2 posts shown.
My hemoglobin levels came back at 140 (within the 119-157 range), and my iron is sitting at 26 (the normal range being 8-30). It is actually quite a relief to see my iron isn't hovering at the bottom of the scale for once, especially following my first pregnancy.
As for the rest of these results, I am somewhat at a loss as to what they signify... though, on a positive note, my kidney function appears to be perfectly fine.
So, my daughter is 13 months old, and I recently decided to stop breastfeeding and pumping because the whole ordeal had become quite exhausting. Initially, I assumed my persistent feelings of depletion and malaise were simply due to that transition, but even a month after weaning, I am still waking up feeling utterly drained. I might manage a little sleep through the night, but during the day, I find myself lacking any semblance of energy; if I attempt something as simple as scrubbing the bathtub, I have to sit down for half an hour just to recover from the sheer exhaustion and shortness of breath.
I went in for some blood work, and for the most part, everything looks fine—my hemoglobin, iron levels, and thyroid hormones are all within range—with the exception of my cholesterol, which is elevated, and some deficiencies in sodium and potassium.
The specific values are as follows:
-cholesterol: 6.4 (recommended -HDL cholesterol: 1.0 (recommended >1.2)
-LDL cholesterol: 4.8 (recommended -VLDL cholesterol: 0.5 (0.1 - 0.5)
-atherosclerotic index: 5 (1-5)
-sodium: 138 (137-146 )
-potassium: 3.8 ( 3.9-5.1)
-calcium: 2.15 (2.14-2.53 )
What is the best course of action here? Should I be overhaulng my diet specifically to target the cholesterol? I am somewhat concerned about the ratio of good to bad cholesterol. I am 32 years old, a non-smoker, I don't drink, and I am not exactly overweight—perhaps carrying an extra 5 to 10 pounds or so (though I feel as though I am writing a dating profile rather than a health query).
I am not particularly active, nor am I much of a "fruit person," but I do intend to incorporate more fruit into my diet.
Furthermore, does anyone know what I should take to address these slightly low potassium and calcium levels? Would it be better to rely on fruits and vegetables, or should I consider a supplement? And where could such a deficiency originate? Everywhere I read, it suggests that one shouldn't suffer from low potassium or calcium unless there is a significant underlying illness or something far more serious at play.