hemoglobin and ferritin? Also, how long does a typical draw actually take, what kind of side effects should I expect—like weakness or anything else—and is there any way to estimate how much my ferritin levels will drop per session?
Is Mayo Clinic not a good option?...

At the very least, you really ought to have a CBC done before getting results.
Everything else regarding hemochromatosis is highly individualized, but generally speaking, here is how it works:
A 500 mL dose of whole blood contains roughly 200 to 250 mg of iron, though that depends on your Hgb levels.
Homozygotes carry an excess of 10-20 g of iron, which is why they have to deal with an extended phlebotomy regimen—you're looking at needing to remove 40-80 units of blood.
From clinical experience, most patients can handle one 500 mL unit of whole blood per week, and younger patients might even manage up to three doses a week.
You absolutely need to monitor ferritin levels as well as iron and a CBC.
As a rule, ferritin levels will drop progressively as iron stores are depleted, but transferrin saturation behaves differently (as you work toward reaching normal iron stores).
In patients with uncomplicated hemochromatosis, ferritin levels typically drop by about 30 ng/mL with each unit of blood removed.
Once iron stores hit the lower end of the normal range, ferritin needs to be below 50 ng/mL and transferrin saturation should be at 50 percent.
At that point, most patients only need maintenance phlebotomy every 2-3 months.
The rate at which iron builds back up varies wildly from patient to patient; it’s entirely individual.
So, the fundamental theory is a 500 mL phlebotomy—one unit of whole blood once a week—until the Hct drops below 37 percent.
If a patient can't tolerate the draws or if there are cardiac manifestations, you administer deferoxamine (in Rhode Island, Exjade is listed as a high-cost specialty drug).
It is advisable to perform the following if you haven't already:
An abdominal ultrasound with a focus on the liver,
AFP,
A liver panel (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, total and direct bilirubin),
Fasting glucose/HBA1C,
And a TTE.
Mayo Clinic is perfectly fine.

Grace Castillo13 said:Based on the symptoms, it could be. But honestly, this transferrin saturation is what's really keeping me up at night. Three years ago, it was sitting at 31%. A year ago, it hit 44%. Now? It’s jumped to 48%.
I've been reading that for women who still have their periods, it should never exceed 45%. Anything over that threshold can be a red flag for hemochromatosis.

To me, this is pointing toward a completely different issue in Hematology.

Susan Newman3 said:🙂

Anyone here ever dealt with sacroiliitis? I’m talking full-on hip inflammation—sacroiliac joint issues. My HLA-B 27 came back negative, but I’m dealing with anemia, high fibrinogen, elevated ESR, and CRP levels are also up. Everything is hitting the 100 mark, with fibrinogen at 5. Does anyone actually know what triggers sacroiliitis, especially when you're also dealing with dermatitis herpetiformis (basically Celiac)? All these symptoms—the hip inflammation, the rash, and the gluten enteropathy—all hit me at the exact same time. If anyone knows anything about this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks 🙂

This is all just a giant mess.
You need to lay it out clearly in this order:
Diagnoses
Symptoms
Lab results
Current treatment
And let me tell you right now: don't bother with naturopathy or any of that nonsense. It won't help you, and frankly, it goes against everything we stand for here at PDF Health.

coppermoose42 said:Everything looks pretty much within the normal range, except for this:
My MPV came back at 11.6, which is sitting just above the 10.4 cutoff.
My cholesterol hit 6.84. The limit is 5. Just great.
Triglycerides at 2.26 (limit 1.7). Just great.
UIBC is sitting at 69.2, which is well above the threshold of 59.
TIBC 87.7 (the limit is 75).
Alkaline phosphatase at 37... when the minimum is supposed to be 54. This is just great.
Sodium levels are sitting at 133—well below the minimum threshold of 137.
Total calcium came in at 2.63—just barely crossing that 2.53 threshold.
My T4 levels are sitting right on that razor's edge—just barely low enough to stay under the limit without crossing over into high territory.

Guidelines for posting questions regarding Lab Results & Interpretations:

If you want us to give you actually useful, precise answers regarding your lab results, please do me a favor: when you're typing everything out, make sure to include the following details. Don't just skip them!

Look, I need the complete set of lab results. It’s impossible to make any sense of these numbers if you just throw them at me one by one without the rest of the context. You can't properly interpret individual values when they're isolated like this—you need the full picture to see what's actually going on.
Listen, if you're going to post your lab results here, for heaven's sake, include the reference ranges! If there are reference values listed on your report, write them down. Every single lab uses different standards—they don't all play by the same rules. A number by itself is absolutely meaningless without knowing what that specific lab considers "normal." Don't just drop a raw digit and expect us to guess the context!
Age—look, you don't have to give me your exact birth date or anything, but providing a general ballpark like "early twenties" or "late forties" would be incredibly helpful. We need this because reference ranges aren't one-size-fits-all; what's considered normal for one age group can look completely different for another.
Listen, here is the bottom line: you absolutely have to share the reason why you’re even running these tests in the first place—your actual symptoms. This is the most critical part. Without knowing what's actually going on with you or why your doctor sent you in for these specific screenings, it is nearly impossible for anyone here to give you an accurate interpretation of your results. Context is everything.
Give me a brief rundown of any other health issues you might be dealing with. Seriously, if you have anything else going on, please write it down—it’s the only way to get the full picture.
Also, we really need to make sure people mention if they’re pregnant or dealing with anything related to that. It’s not just a side note—it actually changes how you interpret the lab results. It matters!

neonfalcon99 As specified by:
Maybe this isn't exactly the right thread for this, but does anyone here actually know how to go about getting vitamins or hormones measured?Can you actually get away with just doing a finger prick for blood work?
To put it mildly, I have a massive phobia of getting blood drawn. Honestly, the last time I actually sat through a blood draw was about 18 years ago back in elementary school.

No.

Kenneth Parker10 As requested by:
I've been dealing with this constant itching around my anus, and after having my stool samples tested for Candida, here is exactly what came back:

The native stain came back positive, and the stained preparation? Positive too.

I’ve been looking into *Candida lusitaniae*, and honestly, it’s enough to make anyone lose their mind. It isn't just some run-of-the-mill yeast infection you can handle with over-the-counter stuff from CVS; this is a different beast entirely. We're talking about an opportunistic pathogen that doesn't play around, especially when someone's immune system is already struggling. It’s one of those things that doctors might gloss over, but if you're dealing with it, you know it's anything but minor. It’s aggressive, it’s stubborn, and it really tests your patience when you're trying to figure out why you feel like absolute garbage. Just stay vigilant—this isn't something to take lightly.

5 flucytosine I (MIC = 8.000)
Amphotericin B S (MIC=0.500)
Fluconazole S (MIC = 1.000)
Itrakonazol S (MIC=0.125)
Voriconazole S (MIC=0.060)

Can someone please walk me through these results? I'm trying to make sense of everything here. Also, does anyone actually know anything about this specific fungus? What's the deal with it, and more importantly, how do you even treat it? Thanks.

I’m assuming you don’t have an immunodeficiency issue.
You absolutely need to get a full immunological workup—CBC, CRP, glucose, an HIV test, and immunoglobulin levels including IgA, IgG, and IgM, plus potentially testing T-lymphocyte function.
And don't forget liver and kidney function tests.
Based on this incomplete data regarding your immune status, one might consider Itrac 100-200mg once daily.

Grace Castillo13 said:Here are some of my lab results from five days ago (reference ranges are in parentheses):

Iron 25 (8 - 30)—it’s been closer to 28 or 29 lately.

TIBC 52 (49 - 75)

UIBC 27 (26 - 59)

Ferritin 50 (13 - 150)

Transferrin saturation (calculated by dividing iron by TIBC) comes out to 48%.

Could these numbers point toward hemochromatosis?

I’ve been struggling for a year and a half with crushing fatigue, tinnitus, ligament pain, scanty periods with really thick blood, a dull ache under my right ribs, a feeling like my liver is enlarged, and frequent green stools. Every specialist I've seen says everything looks fine. My period days are actually the best days of the month because that's when I finally feel okay. I'm 38.

First of all, I have no idea where you're getting "hemochromatosis" from; your other labs are perfectly normal, so there is absolutely no mention of hemochromatosis here.

Roger Rodriguez said:Is it normal to still feel this terrible three days after a massive bender?
If I count the first day as the one when the hangover should have hit—right after the drinking session—I felt worse than I ever have in my life. I was vomiting constantly, and even after getting some sleep, I felt barely any better; I tried to eat some soup, but even that came right back up. I basically just spent the whole time trying to survive.
By the second day, things improved somewhat, but the nausea, the shakes, and the panic attacks were still there. I already struggle with anxiety, and alcohol makes it a thousand times worse, but I was able to eat normally then. It wasn't "emergency room" bad, but I definitely didn't feel like myself yet.
Now it’s the third day, and I need to get back to work and function like a normal human being, but I’m still feeling weak, the anxiety hasn't let up, my stomach hurts, I'm exhausted, and I can't even smoke... and I haven't done anything else for three days besides lying around and trying to stay alive.
Just for context, I almost never drink; the last time was six months ago, and before that, I can't even remember. This time, I had several liters of heavy wine, and after just three glasses, I was already stumbling around.
I’m terrified that I’ve actually poisoned myself to the point where my life is at risk, even though people say the most critical window is just a few hours after consuming large amounts.
Is it possible I'm just out of shape because I rarely drink and really overdid it, or am I genuinely making a scene here? I can understand why I'm moving so slowly since I'm completely hungover and half my body is bruised, but I don't understand these other symptoms. I am really scared. 🙂
EDIT: My apologies for reviving such an old thread. 👍

Well, you got exactly what you asked for.

Gary Ross6 said:So, I was recently diagnosed with hemochromatosis—I'm a C282Y homozygote. My primary care physician handed me a referral for a gastroenterologist, so now I'm just sitting around waiting for that appointment to happen.
My ferritin came back at 250 during my last blood work (the standard range is usually 13-150).
I was wondering if anyone else here is dealing with a diagnosis of hemochromatosis, and specifically, which specialists you all see... is it typically a hematologist or a gastroenterologist?
Best,

Honestly, just go with whoever you feel most comfortable with, though they usually do the blood draws over at the daily hematological clinic.
As for a full consultation, I’d suggest heading to Mayo Clinic.

Gary Diaz75 said:So, I just got my first blood test for lamotrigine levels back, and the result shows 12.5 umol/L. Since the therapeutic range is supposedly between 4 and 55, I can't figure out if this is actually fine or if it's way too low?

For context, I'm 21 and currently taking Arvind 150 mg daily.

The lab result itself is fine, but let’s be real: the actual number on the paper matters far less than how the patient is actually feeling clinically.

Donna Nelson71 said:Can someone explain what CRP and ALT mean on these results?

(DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STUDIES, MLD-I.M.)

ALT stands for alanine-aminotransferase, which usually flags liver issues.
CRP is C-reactive protein, essentially a marker for inflammation.

copperlynx22 said:Fresh experiences for those in Washington, D.C.:

- Bloodwork at the local clinic where your primary care doctor is—if you have an internal referral, they can often get results back by the next day.
- Another blood test over at Petrov, specifically at the American Red Cross (for a coagulogram)—you go in, get the blood drawn, and the results usually pop up within a couple of days.
- A chest X-ray at the Lagrange health center; we actually had it done the same day, though they had a sudden opening. We just happened to stumble upon it right then. There are still other places where you can squeeze this in. We had to come back later for the actual report, but it wasn't ready instantly—maybe took 3 or 4 days.
- An EKG at the Heart Station on Drašković—they require you to book an appointment at the counter first, but the wait isn't terrible, maybe about a week. Honestly, you should probably call them ahead of time to see what they tell you.

If they can't get the EKG done in time, or if the results aren't recent enough, they can always redo them at the hospital right before the surgery itself. The same goes for blood tests; those need to be no more than about a week old.
A chest X-ray is good for up to six months.

That’s how it went for my immediate family; we just followed the doctor's orders to the letter.

Actually, you can handle all of this with a single referral, and you can even get everything done in one spot—the hospital.
Coagulation tests can also be done at any hospital; if the primary physician doesn't list general biochemistry, make sure they specify it on a red referral slip.
As for the chest X-ray, I’ve heard from someone that there’s no wait at the Šaringrad or Pulmonary clinics, but who knows if things have changed since then.

Angela Wright said:I was thinking about the EKG; normally, you have to wait quite a while, which was the case when I went in for my surgery. But I got lucky because someone else canceled, so they squeezed me in. I went to the Heart Station in Siget.

At some hospitals, you don't even need an appointment.

nimblepanther14 said:So, I just got back from that meeting today... and honestly, he laid everything out perfectly. He covered every single option, all the potential risks, and even walked through those "what-if" scenarios. Seriously, hats off to him—he really nailed it.
So, they're planning to go in and take out both tumors during a single surgery. One operation to rule them all.
Wait, now I'm curious—it totally slipped my mind to ask...
What are the odds that a Warthin tumor could actually be a byproduct of follicular issues? I mean, is there any chance they just happen to show up independently of one another?
If we're talking about a malignant follicular tumor, what does that actually mean in plain English? My doctor mentioned that it’s spreading into the neck area, but he also said that treating it with radioactive iodine should be fine. Was he just saying that to keep me from panicking?
Wait, if thyroid hormones can spread through the bloodstream or lymph, then why wouldn't follicular tumor cells do the exact same thing? Why wouldn't they just hitch a ride and latch onto something else somewhere else in the body? ...Ugh. Honestly, I’m not even sure I want to know the answer to that. But actually... yeah. I really do.

First off, my deepest condolences regarding your sister.
Warthin tumors are actually BENIGN. They're built entirely from oncocytes—that's all they are!
Within the mitochondria, you'll find lymphocyte follicles.
It is absolutely critical that the tumor is removed entirely; if you leave even a trace behind, you're just asking for a recurrence.
It’s actually quite interesting—the smaller the salivary gland tumor, the higher the likelihood that we're looking at a malignant process. And for the record, this has absolutely nothing to do with the thyroid.
When we're talking about follicular tumors, you absolutely have to make a distinction first: were we dealing with a minimally invasive type, or the widely invasive kind? It’s a massive difference.
Regarding the spread—I already covered that in my very first post. We’re looking at involvement in the lungs, the skeleton, and muscle invasion into the trachea, not to mention the lymph nodes.

Jamie Chase Asks:
Hey there!
Her back was hurting so bad that she went to physical therapy, where she worked up quite a sweat. Then, while walking home and cooling off, she ended up catching pneumonia. On top of all that, she’s dealing with bloating and this nagging discomfort in her lower abdomen. She went in to get her intestines checked out—did a colonoscopy, and they found diverticula. They also did some tests to check for fluid buildup in the body. She’s been taking certain pills and everything. She had imaging done on her stomach and small intestine too, but nothing turned up there. Then she went through ultrasound and a gynecological exam, and still, absolutely nothing. In the middle of all this chaos, they discovered gallstones, so she had surgery for that. Between the X-rays, ultrasounds, and everything else, I’m going to post the images of the findings below. Is there any hope that it hasn't metastasized? And what makes more sense: go straight to surgery to see what's actually happening, or do chemo first and then operate?
Please find the content below.

Are the results definitely pointing toward a tumorous process on the ovary?
I haven't seen the results from the MSCT of her chest and abdomen yet. If she hasn't had that done, she really should.
And we really need to take a look at those pleural effusion puncture results—and don't even get me started on the ascites. We need the full picture.
And don't forget—laparoscopy is also on the table.
Has anyone here actually gone through an EGD/gastroscopy?
Regarding her treatment, she really ought to be taking Fursemide + Aldactone. It’s absolutely critical that the dosages are constantly adjusted and fine-tuned based on her blood pressure readings, along with her potassium and sodium levels. No guesswork here—it has to be precise.

coppermoose42 said:Does anyone know where in NYC I can get tumor markers done? And what’s the procedure if you go through insurance rather than paying out of pocket? Like, what kind of referral do you need to get those markers tested?

Also, does anyone know the best place to get an abdominal ultrasound? How much can you actually see regarding bowel issues via ultrasound? I read that a colonoscopy is usually the final step—that you start with less invasive methods first and then move to a colonoscopy only if necessary...

This is for an older person (early 40s) who is fearing the worst, so we need to find a doctor ASAP. Since they just moved to NYC, we have absolutely no clue where to even start...
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...

First thing you need to do is see a Primary Care Physician. They’ll assess the situation and decide on the next steps.
In this case, the main concern mentioned is a colon tumor. You won't achieve anything by just running markers or getting an ultrasound from a GP; those tests are used by specialists to check for metastases in the liver or lymph nodes.
Because an ultrasound is meant for looking at parenchymal organs.
Markers aren't reliable anyway.