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

analogbison7 said:My former doctor back in Chicago said the exact same thing—just a quick round of therapy and an antibiotic that isn't even the right choice for this. But what can you do? That’s just how the medical system has operated here for over 30 years. Not to mention, she didn't even recognize the bullseye rash. So yeah... if you're going to trust them...

I was thinking about sending my blood work to ArminLabs, but I honestly don't know how reliable they actually are.

Everything else has come back fine so far... except for a Vitamin D deficiency, elevated Bilirubin, and low Ferritin.
I'm waiting on an MRI for my spine before I decide my next move. Either way, it's all just a bunch of nonsense and I am seriously exhausted from dealing with it.

Well, almost everyone at ArminLabs tests positive. They have some weird tests—they might be the "best," but they seem way too sensitive. It's like anyone who ever had mono will end up with positive titers. Personally, I've concluded it's just quackery—though hey, maybe I'm wrong—but I know those "positive" patients end up taking out huge loans for treatments in Germany, using all sorts of alternative stuff, God knows what they're actually being given.

I had similar symptoms—muscle twitching and this constant tingling sensation. After dropping $100 on tests, I was told I just had a psychosomatic disorder, basically chronic anxiety. I'm on antidepressants now, but it hasn't really helped much; I've just learned to live with the symptoms. The fatigue is actually worse. I also had low D3 (only 16).

As far as I can remember, I was never even bitten by a tick, and I don't recall seeing any bullseye rash, yet the symptoms were a 100% match.

I actually have some tiny spots in my white matter... but according to the report, it's within the normal range. With contrast, they say it looks like something from migraines or microcirculation issues. My cervical and lumbar spine have degenerative changes, plus some thoracic kyphosis. Basically, nothing worrisome and nothing requiring treatment.

If you've actually had Borrelia in your system for a few years, your IgG antibodies should be high. But of course, someone will always claim the bacteria is hiding and that it's impossible to detect with any kind of test.

Jacob Lopez51 said:Almost everyone at ArminLabs tested positive. They run these strange tests—maybe they're too sensitive? It seems like anyone who ever had mono would show positive titers. To me, it looks like quackery, though perhaps I’m wrong. I just know those "positive" patients ended up taking out loans to pay for alternative treatments in Germany. Who knows what they were actually being given.

I dealt with similar symptoms—muscle fasciculations and tingling. After spending $100 on labs, I was diagnosed with a psychosomatic disorder, or chronic anxiety. I'm on antidepressants, but it hasn't done much. I've lived with these symptoms for four years now, and the fatigue is even worse. My Vitamin D3 was also low, sitting at only 16.

As far as I can remember, I was never bitten by a tick, nor do I recall seeing a bullseye rash. Yet, the symptoms are a perfect match.

I even have some tiny spots in my brain white matter, though the results are within the normal range. With contrast, they look like something caused by migraines or microcirculation issues. I have degenerative changes in my cervical and lumbar spine, plus some thoracic kyphosis. Generally, nothing concerning enough to warrant treatment.

If you've been carrying Borrelia for a few years, your IgG should be high. But of course, someone will claim the bacteria is hiding and impossible to detect with any test.

Sounds like a vicious cycle. I imagine you went through hell trying to debunk all those suspicions.

My suspicion might not be Borrelia, but I am 90% certain it’s related to a bite. I want to run that more sensitive test as soon as I get back.
Maybe I actually cleared the Borrelia with that antibiotic, but perhaps another infection lingered.
I don't know if anyone takes those ArminLabs tests seriously. Around here, they aren't worth a dime.
When I sent them an inquiry and filled out their questionnaire, the cost came out to about $1,750, even with a 30% discount through an association.

The only other thing I can remember is overdoing it on one specific machine at the gym. An abdominal and back press. I pushed myself way too hard. But I don't know... it's been a year and a half since then, and my mid-back still hurts, right around the shoulder blades. Sometimes it feels like a nerve issue. The sensation travels from the scapula, up to the neck, and into my head.🙂
But there are other symptoms that seem to contradict that.

They performed a CLIA test here, which shows the infection was present. I read everywhere that you have to look at the overall clinical picture. Some people obsess over IgM while others focus on IgG. They have nothing else to offer, acting as if other infections don't even exist.

If I recall correctly... Anne Marie was never even bitten by one; she just inherited the illness through her mother.
And apparently, mosquitoes are supposed to be carriers too.

analogbison7 said:If I recall correctly... Anne Marie was never even bitten—she actually caught the illness through her mother.
And apparently mosquitoes carry it too.

The whole thing feels pretty fishy to me. This Borrelia stuff is huge in the US right now—so many people claim they have it when they actually just have mono, fibromyalgia, or even worse, MS.
Just try to stay positive and don't let this Lyme thing get to you too much... I say that sometimes because once someone starts sorting out their mental health, a ton of symptoms they thought were physical end up being psychological. Good luck.👍

Edward Mitchell50 said:Labs look solid.

Thanks.

By the way, is it actually normal to have mucus showing up in my urine?
The report mentions something about it.

Brandon Brown29 said:Thanks.

By the way, is it normal to have mucus in urine?

Since it mentions something...

If there aren't any urinary symptoms and everything else looks fine, I guess it's normal.

Jacob Lopez51 said:All these results look solid. A Western Blot for Borrelia is a much more definitive and specific test. If you’re getting this done here in the States, I’d suggest using Labcorp; they send samples out to specialized labs, and you can usually get results within four days.

The issue is that you already know you were bitten by a tick and completed treatment. I find it unlikely that reactivated symptoms mimicking neuroborreliosis would just suddenly appear two years later. How did these symptoms actually start? Was it stress or something else?

If we were dealing with neuroborreliosis, there would be visible brain damage and poor imaging results, obviously...

Sir,

I am not entirely sure why you feel qualified to offer diagnostic advice to everyone else posting vague symptoms on this or any other forum based solely on your own experience, but since it hasn't technically violated the rules of this board yet, I will let it slide.

If you are already assuming neuroborreliosis is the culprit, then your advice is fundamentally flawed. You cannot diagnose neuroborreliosis through blood work, an MRI, or an EMG. The only way to confirm that diagnosis is via a lumbar puncture and a comparative analysis of the spinal fluid against the serum.

Furthermore, an MRI doesn't have to show pathology, especially in the early stages of neuroborreliosis. I don't know what gives you the authority to state, "If it were neuroborreliosis, there would be brain damage..."

Please, read some basic guidelines—like these—before you continue playing the role of the Lyme and autoimmune disease guru across this entire forum.

Look, I don't give a damn, but when it comes to this topic, I’m basically the Secretary of Health. You need to find someone with an actual DG Lyme diagnosis who can get you clean EMG and MRI results. Most neurologists won't even bother looking at a spinal tap just because someone suspects a tick messed them up ten years ago—especially when all their tests come back normal.

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone could recommend which specific tests I should run if I'm following a vegan or vegetarian diet. Thanks! 🙂

Hello everyone.

For over eighteen months, I have been dealing with digestive issues. It all started with nausea following alcohol consumption at my high school graduation party. Since I am not a regular drinker, I assumed the alcohol was the culprit. My friends noticed a slight yellowing in my eyes, so I sought medical attention once I returned home to the States. To be specific, the nausea typically hits about an hour after eating, though I haven't been able to pin it down to any particular food group. Some days everything settles fine; other days, it is a struggle. I never actually vomit, but the sensation is incredibly unpleasant. I deal with frequent burping, even on an empty stomach. There is also constant bloating, gas, and occasional pain on the left side of my abdomen near the navel, though that usually passes quickly. Occasionally, I feel a sharp pain in the upper right quadrant, which lasts perhaps two or three minutes before vanishing. My bowel movements fluctuate, but never for more than a few days at a time. Stool color varies between yellowish and sticky or normal. It is unpredictable. What concerns me most, however, is the steady weight loss—roughly 33 pounds over this period. I am 19 years old, standing 6'3", and I don't smoke or drink. My latest diagnosis was IBS-C, but I find that hard to swallow given the continuous weight loss despite maintaining a normal diet and caloric intake.

The lab results I have collected so far: Bilirubin was elevated at 42(7 - 30), but liver enzymes, CBC, endoscopy, and ultrasound were all normal. Hepatitis A was negative, calprotectin was normal. No occult blood, TSH is normal. Celiac testing came back negative. No parasites found in stool. H. pylori is not present.

As you can see, most indicators are within range, yet I am troubled by these specific values from my recent labs:

IgA is low: 0.21 g/L (0.63-4.84)
IgG and IgM are within normal limits.

Alpha-2 globulins are 7% (7.1 - 11.8)
Beta globulins are 8.3% (8.4 - 13.1)
Gamma globulins are 19.2% (11.1 - 18.8)
Albumin and Alpha-1 globulins are normal.

I am posting here, and perhaps on other subreddits, in the hope that someone might offer insight or direction. How does one reconcile these results when almost everything else appears perfectly fine?

Amy Cox79 said:Hi, I'm looking for some advice on which blood tests are worth running if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. Thanks. 🙂

Hello,

What kind of symptoms are you dealing with?

There isn't a single gold standard for recommended testing, but if you're looking to get a systematic overview, start with a CBC, Iron, UIBC, TIBC, Ferritin, Calcium, Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D (25-OH D), total protein, and Albumin.

feralcobra3 said:Hey everyone.

I've been dealing with digestive issues for over a year and a half now. It all kicked off with nausea the morning after drinking at my high school graduation party. Since I’m not much of a drinker, I figured it was just the alcohol. My friends noticed my eyes looked slightly yellow, so I went to see a doctor once I got back home to the States. Essentially, the nausea hits about an hour after eating, though I haven't been able to pin it to any specific food. Some days everything settles fine; other days, it's a struggle. I never actually vomit, but the sensation is incredibly unpleasant. Frequent burping, even on an empty stomach. Then there's the bloating, gas, and occasionally some pain near my navel on the left side, though that usually passes quickly. Occasionally, I get a sharp pain in the upper right quadrant, but that clears up in two or three minutes. My bowel habits fluctuate, but nothing lasts more than a few days. Stools can be yellowish and sticky, though sometimes they look normal. It's inconsistent. What worries me most is the steady weight loss—about 33 pounds over this period. I'm 19, non-smoker, don't drink, etc. I'm 6'3". The latest diagnosis was IBS-C, but I have my doubts given that I'm still losing weight despite eating a normal diet.

My test results so far: Bilirubin was elevated at 42(7 - 30), liver enzymes were normal, CBC was normal, endoscopy was clear, ultrasound was clear... Hepatitis A negative, calprotectin normal. No occult blood, TSH normal. Celiac test was negative. No parasites in stool. Not H. pylori...

As you can see, most things look fine, but these recent values are bothering me:

IgA is low: 0.21 g/L (0.63-4.84)
IgG and Immunoglobulin M are within normal limits

Alpha-2 globulins 7% (7.1 - 11.8)
Beta globulins 8.3% (8.4 - 13.1)
Gamma globulins 19.2% (11.1 - 18.8)
Albumin and Alpha-1 globulins are normal.

I'm posting here and in other subforums hoping someone might offer insight or point me in the right direction, since most of my labs are unremarkable.

Hello,

Was an ESR (sedimentation rate) performed? Regarding the protein, albumin, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, beta, and gamma levels—please provide the absolute values (g/L).

Also, was a biopsy taken during the endoscopy?

Which celiac test was used (tTG IgA)?

The mild jaundice you mentioned could potentially be part of Gilbert's syndrome. As for the slightly low IgA, it shouldn't directly cause your symptoms, but it could cause a false negative on a tTG test.

Maria Fisher46 said:Sir,

Was an ESR test performed? Please provide the absolute values (g/L) for protein, albumin, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, beta, and gamma.

Furthermore, was a biopsy taken during the endoscopy?

Which celiac test was used (tTG IgA)?

The mild jaundice you mentioned could be part of Gilbert's syndrome. Low IgA levels shouldn't directly cause your symptoms, though they might cause a false negative on a tTG test.

Sir,

Thank you for your response. An ESR was not performed. Unfortunately, my results don't list albumin or other protein levels in absolute amounts, only percentages. However, total protein is 80 g/L, so I assume the individual protein percentages are calculated from that. If so, the values are as follows:

Albumin - 49.29 g/L
Alpha-1 globulins - 2.48 g/L
Alpha-2 globulins - 5.6 g/L
Beta globulins - 6.64 g/L
Gamma globulins - 15.36 g/L

No tissue biopsy was taken during the procedure. I assume the doctor didn't deem it necessary since everything appeared "clear as day."

The plan was to run a tTG IgA for celiac disease, but because my IgA levels were low, they ran an anti-DGP IgG antibody test instead. The result was
I had blood drawn today, and there were three abnormal findings:
Bilirubin is 41 µmol/L (normal up to 30)
Conjugated bilirubin is 3.7 µmol/L (normal up to 3)
FDA - 31 U/L (normal up to 27)

AST, ALT, ALP, and kidney function are all normal.

Cholesterol levels - I eat fast food quite frequently, yet my level is only around 20 mg/dL.

It isn't quite a matter of drama, really; rather, you have essentially outlined a practical roadmap toward resolving the issue itself. 😁

Keith Gonzalez said:It isn't actually that dramatic, especially since you've already suggested a step toward fixing the issue. 😁

What about this? My Estradiol levels are sitting right at the upper limit; I don't think most women even have this much Estradiol. I suspect it's due to my body fat, even though I don't carry a massive amount (maybe around 20 lbs).

What do you mean by Estradiol? 😕

Keith Gonzalez said:What do you mean by Estradiol? 😕

Please take a look at the image.

Estradiol is a type of estrogen that significantly impacts male physical traits (for instance, I deal with gynecomastia, extra weight in the midsection, and wider hips).

I am quite familiar with what Estradiol represents. However, looking closely at the image provided, I can see the lipids and the serum albumin, but beyond those specific markers, nothing else is visible to me.🤷

Keith Gonzalez said:I am familiar with what Estradiol is. However, looking at this image, I only see the serum lipids and albumin; I don't see anything else. 🤷

My Estradiol levels came back at 192.8 H.

Here is the second image from the second link.
I have been reviewing my latest lab results, and I must admit, seeing everything laid out like this is somewhat overwhelming. While I try to remain composed, there is a certain level of anxiety that comes with interpreting these numbers on one's own. My Ferritin levels are quite low, which I suspect might be contributing to some of the fatigue I've been experiencing lately. Additionally, my Immunoglobulin M appears to be elevated, and my IgG levels are also showing some unusual patterns. I am also looking at my Bilirubin and Alpha-1 levels, which seem to be outside the standard range. I’ve been wondering if there might be a connection between these findings and Gilbert's syndrome, though I realize I shouldn't jump to conclusions without professional guidance. I am planning to consult with a specialist in Rheumatology to get a more comprehensive understanding of how these pieces fit together. It is a bit daunting to navigate this alone, but I am trying to take it one step at a time.

Does anyone know why we can no longer upload images directly to the forum? It seems like the option has been disabled everywhere.