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

Started by vividsailor7 · · 👁 60 views · 3.9K replies

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Participants vividsailor7redcrane22Sandra Rivera37swiftbear86melloworca6Dana Martin87ironskipper80mellowgardener15goldenmarlin6analogbison13Nicholas Myersstormygardener34Roger RodriguezDonna Mitchell3Kenneth Vaughn2Laura Ward98briskseal32Susan Vaughn46Zachary Lewis4driftingmason52rustyheron55Laura Chavez47vividstag24lonecanyon8 …
Thomas Wilson4 Thomas Wilson4 Member
10 messages
joined Aug 2012
#621 ·
Hey, I need some help here... I really don't have the patience to wait a whole month just to grab all my results and take them to my doctor...

So, basically, I had some bloodwork done for hormones, and the results just landed:

FT4, TSH, ACTH, CORTISOL, LH, FSH, PROLACTIN, ANDROSTENE, FTESTO, IGF1 => all good

17OH_PR - 4.37 ref. range: follicular phase: 0.3 - 3.3

DHEAS - 15.05 ref. range: 3.2 - 11.6

E2 - 156 ref. range: follicular phase: 184 - 1774

SHBG - 10.3 ref. range: 20 - 85

TESTO - 3.63 ref. range: up to 2.7

antiTPO < 1 ref.: pos. >50, neg. < 40

So... what's the deal? My endocrinologist sent me in because she suspects thyroid issues... she could actually feel an enlarged anterior lobe during the exam. Now I still have to go get an abdominal and kidney ultrasound.

Thanks
Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Active Member
220 messages
joined Jul 2009
#622 ·
I am 10 weeks pregnant and just finished my routine blood work and urinalysis. Here are the results from my CBC:
red blood cell: 4.02 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin: 120 (119-157)
Hematocrit: 0.372 (0.356-0.470)
MCV: 92.3 (83.0-97.2)
MCH: 31.0 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC: 336 (320-345)
RDW-CV: 12.1 (9.0-15.0)
Platelets: 280 (158-424)
MPV: 8.8 (6.8-10.4)
white blood cell: 11.9 (3.4-9.7)
Neutrophils: 8.70 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocytes: 2.40 (1.19-3.35)
Monocytes: 0.60 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophils: 0.10 (0-0.43)
Basophils: 0.00 (0.-0.06)
Neutrophil %: 68.2 (44-72)
Lymphocyte %: 20.5 (20-46)
Monocyte %: 5.1 (2-12)
Eosinophil %: 0.9 (0-7)
Basophil %: 0.3 (0-1)
Bands: 5.0 (0-2)

Glucose: 4.3 (4.2-6.0)
CRP 8.8 (<5.0)

Urinalysis:
white blood cell: 1
Nitrites: 3 (up to 1)
Protein: 0
Glucose: 0
Ketones: 0
Urobilinogen: normal
bilirubin: 0
red blood cell: 0
Sediment:
red blood cell: Occasional
white blood cell: Some
Mucus: Some
Epithelial cells: Some
Bacteria: Massive
Aside from typical pregnancy symptoms, I haven't felt too bad, though I have had frequent abdominal pains that I assumed were just part of being pregnant. However, over the last few days, I’ve noticed an extremely strong, unpleasant odor in my urine and I'm urinating much more frequently—though I don't have any specific pain or stinging when I go. I dealt with E. coli a long time ago and have had frequent UTIs since then, though I've never been sent for a culture in the USA.
I also have a fluid-filled cyst on my ovary that is actually growing during this pregnancy; I mention this because I'm not sure if it could be impacting these results at all.
My appointment with the OB/GYN isn't until next week, and my regular checkup is three weeks away. Would anyone be willing to help me make sense of these numbers? Should I be worried about anything specific, or does this look like a bacterial infection or something more serious?
Thanks!
vividsailor7 vividsailor7 Active MemberOP
217 messages
joined Sep 2011
#623 ·
Eric Lewis51 said:Male, 40 years old.
Microscopic urinalysis. Let's talk about it.
White blood cell count — 10.
The epithelial cell station... wait, what? I’m looking at this and honestly, I can't even wrap my head around it. Is there actually any data here? It feels like we're just staring at numbers without any context!
Something about bacteria...
I’m looking at these results and wondering—is this something I should actually be worried about? Does this point toward some kind of underlying disease or something else entirely?
Thanks in advance for getting back to me!

We really need to know why this test was ordered in the first place. What kind of symptoms are we actually dealing with here?
If you’re dealing with dysuria, you might want to look into antibiotic therapy—something like Clavulin, for instance. If that's off the table, then quinolones like Cipro or Flexid are the standard alternatives.

Maria Mitchell23 said:Hey, I need some help here... honestly, I’m losing my mind. I don't have the patience to sit around for a month just waiting to pick up all these test results before I can finally take them to my doctor.
So, I finally went in to get my blood drawn for some hormone testing, and the results just landed on my desk. Here they are:
I’m looking at these results—FT4, TSH, ACTH, Cortisol, LH, FSH, Prolactin, Androstenedione, Estradiol, and IGF1—and honestly? It’s a mess. Everything needs to be re-evaluated.
My 17OHP levels came back at 4.37, while the standard reference range for the follicular phase is sitting between 0.3 and 3.3. It’s high. It's definitely outside the norm.
My DHEAS levels came back at 15.05, while the standard reference range tops out at 11.6. Clearly, I'm running high.
My E2 levels came back at 156. Looking at the reference range for the follicular phase, which should be between 184 and 1774... yeah, I'm clearly sitting well below the mark.
SHBG is sitting at 10.3. The reference range is 20–85. Just great.
My testosterone levels came back at 3.63, which is well above the reference range of up to 2.7. This isn't just a minor deviation; it's a significant jump.
Anti-TPO levels came back at less than 1. For context, anything over 50 is considered positive, while anything under 40 is negative.
Well, here we go again... what does all this actually mean? My endocrinologist sent me off for more testing because she suspects there might be some thyroid issues going on—she could actually feel an enlarged anterior lobe during the exam. Now I’ve got an abdominal and kidney ultrasound on my schedule, too. Just what I needed.
Thanks.

Based on these vague medical histories—which, let's be honest, are basically non-existent—all I can do is guess.
It could be PCOS.
It’s absolutely necessary to get a gynecological exam and an ultrasound done. No debate about it.

Sarah Wells23 said:I’m currently 10 weeks pregnant, so I’m running through all the standard blood work. I just got my CBC results back, and here is what they show:

Platelets: 280 (Range: 158-424)
White blood cells: 11.9 (3.4-9.7)
Neutrophil granulocytes: 8.70 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocytes: 2.40 (Range: 1.19-3.35)
Monocytes: 0.60 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophilic granulocytes: 0.10 (Reference range: 0-0.43).
Basophils: 0.00 (Ref: 0.00–0.06)
Neutrophil granulocytes are sitting at 68.2% (normal range is 44-72%).
Lymphocytes at 20.5 (Normal range: 20–46).
Monocytes at 5.1 (Normal range: 2–12).
Eosinophilic granulocytes at 0.9 (normal range is 0-7).
Basophils at 0.3 (Normal range: 0–1).
Unsegmented granulocytes. This isn't just some minor lab fluctuation you can ignore—it’s a signal. When you see this on a blood report, it means your body is essentially sounding an alarm. It indicates that your immune system is rushing immature white blood cells into the fray because it thinks there's an emergency. Usually, this points toward an active infection or significant inflammation. You don't just look at this number in a vacuum; you have to look at the whole clinical picture. If your white blood cell count is also spiking, you're looking at a serious fight happening under the hood. Don't let anyone tell you it's "nothing" without a full workup. 5.0 (0-2)

Glucose 4.3 (Range: 4.2–6.0)
CRP. Let’s talk about C-reactive protein. If you aren't tracking this, what are you even doing? It’s one of those markers that tells you exactly how much fire is burning inside your body. High CRP means inflammation is running rampant, and frankly, it's often the first red flag that things are sliding sideways. Don't just ignore it. 8.8 (
Urine analysis:
White blood cells: 1
Nitrites: 3 (do 1)
Protein levels: zero.
Glucose: 0
Ketones: 0
Urobilinogen levels? Normal.
Bilirubin: 0
Red blood cells: 0
Sediment:
Red blood cells: Rare.
White blood cells: Something's up.
Mucus: Something
The pathology report on the epithelial cells came back, and it says "something." Just "something." That’s it. No context, no specifics, just a vague, frustrating little snippet that tells me absolutely nothing while simultaneously making my skin crawl. It’s maddening when you're looking for clarity and all you get is a cryptic nudge from a lab tech.
Bacteria: Mass
Aside from the usual pregnancy symptoms, I don’t have much going on, except for those frequent stomach pains I just assumed were part of being pregnant. But over the last few days, things have changed—there's this incredibly intense, unpleasant smell whenever I pee, and I'm hitting the bathroom constantly. No sharp pains or stinging when I go, though. Way back in the day, I dealt with E. coli, and since then, I've had recurring urinary infections, but I've never actually been sent for a lab culture in the US.
Thanks!

Since we are talking about a pregnancy here, I wouldn't jump straight to antibiotics unless things get serious—like if there's a major decline in general health, a high fever, dehydration, or something along those lines (in which case, you'd look at amoxicillin or cephalosporins).
Get a urine culture done.
Hannah Kelly Hannah Kelly Member
18 messages
joined Jan 2013
#624 ·
Hannah Kelly said:Hi, I'm 30 years old and dealing with Raynaud's syndrome. For the last two years, I've been getting constant headaches, nausea, pain in my kidneys, hands, and legs, plus broken capillaries and more nausea.
I had HLA typing done, so if anyone could please help me interpret these results? I definitely won't be able to see an immunologist here in the States for at least another 6 months.

HLA A
1 - 9

HLA C
Nt - NT

HLA B
21 - 61

Bw4/bw6
Nt-nt

HLA DR
4 - 8

DR51/DR52/DR53

Nt- nt

HLA DQ
NT

HLA reactive antibody panel (PRA)

All boxes are empty (not sure if I should even list this)

Crossmatch test also shows all empty boxes

NOTE: 173.0

Thanks!

Does anyone know how to read this report?
And what does it actually mean?
Thanks
Donna Taylor5 Donna Taylor5 Member
13 messages
joined Sep 2016
#625 ·
Hello there.

My mother is 50 and has been battling lupus for 20 years.

Her latest labs show her CH50 levels have dropped; a normal range is 50-150, but she’s sitting at 36.
Is there anyone here who can make sense of this? The doctors we've consulted seem stumped on the actual implications...
The only thing we know for sure is that it relates to the kidneys 🤷.

Thanks.
Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Active Member
220 messages
joined Jul 2009
#626 ·
vividsailor7 said:Since this involves a pregnancy, I wouldn't opt for empiric antibiotic therapy unless there was a significant decline in general health, high fever, dehydration, or similar symptoms (in which case, amoxicillin or cephalosporins would be used).
Go ahead with the urine culture.

Thank you so much. I'll wait for the urine culture results. In the meantime, I assume the smartest move is to avoid any cranberry products so I don't skew the results?
My general condition is good—no fever or other issues—but I really don't want anything to get complicated just because I had to wait a while for treatment.
Edward Young2 Edward Young2 Newcomer
2 messages
joined May 2013
#627 ·
I haven't gone through the entire lab report yet—my brain isn't quite there—but I do remember seeing something about enlarged lymph nodes, about 2cm and diamond-shaped. My dad is dealing with an inflammatory process right now and currently has a drain being emptied, so it makes me wonder: are these nodes swollen because of the inflammation, or am I looking at signs of cancer spreading?
He had his stomach and spleen removed about a month ago. Thanks.
James Lopez8 James Lopez8 Member
36 messages
joined Oct 2009
#628 ·
Could you please help me make sense of these microbiology results?

Streptococcus, beta-hemolytic Group B
Antibiotic Sensitivity:
penicillin S
erythromycin S
clindamycin S
tetracycline R
moxifloxacin S
rifampin S
(Note: S = sensitive, R = resistant)
There are very few white blood cells present.

Cervical culture: Ureaplasma urealyticum grew at 10**4
Recommended treatment: Macrolides
Tetracyclines

Chlamydia trachomatis -NEGATIVE- (Very few cells detected)
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#629 ·
Is that a Pap smear?

You’ve got Group B Strep (the stuff listed below shows which antibiotics work, which don't, and what you should avoid) and Ureaplasma. I’m not sure if they even bother treating a 10 to the 4 count—some OBGYNs just ignore it—but the list below also shows the drug class it's sensitive to. No Chlamydia, though. 🙂
James Lopez8 James Lopez8 Member
36 messages
joined Oct 2009
#630 ·
melloworca6 said:Was that a Pap smear?

The results show Group B Strep (the list below indicates which antibiotics it responds to and which ones it's resistant to, so you know what to avoid) and Ureaplasma. I'm not entirely sure if they usually treat a level of 10 to the 4th power—I think some OB-GYNs prefer not to treat that specific amount—but the list below also shows the group of medications it's sensitive to. On the bright side, you don't have Chlamydia.🙂

Yes, it was a Pap smear. And man, did I strike gold. 🙂Thanks!
Casey Campbell2 Casey Campbell2 Newcomer
1 message
joined May 2013
#631 ·
Here’s my latest round of lab results...
Z /1989g

27.12.2011
T4 was sitting at 93.9 nmol/L—just one of those numbers that makes you stare at the lab results for way too long, wondering if it actually means anything or if it's just noise.
So, I just got my latest labs back, and my TSH is sitting at 4.0 mIU/L. Honestly? It’s just one of those numbers that feels like it's hovering in that weird, annoying gray area—not exactly "normal" by some standards, but not quite screaming for immediate intervention either. Just enough to be a little irritating, you know? Typical.

19.3. 2013
So, I just got my labs back and the TSH is sitting at 7.13 mIU/L. Honestly? Not exactly the news I was hoping for—definitely leaning more toward "we have a problem" than "everything is fine." It’s just one of those nagging little numbers that keeps you hovering in that gray area where you're not quite sick, but you definitely don't feel like a million bucks either. Just one of those things, I guess.
T4 was sitting at 96.31 nmol/L—just one more number to add to the pile, I guess.

3.5. 2013
So, I just got my TSH results back—it’s sitting at 1.54 mIU/L. Honestly, looking at these numbers feels like a full-time job sometimes, but if we're going by the standard ranges most doctors here in the States use, this looks pretty solid. It's right in that sweet spot where things usually feel balanced, assuming everything else isn't acting up. Still, you never know how much one little number actually tells you about the whole mess going on inside, right? Just one more thing to track in the endless spreadsheet of life.
hTgAt mL
So, I just got my latest labs back, and looking at this TPO-Ab level... it’s sitting at less than 10 IU/mL. Honestly? It’s pretty much nothing. If you're staring at these numbers wondering if there's any sign of thyroid antibodies lurking around, this result is basically a clean slate. Just one more thing to check off the list, I guess.

9.12.2011
So, my white blood cell count came back at 12.5. Just one of those things that makes you stare at the lab results for a second too long, wondering if everything is actually fine or if I should be prepping for some kind of medical drama. It’s a bit high, sure—definitely outside that perfect little "normal" window—but honestly, sometimes it feels like our bodies are just reacting to the general chaos of living in this country. Anyway, just keeping an eye on it for now.
CRP is sitting at 16.3... honestly, seeing numbers like that pop up on a lab report just kind of gives me that familiar sense of dread—you know, that "here we go again" feeling where you realize your body is definitely throwing a tantrum somewhere. It’s high enough to be annoying, but not quite "emergency room" territory yet, just enough to let you know there's some inflammation running rampant in the background. Just one more thing on the pile, I guess.

25.1.2012
So, my white blood cell count came back at 12.2... honestly, looking at these numbers just makes me want to roll my eyes and head straight for a drink. It’s one of those things where you see a number slightly out of the "normal" range and suddenly you're spiraling, wondering if your body is staging a coup or something. Not exactly the news you want to see when you're already feeling run down—just another thing on the pile, I guess. Anyone else dealt with a jump like this before?
CRP is sitting at 40.1. Honestly, seeing that number pop up is just one more thing to add to the pile—kind of a fun little way to start the day, right? It’s definitely high enough to be annoying.

21.12.2011
LAB RESULTS
So, I just got absolutely blindsided by some absolute nonsense from the staff at Loma Health—seriously, talk about a total lack of professionalism. They actually had the nerve to come at me over my lung X-ray results. Honestly, it’s just one thing after another lately... you'd think they'd have better things to do than pick fights with patients over paperwork, right? Just typical.
So, I’ve been dealing with these constant respiratory infections for the last two months—just one after another. A few times now, I’ve been hit with full-on fevers, spiking up to 102, along with these killer headaches that usually hang around for a day or two before letting up. I finally went in to get some imaging done—did a sinus X-ray and ended up getting chest X-rays too. The sinus scan showed some shadowing in the frontal sinus, and the lung scans... well, they showed an enlarged right hilum and what looks like an enlarged heart shadow? Not exactly the news you want to hear when you're already feeling like garbage. Anyway, my primary care doctor just handed me a prescription for antibiotics and sent me on my way.
So, I’ve been dealing with this weird heart palpitation thing for about a year now—just these random, sudden thumps out of nowhere... honestly, it's been driving me kind of nuts. It’s not like constant chest pain or anything dramatic, just these intermittent moments where it feels like my heart decided to throw a little party without asking. At first, I figured I was just overdoing it with the caffeine or maybe just stressed from work, but after a year of this, you start wondering if there's actually something going on under the hood.

14.2.2012
The results are in. Honestly, looking at these labs is just one more thing to add to the pile—another day, another set of numbers to obsess over. It’s pretty much what I expected, though that doesn't make staring at the screen any less exhausting. Just a lot of technical jargon and data points that feel like they're telling a story I'm not quite sure I want to read yet. Anyway, here's the breakdown of what we're looking at...
So, I finally went in for a checkup here in the States because this low-grade fever just won't quit—it’s been lingering forever and honestly, it was starting to get on my nerves. The doctor basically told me we need to run a full battery of tests to figure out what's actually going on under the hood. Time to see what all the fuss is about, I guess.
So, I finally went in to get everything checked out—did the whole cardiac workup, thyroid hormone panel, and dealt with that annoying vasomotor rhinitis too. They also did an ENT swab for the nasopharynx, some sputum tests, and a urine analysis. Everything came back totally normal. Honestly, after all that running around, it’s almost a letdown when the results aren't even dramatic enough to complain about.

Back in December 2011, I was dealing with these fever spikes hitting up to 100.4 quite a few times. Nowadays, things have shifted a bit—I’m usually running cool through the morning, but then by the afternoon and evening, that low-grade fever starts creeping back in, hovering around 99.5. On top of the temperature stuff, I'm feeling pretty wiped out and dealing with this weird, tense sensation in my abdomen.

Just got my abdominal ultrasound back—everything came back totally clean. No issues found.

15.3. 2012
So, I finally kicked things off at the OB-GYN—just started the whole intake process. It’s always such a drag getting the ball rolling with all those initial appointments and tests, but I guess it's necessary. Just one of those things you have to deal with, right?
So, PCOS. Honestly, where do we even start with this absolute mess of a diagnosis? It’s one of those things that doctors throw around like it’s just some simple hormonal imbalance, but anyone actually living through it knows it’s a full-blown, chaotic rollercoaster that hits you from every single angle. One day you’re dealing with the skin issues, the next it's the weight fluctuations that feel completely impossible to manage despite doing everything "right," and then there's the cycle irregularities—which, let's be real, are enough to drive anyone up the wall. It feels less like a medical condition and more like a constant, exhausting negotiation with your own body. You spend half your life reading endless forums, trying to make sense of conflicting advice, and wondering why your biology decided to go rogue. It’s frustrating, it’s draining, and sometimes it just feels plain unfair. If you're currently stuck in the middle of this madness, just know you aren't alone in feeling totally fed up with it all.

8.4. 2013
So, I’ve got this patient coming in with some thyroid issues. Looking back at her history, she deals with these random respiratory infections every now and then, but nothing ever really hit her that hard before—she hasn't had any major illnesses until now. Everything actually seemed to settle down about a year ago. Back then, we ran the whole works: an echocardiogram, an abdominal ultrasound, a full thyroid panel, ENT stuff, a nasopharyngeal swab, a sputum culture, and a urinalysis. But now? She's back because her hair is thinning out like crazy, which is always a huge red flag for us. On top of that, her periods have been totally irregular lately. Her labs show a TSH of 81 and a T4 of 168, and her BMI is sitting at 28. Definitely looks like the thyroid is acting up again.

Overall, things look okay—stable enough. Patient is eupneic and resting easy. Skin and mucous membranes are looking good, nice and pink, and there’s no sign of hirsutism. I did notice some purplish striae on the lower abdomen, though. Head and neck are clear—no lymphadenopathy to speak of, and the jugular veins are collapsed. Lungs sound totally normal upon auscultation—just regular breath sounds all the way through. Heart, abdomen, and extremities are all looking fine, too.
RESULTS
So, I just got my latest lab results back—nothing to write home about, really, just more numbers to stare at while I wonder why my body even bothers. Here’s the breakdown: Hgb is sitting at 134, glucose is at 5.1, and bilirubin is 8.6. Urea came in at 3.5, creatinine is 80, and the liver enzymes—AST is 23, ALT is 31, and GGT is 21—seem pretty standard, I guess. For the cholesterol stuff, total cholesterol is 5.2, HDL is 1.10, LDL is 3.33, and triglycerides are 1.7. My TSH is hanging out at 7.13, and T4 is 96. Just another day in the life of trying to make sense of this mess.
So, I just got my latest labs back—glucose was sitting at 5.0, then jumped up to 7.6 mmol/L, and my fasting insulin hit 141 pmol/L. Just one of those things, I guess. Always feels like I'm playing a constant game of whack-a-mole with these numbers.

So, I just got my ultrasound results back—ovarian ultrasound shows PCOS on both sides. Honestly? Just what I needed to hear today. It’s one of those things where you feel like your own body is just staging a quiet little coup against you behind the scenes. Typical.

Diagnosis.
So, hypothyroidism. Honestly, where do we even start with this one? It’s one of those things that sounds straightforward on paper—your thyroid just decides to clock out and stop doing its job—but living through it is a whole different kind of exhausting. It’s not just being "tired," you know? It’s that deep, bone-weary fatigue that makes getting off the couch feel like you're trying to move a literal mountain. I remember back when I first started dealing with this, I thought I was just getting old or maybe hitting a wall at work, but nope—turns out my metabolic engine was basically running on fumes. It’s a weird, subtle descent into feeling like a zombie. You get the brain fog (which is a total nightmare if you actually need to be productive), the random weight gain that makes zero sense regardless of how much kale you force down, and that constant, nagging chill. Like, I could be sitting in a room that feels perfectly fine to everyone else, and I’m over here shivering under three layers because my internal thermostat is broken. The medical side of it can be such a headache, too. One day your labs look okay, the next they're all over the place, and you're left playing this endless game of adjusting medication dosages—trying to find that sweet spot where you don't feel like a slug but also don't end up with heart palpitations. It’s a frustrating, slow-motion grind. If you're currently in the thick of it, just know it's not all in your head. It really is as draining as it feels.
So, PCOS. Honestly, where do we even start with this mess? It’s one of those things that doctors love to toss around like it's just some minor hormonal hiccup, but anyone actually living through it knows it’s a full-blown, exhausting rollercoaster. It’s not just about "irregular cycles" or whatever they tell you in those glossy medical pamphlets—it’s everything. The skin issues, the stubborn weight gain that feels like it's fighting you every single step of the way, the hair stuff... it’s a lot. It really is. It’s easy to feel like you're shouting into a void when you're trying to navigate the endless cycle of testing and symptoms, especially when you feel like you have to prove you're actually struggling just to get someone to listen. If you're dealing with this right now, just know you aren't crazy. It's a grind, and it sucks.
Chronic sinusitis—just my luck, honestly. It’s one of those things that just drags on forever, making everything feel like a constant uphill battle.

3.5.2013
So, I just got my estradiol levels back, and it’s sitting at 90 pmol/L. Just looking at the reference ranges—which, let's be honest, are always a bit of a moving target—it puts me somewhere in that weird limbo. For the follicular phase, they usually look for 110 to 1100, and during ovulation you're aiming for 360 to 2200, while the luteal phase stays between 360 and 1100. Anything under 37 is where they start flagging menopause territory. At 90, I guess I'm hovering right on the edge of "normal" depending on where I am in my cycle... kind of a frustrating spot to be in, really.
So, I just got my LH levels back, and it’s sitting at 3.6 IU/L. Looking at the standard ranges—you know, the usual stuff where they say you should be between 3 and 12 during the follicular phase, then it spikes up to somewhere between 20 and 200 if you're actually ovulating, and drops back down to 1 to 10 during the luteal phase (or anything over 15 if you've got your period)—it’s basically right at the bottom end of the "normal" bracket for where I should be. Nothing crazy, but definitely not exactly where I'd want it to be if things were moving along perfectly. Just one more data point in this endless, exhausting little puzzle, I guess.
So, I just got my FSH results back—it’s sitting at 4.1 IU/L. Looking at the standard breakdown, they list the follicular phase between 2 and 12, the ovulation phase around 8 to 12, and the luteal phase from 1 to 10. If you're hitting menopause, anything over 20 is the benchmark. Honestly, looking at these numbers feels like staring at a cryptic weather report where you're pretty sure it's going to rain, but you aren't entirely sure why. Just one of those things, I guess.
So, I just got my latest labs back—the usual drill—and looking at the prolactin levels... it's sitting at 7.9 ug/l. The reference range they give you is 4 to 23, so apparently, everything is totally fine and within the "normal" zone. Honestly, it’s one of those numbers that doesn't tell me much, but hey, if the docs aren't freaking out about it, I guess I won't either. Just more data points in the endless pile.
So, I just got my latest lab results back, and man... talk about a reality check. My total testosterone is sitting at a measly 0.5 nmol/L. The "normal" range they give you is supposed to be between 0.2 and 2.6, so technically I’m not bottoming out, but let’s be real—being that close to the floor feels like running a marathon while breathing through a cocktail straw. It's just exhausting. Everything feels heavy, everything is a slog, and honestly, looking at that number just makes me want to roll my eyes at the whole situation. Just one more thing on the pile, I guess.
So, I just got my latest labs back, and looking at this free testosterone number... 11.4 pmol/L. Given that the "normal" range they give you is somewhere between 3.5 and 30, I guess technically I'm sitting right in the middle of the pack—not exactly bottoming out, but definitely not feeling like some kind of high-octane powerhouse either. It’s just one of those numbers that makes you stare at the screen for a minute, wondering if it actually explains why everything feels a little more sluggish than usual lately. Just another day in the life, I suppose.
Free testosterone levels sitting at 2.3... yeah, definitely on the lower end of that 0.5 to 8.0 range. Not exactly where you want to be if you're looking to feel like a functional human being.
So, I was looking over my latest lab results—just one of those things you do when you're trying to make sense of why everything feels slightly off—and I saw my SHBG came back at 21 nmol/L. According to the standard reference range they give you, anything between 15 and 120 is considered "normal," so technically, I’m sitting right in the clear. It's in that lower end of the spectrum, though—not exactly hitting the jackpot, but definitely not cause for a panic attack either. Just another number in the pile, I guess.
DHEAs was sitting at 4.2 umol/L—the lab range says 2 to 10, so technically I'm "fine," if you're into that kind of thing. Just another number on a page, really.

Cortisol levels after taking 1mg of Dex—sitting at 27 nmol/L.

So, I've been on Synthroid 25 mcg for the last two months now.
wiredpanther7 wiredpanther7 Newcomer
1 message
joined May 2012
#632 ·
age: 23
reason: irregular periods (my gynecologist sent me to an endocrinologist, and now I'm here for hormone testing)
other medical history: NHL in remission (8 years), had some febrile seizures as a kid

Here are my results. I put the reference ranges in parentheses. I tested my reproductive and thyroid hormones on day 4 of my cycle)

(S) 17-hydroxyprogesterone - 2.0 (nmol/L follicular phase - 0.3 - 2.4; ovulation 0.9 - 4.2; luteal 1.8 - 7.0, postmenopause 0.4 - 1.5; post-ACTH
(S) free testosterone 12.0 (pmol/L 0.2 - 14.2, Postmenopause 0.4-5.9) - ELISA method

(S) LH* 3.37 (IU/L follicular phase 2.12-10.89; mid-cycle 19.18 - 103; mid-luteal phase 1.20 - 12.86; postmenopause 10.87-58.64) - CLIA method

(S) FSH* 8.10 IU/L (Follicular phase - 3.89 - 8.78; mid-cycle 4.54 - 22.51; mid-luteal phase 1.79 - 5.12, postmenopause 16.74 - 114) - CLIA method

(S) Testosterone* 1.3 (nmol/L - 0.4-2.6) - CLIA method

(S) Prolactin* 255 (miU/L - 71-566; postmenopause 58 - 416) - CLIA method

(S) DHEA-S* 10.2 (nmol/L 0.5 - 10.6) - CLIA method

Notes and comments - D4
__________________________________________________ _______

And the other set of results:

(S) TSH* 0.51 (mu/L - 0.55-4.78) - CLIA method
(S) Total T4 123.8 (nmol/L 58.1 - 140.6) - CLIA method

(Accredited measurement procedures are marked with an asterisk*)

Thanks in advance!
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#633 ·
Ivana33 and everyone else, I moved your posts over to the Info Desk so you wouldn't be wondering where they went. 🙂
Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Active Member
220 messages
joined Jul 2009
#634 ·
vividsailor7 said:Since we're talking about pregnancy, I wouldn't opt for antibiotic therapy unless there’s a more severe issue, like a high fever, dehydration, or general physical distress (in which case, amoxicillin or cephalosporins would be used).
Go ahead with the USA tests.

Please forgive me for asking here again, but if you don't mind answering—my USA results just came back, showing E. coli at 10/5, and I've been prescribed Novocef for five days.
In this situation, can antibiotics help if the bacteria is only present on the cervix? I had swabs done previously when my urine was fine, but now my OBGYN hasn't mentioned any new swabs or tests.
I also asked if my partner should get tested so he doesn't pass it back to me, but he thinks he doesn't need to since he isn't experiencing any symptoms. Since I haven't had any symptoms either, yet the bacteria was still found, what do you think?🙂
vividsailor7 vividsailor7 Active MemberOP
217 messages
joined Sep 2011
#635 ·
wiredpanther7 said:DOB: 23
Reason for visit: irregular periods. My gynecologist sent me to see an endocrinologist, who then ordered a full hormone panel.
Medical history regarding other conditions: I’ve been in remission from NHL for 8 years now, though I did experience a minor bout of febrile seizures.

Here are my lab results—I’ve included the reference ranges in parentheses. I had my reproductive and thyroid hormones drawn on day four of my cycle.

Thanks in advance!

If you ask me, these results look pretty much fine, but there's no way I'm letting this slide without a second look. You absolutely need to go back and redo the TSH, fT4, and fT3 tests. Don't take my word for it—get those levels checked again to be certain.

Sarah Wells23 said:I apologize for coming back here with more questions, but if you don't mind helping me out—I finally got my lab results back from the US. They found E. coli at 10 to 5, and I’ve been prescribed five days of Novocef.
Does ABT actually do anything if the bacteria is sitting on the cervix? I mean, if it's only effective when there’s an infection in the urine, what's the point if the issue is higher up? I had swabs done a while back when my urine results were perfectly fine, and now my gynecologist hasn't even mentioned needing new tests or updated swabs. Is this treatment even worth it in this scenario?
I asked if my boyfriend should get tested too, just so we can see if he's carrying it and potentially passing it back to me. He’s insisting that if there aren't any symptoms, there's no need to bother—but honestly? I didn't have any symptoms either, and yet they still found the bacteria in me. It's frustrating. 🙂

The ABT results are consistent.
When it comes to urinary tract infections, there is absolutely no need to go out and treat your partner. Period.
Look, it’s basic science. If there’s a bacterium living in your gut that happens to be sensitive to Cefuroxime, then yeah, obviously it’s going to work. It's not rocket science.
Nicholas Myers Nicholas Myers Active Member
163 messages
joined Jan 2012
#636 ·
Hannah Kelly said:Hi, I'm 30 years old and dealing with Raynaud's syndrome. For the last two years, I've been struggling with frequent headaches, nausea, kidney pain, issues in my hands and feet, and broken capillaries.
I had HLA typing done, and if possible, I would really appreciate someone interpreting these results. I won't be able to see an immunologist for at least another 6 months.

HLA A
1 - 9

HLA C
Nt - NT

HLA B
21 - 61

Bw4/bw6
Nt-nt

HLA DR
4 - 8

DR51/DR52/DR53

Nt- nt

HLA DQ
NT

HLA reactive antibody panel (PRA)

All boxes are empty (not sure if I should include this)

Crossmatch test results also show all empty boxes

NOTE: 173.0

Thanks!

Hello,

The core concept of this testing is based on the fact that certain HLA antigens appear more frequently in individuals with specific diseases than in the general healthy population.

Essentially, the presence of certain antigens is linked to a slightly higher risk of developing a particular condition. This doesn't mean that anyone carrying a specific HLA antigen will definitely get sick. Similarly, a person can develop the disease without having that antigen.

Regarding your specific results, I see you have HLA-DR4, which can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

However, the situation isn't nearly as straightforward as it looks. There are actually over 30 subtypes within HLA-DR4 (designated as HLA-DRB1*0401 through *0433), and only some of them are linked to rheumatoid arthritis—most notably DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0404.

It is believed that people carrying those specific subtypes have roughly four times the risk compared to the rest of the population. For instance, about 60% of rheumatoid arthritis patients in America carry one of those HLA-DR4 subtypes, and when accounting for all sub-variants, that figure can climb to 80%.

Your current report doesn't provide that level of granular detail because the typing wasn't performed that deeply.

The symptoms you're describing are non-specific, meaning they could point to many different things. Further investigation is required to clarify the cause.

Having a specific HLA antigen isn't a requirement for a diagnosis. Therefore, these results alone cannot tell us whether you have an autoimmune or rheumatic disease, or which one it might be.

Best regards. 🙂
Nicholas Myers Nicholas Myers Active Member
163 messages
joined Jan 2012
#637 ·
Donna Taylor5 said:Best regards!

My mother is 50 years old and has been battling lupus for 20 years.

The latest lab work shows her CH50 is low. Normal range is 50-150, but hers is at 36.
Are there any experts here who could explain this result? The doctors we've asked aren't entirely sure what it actually signifies...
All we know is that it involves the kidneys.🤷.

Thanks!

Hello,

A single lab value isn't enough to draw a meaningful conclusion, but broadly speaking: a low CH50 level (especially when paired with elevated anti-dsDNA) could, or might indicate that the disease is active—essentially, the "dormant" condition has flared up again. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the case for your mother.

It is well-documented that lupus frequently targets the kidneys, potentially causing damage. If anti-dsDNA levels are rising alongside low CH50 and C3, it might (but doesn't have to!) suggest kidney involvement.

Explaining the mechanics here is complicated. To put it simply, in immunology, two plus two rarely equals four. A single lab marker alone isn't sufficient to reach a definitive conclusion.

If physicians suspect kidney involvement and other markers are abnormal, they may opt for a kidney biopsy. This involves using a needle to take a small tissue sample for microscopic examination to determine the extent of the damage and dictate the necessary treatment.

Best regards. 🙂
Hannah Kelly Hannah Kelly Member
18 messages
joined Jan 2013
#638 ·
Maria Fisher46 said:Hello,

The whole point of this testing is based on the fact that certain HLA antigens show up more often in people with specific diseases than in healthy groups.

So, having certain antigens is linked to a slightly higher risk of developing a disease. This definitely doesn't mean someone with that HLA antigen will actually get sick! And just as importantly, someone can still get sick even if they don't have the antigen.

Regarding your specific results, I see you have HLA-DR4, which can be linked to rheumatoid arthritis.

But things aren't nearly as simple as they look at first glance. There are actually over 30 subtypes within HLA-DR4 (labeled as HLA-DRB1*0401-*0433), and only some of them are tied to rheumatoid arthritis—mainly DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0404.

It's thought that people with those specific subtypes have about a 4 times higher risk compared to the rest of the population (those without the antigen) of developing rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, about 60% of rheumatoid arthritis patients (in the US) carry one of those mentioned HLA-DR4 subtypes, and if you account for all the subtypes, that number could climb as high as 80%.

However, you can't see those fine details in your report because the typing wasn't done that deeply.

The symptoms you're describing are non-specific, so further investigation is needed to clear things up.

Having a specific HLA antigen isn't a requirement for a diagnosis, so based solely on this result, we can't say whether you have a condition or, if you do, which autoimmune (rheumatic) disease it might be.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks a lot for the answer

🙂
Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Active Member
220 messages
joined Jul 2009
#639 ·
vividsailor7 said:ABT is appropriate.
There’s no need to treat a partner for urinary tract infections.
If there's a bacterium present that is sensitive to cefuroxime, then of course it will work.

Thank you so much for the response! My doctor actually suggested I stay on it for seven days instead of five just to be absolutely sure the bacteria is gone. And guess what? For the first time in forever, I didn't notice that unpleasant smell in my urine this morning!🙂
Jonathan Edwards9 Jonathan Edwards9 Member
15 messages
joined Feb 2018
#640 ·
hey vividsailor7, what do you think? any advice on diet changes or ways I can get these numbers better?
got a gastroscopy coming up soon—took some Nexium because they're looking into possible cirrhosis... ultrasound was fine except my liver looks slightly enlarged...
blood and urine work came back and my MCHC and GGT are a bit elevated, but everything else looks normal. I don't drink (just wine at weddings or birthdays), no smoking, and no drugs. I don't touch soda or fast food either—mostly just home-cooked meals. The only thing I'm wondering is if GGT could be high because I take Ibuprofen when my period cramps get brutal? It’s basically the only thing that works, so I take it every month...
MCHC is 361 (320-345)
AST 13
ALT 16
ALP 75
GGT 41 (9-35)

urine is totally fine, and cholesterol and triglycerides are good too
should I actually worry about this GGT level??? about a year and a half ago I had the flu and got bloodwork done, and GGT was only 35 then.

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