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

Could someone please help me make sense of these sputum results?
Isolate 01: *Haemophilus influenzae*—less than 1/3. This isolate is considered part of the normal physiological flora.
Gram stain: 20-30 epithelial cells, 5-15 neutrophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, along with some Charcot-Leyden crystals.
Interpretation: Having more than 25 epithelial cells and fewer than 25 PMNs or neutrophils in the field of view indicates the sample quality was poor.

I decided to get this checked because I’ve been dealing with this cough for four weeks now—hacking up greenish and yellow mucus the whole time.
Thanks

Ivanica, if I may weigh in.

Based on what you’ve shared, I’m a bit unclear about which bladder is inflamed (given the discomfort and stinging you mentioned)—are you saying an ER diagnosis in September pointed toward acute cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)?

And now you’re undergoing more testing in the area just below the right rib cage?

What were the Bilirubin and ALP levels?

Generally speaking, I agree with the pediatrician; elevated liver enzymes are expected when a stone gets stuck in the bile duct and triggers inflammation.

However, that September ultrasound also noted diffuse changes suggesting fatty liver.

With "standard" fatty liver, you might see a mild rise in liver enzymes, but typically, those numbers improve with dietary changes, exercise, and weight loss.

That said, beyond simple fatty liver, there is NASH—non-alcoholic steatohepatitis—where, in addition to fat accumulation, there is actual inflammation in the liver. An ultrasound can't distinguish between the two.

I also agree with velvetmoose9 and the doctor who recommended further serology. Hepatitis can coexist with fatty liver, which could be driving those enzyme elevations (hopefully not your case).

Furthermore, since the liver enzyme values are only mildly elevated (for context, some literature classifies anything up to 250 IU as mild, 250 to 1000 IU as moderate, and over 1000 IU as severe), I side with velvetmoose9 that follow-up is necessary, but unless things worsen—like increased pain, potential jaundice, or a Low-grade fever—there's usually no indication for emergency intervention.

Chris Howard3 said:Can someone please help me make sense of these sputum results?
Isolate 01: Haemophilus influenzae - less than 1/3. This isolate is part of the normal physiological flora.
Gram stain: 20-30 epithelial cells, 5-15 mononuclears and PMNs, some Charcot-Leyden crystals.
Interpretation: More than 25 epithelial cells and fewer than 25 PMN/mononuclear cells in the field of view indicates poor sample quality.

I ordered this because I've been coughing for 4 weeks now, bringing up greenish-yellow mucus.
Thanks

Hi there,

Looking at that note—"more than 25 epithelial cells and fewer than 25 PMN/mononuclear cells... indicates poor sample quality"—it’s pretty clear. Since you have 20-30 epithelial cells per field and only 5-15 mononuclears or PMNs, the specimen isn't really meeting the standard. Essentially, instead of getting actual sputum from deep within the respiratory tract, most of what was collected is likely just saliva from the mouth.

steelwalker68 said:My grandmother has these lumps on her body... mostly around her joints. Six months ago, she had blood work done because of some kidney cysts and gallbladder issues, and everything came back fine. But about a month ago, these lumps appeared, though they seem to be receding... and because of that, they want her to run markers again. She also has asthma, a history of a heart attack, and deals with rheumatoid arthritis.

I recommend you frame your inquiry following the suggestions in the first post.

Angela Wright said:I have sludge in my gallbladder; it was found at the end of September. When I went to the ER, besides the sludge, they found a lesion—they say it's fatty liver. My liver tests were:
AST 104
ALT 217
GGT 515
The attacks calmed down, so I repeated the tests yesterday and now they are:
AST 124
ALT 249
GGT 511
Everything else is fine—cholesterol, triglycerides, all great.
Basically, the doctor says this can't be due to the gallbladder, even though I've started feeling symptoms again. They're sending me for hepatitis markers and EBV and CMV serology.
Is it really impossible for the levels to be this high because of the gallbladder? Surely the ER staff would have mentioned that as a separate issue.

Angela Wright said:I had my first abdominal ultrasound at the ER, and then my doctor sent me home with a diet that I followed strictly. In the meantime, I needed to do a follow-up liver panel, but since things settled down—and I have a baby and a two-year-old at home—I kept putting it off. I finally did it because my doctor forced me after I got a bladder infection, and I’ve started feeling that stinging sensation again, especially in the morning when my stomach is empty.
Here is the ultrasound report from Sept 17th; two doctors looked at it, one was likely a resident. It says:
Abdominal ultrasound performed in the ER clinic shows a distended gallbladder with thickened sediment, without wall thickening or layering.
No focal lesions found in the liver parenchyma, which is diffusely hypodense, indicating steatosis; no dilation of the bile ducts.
Morphology of the spleen, gallbladder, and both kidneys is appropriate.
No free intra-abdominal fluid.
I took Silymarin and Rowachol on my own initiative.

I suspect this isn't just a gallbladder issue.
What really needs to be done is a CBC, CRP, glucose, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, Bilirubin (total and direct), amylase (s/u), lipase, creatinine, urea, HBA1C, LDH, CK, Iron, UIBC, TIBC, Ferritin, Copper, ceruloplasmin, Ca, K, Na, PT/INR, immunoelectrophoresis, and serum protein electrophoresis (including total proteins and albumin), plus anti-TPO, anti-Tg, and TSH.
C3, C4, ANA—if those come back positive—then LKM, AGLM, and AMHA.
And hepatitis markers.
Go for an ultrasound with Doppler, then follow up with an MRI or CT scan.
The absolute last resort is a liver biopsy.
Silymarin might help, but don't bother with Rowachol—it won't do anything here.

Eric Fisher2 said:Hi there.
I just got my blood work and urinalysis results back, and I was hoping someone could help me make sense of these numbers.
CBC:
RBC 4.63 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin 140 (119-157)
Hematocrit 0.397 (0.356-0.470)
MCV 85.8 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 30.2 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 352 (320-345) *high
RDW 14.4 (9.0-15.0)
Platelets 177 (158-424)
MPV 12.8 (6.8-10.4) *high
WBC 7.7 (3.4-9.7)
Differential:
Neutrophils 4.8 (2.06-6.49)
Neutrophils % 62 (44-72)
Lymphocytes 2.3 (1.19-3.35)
Lymphocytes % 30 (20-46)
Monocytes 0.50 (0.12-1.27)
Monocytes % 7 (2-19)
Other Hematology:
ESR 20 (4-24)
Chemistry Panel:
Total bilirubin 9.4 (3.0-20.0)
Glucose 5.8 (4.4-6.4)
Creatinine 76 (49-90)
ALT 12 (10-36)
ALP 61 (54-119)
AST 14 (8-30)
GGT 15 (9-35)
Potassium 4.55 (3.90-5.10)
Sodium 142 (137-146)
Iron 16.2 (8.0-30.0)
UIBC 42.6 (26.0-59.0)
TIBC 58.8 (49.0-75.0)

By the way, I'm 31 years old. I went in for these tests because I've been dealing with constant fatigue, dizziness, occasional heart palpitations, and getting winded incredibly easily during basic activities like climbing stairs or even walking. It’s honestly bizarre because just a few months ago, I could ride my bike 31 miles miles a day without breaking a sweat.
I would really appreciate some expert insight on this.
Thanks.

Everything looks normal.

Michael Allen29 said:Could you please comment on these results?

View on imgur

Read the first post.

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

As you can tell from the snarky little note—"more than 25 epithelial cells and fewer than 25 PMNs per field indicates poor sample quality"—your sample isn't quite hitting the mark. Since you have about 20-30 epithelial cells per field but only 5-15 mononuclear or polymorphonuclear cells, the specimen just doesn't meet the standard. Essentially, instead of getting actual sputum (you know, the deep respiratory secretions we actually want), most of what was collected is likely just saliva and debris from the mouth.

Do I need to take antibiotics for this bacteria? And is it dangerous for my family? I have two kids, ages 3 and 4... my 4-year-old son actually had surgery yesterday.

Chris Howard3 said:Do I need antibiotics for this bacteria? Is it dangerous for my family? I have two kids, ages 3 and 4. My 4-year-old son actually had surgery yesterday.

Hello,

Colonization by this specific bacterium is incredibly common. Depending on which study you look at, anywhere from 30% to 80% of adults carry it in their pharynx.

Children can also frequently be colonized and act as carriers.

Generally speaking, if it's just colonization, antibiotics aren't prescribed.

That said, at the primary care level—like with some family practitioners—antibiotics are often handed out whenever any bacteria shows up. This usually happens due to a lack of specialized knowledge, or simply because a patient insists on them out of concern.

In my opinion, given the poor quality of this sample, you should probably start by repeating the sputum test. You’ll need proper instruction on how to produce a valid sample and ensuring adequate hydration beforehand to make sure there's enough phlegm to work with.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear Madam,

Colonization by this particular bacterium is actually incredibly common—so much so that depending on which study you happen to be looking at, anywhere from 30% to 80% of adults might carry it in their pharynx. It’s practically a staple.

And honestly—don't forget that kids can also frequently deal with colonization from this specific bacterium, essentially acting as asymptomatic carriers. It's one of those things you just have to keep on your radar, right?

When we're talking about colonization, you generally don't just throw an antibiotic at the situation—does that even make sense? No, typically, you don't.

However, looking at the primary care level—think your local family practitioners or GPs—it seems like there’s a recurring trend where any kind of bacterial isolation results in an immediate antibiotic prescription. Is it because of a genuine knowledge gap? Or perhaps it's just a defensive move to satisfy a demanding patient who’s insisting on "doing something"? There are plenty of other reasons, too, but it really makes you wonder about the standard of care we're seeing out there.

If you ask me, given how subpar that sample quality was—which frankly, speaks volumes—you really ought to start by having them redo the sputum collection. But this time, there needs to be some actual education involved beforehand. We have to walk them through exactly how to produce a proper specimen and emphasize the importance of staying properly hydrated to ensure they can actually generate enough phlegm to be useful. Is it too much to ask for a usable sample? Apparently so.

Greetings to everyone. 🙂

Thanks so much for all the replies!
Greetings to everyone!

vividsailor7 and Nicholas Myers,
thanks for the advice and your takes on this.
So, I went to see the doctor because I had a urinary tract infection, which Ninur cleared up.
Regarding my blood work, I had a full panel done. Aside from CRP and ALP (which hit 244 for the first time), everything else fell within the normal range. My first questionable liver panel was from back in September during the initial flare-up, and this second one was just done now that I finally made it to the doctor for the UTI. I saw the doctor on Friday afternoon, felt that stinging sensation again over the weekend, and then had my blood drawn on Monday.
I've been sticking to a strict diet since September; I’ve actually lost all the weight I gained during pregnancy. My cholesterol and triglycerides are within the normal limits, though I don't know what they were previously since they didn't test them then. This "stinging" I'm feeling is more like a nagging discomfort—just a weird, localized irritation here and there. It’s not an outright sharp pain, but more of a sneaky, dull ache right under my right rib cage, spreading toward my stomach and through to my lower back at the same level.
EDIT
Another thought just occurred to me that might be important. The very first time these symptoms flared up, my abdomen was extremely tender to the touch right under that right rib cage. I had three distinct episodes, and during the last one, the baby actually pressed against that exact spot while I was nursing. After that pressure, everything seemed to settle down—the pain and the tenderness vanished completely. Is it possible that the pressure from the baby caused some kind of deviation in the bile duct, where something got drained out and is now building up again and causing trouble?

I was sent for an EKG during my first month of pregnancy ahead of nose surgery.
Can someone please explain what these results actually mean? Is this anything to worry about, and am I still cleared for the operation? I'm 27.

EKG: Sinus rhythm 86 bpm, poor R wave progression in V2 and V3, intermediate left axis deviation.

electricangler32 said:I had an EKG done because I'm scheduled for nose surgery during my first month of pregnancy.
Could someone please walk me through what this report actually means? Is there anything here worth worrying about, and am I still good to go for the surgery? I'm 27.

EKG: Sinus rhythm 86 bpm, slight R wave progression delay in V2 and V3, intermediate left axis deviation.

Honestly, if the EKG is your only concern, you could stay exactly like this for the next 73 years and still hit 100 without any issues at all.😉

velvetmoose9 said:If everything depended solely on an EKG and it stayed exactly like this for the next 73 years, she’d hit 100 without a single issue. 😉

🎉 Thanks for the reply, I feel much better now!! 🙂

Angela Wright said:vividsailor7 and Nicholas Myers,
thanks for the advice and your thoughts.
I went to see my doctor because I had a UTI, which Ninur cleared up.
Regarding my blood work, everything was within range except for CRP and ALP (the first one hit 244). My first abnormal liver panel was from back in September during the first episode, and this second one was done just now after finally visiting the doctor for the UTI. That visit was Friday afternoon; I started feeling that stinging sensation again over the weekend, and I had the blood drawn on Monday.
I’ve been sticking to a strict diet since September and have lost all the weight I gained during pregnancy; my cholesterol and triglycerides are normal. I don't know what they were before, as they didn't test those. This stinging I'm feeling is more like a nagging discomfort—just a dull ache here and there. It’s a subtle pain located under my right rib cage, moving toward the stomach and extending to my lower back at the same level.
EDIT
One more thing occurred to me that might be important. The first time this happened, my abdomen was extremely tender to the touch under the right rib cage. I had three episodes, and during the last one, while breastfeeding, the baby somehow pressed hard against that exact spot. After that, everything calmed down—the pain and the tenderness vanished completely. Is it possible that the pressure caused some kind of deviation in the bile duct, where something was drained out and is now building up again?

Dear Angela,

In any case, it would be highly unusual for a small stone to get stuck in the bile duct and stay there long enough to cause a constant elevation in liver enzymes.

The fact that the liver enzymes remain elevated consistently suggests I agree with the others: we shouldn't immediately assume the gallbladder is the primary culprit.

Unfortunately, since elevated liver enzymes can stem from so many different issues, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact cause without more data, even though the abdominal ultrasound showed diffuse liver lesions consistent with steatosis. However, the enzymes haven't budged even after three months, so we really need to investigate whether there is something else hiding behind that steatosis.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Best regards. 🙂

Hi there!
I posted about my issues a couple of pages back, but let me give you a quick recap. I’m currently taking esomeprazole because my internist says I have acute gastritis. I’ve had full blood work and urine tests done twice now. My liver looks fine, except for a GGT of 62 (the ref range goes up to 55), and in my last blood test, only my MPV was slightly elevated. So, no parasites, no bacteria, nothing... Urine is totally clear.
The thing is, I’m still dealing with this dull, increasingly uncomfortable ache right under my right rib cage, along with occasional sharp pains on my right side. My stomach doesn't hurt at all—no nausea, no vomiting, no fever, and I don't feel weak. Honestly, I feel great, except for that pain (kind of like when your spleen hurts during exercise), located just under that right rib cage area.
An ultrasound showed everything is normal—liver, pancreas, kidneys, you name it—except for my stomach, which has a very thickened and irritated posterior wall, and some sludge in my gallbladder. My stools look normal too. They haven't sent me for any specific analysis yet.

My doctor is stumped, so she referred me to a gastroenterologist, but the appointment isn't for another two months! In the meantime, she sent me for microbiology tests and a hepatitis panel. Currently, I'm taking Generic, esomeprazole, and colospu (my gut is pretty noisy lately with gas and cramps here and there). I’m feeling a bit lost. Two months feels like forever to wait for a GI specialist when this pain is getting more intense. As for the hepatitis stuff, I don't feel sick—no vomiting, no jaundice, no fatigue, just this pain... To be clear, it's not the kind of pain where I need to grab a pill, but it's enough to make it hard to function normally. Interestingly, it actually feels better if I stand up and take a light walk.
Please help! Or even if someone just has an idea of what might be going on...
Thanks

Daniel Lewis67 said:Hey there.
I already posted about my issues about two pages ago, but let's just summarize here. I’m currently on esomeprazole because my internist says I have acute gastritis. I’ve had full blood work and urine tests done twice now. My liver looks fine, except for a GGT of 62 (where the ref range goes up to 55), and in my last blood draw, the only other thing was a slightly elevated MPV. So, no parasites, no bacteria, nothing... Urine tests came back clean too.
The thing is, I’m still dealing with this dull, increasingly uncomfortable ache right under my right rib cage, along with occasional sharp pains on my right side. My stomach doesn't hurt at all—it's not making me nauseous, I don't have a fever, and I don't feel weak. Honestly, I feel great, except for this pain (kind of like a spleen ache when you exert yourself) located right under that right rib cage.
An ultrasound showed everything is normal—liver, pancreas, kidneys... everything looks fine, except for my stomach, where they saw significant thickening and irritation of the posterior wall, plus some sludge in my gallbladder. My stools look normal to the eye, though they haven't sent them for lab analysis yet.

My doctor is officially stumped, so she referred me to a gastroenterologist, but the appointment isn't for another two months! In the meantime, she sent me for microbiology tests and bloodwork to check for hepatitis markers. Right now, I’m taking Generic, esomeprazole, and colospu (my gut is pretty loud lately—lots of gas, bloating, and cramps here and there). I’m at a loss. Two months is an eternity to wait for a GI specialist when this pain is getting more intense by the day. As for the hepatitis stuff, I don't even care if it's positive—I'm not vomiting, I'm not jaundice, and I'm not exhausted, aside from this pain... To be clear, it’s not the kind of pain where I need to pop a pill, but it’s enough that I can't function normally. It does feel a bit better if I stand up and take a light walk, though.
Please, help. If anyone has any idea what might be going on with me...
Thanks

Your explanation is a bit vague.
1. You mentioned H. pylori infection, but in your previous post, you said it was GERD?
2. Have you ever had an EGD?
3. Did you see an actual internist, or just a primary care physician?
Ultrasounds are used to look at parenchymal organs, not the digestive tract itself.

I'm 28 years old. For a while now, my feet have been feeling cold and I started getting this slight tingling sensation in my toes... as soon as I noticed it, I headed straight to the ER, where they gave me some Lioton gel. Honestly, that only helped with the coldness, but the tingling just wouldn't go away. I actually worried it might be diabetes since I went through a massive amount of stress back in early December, but when I checked my blood sugar, it was totally normal (5.9). So, I decided to see my doctor, who ran some reflex tests and specific exercises (I later realized online he was actually checking for MS symptoms). Anyway, here is what’s going on:

Reflexes: LE: Brachioradialis, biceps, and triceps reflexes are both 1/5. RE: Patellar and Achilles are both 4/5. Babinski present with silent foot.

Conclusion: Male patient presenting for evaluation of numbness in the feet. Physical exam and testing indicate symmetrically hyperactive lower extremity reflexes along with a silent foot, while other neurological findings are essentially normal.

Afterward, I had some blood work done, and here are the results:

RBC 4.72 (4.50-5.90)
HGB 136 (135-175)
HCT: 0.407 (0.410-0.530)
MCV 86 (80-100)
MCH 28.9 (26-34)
MCHC 335 (310-370)
RDW 13.0 (11.5-14.5)
PLT 249 (150-350)
MPV 8.0 (6-11)
WBC 6.5 (4-10)
LYM 36.1 (20-45)
MON 9.0 (2-10)
GRA 54.9 (40-75)

So, everything here is within the normal range, but on the next page, I have a few things that are out of whack:

CRP 32.5 (0-4)
Bilirubin Direct 6.8 (1.7-5.1)
Bilirubin Total 19.9 (5.1-17)
HDL Direct 2.07 (0.91-1.56)
Uric Acid 553.2 (150-420)
Glucose 6.46 (4.2-6.4)
(Note: My glucose is likely elevated because I ate after midnight)

I also have one low value, which is:

LDH 197.6 (207-414)

The rest are all within the normal limits:

ALP-AMP 30 (0-110)
Amylase Direct 61 (22-80)
AST 25 (0-35)
ALT 12.8 (0-35)
Albumin 48.6 (35-55)
Creatinine 92.06 (30-115)
G-GT 17.1 (0-50)
Urea UV 5.76 (3.6-71)
Cholesterol 5.57 (5.17-6.18)
LDL Direct 2.43 (0-2.59)
Total Protein 76.5 (55-80)
Iron Ferrozine 23.2 (5.4-28.7)
Triglycerides 1.64 (0-1.8)

SE 3

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks in advance! 🙂

Hey guys, I just got my serology results back for CMV and EBV. Most of it came back negative, except for the Anti-EBV VCA/EA IgG and
Anti-EBV EBNA IgG. Does this mean that along with my gallbladder sludge, I’m also dealing with mono? What does this actually signify, especially since all my tests were fine back in July before that flare-up? Just as a reminder, my blood work is totally normal aside from the liver panel, and I don't have any of those classic symptoms. Should I be having the baby and my older little one tested too? I’m honestly spiraling here—I’m so panicked about them that I actually felt like I was going to pass out. Both kids were born premature.
I'll deal with it; I already have an appointment set with my internist. Is there any reason I should see a hepatologist as well?

Angela Wright said:Hey guys, I just got my serology results back for CMV and EBV. Most things came back negative, except for Anti-EBV VCA/EA IgG and
Anti-EBV EBNA IgG. Does this mean that along with my gallbladder issues, I also have mono? What does this actually mean, especially since all my tests were fine back in July before that episode? Just to clarify, my blood work is normal aside from the liver panel, and I don't have those typical symptoms. Should I have the baby and my older little one tested too? I'm honestly panicking about them—I felt physically sick just thinking about it (both kids were premature).
It doesn't matter, I've already scheduled an appointment with my internist. Is there any need to see a hepatologist?

Angela Wright,

If I'm reading this correctly, your serological profile looks like this:

anti-EBV VCA IgG POSITIVE
anti-EBV EA IgG POSITIVE
anti-EBV EBNA IgG POSITIVE

(Note that for every parameter—VCA, EA, and EBNA—it specifies IgG only)?

Results like these don't point to an acute infection with that virus.

The reality is that up to 90% of the adult population carries these antibodies. Similarly, about 90% of infections in infancy and early childhood pass without anyone noticing. Generally, the later you contract it—once the immune system is more mature—the more pronounced the clinical symptoms become. Also, people who have had mono can occasionally shed the virus through saliva, so even if someone cleared it a long time ago, they could still potentially pass it to someone nearby.

Double-check your lab report: it would be helpful to write out everything, including the titers if they are listed.

That said, I suspect (though I won't say with absolute certainty) that this virus isn't what's driving your elevated liver enzymes. It's true that EBV infections sometimes present solely through liver changes (without other symptoms), but for everything to persist this long without any shift in your transaminase levels would be unusual.

Admittedly, this specific combination of EBV serology is the trickiest to interpret because of that positive EA, leading to some conflicting info in medical literature regarding what this exact mix signifies. However, it does not indicate an acute infection.

Eric Hernandez46 said:Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance 🙂

Hello,

I have to admit, I didn't fully grasp the neurologist's (?) findings. Essentially, if "absent reflexes" are bilateral, it isn't necessarily a pathological sign. As for the reflexes themselves—yes, there is a noticeable difference between the upper and lower body.

What was the actual conclusion from the neurologist? Have you been referred for further testing?

In my opinion, the lab work you've done won't explain why you're experiencing tingling in your feet.

There are minor deviations visible, such as a slightly elevated CRP (an inflammation marker), high uric acid levels (which could relate to weight or diet), and fasting glucose—even though you ate the night before, and your sugar was at the upper limit during your last checkup. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check your HbA1c, and perhaps undergo a fasting glucose test along with a two-hour post-meal test.

Definitely follow up with a neurologist.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey Angela Wright,

If I’m reading this right, here’s your serology profile:

anti-EBV VCA IgG POSITIVE
anti-EBV EA IgG POSITIVE
anti-EBV EBNA IgG POSITIVE

(Note how there is only IgG listed for every parameter—VCA, EA, and EBNA)?

A result like this doesn't point to an active, acute infection with this virus.

The reality is that up to 90% of the adult population carries these antibodies. Likewise, about 90% of infections in infants and young children pass by without anyone even noticing. Generally speaking, the later you catch it and the more mature your immune system is, the more severe the symptoms tend to be. Also, people who have already had mono can still shed the virus through their saliva from time to time, so just because you've had it before doesn't mean you can't pass it on to someone else.

Double-check those labs one more time; it would be helpful if you could write out everything, including any titers if they provided them.

That said, I suspect (though I won't say I'm 100% certain) that this virus isn't what's driving your elevated liver enzymes. While it's true that an EBV infection can sometimes show up primarily as liver issues without other major symptoms, it would be highly unusual for everything to drag on this long without seeing some movement in the transaminase levels.

Admittedly, this specific combination of EBV serology results is the trickiest to interpret (especially with that positive EA), which leads to some conflicting info in medical literature regarding what this exact mix means, but it doesn't indicate an acute infection.

So, all hepatitis tests and CMV came back negative. Regarding the EBV part, it says:
Anti-EBV VCA/EA IgG positive
Anti-EBV VCA IgM negative
Anti-EBV EBNA IgG positive
I looked into this at Mayo Clinic, and for some reason, they don't list the titers. I was googling it, though, and it seems like those numbers are actually important for seeing the full picture.
What on earth is happening to me?! I survived an incredibly high-risk pregnancy involving HELLP, pushed through it all, and dealt with a subpar hospital without any infections, and now, out of nowhere, once everything has finally settled down, this happens. I'm waiting for my doctor to get back from his ski trip to figure out the next steps. I'm honestly dreading this because I can see they're going to keep digging and it might end with a biopsy.
So, can I at least go out in public? I mean, I'm not contagious, right? I'm running out of excuses for why I can't hang out with people.