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

vividsailor7 · 2012-07-16T13:54:09+00:00

redcrane22 said: levels: 30-ish 😁 tested because I was feeling terrible lately bacteria: rare no serious illnesses not sure what helped To cut to the chase. I …

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#61 · Aug 17, 2012

vividsailor7 said:Why on earth would you bother doing a throat swab, a tetanus shot, or whatever else when everything has already been explained?
Now there’s some mention of a certain bacterium (Helicobacter pylori or whatever)
LOOK, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, I'M NOT STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TELEPATHIC POWERS TO JUST KNOW YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY.
[/B]

Heh... wait, is there actually an official doctor on this forum answering these kinds of things, or are you just doing this as a little hobby?

Honestly, that snippet above—taken completely out of context—is basically my daily life. I actually burst out laughing when I saw that the reactions on this forum are exactly the same as they are in the real world.

What are you even trying to explain to them? Just answer the question.

Take that guy above—the one whose grandmother was in the hospital. If you really wanted to give him a reality check, you’d write something like: Either she has renal insufficiency—which probably means she won't need dialysis for the rest of her life—which is also why she has microcytic anemia (and hey, he can look up those terms on Google if he's interested), OR the alternative is that if she has black or bloody stools, it could be stomach or colon cancer. And as for those creatinine and urea levels? Those are high because you aren't giving the old lady any water (read: she's dehydrated).

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#62 · Aug 17, 2012

vividsailor7 said:The EKG looks fine, and both creatine kinase and the MB isoenzyme came back normal.
She isn't pregnant, and everything else seems okay.
Did they perform a pH study during the gastroscopy?
How old is she?
They really ought to repeat the EGD.

If you ask me, she’s probably around 25—she refers to her parents in a certain way, and they even ran a beta HCG test... plus there was mention of reproductive age and an infarct... I mean, come on, what are the odds?

It's most likely just gastritis.

Gastroscopy 🙂 is basically "excuse me, medicine" at this point. Personally, I’ll just load up on Nexium and if that doesn't work, then maybe a gastroscopy. I am absolutely not letting an endoscopist poke around inside me unless it's a life-or-death situation.🙂

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#63 · Aug 17, 2012

jadedriver0 says:

They ran tumor markers

hCG: result

Look, in this specific instance, they were testing for pregnancy, not actual tumor markers. And honestly? Why aren't you just asking the poor little resident while you're standing right there in front of them? They aren't exactly getting eight hours of sleep anyway—they're pulling 24-hour shifts! Instead, you show up here with half-baked information expecting some semi-qualified "doctor" on an internet forum to give you a more accurate answer than the medical professional actually in the room. It's ridiculous.

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#64 · Aug 17, 2012

driftingmason52 said:I'm really stuck on this discrepancy between my FSH and LH levels—my FSH is at the bottom end of the range while my LH is sitting right at the top. Does that actually mean anything?

Thanks nalaziti

Look, "reference values" just mean those numbers fall within the standard distribution of a Gua's curve. Basically, anything inside that window is considered "normal" by definition. Even if you're slightly above or below the lines, those numbers can still be perfectly normal for *you* specifically as an individual.

Seriously, stop obsessing over every tiny detail in your lab reports. Stick to what your doctor actually told you or wrote down regarding your care. This constant nitpicking and over-analyzing? It’s a one-way ticket to a psychological breakdown.

jadedriver0 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2011

#65 · Aug 17, 2012

vividsailor7 said:The EKG looks fine; creatine kinase and the MB isoenzyme are within normal limits.
Pregnancy test was negative, everything else seems standard.
Did they perform a PHD during the endoscopy?
How old is she?
An EGD should probably be repeated...

The endoscopy showed the cyst is benign; they took a biopsy.
She’s 28.
So, just redo the endoscopy?
Thanks nalaziti.🙂

jadedriver0 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2011

#66 · Aug 17, 2012

Kate Collins67 said:I'd estimate she's around 25. She addresses him as "Dad," and they've already run tests for beta HCG, reproductive age, and even an infarct... honestly, what are the odds...

Likely gastritis...

EGD... 🙂 Medical science... I just stick to taking Nexium for now. If that doesn't cut it, then maybe I'll consider an EGD. But honestly, I’m not letting anyone perform an endoscopy on me unless it's absolutely necessary...🙂

What exactly do you all suspect is just gastritis...?🤷
Her husband says she looked like death warmed over, pale and twisting in agony... Is that really how gastritis presents itself?😲😢
She mentioned they were running quite a few tests on her regarding heart issues... specifically that heart murmur...🤷

jadedriver0 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2011

#67 · Aug 17, 2012

Kate Collins67 said:In this instance, they were testing for pregnancy markers, not tumor markers. Honestly, why not just ask the poor resident while you're right there? They aren't sleeping for 24 hours straight anyway... instead, you show up with half-baked information expecting a more accurate answer on a forum from people who might be quasi-doctors...

And if she had actually asked, she would have told you how chaotic the ER was that day...😢
Thanks for the response.🙂

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#68 · Aug 18, 2012

jadedriver0 said:What makes you think it's just gastritis?🤷
Her husband said she looked like death warmed over—she was doubled over in pain. Is that really how gastritis feels?😲 😢

Because when my stomach cramps up, that’s exactly what happens to me. I turn pale as a sheet, break out in a sweat, and can't even stand up straight from the sheer pain. 🙂

I wouldn't wish it on anyone. When it hits me like that, I'm heading straight to the ER until whatever I swallow for my stomach actually starts kicking in.

jadedriver0 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2011

#69 · Aug 18, 2012

melloworca6 said:Because when my stomach cramps up like that, I’m a wreck. Pale as a ghost, sweating, doubled over in pain... I can't even get out of bed or stand up straight. 🙂

I wouldn't wish it on anyone. When it hits me that hard, I head straight to the ER until they give me something for my stomach that actually works.

Good grief😢are you going to live like this forever🤷, she was prescribed Nexium, but as for those sharp pains in her armpit and left arm... she feels that too, along with the abdominal pain.😢

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#70 · Aug 18, 2012

No, I didn't really feel any stinging.

If you get your diet right—basically cutting out all those triggers like greasy stuff, super spicy food, heavy salt, or anything acidic—and stick to your meds if it turns out to be gastritis, you shouldn't have much trouble. Personally, I’m pretty strict about what I eat, and I usually just take some Nexium whenever needed. I’d say I average maybe 2 or 3 tablets a month, mostly just when I mess around with food too much and it doesn't sit right.

We actually have a specific thread for stomach issues, so you can head over there and ask anything else you need to know regarding this. 🙂

vividsailor7 Active MemberOP

217 messages
joined Sep 2011

#71 · Aug 19, 2012

jadedriver0 said:The EGD showed a benign cyst, and they performed a biopsy.
They're 28 years old.
So, should they just repeat the EGD?
Thanks a lot.🙂

I’m sticking to my previous opinion on this whole thing. Period.

jadedriver0 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2011

#72 · Aug 20, 2012

My thanks to everyone.🙂

Sandra Rivera37 Member

23 messages
joined Jul 2012

#73 · Aug 21, 2012

I ran some markers for Hepatitis C

I'm wondering about my results: ANTI HCV came back positive, but the HCV quantitative test was negative. What does that actually mean? (My liver enzymes are normal, and my liver ultrasound looks great.)

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#74 · Aug 21, 2012

Your tests show positive antibodies for Hepatitis C, but the core antigen came back negative.

To get a definitive answer and clear this up once and for all, you're going to need an HCV RNA PCR test.

Now, assuming the anti-HCV is actually positive—and we aren't just looking at a false positive here—you're likely dealing with either a chronic infection or one that you've already cleared.

The fact that the core antigen is missing usually points toward the "recovered" side of things.

But again, I'm telling you, nothing is final until that PCR comes back.

That’s just how the lab side of things works. As for all those risk factors people always bring up—things like unprotected sex, IV drug use, sharing needles, or blood transfusions... well, you know your own history better than anyone. You know which boxes you check and which ones you don't. If you haven't had any of those risk factors, the odds lean heavily toward this being a false positive.

Just keep in mind, though—you can absolutely have Hepatitis C even if your liver enzyme panels look perfect and your ultrasound comes back totally normal.

Sandra Rivera37 Member

23 messages
joined Jul 2012

#75 · Aug 21, 2012

Thanks for the quick reply 🙂 I got a tattoo about 12 years ago. I know it was a risky move at the time.

CBC:

(vK) leukocyte 11.3 5.6 x109 /L 3.4 9.7
(vK) RBC 4.50 x1012/L 3.86 5.08
(vK) Hemoglobin (Hb) 126 g/L 119 157
(vK) Hematocrit (Hct) 0.383 L/L 0.356 0.470
(vK) MCV 85.1 fL 83.0 97.2
(vK) MCH 28.0 pg 27.4 33.9
(vK) MCHC 329 g/L 320 345
(vK) RDW 11.2 % 9.0 15.0
(vK) Platelets (Plt) 213 x109 /L 158 424
(vK) MPV 6.7 L fL 6.8 10.4
Differential
(vK) Neutrophils 3.44 x109 /L 2.06 6.49
(vK) Lymphocytes 1.37 x109 /L 1.19 3.35
(vK) Monocytes 0.52 x109 /L 0.12 0.84
(vK) Eosinophils 0.20 x109 /L 0.00 0.43
(vK) Basophils 0.07 H x109 /L 0.00 0.06
(vK) Neutrophils 61.5 rel % 44 72
(vK) Lymphocytes 24.5 rel % 20 46
(vK) Monocytes 9.2 rel % 2 12
(vK) Eosinophils 3.6 rel % 0 7
(vK) Basophils 1.3 H rel % 0 1

I redid the tests today. Everything is explained in detail on page 138 (or 137).

Kate Collins67 Active Member

168 messages
joined Apr 2010

#76 · Aug 21, 2012

Petechiae—those tiny little red spots—can definitely pop up when you're dealing with Hepatitis C. Honestly, though, this specific blood panel doesn't tell us much about the actual state of the Hepatitis C itself. At most, it might indirectly suggest that things haven't spiraled into severe, chronic liver damage yet.

Regardless of what's happening with the HCV, if you're seeing petechiae, you really need to get a platelet aggregation test done.

stormyfalcon6 Newcomer

5 messages
joined May 2007

#77 · Aug 22, 2012

The AM hormone lab report says my serum sample was hemolytic. Can that actually mess up the results and give me a wrong reading? Thanks!

restlessangler Member

12 messages
joined Jul 2009

#78 · Aug 23, 2012

I’m looking for some insight regarding some red, inflamed patches on my cheekbones. They showed up about two and a half months ago after I spent some time out in the sun—I was playing beach volleyball, and honestly, I suspect my sunglasses might have irritated the area while I was out there.
The itching comes and goes, and while the changes aren't extreme, they seem to be gradually getting a bit worse...
Since then, I’ve been dealing with an illness (chronic lymph node inflammation that required IV fluids and antibiotics), and I noticed that during that time, the skin issue flared up significantly. It got really swollen and bright red, though things settled down somewhat once my fever finally broke—it wasn't quite as extreme then.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I’ve been dealing with various issues lately, especially following that recent illness mentioned above, and I noticed a lymph node under my arm isn't shrinking back down. On top of that, a node popped up behind my right ear about two weeks ago—I had one behind my left ear previously—and they just won't go away...

Test results #1:
P. oval (positive/several) and Demodex folliculorum (negative). I'm wondering what that positive result actually means—could this be the underlying cause of everything?

I still need to go in for Test #2.
Blood work: ANF, anti ds DNA, anti Ro SSA, anti La SSB (if anyone could explain what exactly these tests are looking for). I'm heading in the day after tomorrow, but apparently, it takes about three weeks to get the results back, so I won't be able to sit down with my doctor until then.

Thanks nalaziti for any help you can give.

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#79 · Aug 23, 2012

restlessangler said:I still need to get my second round of tests done.
Bloodwork: ANF, anti ds DNA, anti Ro SSA, antiLa SSB (if anyone can explain what kind of testing this actually covers). I'm going the day after tomorrow, and apparently, I have to wait three weeks for the results before I can even sit down with my doctor.

Thanks for the help.

Those are immunology tests—basically looking for different antibodies reacting to different things. Just a heads up, you might be waiting longer than expected. Last time I went through this, they were short on reagents and everything got backed up; I ended up waiting two and a half months.

Are you dealing with any other symptoms besides what you mentioned?

restlessangler Member

12 messages
joined Jul 2009

#80 · Aug 23, 2012

melloworca6 said:These are immune system tests—basically different antibodies targeting different things. Just a heads-up, waiting for these results can sometimes take a while... last time I dealt with this, they were having reagent shortages and it took me nearly two and a half months to get anything back.

Are you dealing with any other symptoms besides what you mentioned?

Regarding those spots or blisters—no, nothing else there.
The blisters showed up just like I described, after spending about six hours out in the sun. It wasn't my first time being out (I don't play much, but I'm not super sensitive to the sun either), though. Once I ended up in the hospital—because of the inflamed lymph nodes—things really flared up; it was super red and swollen. As my fever started dropping, it calmed down a bit and went back to how it usually looks (just some redness, but not as intense)... over the next couple of weeks, it seemed to be improving, but then suddenly it flared up again, and it's been like that ever since...

When I touch it, it feels slightly raised, and over the last two and a half months, I've had this feeling that it's getting larger, though not at an extreme speed...

Like I said, I have "inflamed" lymph nodes—under my arm since I was sick, and near my ear for about two weeks now—but I'm honestly not sure if there's a connection there.

Here’s a photo of how it looks when it's relatively okay; you can't see much, but it's a little swollen. It's on both sides—the left side is milder, while the right one is pretty intense.

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

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