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

Thanks, vividsailor7!

vividsailor7 said:The results are perfectly clear.

Meene is clearly obsessed with knowing who referred you and under which specific department or physician those extensive tests were ordered.

It doesn't work that way. Ideally—firstly—these findings aren't for the patient, they are for the doctor who ordered them.
Furthermore, you really should list your mother's age, EVERY medication she takes, ALL her diagnoses, and her symptoms.

That's the štos, really—the values keep climbing higher each time, yet there's still no explanation.🤷
If I were to list every single medication, diagnosis, and symptom Mom has... I'm afraid we'd run out of space here 😁 ,not to mention I don't have the time.
Anyway, thanks.

vividsailor7 said:Meene is clearly obsessed with finding out who sent you and which specific specialist or department authorized all these intense tests.

I was referred to an immunology clinic... but why? My gastroenterologist just noted that I should follow up with an immunologist. Does anyone actually know if a referral like that implies anything specific about my results?

Linda Perez50 said:That’s exactly the problem—the numbers just keep climbing higher and higher, yet nobody offers a single reason why. 🤷
If I tried to list every medication, diagnosis, and symptom my mom is dealing with... honestly, I’m afraid there wouldn't be enough room on this forum 😁 ,not that I have the time to type it all out anyway.
Anyway, thanks.

The real issue here is that you're withholding information; I honestly don't know what else to call it.
Why? For instance, you failed to mention that her kks levels were already elevated previously—this isn't some isolated incident.
Look, the forum doesn't matter, it's trivial, but this is how things are handled "in person" at an American clinic, and frankly, it happens more often than you'd think.
Let me give you an example: you walk into a doctor's office seeking a second opinion regarding a specific lab result, and the physician tells you the tests need to be repeated because you can't make a snap judgment based on one reading. Then, suddenly, they're ordering twenty different follow-up tests for her CK levels.

Sandra Morris47 said:An immunology clinic... why? My gastroenterologist actually wrote down that I should see an immunologist. Does anyone know if that finding actually means anything?

Read the first post!
Now, let me add a little more to this and speak as a respected colleague of Dr. Richter: you're being suspiciously vague about your referral diagnosis and everything else.
Let me help you out here. First: 1. Why were you sent to GI and hematology in the first place?
2. What symptoms are you actually having?
3. Give me ALL your diagnoses and medications.
4. Post the full lab results.
And let me say it again, just once more: lab results are meant to be interpreted alongside clinical history and physical exams. They are tools for doctors—ideally for the one who ordered them—not for patients to decipher on their own.

Sandra Morris47 said:What does this lab work mean?

IgG 20.9 (Ref: 7-16)
IGA and IgM are fine
Total kappa light chains - 1.37 (Ref: 1.7-3.7)
Total lambda light chains - 4.67 (Ref: 0.9-2.1)
Kappa/lambda ratio 0.29 (Ref: 1.35-2.65)
Confirmed M-protein, IgG heavy chain and lambda light chain
Albumin 54.5 (Ref: 59.8-72.4)
Alpha1, alpha2, beta are all normal
Gamma 23.8 (Ref: 8-15.8)
M-spike in the gammaglobulin fraction
Total protein 80 (Ref: 66-81)
A/G 1.25 (0.80-2.00)
Eosinophils 7.8 (Ref: 0-7)
MPV 10.8 (Ref: 6.8-10.4)
ALP 45 (Ref: 54-119)
Urine leukocytes 1-3
Blood sugar is normal
HIV negative
Pap smear and swabs came back clean

I'm dealing with constant Candida issues... just can't shake it. I have an appointment with an immunologist soon.

vividsailor7 is spot on when he told you to lay everything out on the table. People tend to hide stuff sometimes, being selective with what they share because they aren't happy with the first diagnosis they got and want to hunt for a different one... Medicine isn't just about adding up numbers and treating a printout; it’s an art. No single lab result tells you 100% what's going on. You have to look at the results in the context of your actual symptoms, how things have changed over time (comparing old results to current ones), your medical history, meds you're taking, family history... if you actually want help, you have to write down everything. Or just scan the docs and black out your name and personal info on the computer... Just looking at these tests, it's obvious we're dealing with something complex, which makes it even more vital to be thorough. To be blunt, a single M-spike on a protein electrophoresis could point to dozens of different conditions, or it might mean absolutely nothing. So yeah...

vividsailor7 said:Go back and read the first post!
Allow me to add a few thoughts and speak as a fellow respected colleague of Richter: you seem to be being somewhat mysterious by withholding a preliminary diagnosis and other clinical details.
Let me help you out here. 1. What are the specific reasons you're seeing a GP and a hematologist?
2. What symptoms are you actually experiencing?
3. What is your full medical history, including all diagnoses and current medications?
4. I need the complete lab results.
And let me reiterate, once more: lab results are meant to be interpreted alongside a patient's medical history and clinical status. They are tools for physicians (ideally the one who ordered them), not for patients to interpret themselves.

What other diagnoses?? There isn’t some grand conspiracy going on here, oh my god... When I was at the immunology clinic, they told me exactly which tests to run, and then said if things looked worse, I could see a doctor, and those two specific results were what got me an appointment. I’m just waiting to see the immunologist (not the hematologist) so they can give me answers. I was just wondering if anyone happens to know what M protein, these light chains, albumin, and gamma levels actually mean—specifically why they test for them—because I have a follow-up in a month and I’ve learned the hard way that Googling stuff is a terrible idea because it just ends up scaring me. It didn't help matters when I remembered my uncle passed away from some form of leukemia. If these markers don't necessarily mean anything bad, then please just tell me so I can stop worrying. The only thing is, these specific results aren't great. My ANA and ENA levels are fine, and the lymphocyte subpopulation panel came back normal too. I'm not taking any medications, just some probiotics here and there; I've been dealing with bloating and stomach issues, and neither probiotics nor Controlok really helped much. Things calmed down a bit after I started following a certain diet, but I have to be extremely careful about what I eat and I'm honestly not even sure what's safe for me anymore. The main thing that's been bothering me for years is Candida, like I mentioned before. Based on all of this, plus a C3 complement test from two years ago where it was low twice in a row, my gastroenterologist recommended I see an immunologist. But now my C3 is fine, so nothing makes sense. Basically, the doctor wrote down a preliminary diagnosis of chronic Candida, regardless of the fact that I’ve tried Diflucan, probiotics, Canesten, and everything else under the sun. I want to understand why I can't get rid of this fungal issue, which is why I finally went through with these tests. I don't even know if these other little details matter, because my old primary doctor and my OB/GYN (I'm looking for a new OB/GYN now, but I have a new primary) both brushed it all off as just "stress" or a "weak immune system." For instance, I used to get low-grade fevers during the second half of my cycle whenever the yeast infections flared up, and I'd feel exhausted (I think I still have them lingering, but I've stopped tracking it). I also got a fever twice after getting my flu shot. When someone tells you that's impossible, they're either lying or they don't know what they're talking about. I haven't had any vaccinations in two years now, and everything has been fine. So, I've just finished all these tests and now I'm just waiting for the follow-up.

Honestly, it’s pretty impossible to say exactly what this means for you specifically, but I can walk you through the possibilities. An elevated M-protein isn't a diagnosis on its own; it shows up in all sorts of things—autoimmune issues, various hematological conditions, or even inflammatory liver problems like viral hepatitis. Sometimes, it just pops up for no clear reason at all, which usually means you'll be stuck doing check-ups several times a year just to monitor it. Given that you're dealing with recurring Candida, it'd be smart to investigate whether there's an underlying immune deficiency, which could easily be secondary to one of those other conditions I mentioned. You really should mention how old you are here! Also, list any other symptoms you're feeling along with your full lab work: white blood cell count, red blood cells, ESR, calcium, CRP, differential, ferritin... basically everything. Right now, you haven't given me much to go on. Bottom line: an M-protein could point to a massive range of illnesses, or it could end up being absolutely nothing. That’s about as much help as I can offer; maybe someone else here will have more insight.

wiredcanyon2 said:It’s honestly a stretch to say what this means specifically for you, but I can walk through the possibilities. An elevated M-protein can pop up in all sorts of situations—autoimmune conditions, various hematological issues, or even inflammatory liver diseases like viral hepatitis. Sometimes it shows up without any clear cause at all, which usually just means you end up needing blood work several times a year to monitor things. Given that you’ve been dealing with recurring Candida, it would be worth investigating whether there’s an underlying immune deficiency, which could potentially be secondary to one of those other categories of illness. You should also mention how old you are. It would help to list any other symptoms you're experiencing along with your lab results: WBC, RBC, ESR, calcium, CRP, differential count, ferritin, and so on. To put it bluntly, the data you've provided is pretty thin. My takeaway? This could point toward many different diseases associated with M-protein, or it could turn out to be nothing at all. That’s about as much as I can offer; maybe someone else here will have more insight.

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm 27.
My kks is fine; the only outliers are slightly elevated eosinophils and MPV, and my ALP is low, though all my other enzymes look good. My white blood cell count, platelets, CRP, sodium, potassium, creatinine, and iron levels are all normal. Ferritin is at 15 (with a ref range of 10-120). As far as actual symptoms go, I mostly deal with digestive issues (though they're manageable right now) and a slight fever during the second half of my cycle, which leaves me feeling exhausted and overheated if I'm under significant stress or overworking myself. It doesn't happen nearly as often as it used to when it would just hit me out of nowhere. About three years ago, my iron levels plummeted, and after just one day of running a high fever, my hair started falling out; that lasted for six months. That entire year was a health nightmare for me—suddenly dealing with CIN2, HPV, Ureaplasma, and fungal infections. Those issues were present before and throughout that period, and they seem to flare up more frequently now, making them incredibly difficult to shake. Beyond that, I can't really recall any other times I felt unwell. I just catch colds easily if I don't dress warmly enough.
CD3, CD4, CD8, NK cells, C3, C4, CH50, ANA, and ENA are all within normal limits.

Hello everyone!
For about four months now, I’ve been stuck in this endless cycle of pharyngitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis—which essentially means I am constantly being prescribed antibiotics. To give you some perspective, since December 5th, when I was actually hospitalized due to throat edema, I have gone through eight full boxes of antibiotics (four separate rounds of two boxes each). On top of that, I’ve been taking 10 mg of Citalopram daily for about a month to manage some mild anxiety and depression. I also deal with glaucoma in both eyes. To make matters even more complicated, my kids were diagnosed with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease just a week ago.
About fifteen days ago, I came down with pharyngitis again. My doctors prescribed Lekoklar XL for a 14-day course, but by the tenth day, I spiked a high fever and developed a rash that looks somewhat like herpes, spreading across my entire face, eyebrows, and scalp. The infectious disease specialist noted a papulocrustous, honey-colored rash on my ears, face, and scalp, along with a small papular rash on my palms. My throat shows hyperemia and aphthae on the palatal arches, and I have cervical adenopathy. Additionally, there is a systemic heart murmur of 2/6.
Here are my blood work results:
AST 53 (Ref: 8-30)
ALT 62 (Ref: 10-36)
CRP 68
MPV 11.1
WBC 11.7 (Ref: 3.4-9.7)
MONO 1.33 (Ref: 0.12-0.84)
NEUT 73 (Ref: 44-72)
LYMPH 15 (Ref: 20-46)
MONO 11

I've transcribed all the values that fall outside the normal range. What could this indicate? I saw an infectious disease specialist who is currently undecided on whether I should continue with antibiotics or not. I would truly appreciate any advice or insight you might have. As of today, I am also experiencing a strange pain in my right groin that seems to be radiating down my leg. Thank you.

Sandra Morris47 said:What other diagnoses are we even talking about?? There aren't any conspiracies going on here, oh my god... ............. For example, I had slight fevers during the second half of my cycle—that's when yeast infections flare up and I get exhausted (I think I still have some lingering issues there, but I stopped tracking them). And let's say twice after getting my flu shot, I experienced the exact same thing. If someone claims that can't happen, they're either lying or they simply don't have a clue. I haven't been vaccinated in two years now and everything is fine. Anyway, I just finished all those tests and I'm waiting for my follow-up appointment.

Is it really that hard to just write it out clearly???? (The way "he wrote" was phrased was totally pointless)
Back in 2010, I was referred to Gastroenterology due to a diagnosis of *E. coli* abundance; symptoms included epigastric pain and diarrhea under a K29 diagnosis, so they ordered blood work and an EGD.
The initial results for C3 and C4 were requested by GI back in 2011 due to suspicion of SLE.
I was then referred to an immunologist under the SLE diagnosis, and in 2012, he requested the aforementioned tests under a specific diagnosis and noted .............
Or something along those lines????

wiredcanyon2 said:It’s incredibly difficult to pin down exactly what this means for you specifically, but I can certainly outline the possibilities. An elevated M-protein isn't a diagnosis on its own; it can show up in a wide range of scenarios, from various autoimmune disorders and hematological issues to inflammatory liver conditions, like viral hepatitis, for instance. Sometimes, it even pops up without any clear trigger at all, which usually means you'll be looking at regular check-ups several times a year just to monitor it. Given that you're dealing with recurring Candida, we really need to investigate whether there's an underlying immune deficiency at play—something that might be secondary to one of those disease groups I mentioned. To give you any real insight, I need more data. How old are you? What other symptoms are you experiencing? And most importantly, I need your actual lab work. Just saying "M-protein" is nowhere near enough information. I need to see your white blood cell count, red blood cell count, ESR (sedimentation rate), calcium levels, CRP, differential, ferritin, and so on. Bottom line: these results alone are far too vague. It could be a precursor to many different conditions, or it could end up being absolutely nothing. That's about as much help as I can offer without the full picture. Maybe someone else will actually have a clue.

When you aren't getting any straight answers from the professionals, everyone suddenly thinks they’re a world-class expert thanks to a quick Google search. It's unbelievable.

Chris Howard3 said:Hi everyone!
For four months now, I've been dealing with constant pharyngitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis. It basically means I am on a never-ending cycle of antibiotics. Specifically, since December 5th, when I ended up in the hospital due to throat edema, I’ve gone through eight boxes of antibiotics (four rounds of two boxes each). I’ve also been taking Citalon for about a month at 10mg daily for mild anxiety and depression. Additionally, I have glaucoma in both eyes. To top it all off, my kids caught Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease just a week ago.
Fifteen days ago, I developed pharyngitis. My doctors prescribed Lekoclar XL for a 14-day course. On day ten, I spiked a high fever and developed what looked like a herpes outbreak spreading across my entire face, eyebrows, and scalp. The infectious disease specialist's report noted honey-colored papulocrustous rashes on my ears, face, and scalp, along with small papular rashes on my palms. There is hyperemia in my pharynx and aphthae on the palatal arches. Also, cervical adenopathy. Heart shows a systemic murmur of 2/6.
Blood work results:
AST 53 (8-30)
ALT 62 (10-36)
CRP 68
MPV 11.1
WBC 11.7 (3.4-9.7)
MONOCYTES 1.33(0.12-0.84)
NEUTROPHILS 73 (44-72)
LYMPHOCYTES 15 (20-46)
MONOCYTES 11

I’ve transcribed the abnormal values. What could this mean? I saw an infectious disease specialist who isn't even sure if I should continue with antibiotics right now or not. I am begging for some advice. Today, I'm feeling a strange pain in my right groin that's radiating down my leg. Thank you.

If even the infectious disease specialist is stumped, what hope is there for us here?

vividsailor7 said:Is it really that much trouble to just lay it out clearly? (The way it was originally written was pretty pointless)
Back in 2010, following a diagnosis of *E. coli* infection, I was referred to a gastroenterologist because of epigastric pain and diarrhea under a suspected K29 diagnosis; they ordered my kks and an EGD.
My initial C3 and C4 levels were tested in 2011 after the GI specialist started suspecting SLE.
Then I was sent to an immunologist based on that SLE suspicion, and in 2012, while investigating [redacted], he requested those same results and noted...
Or something along those lines, anyway.

It’s just frustrating when I know nobody on this forum is actually going to give me a definitive diagnosis, and I'm really just looking for general information on what these markers are used for. If anyone happens to know, great; if not, that's fine too. So why all the shock and the endless interrogation? If you don't want to help, then just don't.

So, I was really holding out hope that someone might weigh in with an actual opinion—you know, some insight into what we should even be doing about these blood results and what the next steps in this whole process ought to be.

Chris Howard3 said:Hey everyone!
already I’ve been dealing with this non-stop sore throat for four months now, and honestly, I'm just completely over it. It feels like every time I think I'm finally getting back to normal, another bout of pharyngitis hits me out of nowhere. So, you're dealing with constant bronchitis, a raspy voice, and those nagging sinus issues... what does that actually signal when it's happening all the time? It’s like your body is stuck in a loop of being run down. So, I’m currently stuck on a round of antibiotics. Just one of those things, you know? Life happens. Let’s get down to brass tacks. Since December 5th.When I was... So, I ended up checking into the hospital because my throat started swelling up like a balloon—total edema situation. Honestly, it was one of those moments where things just went south fast. I just finished up my drink. So, I ended up going through four whole two-packs of antibiotics back-to-back. Just one after the other.I'm just sitting here having a drink. I'll be reading them in about a month. So, I'm currently on 10 mg a day to help manage some mild anxiety and depression. Just keeping things steady. So, I’ve been dealing with glaucoma in both eyes lately. It's one of those things that just hits you out of nowhere, isn't it? One day you're fine, and the next you're navigating all this new terminology and eye doctor appointments. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip trying to wrap your head around how much pressure is actually sitting behind your vision. Just wanted to put that out there and see if anyone else here is walking a similar path..So, my kids came down with that whole hand, foot, and mouth disease mess about a week ago.
about 15 days ago So, I just got my results back. So, I’ve been dealing with this nasty case of pharyngitis lately, and honestly, it’s just one of those things that makes you realize how much you take a normal throat for granted. It’s that deep, scratchy, "I swallowed a handful of gravel" kind of feeling. I was sitting there yesterday, trying to get some work done, and every time I tried to swallow, I felt like my tonsils were staging a full-blown protest. It’s funny how quickly a little soreness can turn into a whole ordeal. You start thinking you’re fine, maybe just a bit dehydrated, but then the swelling kicks in and suddenly you're staring at the medicine cabinet wondering if you should go the heavy-duty route or just try to tough it out with some warm tea and honey. I ended up grabbing some soothing lozenges from CVS and just hunkering down on the couch, watching old reruns, hoping my immune system would decide to get its act together soon. If you're going through it too, hang in there—it’s a total drag. So, I ended up dealing with some pretty nasty tonsillitis recently. It really knocked me sideways for a bit. lekoklar So, I’ve got about two weeks left on this current round of meds... just wondering if anyone else has been through this stretch or has any tips on how to handle the next 14 days. So, about ten days ago, I came down with this nasty fever, and then things got even weirder—this rash that looks a lot like herpes just started spreading all over my face, hitting my eyebrows and even creeping into my hairline.So, I just got the infectious disease specialist's report back, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. They found this honey-colored, crusty rash on my ear, face, and scalp, plus some tiny little bumps scattered across my palms. My throat is looking pretty rough too—super red with those annoying little ulcers sitting right on the palatal arches. On top of that, the lymph nodes in my neck are swollen. They also picked up a systemic heart murmur, rated at 2/6. Definitely feels like something's going on.
So, I was just staring at my latest blood work results, trying to make sense of all these numbers and acronyms that look more like a secret code than actual medical data. You know how it goes—you get those lab notifications on your phone, and suddenly you’re spiraling, wondering if everything is actually okay or if you need to schedule an immediate appointment with your doctor. It’s kind of a trip how much power a single decimal point can have over your mood. Honestly, I spent way too much time yesterday just scrolling through various forums and trying to cross-reference my levels with what everyone else says is "normal," which, let's be real, is a total rabbit hole. I ended up falling down a massive research spree, half-expecting some life-changing revelation, but mostly just feeling slightly more confused than when I started. Anyway, if anyone else is currently deep in the weeds with their own labs, feel free to vent. It’s a weirdly isolating feeling, isn't it?
So, I just got my latest labs back, and my AST came in at 53. It’s a little higher than what I usually see on my reports, so I’ve been sitting here thinking about it for a bit. Honestly, it’s one of those numbers that makes you pause, even if it isn't off the charts or anything crazy. I'm mostly just trying to figure out if it's something I should be sweating over or if it's just one of those random fluctuations that happens from time to time. Has anyone else dealt with a bump like this? Just curious if there's any specific context you all look for when your levels drift slightly outside the normal range. (8-30)
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and it turns out my ALT is sitting at 62. Honestly, seeing that number pop up always gives me a little bit of a momentary pause, even if it’s not exactly off the charts or anything. It’s just one of those things where you start wondering if that extra slice of pizza or the late nights have finally caught up to you, though I try not to let it get to me too much. Just keeping an eye on things, I guess. (10-36)
So, I just saw my CRP came back at 68. Honestly, seeing a number like that pop up on the lab results feels a bit heavy, even if you're trying to stay chill about it. It’s one of those moments where you just sit there staring at the screen, wondering exactly how much inflammation is actually going on under the hood. It’s definitely high enough to get my attention, so I'm just hanging tight and waiting to see what the next steps look like.
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and my MPV came back at 11.1. It’s one of those numbers that just sits there on the page, making you wonder if it’s actually worth a second thought or if it's just more noise in the system. Honestly, sometimes these little fluctuations feel like they're trying to tell a story, but half the time, they're just being dramatic for no reason. Still, it's easy to get stuck in that loop of staring at the screen and wondering what it all means for the big picture.
So, I just got my bloodwork back and my white blood cell count is sitting at 11.7, while the standard range here usually tops out around 9.7. It’s a little bit elevated, which always gets you thinking, doesn't it? I'm not exactly panicking, but it’s definitely one of those things you notice and wonder if it's just some random inflammation or if my body is trying to tell me something about that cold I was fighting off last week. Still waiting to see how everything else shakes out.
So, I was looking over my latest labs, and my monocyte count came back at 1.33, while the standard range tops out at around 0.84. It’s a little bit higher than what the doctors usually like to see, but honestly, I'm trying not to let it get to me too much. I've been doing a bit of digging on Google to see if this is actually cause for alarm or just one of those things that happens when your immune system is busy dealing with something minor. It’s easy to spiral when you see numbers outside the norm, but I'm just taking it slow and seeing how I feel.
My absolute neut.gran. came back at 73, while the standard range tops out at 72. It’s such a tiny little bump, honestly—hardly even worth a second thought, but I guess that’s how it goes when you start obsessing over every single number on a lab report. Just one point over the line. Still trying to wrap my head around what it actually means for me right now.
So, I was looking over my latest blood work, and my lymphocyte count came back at 15, while the standard range usually starts at 20. It’s a little lower than what they typically look for, but honestly, I’m not exactly panicking about it just yet. Sometimes these numbers jump around depending on whether you've been fighting off a nagging cold or if you're just feeling run down. Still, it's one of those things that makes you want to sit there and wonder what's actually going on under the hood.
So, I was looking over my latest blood work, and I noticed my monocyte count is sitting at 11. It’s one of those little things that catches your eye when you're scrolling through the results, right? Nothing crazy, just a bit of an outlier compared to what the lab usually lists as the standard range. Honestly, it’s kind of funny how much we obsess over these tiny numbers, like they're some sort of crystal ball for our health. I’m mostly just keeping an eye on it and seeing if anything else pops up, but for now, it's just a random data point on a page.

I just finished going through my lab results, and honestly, things aren't looking great. I’m feeling pretty uneasy about it. I already went to see an infectious disease specialist, but even they seemed a bit on the fence about whether I should start on antibiotics right away or hold off. I’m feeling a little lost here—if anyone has dealt with something similar or has some insight, I’d really appreciate the advice. To make matters worse, I’ve developed this weird, nagging pain in my right groin today, and it’s starting to radiate down my leg. Thanks in advance.

Look, AST and ALT levels can definitely spike because of certain medications—clarithromycin, for instance, is notorious for doing that, though it’s usually just a temporary thing. The problem here is we’re flying blind. We don't have any data on exactly which antibiotics were prescribed previously, nor do we know what the throat swab results actually showed (I'm assuming a swab was done since there's been this lingering inflammation). There’s no mention of an ENT consult either, which I'd imagine happened given the symptoms. We’re also missing all the historical labs needed to track the actual trend—you know, seeing which specific parameters were climbing, dropping, or finally normalizing after being on therapy. Without those baseline numbers, we're guessing. Plus, there’s zero info on previous medical history, like if they deal with frequent strep throat, and nothing regarding their epidemiological background—things like having pets, recent travel to tropical spots, or even the family history beyond the kids' current illness. Even with the kids, we don't know if it's a confirmed isolated virus or if the diagnosis is just based on how they look clinically. At the end of the day, like vividsailor7 pointed out, it’s pretty much impossible to be smarter than the infectious disease specialist who is actually standing in the room, looking at the patient and the full clinical picture.
The skin changes, the scalp issues, and that feverish feeling you're describing... honestly, they could be anything from a simple herpes flare-up to the onset of something way more serious, like Sjögren’s syndrome or TEN. If those skin patches start spreading or if your temperature keeps climbing, we definitely need to take it seriously. As soon as possible. You should really sit down and have a serious talk with your doctor about this.
So, the CRP is running high, which usually points toward some kind of inflammation going on somewhere in the body. The tricky part, though, is that we don't have any baseline numbers to go off of. Without seeing what your previous levels looked like, it’s a bit of a guessing game—for all we know, this number could actually be way lower than it was before you started the clarithromycin, or it could be on its way up. It's hard to tell the direction of the trend without that context.
Look, at the end of the day, this is all just guesswork and speculation. You really need to wait until the full processing is finished and then sit down with your doctor to figure out the next steps for a formal diagnosis.

My GGT levels were high...
Got my blood drawn about ten days ago.
It hit 84, and if I recall correctly, the limit is around 55.

I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol for 20 days before the tests.
Does this mean my liver is basically in a coma because of how hard I used to live, or can things actually get back to normal...

Robert Green93 said:My GGT levels were running high.
I went in for bloodwork about ten days ago.
Mine was at 84, and if I recall correctly, the cutoff is around 55.

I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol for 20 days leading up to the tests.
Does this mean my liver is basically in a coma because of how wild I used to live, or can things actually get back to some kind of normal range?

It’s definitely possible for those numbers and your overall liver function to "normalize," provided you stick to what the doctor says about staying away from booze, though it really all depends on how much damage has already been done.
It makes total sense to re-test your GGT after about 4 to 6 weeks of sobriety, and honestly, seeing those results might give you that extra push you need to change your lifestyle and leave that "wilder side" of your past behind for good.😉

velvetmoose9 said:AST and ALT levels can spike due to medication—clarithromycin, for instance, is known to do this and it’s usually just temporary—but we simply don't have the full picture here. We don't know which specific antibiotics were prescribed previously, nor do we have the results from any throat swabs (which I assume were performed given the persistent inflammation). There's no ENT report either (I'd imagine an ENT specialist was consulted), and without previous lab work, how are we supposed to track the trend? Which parameters are climbing, dropping, or stabilizing after starting therapy? We lack details on prior medical history—like frequent bouts of strep—and there's zero info on epidemiological factors, such as pets, recent travel to tropical regions, or even the family history beyond the children's current illness. Even then, we don't know if it's an isolated virus or if the diagnosis is purely based on clinical symptoms. Ultimately, as vividsailor7 pointed out, it is incredibly difficult to play doctor when an infectious disease specialist has the benefit of seeing the actual clinical presentation and all the raw data.
The skin changes, scalp issues, and fever could be anything from a herpes reactivation to the onset of much more serious conditions like Sjögren's syndrome or TEN... if those symptoms worsen or the fever climbs, you absolutely need to get in touch with a physician immediately.
The CRP is elevated, suggesting inflammation, but again, without baseline values for comparison, we're flying blind; it could be significantly lower than it was before the clarithromycin, or it could be steadily rising.
In short, this is all pure speculation at this stage. You really need to complete the full diagnostic workup and consult your doctor regarding the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you so much for the response.
Regarding the ENT side of things, I've actually been to the specialist about ten times over the last three months. The initial diagnosis was allergic rhinitis, and I've since developed allergies to several airborne allergens, including a positive marker for dust mites. They performed swabs of my throat and nose, which showed staph in the nasal passage—though apparently, that's considered normal. Back in December, my older son had some tests done where they found Streptococcus pneumoniae in his nose and Streptococcus pyogenes in his throat; we suspect I might have caught the same thing during my own hospitalization for throat edema.
Since December, I've been prescribed two consecutive courses of Lecklar XL. My CRP was checked ten days before these latest results and was at 14.6, while my white blood cell count was fine at 9. That was only the second day of the Lecklar; these current results were taken on the twelfth day of treatment. Thank you again for your help.

Blood work looks fine, except for these specific markers:
MCHC- 35.1 (Range is 32.0-34.5)
thrombocyte crit-0.15 (range 0.17-0.35)
urea -2.7 (range 2.8-8.3)
creatinine 40 (range 49-90)
CRP- 18.1
I'm 26—is this okay? My doctor won't be back until Monday.