Posts by Laura Lopez47

Hi, could someone take a look at these results? They found some bacteria in my nose and throat, so my doctor immediately put me on antibiotics based on the blood work. Honestly, if I can avoid them, I'd rather skip the antibiotics to prevent a fungal infection hitting right after. The links have the labs. Thanks. 🙂
https://postimg.org/image/hpat5ofvp/
https://postimg.org/image/lyfj7z16d/

So, here's the deal... it's not really a blood question, but I'm not sure where else to post this, so if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.
A friend lent me some
deep relief gel because of some muscle pain. I used it, and it wasn't until the second application that I realized the expiration date was back in 2011. Total panic set in. Now what? Is this actually dangerous?

Maria Fisher46 said:It’s not entirely clear why the doctor opted for Doxycycline. Usually, it’s prescribed for atypical pneumonia, certain gynecological issues, STIs, Lyme disease, or a few other specific cases. So, one has to wonder what exactly they're targeting with the Doxycycline in your case.

Your anti-CCP results came back normal. Since that's a marker for rheumatoid arthritis—something you mentioned isn't expected in your situation—it's a good sign.

Based on what you've described, the issue seems centered around your nose or sinuses. It might be worth getting a second opinion from an ENT specialist who focuses specifically on that area; perhaps someone like a top specialist at the Mayo Clinic could offer some clarity.

Regarding immunological testing, aside from checking your immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgM, IgG), I don't think further testing is indicated right now.

Thanks for the reply. I'll look into getting another opinion...
Just let me know what those immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) actually are. Thanks.

Sandra Vaughn50 said:What about nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs? Any specific pathogens identified? Have you had a nasopharyngeal exam to check for enlarged adenoids?
Any history of allergies, given the year-round issues with dust and mites? Also, what were the immunoglobulin levels—any sign of an immune deficiency like IgA?

At first glance, if this were something truly severe, I doubt it would drag on for four years without shifting much or being caught by specific treatment.

I’ve done two rounds of nasopharyngeal swabs for bacteria and fungi... both came back negative. I also had a fiberendoscopy—if that's the right word—and the doctor said everything looked fine, except for some purulent secretion in the upper nasal passage. They removed my adenoids when I was a kid. I haven't checked my IgA, but my IgE was normal. I tried corticosteroids too, but they didn't do a thing.

I don't know if it's dangerous, just exhausting. Every day feels like a cold. Breathing through my nose is nearly impossible, and the constant headaches... it's hard to deal with. It really ruins your quality of life.

Maria Fisher46 said:Since you haven't posted in a while, it might be helpful to briefly recap your current symptoms and specifically what testing you've had done—try to be more detailed than just saying "blood work." With more doctors chiming in on this thread, someone might actually have a useful suggestion for you.

What does the clinical picture of these frequent infections look like? Are we talking severe symptoms that require hospitalization or complications? How often is this happening? Roughly how many times a month are you reaching for antibiotics?

Do you have young children nearby who attend daycare or preschool, or perhaps you work in a field involving small kids?

Constant nasal congestion... mild headaches... discharge ranging from clear to yellow... It’s an everyday thing. No breaks.
I have a 3-year-old son, but he isn't in daycare. I don't work around young children. Saw an ENT; sinus scans were fine, allergy tests came back negative. ENT just calls it non-specific rhinitis.🤦
Antibiotics? Maybe one course every two months. Only when the headaches and fever get unbearable.

Maria Fisher46 said:It looks like you have Hashimoto's. A blood count like this is perfectly expected and will likely stick around for quite a while. Since your absolute lymphocyte count is hovering around 4x10*9/L, I don't see any reason to dig deeper into the lymphocytosis unless you're actually feeling symptomatic—you know, swollen lymph nodes, liver issues, spleen stuff, etc. According to the International Consensus Group for Hematology Review, further testing is only indicated once that lymphocyte count hits 5x10*9/L. Also, your granulocytes aren't actually low; the percentage just looks smaller because there are more lymphocytes present. The absolute count is totally fine.

The next logical question is why the blood work keeps being repeated. Is there an actual reason for that?

Maybe. But you really need a proper internal medicine exam first, especially since you mentioned having blood in your stool and some abdominal and back pain. Besides, lymphocytosis isn't exclusive to autoimmune thyroid issues; it pops up in other autoimmune disorders too.

They'll go, 100%, provided a specialist actually deems the test necessary—and I mean a specialist covered by Medicare, not a private one. If it’s a private specialist, your primary care doctor isn't obligated to write the referral.

Yes, I do have Hashimoto's. It all started three years ago after I gave birth... felt like I was choking in my neck. That's how I realized my thyroid was acting up.

As for the blood work... I get it done constantly because I'm always dealing with sinus infections, colds, viruses, sore throats, etc. My doctor keeps sending me in for labs because of it.
Thanks for the answer.

I’ve posted here before about my blood work... anyway. For two years now, I’ve been seeing these consistent shifts in my results. I have hypothyroidism, by the way. Every single time, my lymphocytes are high and my granulocytes are low. My doctor doesn't seem particularly concerned, which is unsettling since the pattern is identical every time. Should I be pushing for more testing? Here is one set of results; the other six are exactly the same.

WBC 8.9 (3.4-9.71)
RBC 4.31 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin 129 (119-157)
Hematocrit 0.380 (0.356-0.470)
MCV 88.1 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 89.8 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 339 (320-345
Platelets 241 (158-424

Neutrophils 34.6 (44-72) L
Lymphocytes 48.9 (20-46) H
Monocytes 6.5 (2-12)
Eosinophils 7.1 (0-7) H
Basophils 0.7 (0-1)
Luc 2.3 (0.0-4.0)
Neutrophils 3.08 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocytes 4.34 (1.19-3.35) H
Monocytes 0.57 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophils 0.63 (0.00-0.43) H
Basophils 0.06 (0.00-0.06

I'm trying to make sense of these parameters: LUC, LI, and MPXI.
Also, there are two types listed for Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils, and Basophils. Why are they broken down like that? Thanks.

Hello there. Just got my blood work back and wanted to run these numbers by you all for a little clarity... ESR: 2 (4-24) L, Neutrophils: 41% (44-72) L, eosinophils: 7.4% (0-7) H, absolute eosinophils: 0.50 (0.00-0.43) H. Everything else seems fine. I'm a bit concerned about the low sedimentation rate, especially since this pattern has been sticking around for nearly three years now. My levels always seem to fluctuate like this—sometimes the lymphocytes are up, too. Given that this has been my "normal" for three years, should I actually be worried? Is this considered pathological, or should I push for more testing? Thanks.

Can someone explain what
means? For allergies: my total IgE came back at 3.10, while the reference range says up to 100 kU/L

Carl Green said:Hey there.

Does anyone know if insurance covers testing for HPV, gonorrhea, HIV, or hepatitis B and C? Basically, can I get these done without paying out of pocket? 😁

Thanks.

You should probably be able to get a referral from your primary care doctor... or a gynecologist.😉

Hi there. I’ve been feeling some swollen lymph nodes in my neck lately. An ultrasound showed bilateral reactive lymph nodes, with the largest being 16x16mm under the jaw (noticeable hilus). My temperature also tends to hover around 98.6°F quite often. Blood work came back mostly normal, but the differential looks like this:
Neutrophil granulocyte 34 (44-72)
Lymphocytes 48 (20-46)
Monocytes 6.6 (2-12)
Eosinophil granulocyte 7.2 (0-7)
Basophil granulocyte 0.7 (0-1)
Neutrophil granulocyte 3.08 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocytes 4.45 (1.13-3.35)
Eosinophil granulocyte 0.64 (0.00-0.43)
Is this anything to worry about? My primary care physician isn't particularly interested in helping, so I'm stuck doing the legwork myself.