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

velvetmoose9 said:Dalacin (clindamycin) is an incredibly potent antibiotic, and like any medication, it carries side effects. However, it isn't really typical for it to cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
Any kind of inflammation can potentially raise your glucose levels—though, honestly, I'm not entirely certain how a tooth infection specifically would trigger that, but I suppose it shouldn't be ruled out.
Given that both parents have diabetes, it definitely makes sense to schedule at least an OGTT once the dental treatment is finished, and then expand the diagnostic workup based on those results.
Alternatively, if lunch included a particularly sugary dessert, that might also explain that specific reading.
It is also worth keeping in mind that even home glucose monitors aren't always perfectly accurate...
Is your weight stable, or perhaps you've been exercising regularly?

I took my antibiotic around 8:00 AM, had some coffee, ate some fish, and a protein bar. At 11:30 AM, I checked my sugar and it was 6. I had pierogi for lunch at noon, and when I checked again at 2:30 PM, it was 8.7. After that, I had more coffee, took my next dose of antibiotics, and ate a little salad, and by 6:00 PM, my sugar was 7.1. Generally speaking, I've been feeling quite weak lately... and my mouth feels dry. I'm 5'5" and about 105 lbs. For the last two years, I've been using antibiotics like Augmentin for bladder infections, during which time my sugar levels were fine. My last checkup was back in November of last year. So, I'm feeling pretty anxious right now.😢

steelwalker68 said:So, I took my antibiotic around 8:00 AM, had some coffee, grabbed some fish sticks and a protein bar. Checked my blood sugar at 11:30 and it was sitting at 6. Then I had some potato dough for lunch around noon, and by 2:30 PM, it was up to 8. After that, I had more coffee, took my next dose of antibiotics, ate a bit more salad, and hit 7.1 by 6:00 PM. Honestly, though, I’ve been feeling super weak lately... and my mouth feels incredibly dry. For context, I'm about 5'5" and only 105 lbs.

You definitely need to get in to see your doctor sometime soon.
Have you noticed any unintentional weight loss over the last year or two—maybe even just in the last couple of months?
"Feeling weak" is such a vague way to put it, it doesn't really tell us much...

velvetmoose9 said:You really ought to schedule an appointment with your doctor sometime soon.
Have you happened to lose any weight over the last year or two—or maybe even just the last few months—without actually trying to?
"Weak" is a pretty vague and broad term to work with...

I mean, my weight always fluctuates a bit... I'll drop a couple of pounds and then gain them right back. 🤷 It’s more like my legs feel weak, almost like a tremor or something. I'm finishing up this antibiotic on Sunday, so I plan to fast and check my blood sugar first thing Monday morning before heading to the doctor. I have to admit, I am a little caught off guard by all this. Last month, I was eating pretty much whatever I wanted, and my blood sugar was consistently staying around 6.🤷

Robert Green93 said:I have no clue where to drop this question on this forum, so I'll just put it here.

Is drinking a liter of green tea every two or three days going to mess with my system?

Try asking over in the Food and Health section. There's actually a whole thread dedicated to green tea there. 🙂

steelwalker68 said:I have a question. If I've posted this in the wrong thread, please forgive me.

So, I was prescribed Dalacin 300 mg to deal with this tooth infection. Just a heads-up, I decided to check my blood sugar today just out of pure paranoia. After breakfast, it hit 6.0, and then two hours after lunch, it was sitting at 8.7. 😕

I’m taking these pills every eight hours now, and honestly, I can't tell if it's the medication causing this or something else entirely. Is it the meds? I have no idea. 🤷 Both my parents have diabetes. And yeah, I'm only 27. Thanks for getting back to me.

I think you’re losing your grip on reality here. If your diabetes were actually unregulated, your blood sugar would be spiking way higher than this. Just take a measurement first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. If that number looks fine, then quit obsessing and stop testing yourself constantly.

Brandon Walker10 said:Hi there. My child is eighteen months old, and we just had CMV testing done. The IgM came back negative, but the IgG is positive at 2.7 IU/ml via the EIA method. Reference values are >0.4 for positive and <0.4 for negative... I'm wondering if it's possible the child received those IgG antibodies through breast milk or in utero, or does this definitely mean they actually contracted the CMV virus? Thanks in advance for any insight.

Hello,

You've raised an interesting point. The exact timeline for maternal anti-CMV IgG antibodies to clear from a child's system isn't strictly defined in medical literature. Most studies suggest this happens over several months, typically by the first birthday. Intervals vary—some sources say 4 to 9 months, others suggest up to 8, some up to 12, and you might occasionally see data suggesting they can be detected even later.

What prompted the testing in the first place?

Hey there! I'm pregnant and just got my liver function tests back. Does anyone have any insight on whether these results look super concerning? Thanks!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/nalaz.png/

stormyowl152 said:Hi everyone! I'm pregnant and just got my liver function tests back. Can anyone tell me if these results look seriously critical? Thanks!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/nalaz.png/

This looks pathological.
First things first: you need to get in touch with your primary doctor immediately.
Don't just sit there—start tracking symptoms like itching (pruritus), jaundice, hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting), or elevated blood pressure.
You’re almost certainly going to need more testing to figure out what's actually happening. It'll likely look something like this:
CBC, CRP, Iron, UIBC, ALT, GGT, glucose, ALP, direct and indirect bilirubin, ammonia, urea, creatinine, AFP, hepatitis markers, lipid panel, copper, PV, AT III, bile acids, and a urinalysis.
Plus an abdominal ultrasound.
And for heaven's sake, keep a close eye on those blood pressure readings.

Hello everyone—we finally received the blood serum results for Toxoplasma gondii. Just to recap, I previously shared the lab work for my 3.5-year-old child about three weeks ago.
IgM positive
IgG 232
Avidity test performed—interpretation impossible!
We also had some follow-up blood work done:
aspartate-aminotransferase 22 (9-20)
MCV 71.0 (73.8-89.4)
MCHC 23.6 (24.3-29.2)
Platelets 513 (150-450)
Segmented neutrophils 17 (30-72)
Lymphocytes 67 (15-55)
Monocytes 4 (5-13)
Atypical lymphocytes 7 (0)

I’ve listed only the values that fall outside the normal range—but what does this whole picture actually signify? And more importantly, is this Toxoplasmosis something we need to be truly worried about? As for the liver enzymes, they seem to be trending downward during our monthly check-ups.
Thanks so much!

Hey everyone,

I could really use some help interpreting these results from my "ejaculate bacteriology" test;

- Microscopic specimen: polymorphonuclear: 0

- Enterococcus species: 100,000 CFU/ml

- ampicillin: S
- ciprofloxacin: S
- norfloxacin: S

LEGEND: S-sensitive, CFU- colony forming units.

I’m in my late twenties, and I had this done because my wife's OB-GYN ordered it to check our fertility. Just a heads-up: all my numbers from the semen analysis (taken from the exact same sample) are at least three times higher than the standard reference ranges.

Thanks in advance.

Lawrence Ortiz6 said:Hello,

I'm looking for some help interpreting these results from an "EJACULATE bacteriology" test:

- Microscopic sample: polymorphonuclear: 0

- Enterococcus species: 100,000 CFU/ml

- ampicillin: S
- ciprofloxacin: S
- norfloxacin: S

KEY: S-sensitive, CFU- colony forming units.

I’m in my late twenties. This was ordered by my wife's OB-GYN as part of a fertility workup. For context, all the values from my semen analysis (taken from the same sample) are at least three times higher than the standard reference ranges.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

Enterococcus spp. is a bacterium that normally lives in the gut—it's a standard resident there. However, when it shows up in the urinary or genital tract in significant numbers, it starts causing issues. It can reduce sperm motility, which can impact fertility to some degree.

If treatment is necessary, we use antibiotics that show sensitivity. Ideally, semi-synthetic penicillins are preferred whenever possible (assuming good sensitivity and no allergies).

Regarding the rest of your semen analysis, more isn't always better, but I can't comment on that without knowing specifically which parameters you're referring to.

Best regards. 🙂

Chris Howard3 said:Hello, we just received the serum results for Toxoplasma gondii. Three weeks ago, I posted the previous results for my 3.5-year-old child.
IgM positive
IgG 232
Avidity test performed - interpretation not possible!
Also, recent blood work:
alanine-aminotransferase 22 (9-20)
MCV 71.0 (73.8-89.4)
MCHC 23.6 (24.3-29.2)
Platelets 513 (150-450)
Segmented neutrophils 17 (30-72)
Lymphocytes 67 (15-55)
Monocytes 4 (5-13)
Atypical lymphocytes 7 (0)

I’ve only listed the values outside the normal range. What does this all mean collectively, and is this Toxoplasmosis dangerous? Liver enzymes have been trending down over the last month during monitoring.
Many thanks!

Ma'am,

To offer any concrete insight, one would need to compare the IgG antibody titer from the sample taken three weeks ago against the most recent one, and the specific testing method used must be known. If the IgG titer increases by at least two-fold or more while IgM is present—assuming an ELISA method was used—that could indicate a recent infection.

In the previous report, you mentioned the IgM titer and avidity, but the IgG titer wasn't specified. In this current report, the IgM titer isn't listed, only the IgG, and since avidity is undetermined, commenting on the full picture is difficult.

As I've noted before, if a recent infection with this parasite is confirmed, and the child is otherwise healthy with a strong immune system, the illness typically resolves on its own. In rare cases, complications can arise involving inflammation of the retina, heart, liver, lungs, brain, or meninges.

The situation is different, as previously stated, for individuals with compromised immunity (such as those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, patients battling malignancies, or those undergoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy).

If it is determined that the child has a fresh Toxoplasmosis infection—though I wouldn't presume to say that without a detailed review of all labs and a physical exam—an eye exam to check the fundus is recommended.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey there,

Enterococcus spp. is basically a bacterium that lives in your gut—it’s a normal resident there. But once it starts showing up in high numbers in your urinary tract or genital system, that's when things get messy. It can actually tank sperm motility, which might mess with fertility a bit.

If it needs treating, we use antibiotics that it's sensitive to. Ideally, if there's good sensitivity and no allergies, semi-synthetic penicillins are the go-to choice.

As for the rest of those semen analysis numbers, it's not always a case of more being better, but I can give you my take on that once you tell me exactly what we're looking at.

Best, 🙂

Listen,

thanks for the input. If I've got this straight, should I be asking my primary care doctor for Amoxicillin?

And about that semen analysis—maybe I phrased it poorly: all the values are 3 times BETTER, not necessarily just HIGHER than the reference range.

I'm 22. My psychiatrist sent me for this blood work because they wanted to rule out any physical causes for my mental health struggles.
Low blood pressure is also an ongoing issue for me.
Right before the draw, I was feeling pretty rough—honestly, I've been feeling off lately in the mornings too. A bit of dizziness, weak legs, almost like I was about to pass out.

Here are the results:

Hematology:
RBC 3.89 (3.89 - 5.08)
Hgb 117 (119 - 157)
Hct 0.346 (0.356 - 0.470)
MCV 89 (83.0 - 97.2)
MCH 30.2 (27.4 - 33.9)
MCHC 339 (320 - 345)
RDW 12.7 (14.6 - 16.5)
Platelets 220 (158 - 424)
MPV 7.5 (6.8 - 10.4)
WBC 7.9 (3.4 - 9.7)
ESR 8 (4 - 24)

Metabolites and Substrates:
Total Bilirubin 8 (3 - 20)
Glucose 4.3 (4.2 - 6.0)
Creatinine 71 (63 - 107)
Urea 3.1 (2.8 - 8.3)

Enzymes:
ALT 5 (10-36)
AST 10 (8 - 30)
GGT 8 (9 - 35)

Electrolytes:
Potassium 3.9 (3.9 - 5.1)
Sodium 138 (137 - 146)

I have the urinalysis too, but everything there looks normal.🙂

Thanks in advance.🙂

Lawrence Ortiz6 said:Hello,

Thanks for the input. If I have this right, I should probably ask my primary care physician for Amoxicillin?

Regarding those semen analysis results, maybe I wasn't clear: all the values are three times BETTER, not necessarily just higher than the reference range.

Hello,

Take those results to your family doctor; they’ll be the ones to decide on the next steps. One thing is certain: Ciprofloxacin usually requires a specialist's sign-off. Technically speaking, a GP shouldn't just prescribe it on their own whim, so your doctor likely won't write that specific one for you. Since Ampicillin and Amoxicillin share a very similar spectrum, she might opt for the latter.

Given the bacterial count, I assume you'll be put on some kind of treatment. It's relatively unlikely that these findings are the direct cause of fertility issues, though as I noted before, there is a possibility of temporary sperm motility drops due to this specific infection.

Best regards. 🙂

@Brandon Lopez6
Look, I’m not a specialist in neuropsychiatry or internal medicine, so don't take my word as gospel, but if you ask me, there is absolutely no point in even starting a conversation about "ruling out physical causes" for these kinds of issues without having actual hormone results—specifically thyroid and maybe cortisol—along with a full electrolyte panel in hand. Trying to talk about this without those, let alone bringing up things like an ECG or some Doppler tests, is just straight-up medical heresy...

Kevin Garcia12 said:@Brandon Lopez6
I'm not an expert in neuropsychiatry or internal medicine, but honestly? You shouldn't even start talking about "ruling out physical causes" for symptoms this vague without checking hormone levels—specifically the thyroid and maybe cortisol—and a full electrolyte panel. Trying to bypass that with just an ECG or some Doppler scans feels like straight-up heresy...

They've sent me for a bunch of tests. So far, I've only knocked out the blood work and the EEG. Still need to get my thyroid checked, do some psychological testing, and get a brain CT. Some of these have long wait times and others are quicker; the blood work was the only thing I could actually get done through my own doctor.

I'm mostly just wondering if everything looks okay in these blood results. 🙂
Regarding the age and why I'm being tested—I only included that because the intro post mentioned providing a reason helps everyone understand the context better. 🙂

You’re right on the edge of anemia, but honestly, those levels shouldn't really be causing any actual symptoms unless you've had some kind of sudden drop—like from heavy periods or an injury—but you could always get your TIBC/UIBC checked to see what's actually happening with your iron stores, even if everything mentioned above doesn't look like typical iron-deficiency anemia... basically, it's acceptable...

alright, thanks a ton 🙏

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some insight regarding my thyroid levels. I just got my results back this morning—since I'm away from home right now, I went to a private lab on my own because my neck started swelling up about four days ago (along with a bunch of other symptoms). My numbers are TSH: 1.70, T4: 83, and T3: 1.50. I know they technically fall within the normal range, but I'm wondering if these "lower-end" values could still mean something is going on. Last year, I had some thyroid issues too (my TSH was slightly elevated), but the doctors told me I didn't need any treatment at the time.

I'll be seeing my doctor in about ten days once I'm back home, but I was just curious: can the thyroid still act up even if the TSH levels stay relatively stable?😁

Thanks so much!