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

Hey
,
Could I get some thoughts on these results? I'm specifically looking at my platelet count—I went in for a checkup because ever since my heart issues and that vaccine, my platelets have been hovering right at the upper limit.

My D-dimer came back at 188, while the normal range is <500.

Can someone help me make sense of these urine test results? They've been consistently bad for at least 8 months now—which is weird because I don't have any symptoms at all. I've already gone through two rounds of antibiotics (Klavocin), but the results just won't budge.

http://https://postimg.cc/8jLn4xPm

Michael Campbell34 said:The doctor says the blood work looks fine and we just need to stick to iron supplements, but honestly, I’m skeptical. When he stopped taking the iron, his levels plummeted from 24 down to 7 in just four months. On top of that, his other markers—hemoglobin, hematocrit, the whole works—are in a steady decline. I’m wondering if he needs a full hematology workup to find the actual root cause, or if this is just considered "normal" for someone who has survived stomach cancer? This is a family member, and he is visibly wasting away. He’s lost all his muscle mass, and there's almost zero body fat left. To make matters worse, he was diagnosed with sciatica four years ago, and they just tell him he needs to exercise. How is he supposed to manage that?
I would be genuinely grateful if you could point me toward the next steps. Best regards.

To whom it may concern,

They found the reason for the workup. I need to have three stool tests for occult bleeding and a urinalysis done, then move on to further testing—likely with a gastroenterologist, and potentially an oncologist.

hiddennomad34 said:Hi, if someone could take a look at these results, My Vitamin B12 and Vitamin VIII 8C levels are elevated.Anyway, I've been dealing with some liver issues over the last two weeks—fatty liver, mostly because I overdid it on the Tylenol. My liver function tests have started looking a bit better lately, though; I actually went to see a gastroenterologist about it. On top of that, I've been on Eliquis for over a year now to manage DVT. Thanks..

Vitamin B12 levels can sometimes reflect liver disease or underlying damage. Similarly, an elevated factor VIIIc can be a red flag for inflammation—whether that's triggered by an infection, malignancy, surgery, trauma, or other causes. The real concern here is that it increases the risk of venous thrombosis.

Nicholas Johnson8 said:My brother, 53 years old. His levels are sitting below the reference range, so he’s spiraling into a bit of a panic.
The blood work was done while I was coming down with something—you know, that typical cold, congestion, all that.
Is there any reason to be concerned?

The results suggest we need to dig deeper. Next steps: Iron, UIBC, TIBC, ferritin, three stool tests for occult blood, and a urinalysis. Once those are in, we'll decide on the next phase of testing.

Laura Morris16 said:These results are from September 29th. I also had a chest X-ray and an EKG, and everything came back normal. Liver function tests look fine too.
I should mention that a few days after the blood draw, I developed a sinus and ear infection. I'm currently on Makcin antibiotics.

So, there was indeed an infection. Once that clears up, you'll need to redo the CBC to see how the numbers are trending. Given that the elevated white cell count seems to line up with when the glucocorticoids were started, I'm inclined to agree with the hematologist's take.

goldenmoose25 said:The doctor gave me a referral for parasite testing, plus a follow-up for CBC and differential in 10 days.
Of course, I'm reading everything online and spiraling into a panic.
Does it make sense to redo the differential earlier, say in 5 days?

No, it doesn't make sense. You have to rule out parasites first—and I don't just mean stool samples, but serology for tissue parasites as well. Only once those come back negative can you move on to allergy and hematology workups.

Emily Ortiz27 said:I'd like someone to take a look at this breast smear cytology report.
The exam was done six months after the last one, which showed nothing but foamy phagocytes.
Is this still considered "idiopathic galactorrhea"?
Thanks.

There are no epithelial cells in the sample, so we can't determine if there's another underlying cause for the galactorrhea. The cause remains unknown based on this.

Drew Scott20 said:Could someone explain this typing result? It was ordered because of a rash that isn't responding to topical treatment—possibly psoriasis.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20...e655a62062.jpg

There is a genetic predisposition for psoriasis here.

Sam Taylor22 said:Hello.

Can I get some feedback on these results? I’m specifically looking at my platelet count. I went in for a checkup because my levels are sitting right at the upper limit following my bout with COVID-19 and the vaccine.

D-dimer is 188, while the reference range is div>

The results look good.

Rachel Davis said:Can someone help me make sense of these urine results? They’ve been consistently poor for at least eight months now, even though I don't have any symptoms. I've gone through two rounds of antibiotics—specifically Klavocin—but nothing seems to be moving the needle.

http://https://postimg.cc/8jLn4xPm

Time to get screened for chlamydia, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma, plus a full gynecological exam.

Emily Ortiz27 said:Trying again. I made sure to uncheck the "delete" option this time. 😕

Definitely worth processing!

Thanks, Nicholas Myers! 🙂

Can someone let me know if these tests need to be done via a blood draw from a vein, or if they can just be done with a finger prick? It's for a small child: KKS, VK, VZ, platelets, and CRP. Thanks.

I have no idea what "vz" stands for, but I'm assuming "vk" refers to venous blood. Generally speaking, most of these tests can be done via a finger prick, though that’s usually reserved for emergency situations or when they just can't find a usable vein on someone. I’m speaking strictly from my own perspective here—I don't know why these specific abbreviations like "Vz" and "Vk" would just pop up out of thin air in a medical context. If you were to ask a lab technician, they might try a finger prick if they can, but it's not the standard.
So, my bet is they'll end up drawing a little bit from a vein after all.

Sent from my iPhone using Reddit

Facebook - PT - clotting time, CT - coagulation time.

We’re running into a bit of an issue because my little one isn't just being difficult—she’s actually grabbing at my hand and fighting us whenever they try to draw blood. It makes the whole process incredibly stressful, both for her and for us. Honestly, even when we try to hold her steady, it can be tough, if not impossible, to get the needle out.

And no. That has to be administered intravenously, without exception.

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James Thompson12 said:Facebook—bleeding time, VZ—clotting time.

We're running into an issue because my little one isn't just being uncooperative—she’s actually pulling away and fighting us when they try to draw blood... it makes the whole thing incredibly stressful for her and for us. It’s tough, and sometimes honestly feels impossible to get the needle in even when we're holding her arm steady...

Maybe give Emla cream or those Emla patches a shot...

Hi everyone... I have a question regarding my mom, born in '58. At the beginning of this year, she started having issues with swelling in her left lower leg. Things seemed to improve toward the end of summer without us seeing a doctor, but then fluid started building up in her abdomen. She has high blood pressure and a congenital heart defect. We finally went for an abdominal ultrasound, which shows ascites and some polycyclic formation that's pressing against her bladder—possibly an ovarian expansion or an intestinal volvulus... I don't know why they felt the need to run markers; her CEA and CA 19-9 are normal, but her CA 125 is at 10,000. Without any other diagnostic steps, every doctor we talk to says it’s ovarian cancer and tells her to go to the hospital, which is completely unacceptable to her. She has this massive fear of doctors and dying in a hospital setting... When we're just at home, she takes her meds, eats normally, and everything seems fine, except for the back pain she always deals with anyway. But once we get her to a doctor, she just falls apart. I'm wondering if a CA 125 that high is enough for such a diagnosis... and what kind of specialist I should look for who will actually address her other symptoms? Primarily the swelling and the occasional leg pain... We saw a cardiologist a week ago, and he diagnosed her with congestive heart failure. She was prescribed Concor 2.5 mg in the morning, Apleria 50 mg every other day, and two Lasix 40 mg tablets in the morning and afternoon... Her blood pressure and heart rate are okay, but so far, I don't see any improvement regarding the leg edema or the ascites... I honestly don't know if that's even possible or how long it might take to see an improvement... Any comments are welcome... I'm not trying to stay overly optimistic that it isn't cancer, but it really bothers me how they diagnose her like this while ignoring her other struggles.

Since there’s a specific bit of medical slang that basically applies to your mother—internal multi-trauma (meaning severe or chronic issues affecting three or more organ systems)—it is absolutely impossible to make any meaningful comments regarding her prognosis or chances of recovery until she actually gets admitted to a hospital. It’s also quite interesting that she only seems to develop this fear of doctors when she’s being hospitalized, yet she has no problem showing up for outpatient ultrasound appointments or blood work.
My colleagues, who are suggesting there might be a malignant ovarian issue, aren't entirely off base here. A tumor marker on its own doesn't actually mean anything, but when you pair it with an ultrasound showing a mass in the abdomen—which could very well be an enlarged ovary—it points strongly toward malignancy. Further testing in that direction is completely justified. And honestly, given all her other symptoms, getting diagnosed through inpatient care at a proper hospital is a much better move than this endless outpatient pilgrimage through various private clinics, which will ultimately just end up referring her to a hospital anyway.

So, if the lady wants to know what is actually happening, which organs are failing, and what treatment options—if any—exist, she needs to get over her fear and check into a hospital. If the 64 years she’s lived are more than enough for her, and if she’d rather spend her final days at home surrounded by loved ones without ever truly knowing why her life was cut short—which is also a perfectly valid choice—then fine, let her choose that path. But there really isn't a third option.

Thanks for your input, though obviously you're talking about hospitalizing her, but that's her call to make. What I was actually asking was which doctor I should take her to right now—someone who might be able to help while she isn't quite ready for a full hospital stay. And honestly, there’s a huge difference for her between staying in the hospital for treatment versus just going in occasionally for tests or checkups (where a nurse could just come by to draw blood at home). Since the last time she saw a cardiologist was maybe 15 years ago, I guess we're just taking small steps, hopefully moving in the right direction.

Alright, let me be blunt this time. There isn't one single doctor—as an individual—who can step in and fix everything right now. You won't find them in some outpatient clinic or a hospital somewhere. Because let's get real: there is no such thing as a person who is simultaneously an oncologist, a gastroenterologist, a gynecologist, a radiologist, AND a cardiologist all rolled in one. And that’s assuming they actually know how to do their job properly! Such a person doesn't exist, and they never will. So, look, your mother needs at least four—ideally five—specialists who actually know what they're doing just to figure out the "what," the "how," and the "why" of this whole situation. Especially since that last cardiologist you mentioned—based on what you're saying, anyway—didn't even bother to note that "heart defect" anywhere, which is incredibly suspicious if you ask me.
If any of those doctors who just gave her a cursory glance could have helped with everything she's dealing with, they would have sorted it out ages ago. But at an outpatient level? For someone in your mother's position, that is simply impossible.

Can anyone help me make sense of these HLA typing results?

It’s some kind of systemic issue... gut, joints, etc. I won't go into all the details, but I'm running every test under the sun and they still don't have an answer. I'd be grateful if someone could help me interpret this:

HLA LOCUS SER. EQUIV. ALLELE ALLELE

Primary sample: whole blood
SER. EQUIV.
Class I / HLA-B B8 B50(21) *08 *50
Class II / HLA-DRB1 DR17(3) - *03 -
Class II / HLA-DQA1 *05 -
Class II / HLA-DQB1 DQ2 - *02 -
Notes:
- = possible homozygosity
Method:
Molecular typing via PCR-SSO using Lifecodes HLA-B kit Lot 3012346, Lifecodes HLA-DRB1 eRES SSO
Typing Kit Lot 3012606 and Lifecodes HLA-DQA1/B1 SSO Typing Kit Lot 3012027. MatchIT DNA IMGT/HLA database 3.45.

New follow-up on a male patient with lymphadenopathy.



Can I get a second opinion on this cytology smear? What's the deal with those slit-like lymphocytes and the low monocyte count, especially considering his medical history up to this point?
The atypical lymphocytes have cleared out of the picture for now.

Calling all ER doctors for a quick opinion. We're looking at a 12-year-old boy.
Nov 16th. Starting tomorrow at 10 AM, there’s abdominal pain around and below the navel. We're sticking to tea, broth, and Linex for now. Since vomiting has kicked in too, we're taking him to the doctor around 6 PM.

White blood cell count is elevated at 14, but the urine test came back clean. Emergency room visit was fine too—no signs of inflammation anywhere. We’re heading back to the doctor, who thinks it smells like a urinary tract infection and is prescribing antibiotics. She's taking Pancef and staying home. Around 8:00 PM, we gave her the Pancef and some Advil for the pain. She managed to nap for a bit, but then around midnight, the pain and vomiting started right back up again.

Heading to the ER. After they poked around my stomach, they tried to brush it off as some intestinal virus. I’m not buying it, though—I’m pushing for a referral to a pediatric surgeon, even if they're being reluctant about it.

We rolled into the hospital around 2:00 AM on November 17th. They sent us straight to ultrasound and labs. During the scan, the doctor noted an enlarged appendix and mentioned they couldn't rule out a rupture. The labs came back showing a CRP of 59, leukocyte 15, and a fever of 101.3°F. When the surgeon checked me over, he suspected an atypically positioned appendix because the pain didn't quite line up with his physical exam. I was hospitalized immediately, and after some quick pre-op prep, they took me into surgery early that morning around 8:00 AM. Around 11:30 AM, the surgeon confirmed it: it had ruptured, there was pus everywhere, but everything was cleaned out well. Diagnosis: acute gangrenous perforating appendicitis with diffuse fibrinopurulent peritonitis. It was a standard procedure—just a classic incision and a drain placed in the subcutaneous fat. On the first day, the pain started settling down once they got me on Cephalexin and Metronidazole.

For the first two or three days, my temperature stayed under 99.5°F, if anything at all. Digestion was a bit hit or miss—loose stools for the first couple of days, then back to a regular once-a-day routine. I'm starting on fluids now, then moving to broth, just following the protocol. If everything goes smoothly, I’m looking at a 7-day stay in the hospital; if things get complicated, maybe up to 10 days or until the treatment wraps up.

Day four after surgery: throat starts feeling scratchy and my voice sounds nasal. There’s mucus constantly draining. I’ve got this wet cough going. That day, the fever hits 100.0. The surgeon says it’s normal. The incision looks fine, so he pulls the subcutaneous drain. Next day, the fever climbs back up to 101.3, and the surgeon still isn't sweating it. Then by nighttime, it spikes to 103.1. Everything feels more congested, I'm swallowing phlegm, feeling nauseous, and can barely eat.

On the morning of November 24th, I had an emergency abdominal ultrasound and some lab work done. Here’s the breakdown of the ultrasound results: basically, the liver looks fine, and the bladder and bile ducts are normal. Spleen is good. Kidneys look normal with no signs of dilation in the renal pelvis. Bladder is clear too. However, near the ileocecal area right where the incision is, they found a hypoechoic fluid collection in the subcutaneous tissue measuring about 30x5mm, which looks like a post-serosal type. The bowel loops are filled with fluid, but everything looks typical regarding the appearance and the wall. They didn't see any free fluid in the abdomen or pelvic cavity. The surgeon says the ultrasound looks fine.
Lab results:
Leukocytes 4.7 (4-10)
Red blood cells: 5.37 (Range: 4.4–5.8)
Hemoglobin 140 (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.40 (Range: 0.41–0.53) — slightly low.
MCV is low at 75 (normal range is 80-99).
MCH: 26 (Normal range: 27-31)
MCHC 349 (310-350)
Platelets: 288 (150-400)
RDW 10.9 (9.0 - 15)

Neutrophils 3.00 (normal range 1.9-7.6)
Lymphocytes: 1.2 (Range: 0.8–4.6)
Monocytes L 0.30 (0.8 - 2.00)
Eosinophils and Basophils — all good.
Neutrophils 64.4% (Ref: 40-70%)
Lymphocyte percentage: L 26.00% (Normal range: 30-50%).
Monocytes %: 6.7 (Normal range: 2-10)
Eosinophil % L 0.2 (1-6)
Basophil %: 0.00 (0-1)
LUC 0.10 (0-4). I have absolutely no clue what this is.
NRBC is sitting at 0.0–0.2. Probably not even worth measuring at this point.
CRP is at 29.9 (normal range is 0.00–10.0). Definitely elevated.

Pediatrician exam: Fevering back and forth for two days. On a six-day course of Cephalexin and Metronidazole. Boy looks flushed but hydrated during the exam. Tongue has yellowish-white coating. Throat is slightly hyperemic with white exudate. Lung sounds show somewhat sharper breathing bilaterally. Heart action is rhythmic, tones are clear, no murmurs. Abdomen is soft; liver and spleen are palpable. Post-op incision on the right inguinal area. Conclusion: Continue the therapy from the list (10 days total). Since there’s no spike in CRP or significant neutrophilia, stick to hydrating him with Glucosalini I at 500 ml / 60 ml/h for now.
If the fever sticks around tomorrow, we’ll run a follow-up CRP, then see the pediatrician to potentially switch up his antibiotics.

That was back on November 24th. The kid had a fever of 101.5 yesterday, and it's the same today. He’s staying on the current meds until his check-up this Sunday. Today, the surgeon pulled the sutures; the wound looks dry and clean. From a surgical standpoint, he says the boy could head home, but the pediatrician makes the final call on Sunday. The surgeon insists there’s no post-op infection—blood work looks fine and the wound is perfect. But when I ask about his sinuses or his throat being full of mucus and sore, he just shrugs and says, "I'm a surgeon, we don't deal with that." So now, we just pray and wait for Sunday.
Given everything, what do you guys think? There’s some mystery virus going around right now causing high fevers, sore throats, and runny noses. He probably picked it up during those hours spent waiting at the urgent care or the hospital since he can't be alone. Could that be the cause of the fever, considering those are his only symptoms? No stomach pain, no nausea, no vomiting, and no diarrhea. His appetite has been a bit low since his throat started hurting, but he’s still eating something.
When I ask the surgeon if these results point to an infection—meaning, if the CRP is 29, shouldn't that suggest something, especially looking at the CBC to see if it's viral or bacterial?—he just tells me, "Ask the pediatrician, I perform surgery!!!!!"
I’d love to hear your thoughts on our doctors on duty. Just a worried dad here. Thanks in advance.

Update... unfortunately, I’m stuck dealing with whoever is on duty right now. We had an emergency CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis yesterday with contrast—everything looked fine, no abscesses or anything suspicious. However, the CRP jumped up to 48. Yesterday and last night, they switched his antibiotics, so I’m not sure what he’s actually on right now. His fever dipped to 38.2 today, but it's still hanging around. Looking for some input here...

Paul Ramirez59 said:Calling on the doctors on duty for their take. This involves a 12-year-old boy.
On Nov 16th, starting at 10:00 AM, he had abdominal pain around and below the navel. He was sipping tea, soup, and Linex. Since the vomiting started, we took him to the doctor around 6:00 PM.

The labs showed high leukocytes (14) and clear urine. An emergency ultrasound was also clear; no signs of inflammation anywhere. We went back to the doctor, who thought it smelled like a urinary tract infection and prescribed Pancef and sent us home. At home around 8:00 PM, we gave him Pancef and Advil for the pain. He slept for a bit, but by midnight, the pain and vomiting kicked back in.

We headed to the ER. After a quick physical exam of the abdomen, they claimed it was just a stomach flu, but I insisted on a surgical consult. They were reluctant to provide one.

At 2:00 AM on Nov 17th, we arrived at the hospital and he was immediately sent for an ultrasound and blood work. During the ultrasound, the doctor noted an enlarged appendix and couldn't rule out a rupture. Labs showed CRP 59, leukocytes 15, and a temperature of 38.5. When the surgeon examined him, he noted the appendix was likely in an atypical position because the pain didn't align perfectly with his physical exam. He was hospitalized immediately and, after pre-op prep, underwent surgery early in the morning around 8:00 AM on Nov 17th. Around 11:30 AM, the surgeon said it had ruptured, there was pus, but everything was cleaned out well. Diagnosis: Acute gangrenous perforated appendicitis with diffuse fibrinopurulent peritonitis. Standard procedure: incision and a drain placed in the subcutaneous tissue. On the first day, the pain was managed with Cephalexin and Metronidazole.

For the first two or three days, the fever stayed around 37.5 or disappeared entirely. Getting up was normal; bowel movements were loose for the first two days, then regular once a day. He started on fluids, then soup, following the standard protocol. The plan is a 7-day stay if all goes well, maybe up to 10 days depending on the medication course.

On the fourth day post-op, he started getting a scratchy throat and nasal congestion. There’s mucus draining constantly. He has a wet cough. He ran a fever of 37.8 that day. The surgeon said it was normal. The wound looks fine, and they removed the subcutaneous drain. The next day, the fever spiked again to 38.5, yet the surgeon remains unconcerned. Last night, the fever hit 39.5. He’s even more congested, swallowing mucus, feeling nauseous, and eating less.

On the morning of Nov 24th, we did an emergency abdominal ultrasound and blood work. Abdominal EHO summary: liver, bladder, and ureters are normal. Spleen is normal. Kidneys are normal with no signs of dilation in the renal collecting system. Bladder is normal. Near the incision site in the subcutaneous tissue, a hypoechoic fluid collection measuring 30x5mm is noted, appearing post-serosal. Intestinal loops are filled with fluid of appropriate appearance and wall thickness. No free fluid was detected in the abdomen or pelvic cavity. The surgeon says the ultrasound looks fine.
Lab results:
Leukocytes 4.7 (4-10)
Erythrocytes 5.37 (4.4-5.8)
Hemoglobin 140 (138-175)
Hematocrit L 0.40 (0.41-,53)
MCV L 75 (80-99)
MCH L 26 (27-31)
MCHC 349 (310-350)
Platelets 288 (150-400)
RDW 10.9 (9.0 - 15)

Neutrophils 3.00 (1.9-7.6)
Lymphocytes 1.2 (0.8-4.6)
Monocytes L 0.30 (0.8 - 2.00)
Eosinophilic and Basophilic granulocytes - normal
Neutrophil % 64.4 (40-70%)
Lymphocytes % L 26.00 (30-50)
Monocytes % 6.7 (2-10)
Eosinophils % L 0.2 (1-6)
Basophils % 0.00 (0-1)
LUC 0.10 (0-4) No clue what this is
NRBC **** (0.0-0.2) Probably non-measurable
CRP H 29.9 (0.00-10.0)

Pediatrician exam: Running a fever for the last 2 days. Currently on a 6-day course of Cephalexin and Metronidazole. Boy looks eupneic and hydrated at the exam. Yellowish-white coating on the tongue. Throat is mildly hyperemic with white exudate. Lung sounds show slightly sharper breathing bilaterally. Heart rhythm is steady, tones are clear, no murmurs heard. Abdomen is soft, liver and spleen are not palpable. Post-op incision on the right inguinal area. Conclusion: Continue the current meds (10 days total). Since there’s no rise in CRP or significant neutrophilia, continue hydration with Glucosalini I at 500 ml / 60 ml/h for now.
If the fever persists tomorrow, we'll run a follow-up CRP, then see the pediatrician again to potentially swap antibiotics.

That was back on Nov 24th. The boy had a fever up to 101.5°F yesterday and again today. He's staying on the same treatment until his check-up this Sunday. Today, the surgeon removed the sutures; the wound is dry and clean. From a surgical standpoint, he says the kid could head home, but the pediatrician makes the final call on Sunday. The surgeon insists there are zero post-op infections—blood work is fine, wound looks great. When I ask about the sinuses or throat being full of mucus and sore, he just tells me, "I'm a surgeon, we don't treat that." Now we're just praying and waiting for Sunday.
Given everything, what do you think? Considering there’s some unknown virus going around right now causing high fevers, sore throats, and runny noses—which he likely picked up during those hours spent waiting at the urgent care or the hospital—could that be the cause of this fever? Those are his only symptoms. He denies any abdominal pain, wound pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. His appetite has been a bit lower since the throat started hurting, but he's still eating a little.
When I asked the surgeon if these results point to an infection—I mean, with a CRP of 29, it seems logical, and looking at the CBC, does it look viral or bacterial?—he just says, "Ask the pediatrician, I perform surgery!!!!!"
Please let me know what you think about our doctors on duty. Just a worried father. Thanks in advance.