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

@wiredtinker18/">@@wiredtinker18
Look, we all know the drill—your blood sugar levels are spiking when they really shouldn't be. My best advice? Listen to your endocrinologist. Start getting some regular exercise in, and do your homework on nutrition. Dig into the basics of carbs, proteins, fats, calorie counting, and the glycemic index (just Google all that stuff).
Honestly, you’ve got to take this seriously. Start pivoting toward a healthier lifestyle today. I know it’s a grind, but you really ought to give it a shot.

@Rebecca Phillips25/">@@Rebecca Phillips25
Alkaline phosphatase is just an enzyme that helps drive the hydrolysis of alcohols and phosphoric acid esters. Usually, doctors look at it as a marker for liver health.
If those levels are running low, it might just be a sign of malnutrition, maybe a deficiency in things like magnesium or zinc, or even hypothyroidism. You haven't given us enough data here to really pin anything down. Maybe someone else with more experience can weigh in with more specifics.

@Lawrence Alvarez2
Everything velvetmoose9 said is spot on.

Could someone help me make sense of these results:
total bilirubin 28 (ref.range 3-20)
potassium 3.7 (ref.range 3.9-5.1)
iron 43 (ref.range 11-32)
UIBC 17.0 (ref.range 25-54)

At the same time, my MCV is 80.5 (ref.range 83.0-97.2)
and MCH is 26.2 (ref.range 27.4-33.9). I've read online that these can be signs of anemia—specifically iron deficiency—but that definitely doesn't seem to be the case for me. 😕

Any ideas on what might be going on here?

White Blood Cell count - 5.6
Red blood cell - 4.52
Hemoglobin - 118 (119 - 157)
Hematocrit - 0.375 (0.356 - 0.47)
MCV - 83.0 (83 - 97.2)
MCHC - 315 (320 - 345)
MCH - 26.1 (27.4 - 33.9)
Platelets - 226
MPV - 9.7 (6.8 - 10.4)

Prothrombin time - ratio 1.01
INR - 1.0

AST - 20 (8-30)
ALT - 13 (10-36)
Alkaline phosphatase - 52 (54-119)
GGT - 7 (9-35)

Getting my pre-op workup done. I'm scheduled for a laparoscopy to deal with endometriosis. I guess I'm mostly wondering about these low hemoglobin levels—is this actually anemia, or am I technically within the normal range? Also, I’ll likely be starting birth control pills after the surgery, so I suppose I should check if my coagulation looks okay.

wiredtinker18 said:Hey there,
So, I just got my regular fasting blood work back, and we need to talk about the glucose levels. Honestly, it’s one of those things that gets overlooked, but it's absolutely critical. When you're sitting there waiting for those results to hit the portal, it can be nerve-wracking, right? One little spike and suddenly you're spiraling. I'm looking at these numbers, and I want to dig into what they actually mean for us. It isn't just about a single data point; it's about the whole picture. If you've been staring at your own lab reports lately, let's get into the weeds on this. What are you all seeing? Are your levels steady, or are they jumping around like crazy? Let's discuss. 6.17 mmol/L. That’s the number on the screen. Just staring at it. It’s one of those moments where you feel like the math is personally insulting you. The reference range is 3.3 to 5.6.
Because of my family history, I was sent over to the Mayo Clinic for follow-up testing. They had me redo the fasting glucose test, and this time around, the results came back at... 6.3 mmol/L.
My doctor ordered an OGTT, so I went ahead and got it done. Here are the results (fasting; after 60 mins; after 120 mins):
Let’s look at these numbers: 5.9, 7.7, and 6.9. Honestly? It’s all over the place. One minute things seem under control, and the next, we're spiking. This kind of volatility is exactly what I'm talking about—you can't just ignore these swings. We need to get a handle on this.
Insulin levels: 6.64; 71.44; 29.96.
Female, 40 years old, 5'10", 174 lbs.
I’m looking for some insight on these lab results. My insulin levels have me seriously worried, but my endocrinologist is just brushing it off! He keeps insisting everything is perfectly fine and that my only real "problem" is needing to tighten up my diet and get moving more—apparently, because of my genetics and the fact that I’ve put on about twenty pounds in just six months. It feels like he's totally dismissing my concerns. What do you all think?
Here are the rest of the lab results that might actually matter:
Total cholesterol came back at 82 mg/dL (reference range < 100).
Triglycerides: 0.98 mmol/L (Reference range: < 2)
My HDL cholesterol came back at 1.63 mmol/L (with a reference range of > 0.9).
My LDL cholesterol came back at 2.18 mmol/L (with a reference range of < 4).
My AST came back at 15.40 U/L. The lab says the normal range is anything under 31, so I guess I’m officially within the clear on that front.
My ALT came back at 11.01 U/L (with the normal range being anything under 31).
Thanks.

All my blood work came back perfectly normal.
There’s absolutely no indication that any further processing is required here. Period.

Rebecca Phillips25 said:Does anyone actually care to explain what it means when your Alkaline phosphatase levels come back low? I’m looking for real answers here. ( 26 ) , ref ( 54 -119 ) ?
The liver panel came back, and honestly? Everything is looking perfectly normal. We’re talking glucose, urea, creatinine—all within range. My red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all solid. Triglycerides, cholesterol, hematocrit, hemoglobin, iron... you name it, it's all right where it should be. It's a relief, frankly.
Thanks!

Nothing.

Sandra Davis37 said:White blood cell count—5.6. That’s what I’m looking at.
Red blood cell count: 4.52.
My hemoglobin came back at 118. The lab range says 119 to 157. I am officially below the line. Just barely, sure, but still technically under.
Hematocrit is sitting at 0.375. The reference range is 0.356 to 0.47. It’s technically within the bounds, but it's definitely leaning toward the lower end.
My MCV came back at 83.0. The lab's reference range goes from 83 to 97.2. So, technically, I'm sitting right on that razor-thin line of being "normal." Just barely.
My MCHC came back at 315. The lab range says 320 to 345. Just great. Another number out of bounds.
MCH is sitting at 26.1. The lab range says 27.4 to 33.9. This is low.
Platelets — 226.
My Mean Platelet Volume came back at 9.7, which sits right in that 6.8 to 10.4 range. Everything looks normal on paper.

Prothrombin time—ratio 1.01.
My INR is sitting at 1.0.

My AST came back at 20. The reference range provided was 8 to 30. Everything seems perfectly normal according to the lab, but I'm still keeping a close eye on things.
ALT - 13 (10-36)
So, I just got my labs back, and my Alkaline phosphatase is sitting at 52. The reference range says it should be between 54 and 119. Yes, I’m officially "below normal." It’s frustrating. You spend all this time monitoring everything, staying on top of the numbers, and then you get a result that's technically out of bounds. It feels like a red flag, even if it's just by a tiny margin. Now I’m left wondering what this actually means for me and whether I need to start stressing about it or if it's just a statistical blip. Anyone else dealt with low ALP levels? What was your experience?
My GGT came back at 7, while the standard range is listed between 9 and 35. Just thought I'd share that little data point here.

So, I’m currently going through the pre-op gauntlet. I've got laparoscopy on the schedule to deal with endometriosis, and I have a few burning questions. First off, I'm looking at these low hemoglobin levels—is this actually clinical anemia, or am I just overthinking results that are technically within the "normal" range? Also, once this surgery is behind me, my doctor will definitely be putting me on birth control pills. Given everything else, is my coagulation profile looking solid enough to handle that?

If we’re talking about a full preoperative workup, then this list is nowhere near complete. You're missing the essentials! Where are the creatinine levels? Urea? Glucose? Alkaline phosphatase? Fibrinogen? A full urinalysis? You can't just skip over those if you want a real picture of what's going on before surgery.
Everything looks great.

wiredtinker18 said:Hey everyone,

My fasting glucose from a routine checkup came back at 6.17 mmol/L (standard range is 3.3-5.6).

Since my family has a history of this stuff, I was sent over to the Mayo Clinic where they ran the fasting test again, and this time it hit 6.3 mmol/L.

My doctor wanted an OGTT done too. Here are the results (fasting; 60 mins; 120 mins):
Glucose (5.9 ; 7.7 ; 6.9)
Insulin (6.64 ; 71.44 ; 29.96).

Female, 40 years old, 5'10", 174 lbs.
I’d love some thoughts on these numbers—that insulin level is really messing with my head. My endocrinologist is acting like it's totally fine, basically just telling me to watch what I eat and get moving since I've got the genetics for it and put on some weight (I picked up about 20 pounds in just six months).

A few other stats that might matter:
Total cholesterol - 4.25 mmol/L (ref. < 5.2)
Triglycerides - 0.98 mmol/L (ref. < 2)
HDL cholesterol - 1.63 mmol/L (ref. > 0.9)
LDL cholesterol - 2.18 mmol/L (ref. < 4)
AST - 15.40 U/L (ref. < 31)
ALT - 11.01 U/L (ref. < 31).

Oh, and one more thing that's bugging me: about two months ago, I had an incision for a perianal abscess, and now there’s this walnut-sized lump sitting about 2 or 3 cm away from the site. It doesn't hurt when you touch it, but still. The surgeon just brushed it off, saying it'll go away eventually and he has no clue when, depending on how my body handles it. Honestly, such a useless answer—felt like I was asking some random guy at a gas station instead of a specialist, but hey, that's just how things work here in North Mexico... anyway, I'm losing my mind and don't really know who else to ask. Results:
WBC - 8.1 Gpt/L (ref. 4.4-11.3)
Granulocytes - 69.8% (ref. 55-80)
Lymphocytes - 19.5% (ref. 25-40)
Monocytes - 10.7% (ref. 2-12)
# Granulocytes - 5.7 Gpt/L (ref. 1.2-6.8)
# Lymphocytes - 1.6 Gpt/L (ref. 1.4-3.2)
# Monocytes - 0.9 Gpt/L (ref. 0.3-0.8)
ESR - 15 mm/h (ref. < 25).

Thanks.

By the way, the glucose cutoff is usually 6.0 for fasting, but apparently for people under 30, they use 6.4 as the upper limit. I have no idea who decided those reference ranges should shift around like that depending on which lab you walk into.

I don't think this comes down to just sugar levels and insulin alone. It’s more about how everything connects:

Female, 40 years old, 5'10", 174 lbs.
Could someone take a look at these results? I'm mostly worried about my insulin levels. My endocrinologist says everything looks fine, though he did tell me I need to watch my diet and stay active, especially since genetics play a role and I've put on some extra weight (about 20 pounds in just six months).

About 3 months ago, my father (87 years old)—who had been perfectly healthy until then—suddenly became weak, pale, and started getting fatigued incredibly fast. (He’s already become a regular here).

After a transfusion and two months on Ferrous sulfate 2 x350 mg, this is how his levels look:

• Post-transfusion
• After one month of iron
• After two months of iron

In the meantime, he had an abdominal ultrasound, a gastroscopy, and a colonoscopy—all clear.

The blood work is improving, but honestly, it feels painfully slow. What's weird is that some parameters actually dipped after the first month of iron supplementation.

Looking at these results, can we pinpoint what kind of anemia we're dealing with? Is sticking to iron enough, or could this be a B12 deficiency? (I've read it's common for seniors to lack the "intrinsic factor" in the stomach needed to absorb B12, meaning they might need B12 via IV instead?)

It’s not going to be pernicious anemia, because this was microcytic anemia—pernicious is MACROCITIC, for crying out loud. Besides, you could feed someone iron until tomorrow and it won't do a damn thing if you don't address the B12 deficiency, but since the levels are actually climbing here, just forget about that theory... it's clearly iron-deficiency anemia. It takes time for both the red blood cells to recover and for those iron stores in the blood to actually refill. As for those "normal" test results—keep digging, seriously. If nothing else pops up once the iron replenishment is finished, get a fecal occult blood test done to see if there's any hidden bleeding that isn't visible to the naked eye...

So now I see they found internal hemorrhoids during his colonoscopy, plus gastritis from the endoscopy. Everything else came back "clean"—meaning nothing malignant—but could this actually be the root cause of the anemia, or what?

Hello, this is my first time posting in the "health" section, so I hope I am following the rules correctly.

Age: 28, not pregnant 🙂 non-smoker, currently on oral contraceptives

Reason for testing: I suffer from frequent strep infections; I had my tonsils removed at age 16. While I was healthy for a while after that, last year was rough. I fell ill in August, then again in October—at which point doctors suggested inpatient infectious disease care, though I declined—and then again in December. In September, I experienced severe hives after eating raspberries (on two separate occasions, despite having no prior allergies), and this year I’ve had repeated rashes on my arms after touching foliage and strawberries. I have also been dealing with varying degrees of knee pain. Throughout November and December, I suffered from extreme fatigue. This prompted me to seek diagnostic testing.

Tests completed prior to seeing the immunologist at Holy Spirit: I underwent two sets of cell extractions, testing positive on two out of three days during both sessions. My thyroid function is normal, with all values within the reference range. I tested negative for Waaler-Rose and latex agglutination. My CBC is entirely within normal limits.

fibrinogen 4.4 (reference interval 1.5 - 4),
last AST 678 IU/ml (reference value < 200),
last CRP 17.45 mg/l (reference value < 6),
protein electrophoresis: elevated alpha 2 at 11.1 (normal range 6-10) and beta at 15.5 (normal range 8-13).

My primary care physician referred me to an immunologist at Holy Spirit, where the following tests were recommended: ANA, IEF, anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies, AST, computerized thermography, autologous serum test, skin prick allergy testing, total IgE, C3 and C4, and an arterial ultrasound of the arms and legs.

I have already completed the skin prick allergy testing and the autologous serum test; both returned negative results.

Next were the anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal antibodies:



ANA, IEF, total IgE, C3, and C4



I haven't done the rest yet because the wait time for computerized thermography is incredibly long, so I am holding off on the arterial ultrasound and the AST for now.

I would appreciate any insight regarding these results. My doctor is away on vacation for a while, and my follow-up appointment with the immunologist isn't until November 6th.

Thank you in advance 🙂

So, I finally made it to my doctor because this sore throat is absolutely brutal—and keep in mind, I don't even have tonsils. On top of that, I’ve been running a fever of 100.4°F for three days straight now. My lungs feel like they're burning, and I’m dealing with this dull, nagging ache right under my right ribcage. Plus, my lymph nodes are noticeably swollen.
I just got off the phone with the clinic, and she mentioned my white blood cell count looks fine, but my ALT is at 78 and AST is at 61. Since she didn't comment on those specific numbers, I'm assuming they're "normal" enough for her? She also suggested that since we're looking at liver enzyme issues, it might not be wise to jump straight to antibiotics just yet, so she told me to check back in on Monday. I’d really appreciate any insight you all might have. This isn't a one-off, either—my liver tests have been coming back elevated several times over the last five months.

Taylor Hayes6 said:So now I’m seeing they found internal hemorrhoids during his colonoscopy, and gastritis on the gastroscopy. Anything that wasn't malignant was considered a "normal" finding back then, but this could actually explain where the anemia is coming from, right?

It definitely could...

Chris Howard3 said:I went to see my doctor because I have this intense sore throat—I don't even have tonsils, just a fever hitting 100.4°F for three days now. My lungs feel like they're burning and I've got this dull ache under my right rib cage, plus swollen lymph nodes...
now I just called her and she said my white blood cell count is fine, but my SE is 32, ALT 78, and AST 61. I assume everything else is okay since she didn't mention anything else. She also mentioned she's running more liver tests because she doesn't think it's smart for me to take antibiotics right now, and told me to check in Monday. I'd love some input here... my liver enzymes have been elevated several times over the last five months.

Just wait until you talk to her on Monday, honestly. When it comes to liver enzymes, there are a million things that can spike them, so it's really risky to try and guess without having the full picture... everything from specific foods to various medications, or even infections and toxins can "bump" the liver, especially if the elevations aren't massive, and these numbers aren't exactly huge... 🤷

Hi there,

Could anyone share their thoughts on these thyroid results? It's for a young woman, age 25,

TSH 1.92 — standard range is 0.5-3.6

AnTI-Tg (TgaAT) 230.50 (ref. 5-100 IU/mL)
AnTI-TPO (MsAT) 183.30 (ref. 1-16 IU/mL)

Thanks!

Greetings to everyone, I am joining this community for the very first time.

I am a 38-year-old male, and I have dealt with positive red blood cells in my urine since I was a young child. I have never experienced any physical symptoms or discomfort, and I live my life completely normally despite the fact that every single urinalysis I undergo shows this exact same result.
What I want to know is whether it is possible to live an entire lifetime with elevated red blood cells in one's urine without facing health issues, or will this inevitably lead to complications sooner or later?
I would also appreciate some insight regarding these specific lab findings.
Hematocrit: 0.404 L/L, ref.int 0.415-0.530
MCHC: 359 g/L, ref.int 320-345
Red blood cells/Hemoglobin pos (+++) x 10^6 L, ref.int: 10 Red blood cells: 20-30 HPF, ref.int: 0-2

Thanks for getting back to me, but I’ve gone ahead and pulled up my actual blood work results—so perhaps you can give me a more concrete idea of what we might be looking at here.
SE 32
MPV 10.9
BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTES 1 (0-1)
LYMPHOCYTES 18 (20-46)
ATYPICAL LYMPHOCYTES 2 (0)
URINALYSIS ALL CLEAR EXCEPT FOR
LEUKOCYTES 2-3
SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS a bit
BACTERIA rare
AMORPHOUS URATE SALTS a bit

CREATININE 48 (49-90)
AST 61 (8-30)
ALT 78 (10-36)
GGT 31 (9-35)

Is there any chance this could be mononucleosis?

Hopefully I'm in the right spot. Anyway, my first follow-up after finishing treatment for NHL is coming up soon. On my last lab report from after chemo, it said: "Check SE, CBC, differential, AST, ALT, GGT, AF, LDH, bilirubin, and glucose in 3 months; report back with results..."

If I'm remembering correctly, that's basically ESR, a full blood count with a diff, liver enzymes, and blood sugar, right?

In the meantime, I had to see a different hematologist because my regular doctor was out, and they wrote: "Follow-up exam including SE, CBC, differential, urea, creatinine, Na, K, Ca, transaminases, GGT, AF, LDH, beta-2 microglobulin, electrophoresis, IGA, IGG, IGA."

I'm wondering if these two sets of labs are essentially looking at the same stuff? If not, which one is more thorough, and does the bigger list cover everything mentioned in the shorter one? Thanks in advance.

Taylor Hayes6 said:About 3 months ago, my father (87 years old)—who had been perfectly healthy until then—suddenly became weak, pale, and gets exhausted incredibly fast. (He’s already become one of those guys).
After a transfusion and two months of taking Tylenol 2 x350 mg, his results look like this:

• After the transfusion
• After one month of iron
• After 2 months of iron

In the meantime, we did an abdominal ultrasound, an EGD, and a colonoscopy; all findings were reported as "normal."
The blood work is improving, but it feels painfully slow. Interestingly, some parameters actually got worse after the first month of iron supplementation.
Based on these results, can we conclude what kind of anemia this is? And is just taking iron enough, or could this be a B12 deficiency? (I read that it's common for seniors to lack the "intrinsic factor" in the stomach needed to absorb B12, meaning B12 might need to be administered intravenously?)

It’s microcytic/hypochromic anemia. Honestly, when you start reading about Vitamin B12 deficiencies, try to actually read with some comprehension—pay attention to the MCV.
If you want a real answer, you should post the full general biochemistry, renal function, the EGD with pathology, the colonoscopy, and so on.

Taylor Hayes6 said:I see now that they found internal hemorrhoids during the colonoscopy and gastritis during the EGD. Everything that wasn't malignant was labeled as a "normal" finding for us, but could this actually explain the "source" of the anemia?

feraljackal2 said:Hi there,
could you give me your opinion on these thyroid results? Female, 25 years old.
TSH 1.92 (Reference range: 0.5-3.6)
AnTI-Tg (TgaAT) 230.50 (Ref: 5-100 IU/mL)
AnTI-TPO (MsAT) 183.30 (Ref: 1-16 IU/mL)
Thanks!

It's an immunodeficiency essentially presenting with euthyroidism.

Lisa Moore11 said:Hello everyone, I'm new here.

I am a 38-year-old male and...I've had positive red blood cells in my urine since I was a kid.I’ve never actually felt sick—I live a totally normal life—even though every single time I get a urinalysis, this shows up on the results.
I want to know if you can go your entire life with elevated red blood cells in your urine without symptoms, or if this is eventually going to lead to serious problems?
I'd also appreciate some insight on these specific lab values.
Hematocrit : 0.404 L/L ,ref.int 0.415-0.530
MCHC : 359 g/L ,ref.int 320-345
Red blood cell/Hemoglobin pos (+++) x 10^6 L, ref.int : 10<
Red blood cells : 20-30 V.P , ref.int : 0-2

Well, you've definitely been cleared by a nephrologist then.

Chris Howard3 said:Thanks for the reply, but I just got my blood work back, so maybe you can tell me more specifically what might be going on here.
SE 32MPV 10.9
BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTES 1 (0-1)
LYMPHOCYTES 18 (20-46) ATYPICAL LYMPHOCYTES 2 (0)
AST 61 (8-30)
ALT 78 (10-36)
GGT 31 (9-35)
Is it possible that I have mononucleosis?

Just like my answer to every question like this—yes, it's possible.
Your liver enzymes are slightly elevated.

copperbison4 said:I hope I'm in the right thread. Basically, I have my first follow-up coming up after treatment for NHL. In the specific report after my last chemo session, it said: "Check ESR, CBC, differential, AST, ALT, GGT, AF, LDH, bilirubin, and glucose in 3 months; present with results..."
If I remember correctly, that covers sedimentation, complete and differential blood counts, liver enzymes, and blood sugar, right?
In the meantime, because of some other issues, I saw a different hematologist (since my regular doctor wasn't working that day), and they wrote: "Follow-up exam with ESR, CBC, differential, urea, creatinine, Na, K, Ca, transaminases, GGT, AF, LDH, beta-2 microglobulin, EFP, IGA, IGG, IGA."
I'm wondering if these two sets of tests are asking for the exact same thing. If not, which one is more comprehensive, and does the more extensive list include everything from the shorter one? Thanks in advance.

No, they aren't looking for the same things; that should be obvious.
What the second hematologist is requesting is a broader check-up, which is exactly what you need.

Hi everyone, my mom’s CA 19-9 marker came back elevated—it hit 105, while the normal range usually caps out around 37 or 38. Here’s the thing: this specific marker has been fluctuating since 2008. Sometimes it’s slightly high, other times it sits right within the normal limits. We’ve run the full gauntlet of tests—ultrasound, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT, and MRI—and everything has come back completely clear (thank God), showing absolutely no abnormalities. The only recent finding was from an ultrasound that showed some sediment in her gallbladder, so she was prescribed some medication for that. She’s heading back in next week to re-test the marker to see if that gallbladder issue might be what’s driving the number up. On top of everything else, my mom has type 2 diabetes, so I was wondering if that could potentially cause this marker to rise, or if anyone here has dealt with a similar situation? Thanks.

Linda Harris37 said:Hi everyone, my mom's CA 19-9 marker came back high—it's at 105, while the normal range is usually around 37 or 38. The thing is, this marker has been fluctuating since 2008; sometimes it's elevated, sometimes it's within the normal limits. She's already had an ultrasound, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT, and MRI, and thankfully none of those showed any changes or abnormalities. The only recent finding was from her last ultrasound, which showed some secretion in her gallbladder, so she was prescribed some medication for that. She’s going back in two weeks to retest the marker to see if that gallbladder issue is what caused the spike. Also, my mom has type 2 diabetes, so I'm wondering if that could cause the marker to rise? Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? Thanks.

We need more information here. You really need to provide things like her age, every single medication she is currently taking, her full medical history/diagnoses, whether there was any history of smoking or alcohol use, specific symptoms, other lab results, and so on.

vividsailor7 said:Nah, they aren't looking for the same thing—to me, it’s pretty obvious.
What the other hematologist wants is just a broader set of labs, which is how it should be.

And does that broader panel cover everything from the previous one? Just trying to figure out which results I actually need to bring when I go in for blood work...