Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Maria Fisher46 said:I agree that deciding where to even begin—what to do versus what to leave alone—is pretty debatable. But honestly? If nothing else, I’d at least double-check those lab results one more time.

Stop the hormones and monitor the D-dimer levels, though I have no clue how long after stopping therapy we should be checking them.

If someone had actually bothered to teach me how to perform a Doppler, and then a patient walked in with random D-dimer readings like that—especially at only 35 years old—I’d check her veins. Honestly, I’d probably do it just to satisfy my own curiosity rather than because I actually expect to find anything, but you can never be too sure (that’s the one thing I know for certain).

Here’s the update straight from the source—I ended up in the ER. The doctor actually had the audacity to ask me why I even bothered testing my D-dimer levels in the first place, which left me completely speechless since I certainly wasn't the one who ordered the labs.
He went on to explain that D-dimer levels can skyrocket during just about any inflammatory state, so we eventually concluded that because I was fighting off a nasty virus (which I'd been battling for five days prior), that was likely the culprit behind the spike.
After running some additional coagulation panels, the internist really rolled up his sleeves and dug in, and sure enough, those D-dimer numbers dropped right back down to the normal range.
Long story short, a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders; it isn't cancer.
He did express some confusion as to why I was prescribed Vitamin D instead of calcium.
He ran the tests, though I hadn't fasted, and since I'd been intentionally loading up on calcium through my diet, my ionized calcium levels looked perfectly fine—even if he did lecture me that it was due to my breakfast and insisted I fast next time.
So, there you have it: for anyone out there staring at an elevated D-dimer result, just know it can be driven incredibly high by a severe viral infection.
Mr. Thank You to everyone for the conversations and the advice.🙂

Betty Sanchez58 said:Basically, for anyone dealing with elevated D-dimers, those levels can spike significantly following a severe viral infection.

🙂

Charles Murphy6, I am glad to hear everything turned out well. 🙂

I appreciate the feedback. I was aware that an infection could cause D-dimer levels to rise, but I didn't realize they could jump that high from a standard virus.

This is a useful data point for my future work.

Mr. Thank You once again for reaching out.

Best regards. 🙂

Let’s be real here—he could have said whatever he wanted. When you're dealing with something where proving the actual cause of a spike is practically impossible, what does it really matter? The bottom line is that the numbers normalized and you didn't end up developing any clinical symptoms. That’s the win. Just don't go getting them tested for no reason moving forward, alright?😉

Susan Sanders59 said:I started noticing health issues in March 2011, right after having my first baby. My right wrist started swelling and hurting pretty badly. That hasn't let up to this day (it’s been over 19 months now). Since then, my fingers on both hands and my left wrist have also started swelling and aching. I deal with morning stiffness, too. About 8–10 months ago, I began feeling terrible pain in my right heel after sitting for a long time or after sleeping. Also, about 6 months ago, white spots (depigmented areas) appeared around my fingernails, and they’ve spread slightly since then.
My primary care doctor initially suspected rheumatoid arthritis and sent me for testing. Since then, I've gone through a mountain of tests, but nothing has yielded any clear results—nothing points to a specific disease.

First, I was sent to a physiatrist who ordered blood work. My sedimentation rate was high (35), and my hemoglobin (116) and hematocrit (0.337) were low, though everything else was within normal limits. My CRP was elevated at 10.8. An X-ray of my wrist came back normal.
After that, the physiatrist referred me to a rheumatologist.
A week after that CRP test, I repeated it and it was still elevated (7), while my ASL, WR, and Latex RF were all negative.
Two weeks after that blood draw, my Alpha 2 globulin was high (10.5), and my gamma globulin was low (13.8).
Six months later, my CRP, WR, ASL, and RF were all negative.
The rheumatologist referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, who requested a follow-up X-ray of my hand and a scintigraphy.

The scintigraphy results showed: On the later static scintigrams, there is more intense radiotracer accumulation in the carpals, almost all the small joints of the hands, the tarsals, certain small joints in both feet, and both knees.

Based on the X-ray, the orthopedist suggested shortening the metacarpal bone by 2.5 mm and reducing the ulnar tilt by about 5 degrees. However, before doing that, he recommends a full rheumatological workup due to suspicion of a rheumatic or other autoimmune disease, along with HLA typing.
My ANA was negative.

The HLA typing results are:

LOCUS HLA-A 3 - 11
LOCUS HLA-Cw NT - NT
LOCUS HLA-B 35 - ND
Bw4👋6 NT - NT
LOCUS HLA-DR 1 - 11
DR 51;52;53 52 - ND
LOCUS HLA-DQ 1 - 3
LOCUS DRB1 NT - NT

NOTE: M16

So, if anyone knows anything, I’d be really grateful. I honestly don't know who else to turn to.

I'll also add these LAC blood test results:

Act. partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (*) 1.1 (0.8 to 1.2)
Act. partial thromboplastin time (APTT) 31 (23 to 32)

APTT(s) mixing study with LAC (*) 29
Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) (*) 1.16 Failure to correct prolonged APTT(s) in the mixing study with LA (ratio >1.37) suggests the presence of LAC.

Could someone please help me interpret this as well? If anyone knows...

Thanks....

Susan Sanders59 said:I should also include my recent blood work regarding LAC:

Current plasma thromboplastin time (PTT) (*) 1.1 (0.8 to 1.2)
Plasma thromboplastin time (PTT) 31 (23 to 32)

PTT(s) mixing test with LA (*) 29
Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) (*) 1.16 Failure to correct prolonged PTT(s) in the LA mixing test with a ratio >1.37 suggests the presence of LAC

Could someone please help me interpret this?

Thanks....

Hello,

It looks like a normal result to me. Essentially, there are no LAC antibodies present. While they can be found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or other related conditions, they aren't always there. Usually, these are linked to thrombosis—blood clot formation.

edit: Given your symptoms and the suggestion to be admitted to the Mayo Clinic, I’d say that sounds like the right move.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:🙂

Charles Murphy6, I am honestly just relieved that everything turned out okay. 🙂

I really appreciate you sharing that feedback. I was well aware that D-dimer levels can spike following an infection, but I truly had no idea they could skyrocket quite this much from a standard viral bug.

It’s a piece of information that I believe will be incredibly useful for my future work.

Once again, I want to say a sincere thank you for reaching out.

Best regards. 🙂

Well, based on how I felt, I'm pretty sure it was a bacterial infection—sinuses, throat, the whole deal—and I suffered through it for five solid days. On the sixth day, I went in to get my dimers checked. At that point, I hadn't even started antibiotics yet. Once the antibiotics kicked in, the dimer levels finally dropped.

Kate Collins67 makes a valid point: the doctor told me there’s no sense in testing them just for the sake of it because when they are that high, it is nearly impossible to determine a baseline. I definitely lucked out that they came down... and frankly, I never want to deal with those tests ever again because the sheer stress they caused me is something I am still recovering from.
Those numbers sent me straight back eight years ago to when I was battling cancer, and of course, I absolutely lost it with fear. What is actually bothering me right now is my calcium levels; the doctor was actually quite frustrated that I hadn't received my supplement yet (one of my teeth even cracked, not to mention my joints are aching), but he couldn't officially document that he wanted me on calcium instead of just Vitamin D—apparently, you aren't supposed to step on a colleague's toes at the same hospital by prescribing what someone else should be handling, so he just gave me the advice verbally... doctors don't want to cause friction with their peers, I suppose... that's just how it works.
That said, I have nothing but praise for him, especially since he actually went above and beyond by calling his own supervisor and consulting with the oncology department on my behalf.
I think he was genuinely moved when I admitted I knew about all this about as much as a cow knows about ballet and that I was absolutely terrified. He was truly compassionate. I'm grateful to him.

Hi there—I have a question regarding some blood work I just received (liver function tests). Here are the results:

Male / 27 years old

Total bilirubin - 9 umol/L. Reference interval: 3 - 20
Aspartate aminotransferase - 37 U/L. Reference interval: 11 - 38
Gamma-glutamyl transferase 50 U/L. Reference interval: 11 - 55
Alkaline phosphatase 58 U/L. Reference interval: 60 - 142

So, everything looks normal to me—except for that last value, which is slightly below the reference range. What does that actually signify?

quietranger152 said:Hey, I have a question about my blood work (liver function tests). Here are the results:

Male / 27 years old

bilirubin, total - 9 umol/L. Reference range: 3 -20
Aspartate aminotransferase - 37 U/L. Reference range: 11 - 38
Gamma glutamyltransferase 50 U/L. Reference range: 11 - 55
Alkaline phosphatase 58 U/L. Reference range: 60 - 142

So everything looks fine except for that last value, which is a bit lower than the reference range. What does that actually mean?

These results are normal.

About a month ago, I had my morning cortisol tested.
1047 (138-689)
Then, after 15 days,
my morning levels were
433.1 (119-618), and my afternoon level was
446.4 (85-460).
The tests were ordered because my cycles have been irregular. I'm wondering what other labs my doctor might want to run, since my gynecologist can't start any treatment until we sort out this cortisol issue. Is it enough that the numbers dropped, even if the afternoon reading ended up higher than the morning one?

frozentinker992 said:About a month ago, I had my morning cortisol checked.
1047 (138-689)
Then, after 15 days,
my morning levels were
433.1 (119-618), and my afternoon level was
446.4 (85-460).
I had these tests because my cycles have been totally irregular. I’m wondering what other tests my doctor should order, because my gynecologist won't even touch therapy until this cortisol situation is sorted out. Is it enough that the levels dropped, even if the afternoon reading ended up higher than the morning one?

First off, you need a solid endocrinology workup and a blood pressure reading.
Then, get a full metabolic panel done—blood glucose, creatinine, urea, urate, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, lipid profile...
You also need ACTH, a repeat cortisol test, a 24-hour urine cortisol test, LH, FSH, testosterone, prolactin, progesterone, estradiol, and DHEA.
Don't forget the 24-hour urinary potassium and sodium tests.
Any further targeted testing will depend entirely on those initial results.

Hello there,

Could someone please help me make sense of this pathology report?

DESCRIPTION
The gallbladder measures 7.5x2x2cm, with walls showing streaks of scarring tissue and mononuclear infiltrates. The mucosa is hyperplastic.

PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS
Chronic cholecystitis. ICD code K81.1

Is this considered a normal finding, or should I be concerned?

Thank you😉

Just how bad is this situation? I am only listing the values that fall outside the standard reference ranges:

hemoglobin 112 (ref. 119-157)
MCV 82 (ref. 83-97.2)
MCH 25.8 (ref. 27.4-33.9)
MCHC 314 (ref. 320-345)
hematocrit 0.356 (ref. 0.356-0.470)

Furthermore, both anisocytosis and hypochromia came back positive.

My doctor prescribed Heferol, but after doing a bit of digging online, I find myself feeling somewhat apprehensive about actually starting the treatment.🙂

Nancy Mendoza17 said:Best regards,

Can someone explain this pathology report to me?

DESCRIPTION
Gallbladder measuring 7.5x2x2cm. The wall shows streaks of scarring and mononuclear infiltrates. Hyperplastic mucosa.

PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS
Chronic cholecystitis. K 81.1

Is this a clean result or not?

Thanks😉

Hello,

Microscopic analysis indicates long-term inflammation within the gallbladder wall. In most cases, this is accompanied by gallstones—though not exclusively, and stones aren't necessarily the primary driver of the inflammation itself. The mechanism here is likely prolonged irritation from supersaturated bile or repeated bouts of acute inflammation, which causes the gallbladder wall to thicken and become permeated with fibrous tissue.

This finding is standard for anyone who has dealt with prior gallbladder issues. It’s frequently seen alongside stones; it is considered the most common gallbladder ailment and isn't typically a cause for alarm.

Best regards. 🙂

Rebecca Myers38 said:How bad are these numbers? (I’m just listing what falls outside the normal range):

hemoglobin 112 (ref. 119-157)
MCV 82 (ref. 83-97.2)
MCH 25.8 (ref. 27.4-33.9)
MCHC 314 (ref. 320-345)
hematocrit 0.356 (ref. 0.356-0.470)

The results also show anisocytosis and hypochromia.

My doctor prescribed Heferol, but after doing a little digging online, I'm feeling a bit hesitant about starting it.🙂

Hi there,

Based on the specific data you provided, it looks like you're dealing with anemia—likely a mild case. The slightly lower red blood cell volume combined with their paleness suggests this is almost certainly iron deficiency anemia.

If you don't mind me asking, how are your menstrual cycles? What does your typical diet look like—are you following any specific regimens, or do you eat meat? Has your doctor identified the underlying cause of the anemia yet?

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

Based on the specific portion of the lab results you provided, one could reasonably conclude that you are anemic; specifically, it appears to be a mild case where the red blood cell volume is slightly reduced, and their paleness suggests this is indeed iron-deficiency anemia.

If I may be so bold as to ask, what is the nature of your menstrual cycle? Furthermore, how would you describe your diet—are you following any particular nutritional regimen, and do you consume meat? Has a definitive cause for this anemia actually been established yet?

My periods are standard, perhaps a bit heavier during the first two days, but nothing out of the ordinary.🙂 I am a vegetarian (lacto-ovo).
In the past, my hemoglobin levels have frequently hovered at the very bottom of the acceptable range, yet I have never required medication, nor has my doctor ever bothered to suggest any treatment.
As for the root cause of the anemia, I can only assume it stems from an insufficient intake of iron through my diet.🤷

Maria Fisher46 said:Hello there,

Microscopic analysis revealed that what we were looking at was chronic inflammation of the gallbladder wall. In most instances, this occurs alongside gallstones—though not exclusively, and it doesn't necessarily seem like the stones are the primary driver behind the inflammation itself. The likely mechanism here involves prolonged irritation caused by supersaturated bile or perhaps repeated episodes of acute inflammation, which eventually leads to the gallbladder wall thickening and becoming infiltrated with fibrous tissue.

This kind of finding is actually quite expected in someone who has dealt with previous gallbladder issues. Most of the time, it’s associated with stones, which is considered the most common gallbladder ailment, so I suppose there really isn't any reason for concern here.

Best regards. 🙂

Thank you so much for the response. 🙂

So, it sounds like we're talking about that same inflammation you mentioned, paired with those 70 little stones that the surgeon kindly handed over to me. 😁

Hey, looking for some thoughts here... just got some blood work back for a 30-year-old female
Ca 2.53
P 0.96
K 4.9
Still waiting on the PTH results, so I don't have that yet. A week ago, my urine test showed some oxalates at 1-2, and I've been dealing with kidney stones and UTIs lately, so that's why I'm getting this checked out. Thanks

Rebecca Myers38 said:my periods are standard—a bit heavier during the first two days, but nothing extreme🙂 I’m a vegetarian (lacto-ovo)
My hemoglobin has always hovered near the low end of the scale, but I’ve never needed medication and my doctor hasn't suggested anything.
As for why I'm anemic, it's probably just a lack of iron in my diet.🤷

Hello,

Pinpointing the exact cause of anemia is essential. It is a reality that vegetarians face a higher risk of iron deficiency.

However, true anemia—marked by a drop in hemoglobin—usually requires more than just dietary choices; there is typically an underlying factor. In women, heavy menstrual cycles are often the culprit, though other causes exist that need to be clarified.

A thorough medical history is required here. One would need to look at specific dietary habits, meal frequency, and get a clearer picture of your menstrual cycle. We also have to consider things like previous pregnancies, family history, and age to determine why this is happening.

Only once the root cause is identified should treatment begin using iron supplements, such as Heferol.

Best regards. 🙂

Quick question: can having the flu mess with my lab results if I'm prepping for surgery? Specifically, does taking stuff like Tylolhot change anything?
Thanks