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

The only way that works is if someone is being incredibly stubborn about it, but even then, it’s really just a minor supplement to a mild amenorrhea.

brightgull95 said:I mean, unless someone is being incredibly stubborn about it, sure, but it’s really just meant to supplement a mild anemia.

Thanks! I actually started taking Ferrum to get my iron levels up, and it only took about 10 days.

Jessica Sanders60 said:RBC 5.27.
Hemoglobin 153
Hematocrit 0.458
MCV 86.9
MCH 29.0
MCHC 334
RDW 13
MPV 10.9
Platelet 270
Leukocytes 13.9
Neutrophils 65.9
Lymphocytes 21.7
Monocytes 9.4
Eosinophils 2.5
Basophils 0.5
Neutrophils 8.64
Lymphocytes 2.84
Monocytes 1.23
Eosinophils 0.33
Basophils 0.06
ESR 2

Total Bilirubin 28
Glucose 6.9
Standard Creatinine 55
Urate 236
Urea 4.3
Iron 28
Everything else looks fine
The RBC, leukocytes, bilirubin, monocytes, neutrophils, and slightly the RBC are elevated here.
It's difficult to transcribe the entire report. I have been getting regular blood work done, and this is the latest one where the hematocrit was normal. My hemoglobin always hovers at the upper limit. My leukocyte count has stayed around 12 my whole life.

Urinalysis results
leukocyte Esteaz 25
erythrocyte hemoglobin 150
leukocyte 8
erythrocyte 10
Squamous epithelial cells: mass
Bacteria: plenty
I’ve had urinalysis done three times over the last three months, and it looked like this every single time. I urinate frequently, but there is no pain, and the urine culture back in the seventh month was sterile.

Ma'am,

Regarding the changes in the blood work: leukocytosis due to neutrophils, along with borderline high hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, can be seen in smokers. Smoking is often cited as one of the most frequent reasons for this specific constellation of blood markers. Since the leukocyte count is above 12 x 10^9/L, I would suggest monitoring the CBC and reacting if the numbers continue to climb. Recheck the CBC in four weeks. It wouldn't hurt to also check CRP, if you haven't already, along with LDH and serum protein/immunoglobulin electrophoresis. I think a peripheral blood smear would also be a good idea.

As for the urinalysis, the presence of many squamous epithelial cells could suggest the sample wasn't collected properly—perhaps due to insufficient cleaning before collection, contact with the skin during the process, or potentially a vaginal infection or contamination.

Thanks so much for the reply.
Let me give you a little more context on why I’ve been running all these tests...
So, basically, I had a C-section a year ago and things went south fast. It got super complicated, and I ended up back in surgery because I had three abscesses right on the edge of sepsis. They ended up removing my appendix during that, and they told me an E. coli infection in my urinary tract was the culprit. They left the wound open for seven days, and I had both a drain and a catheter. Everything seemed fine after that, but then my blood sugar spiked again—something I also dealt with during pregnancy when I was on Heparin and insulin. Right now, I'm on Metformin. Back in my seventh month of pregnancy, I did a urine test because of the sugar issues, and it showed 15 erythrocytes, 4 leukocytes, 15-20 squamous epithelial cells, and amorphous salts.
A week later, I repeated it and it showed 8 erythrocytes, 6 leukocytes, and 10 squamous epithelial cells. Is it actually possible that I messed up the sample three times, or do these numbers mean something? I had an abdominal and renal ultrasound, and both came back totally normal. Now my doctor is sending me for urine cytology since one culture came back sterile.
As for the blood work I posted above, it's usually pretty much the same. My white cell count has been high since I was a kid; sometimes my erythrocytes and hematocrit are slightly elevated too, but my hematocrit has never gone over the limit. My hemoglobin is always normal—never this high and never over the threshold. Do you think it's a big deal that my glucose is at the upper limit? And just as the results came back normal, I had a really heavy period. So, here's what's eating at me... does this microhematuria mean something dangerous? Should I go through with the cytology? Or do another culture? Could it be a kidney stone or just some "sand" that doesn't show up on an ultrasound and doesn't hurt? I'm honestly terrified... maybe I'm just being a bit of a hypochondriac. But could these blood levels point to some kind of kidney or bladder inflammation that isn't showing symptoms yet?
Thanks a million for the help

Just one more thing about that peripheral blood smear... why though? What exactly are you guys looking for?

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

I don't think an IgA value of 3.32 g/L is anything to worry about. It looks normal to me.

Thanks so much

Jessica Sanders60 said:Thanks a lot for the response.
Let me provide a bit more context regarding why I went ahead with all those tests.
A year ago, I had a C-section that turned into a complete nightmare. Complications escalated so quickly that I ended up back in surgery to deal with three abscesses that were right on the edge of sepsis. During that procedure, they actually had to remove my appendix; apparently, an E. coli infection in my urinary tract was the culprit. They left the wound open for seven days, managed with a drain and a catheter. Things stabilized after that, but then my blood sugar spiked again—something I first dealt with during my pregnancy when I was relying on Fragmin and insulin. These days, I'm managing it with Glucophage. Looking back, I did a urine test during my seventh month of pregnancy because of those sugar issues, and the results showed 15 erythrocytes, 4 leukocytes, 15-20 squamous epithelial cells, and some amorphous salts.
A week after repeating the test, I’m seeing the same results: 8 erythrocytes, 6 leukocytes, and 10 platelets/epithelial cells. Is it actually possible to mess up a urine sample three times in a row, or do these numbers actually point to something? My abdominal and urinary tract ultrasounds both came back completely normal. Now, since one urine culture turned out sterile, my doctor is sending me for cytology.
Looking at the blood work posted above, my results are pretty much always in this same ballpark. My white cell count has been elevated since I was a kid; occasionally my red cell count and hematocrit run a bit high, though my hematocrit has never actually crossed the upper limit. My hemoglobin has stayed within the normal range—it’s never been this high before, nor has it ever breached the threshold. Do you think a glucose reading sitting right at the upper limit is a cause for concern? Now that the levels have settled back into the normal range, I just happened to have a particularly heavy period. That brings me to the question weighing on me: does this microhematuria indicate something dangerous? Should I go for urine cytology? Or perhaps a urine culture? Could this be a kidney stone or some grit that doesn't show up on an ultrasound and isn't causing pain? Honestly, I'm scared—maybe a bit of a hypochondriac, too. Is it possible these blood parameters point to a kidney or bladder infection that hasn't started showing symptoms yet?
Much appreciated.

Jessica Sanders60 said:Just one more question regarding the peripheral blood smear: why the request? What exactly are you suspicious of?

To whom it may concern,

You should probably schedule a gynecological exam to rule out a vaginal infection or any other gynecological issues that might be triggering these results. Squamous epithelium is present in the vaginal canal as well.

I’m of the opinion that a urine culture definitely needs to be part of the picture here. From what I gather in your notes, only one culture was performed, even though three separate samples were taken for the biochemistry and sediment analysis. I also noticed that the heavy presence of squamous epithelium shows up only in that last sample. To me, that suggests the specimen might not be clean—likely due to contamination or vaginal shedding.

If you're dealing with persistent microhematuria, running three cytology panels is the right move to pinpoint whether that bleeding is coming from the upper or lower urinary tract. However, if those samples are consistently showing a high concentration of squamous epithelial cells, I’d definitely look beyond the urinary system and consider gynecological causes as well.

I’d suggest considering a peripheral blood smear, given the rise in white blood cell count. If I understood correctly, your leukocytes were around 12 and have now climbed past 13 x 10*9/L. According to standard medical guidelines, that’s a threshold where we should dig deeper—not just to rule out underlying issues, but to confirm if this is simply your body's baseline, perhaps influenced by smoking. Since both the hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations have risen, we're looking at changes in two different cell lines. A smear would allow us to examine the morphology of those elevated neutrophils. Certain structural changes in neutrophils can sometimes point toward a low-grade, lingering infection. Naturally, we'd also be scanning for any atypical or suspicious cells that might suggest malignancy, especially since two cell lines are showing shifts. Beyond that, I’d recommend protein electrophoresis and immunoglobulin testing for the same reasons; they can help identify chronic inflammation or other systemic processes.

That’s my take. Of course, if a hematologist actually reviewed this specific CBC—with the WBC at 13.9 x 10*9/L, Hgb at 153 g/L, and Htc at 0.458—and decided there was no need for follow-up, then that's a different story. I should clarify that I'm speaking specifically about this exact result, not just something "similar," and I can't account for how these numbers trend compared to your previous labs since I don't have access to your full history.

Thanks a ton for getting back to me.
I’ve had two Pap smears done over the last year, plus ultrasounds, and everything looks totally fine. Even with the microhematuria, the ultrasound came back clear. I even went in for a colonoscopy during my seventh month of pregnancy, and yeah... all good there too.
My leukocyte levels have always been high, and honestly, no hematologist has ever flagged this most recent result. I’m definitely going to go get a second opinion though... I'm pretty freaked out. Just one thing—regarding the microhematuria, is it possible that's happening because I'm out walking the baby every single day on these massive treks, including lugging him up to the third floor on foot?
It feels like instead of just focusing on polycythemia, maybe it’s better to just get a full blood panel and see a hematologist for a general checkup?

Another thing... I've been on Siofor and I'm actually dropping weight. Lost 4 pounds in three months just by taking it. I haven't even started a diet, but my appetite is totally shot. You think there's a connection there?

Quote: Felix the Cat

Jessica Sanders60 said:Much appreciated for the response.
I’ve had two Pap smears within the last year, along with ultrasounds, and everything came back clear. I also went in for an ultrasound specifically regarding some microhematuria, and that was all fine too. In my seventh month, I underwent a colonoscopy, and once again, everything looks good.
My leukocyte levels have always been elevated, and no hematologist has really made sense of this latest lab result yet. I’m planning to seek a second opinion. Honestly, I'm pretty shaken up by this. Just one question regarding the microhematuria—is it possible that could be caused by physical strain? I'm breastfeeding, and we're doing quite long treks every day, including hauling the baby up to the third floor on foot.
It seems to me that rather than focusing strictly on polycythemia, you should just get a full blood panel done and schedule an appointment with a hematologist.

Jessica Sanders60 said:Another important point: I'm on Siofor, and I’ve actually been losing weight—down about 9 pounds in three months since I started taking it. I haven't even gone on a diet, but my appetite has definitely dropped. Does that have anything to do with it?

Dear Madam,

We see cases where microhematuria pops up following intense physical exertion. Generally, that should clear out within 48 to 72 hours after you stop pushing yourself. If it doesn't resolve in that window, further investigation is necessary.

Regarding hematology workups, my advice is to follow through with the tests I previously outlined. You should also make sure to repeat the CBC in two to four weeks. Once you have those results in hand, it would be wise to consult a hematologist—especially if your leukocyte, hemoglobin, or hematocrit levels continue to climb.

Regarding weight loss, the cases mentioned involving metformin treatment show that body weight typically drops gradually—usually over a one to two-year period—averaging about 3 to 6 pounds in that timeframe. While weight loss can stem from poorly managed diabetes, there are plenty of other underlying factors at play here that definitely warrant a closer look.

Can someone please help me make sense of these lab results? I’ve been dealing with elevated eosinophils for over a year now, and they just keep climbing. They’re sitting at 16 right now, while the normal limit is only 7. My neutrophils are also running low.
Segmented neutrophils 30—limit is 44
Eosinophil 16.1—limit is 7
Basophil 1.1—limit is 1
Segmented neutrophils 1.86—limit is 2.06
Eosinophil 1—limit is 0.43 (10^9/L)
Basophil 0.07—limit is 0.06 (10^9/L)

Everything else on my CBC looks totally fine within the normal range..
Earlier this year, I was fighting H. pylori in my stomach, and after three attempts, I think I finally cleared it. On top of that, I’ve dealt with bladder infections and E. coli twice in the last three months, both of which required antibiotics.
Is it possible these eosinophils are spiking because of those bacterial issues? I’ve been falling down a rabbit hole on Google and honestly, I'm starting to panic...
Thanks in advance for any insight..

Nancy Williams2 said:I'm looking for some help interpreting my labs. For over a year now, my eosinophil levels have been elevated and steadily climbing. They're currently at 16, while the limit is 7. My neutrophils are low too.
Segmented neutrophils: 30 (limit 44)
Eosinophils: 16.1 (limit 7)
Basophils: 1.1 (limit 1)
Segmented neutrophils: 1.86 (limit 2.06)
Eosinophils: 1 (limit 0.43)(10^9/L)
Basophils: 0.07 (limit 0.06) (10^9/L)

Everything else in my CBC looks normal.
Earlier this year, I dealt with an H. pylori infection in my stomach, which I believe I cleared after three attempts. I've also had two separate bouts of bladder inflammation and E. coli infections within three months, both treated with antibiotics.
Is it possible these bacteria are causing the high eosinophils? I've been reading things on Google and starting to panic...
Thanks in advance for any insight.

Hello,

Bacteria are rarely linked to eosinophilia. If memory serves, medical literature only describes one single case where an H. pylori infection coincided with eosinophilia, and even then, it was accompanied by thrombocytopenia. It's highly unlikely that either of the infections you mentioned would be the culprit here.

Generally speaking, the absolute count of eosinophils matters much more than the percentage. When assessing the severity of eosinophilia, we always look at the absolute number rather than the ratio. Your absolute count is 1000 x 10^9/L, which points toward mild eosinophilia. Common causes for counts in this range include allergic conditions (allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, drug allergies) or certain parasitic infections. Therefore, I suspect your follow-up should focus on those two areas—ruling out parasites (testing for tissue-dwelling parasites via serology would be wise) and investigating potential allergies.

The eosinophilic leukemias and other "scary" diagnoses you encounter on Google typically present with much higher eosinophil values.

Standard clinical guidelines usually suggest beginning a workup once the eosinophil count exceeds 1.5 x 10^9/L without a known cause, persisting for longer than a month.

Good evening. I’m looking for some insight here. I had blood work done today, and my MCHC came back at 353 and my MPV at 11.3.
I’m 34 years old and generally healthy, though I did recently recover from COVID. I decided to go ahead and get these tests done on my own through a private clinic.

Hey everyone. I had some blood work done today because I’ve got an appointment tomorrow with a gastroenterologist for an abdominal ultrasound. It's all because of this persistent discomfort on my right side, somewhere near the middle. It shows up just below the right ribcage, then moves down toward the hip—that's how I "feel" it. I started Googling again, fell into that endless loop, and honestly, I'm losing my mind.
So, the blood work is pretty much within the normal range, except for the CRP, which is at 10 (normal is up to 5)... what am I supposed to make of that? I know, I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow, but I can't get my mind at ease right now... and I've already managed to talk myself into a hundred different diagnoses online 🙄
By the way, I was actually on this forum a while back with similar issues... the discomfort would come and go... and here we are again, dealing with it once more...

Go ahead and paste those lab results here—especially if you have the biochemistry panel. I'm looking for liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, LDH, and that sort of thing. Also, tell me if you’ve been dealing with random bouts of fever in the middle of the night, any shortness of breath, or issues like bronchitis. Have you noticed any red spots or rashes on your lower legs or elsewhere? Are your joints swollen or painful? And finally, are you experiencing sudden surges of fatigue, difficulty breathing, or that sensation of being unable to catch your breath?
The issue here is that bloodwork can reveal an incredible amount of information, though it all depends entirely on which specific biochemical markers you choose to investigate. You can dig quite deep if you know where to look. Honestly, just close Google; you aren't going to find any real answers there.
If you want to actually get somewhere with a diagnosis, you have to be prepared for a grueling marathon of testing. We’re talking a mountain of ultrasounds, colonoscopies, endoscopies, CT scans, and more. Then there’s the bloodwork—most of those specialized panels aren't part of a standard physical; you only see them if a specialist flags something specific, like a suspected autoimmune issue. The reality is that over the last decade or so, we've seen a massive surge in autoimmune diagnoses. It’s been a literal boom. While most conditions have some form of treatment—or even a cure—there are certain outliers where the conversation shifts toward survival windows of two to five years, give or take. But frankly, you aren't anywhere near that territory yet, and dwelling on it right now is just counterproductive. Don't exhaust yourself with the worst-case scenarios; most of the time, it turns out to be something far less significant.

Thanks for getting back to me. I can safely say I don't have any of the things you're asking about... no fever, no joint pain. The only thing is this massive headache I'm dealing with today; it’s been a while since I felt this way. For context, I'm 40, overweight (working on fixing that), and managing diabetes plus high blood pressure. 🙄
I'll post my blood work once I figure out how to actually upload it..

i
Fatty liver, most likely. That’s probably why you’re feeling that pain—it's essentially the capsule stretching under the pressure. Does the discomfort persist regardless of what you eat, or does it seem to trigger at a specific interval after a meal?

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Jose Doyle89 said:I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What was on your mind?
Fatty liver, huh? That’s likely why you’re feeling that pain—it's probably just the capsule stretching. Does the discomfort hit regardless of what you eat, or does it flare up at a specific time after a meal?

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Yeah, my liver is fatty. Even though my ALT and AST levels are fine and my cholesterol is normal, the fatty liver part is real. Every time I get an abdominal ultrasound, they tell me I’m just bloated with gas and that my colon is pressing against my right side, which adds to the discomfort. Does that make sense? (Still haven't figured out how to upload my blood work here... I'll just type it out manually later.)

Complete Blood Count
WBC 6.0. 4.0-10.0 x10^9/L
RBC 5.25. 4.20-5.70 x10^12/L
Hemoglobin 147. 140-180 g/L
Hematocrit 0.432 0.420-0.540 L/L
MCV 82.3 80-100 fL
MCH 28.0 27-31 pg
MCHC 340 280-370 g/L
Platelets 222. 140-450 x10^9/L
Differential
Granulocytes 51.7. 43.0-65.0 %
Lymphocytes 35.3. 20.5-46.5 %
Monocytes 5.8. 1.5-11.7 %
Eosinophils 6.4. 0.5-8.0 %
Basophils 0.8. 0.2-2.0 %
LUC 0.0. 0-4
Iron 10.5. 5.83-34.5 µmol/L

Cholesterol 3.97
Method: Spectrophotometry Desirable range 0.00-5.00 mmol/L
Borderline high risk 5.00-6.20 mmol/L
High risk /->6.20 mmol/L
Very high risk /->8.00 mmol/L

HDL cholesterol 1.30
Method: Spectrophotometry High risk /-<0.85 mmol/L
Borderline high risk 0.85-1.03 mmol/L
Acceptable range 1.03-1.55 mmol/L
Desirable range >1.55 mmol/L

LDL cholesterol 2.41
Calculation Desirable range 0.00-2.50 mmol/L
Borderline high risk 2.50-3.50 mmol/L
High risk 3.50-6.00 mmol/L
Very high risk /->6.00 mmol/L

Triglycerides 0.57
Method: Spectrophotometry Desirable range /-<1.70 mmol/L
Borderline high risk 1.70-2.25 mmol/L
High risk 2.25-5.64 mmol/L
Very high risk /->5.64 mmol/L

Atherosclerosis Index # 1.85 Normal range <3.0
Pathological value >3.0
Risk Factor # 3.05 Normal range <5.0
Pathological value >5.0

ALT (SGPT) 29. 0-41.0 U/L
AST (SGOT) 25. 0-37 U/L

C-reactive protein (CRP) 10.00. ↑ 0.0-5.0 mg/L
Serum Urea 5.3. 2.8-7.2 mmol/L
Serum Creatinine 88. Men 62-106 µmol/L

Gary Williams18 said:Hey everyone. Just got my bloodwork done because I have a follow-up tomorrow with a gastroenterologist for an abdominal ultrasound. It’s all because of this persistent discomfort I’ve been feeling on the right side of my abdomen, somewhere around the middle. It shows up just below the right rib cage but then drifts down toward the hip—that's how I'd describe where I "feel" it. I started Googling again, fell into one of those endless rabbit holes, and honestly, it's driving me insane.

So, the bloodwork came back mostly normal, except for my CRP, which is sitting at 10 (the reference range goes up to 5)... and now what am I supposed to make of that? I know, I know, I see the doctor tomorrow, but I can't stop overthinking this right now. My search history is basically a hundred different diagnoses by this point.

By the way, I was actually posting on this forum with similar issues a while back... this discomfort comes and goes, but here we are again.

It could be gallstones, and maybe a bit of inflammation is starting to kick in.
If you're dealing with burping that smells like rotten eggs along with some bad breath, there's no question in my mind.
The ultrasound will give you the real story.

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