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

Austin Reed20 said:It’s a long story. It's been dragging on for two years.
............................this whole mess could cost me my job, my house, maybe even my wife...

Look, believe it or not, I am not about to sit here and read through an endless wall of text unless we are talking about actual lab results. From what I can gather, you keep insisting the issue lies with the adrenal glands, but for heaven's sake, the labs look perfectly normal.
Can someone please explain what specifically is wrong with the adrenals? And why on earth are you bringing up a psychiatrist as an "alternative" option?
May the Good Lord help you—if He even can.

David Jones45 said:I got my results back yesterday and my doctor really spooked me. My hematocrit is high at 7.11 and hemoglobin is 227, but my platelets are low at 98. Can anyone tell me what this might mean?

Go back and read the very first post. And what exactly did your doctor say to you?

Kate Newman2 said:I'm pregnant and currently on Lovenox (low molecular weight heparin) 0.6, twice daily. I just had blood work done this morning and these are the results:

PT clotting time 90 (60.00 - 240.00 sec)
BT clotting time 320 (300.00 - 720.00 sec)
pT 10.00 (10.30 - 13.20 sec)
INR 0.91 (0.00 - 1.25)
aPTT 117.6 (73.00 - 150.00)
PLT platelets 167 (144.00 - 400.00)

Are these results okay, considering I'm already on medication? What should I do next?

In my opinion, they look fine. /I don't have much experience with this, though/, so maybe someone else here can provide more insight.

Brenda Alvarez24 said:Any comments? Insulin resistance?
Also, what does Type N mean on a lipid panel (Fredrickson)? Last time it said Type U, but now it says Type N.

I have no idea why they would be taking you off Metformin.🤷 🤷
It looks like there’s some very mild resistance here, but honestly, since you’re responding so well to Metformin, I’d say sticking with the current treatment plan is definitely the way to go.
Type N—which just means everything is looking normal.

vividsailor7 said:Believe it or not, I just can't bring myself to read a post this long, unless we're talking about actual lab results. From what I can gather, you seem pretty convinced the issue lies with the adrenal glands, but, well, look—your labs actually look totally normal.
If you could just explain what specifically feels off about the adrenals... and I'm not sure why you're bringing up a psychiatrist as an alternative option here.
May El Gato Félix help you out /if he can/

So, yeah... looking at the results, my DHEA-S comes back 50% above the upper limit both times I tested, and there was about an eighteen-month gap between them. It also seems weird that my ACTH is right at the bottom of the range while my cortisol is sitting at the top—that’s just my layman's take, anyway. The symptoms that, in my opinion, definitely point toward the adrenals are these adrenaline surges I feel sometimes during the day, or maybe all day, and then these sudden crashes in energy that happen within five to ten minutes... they might last half a day, or sometimes days, or even weeks... just this feeling of being completely exhausted yet "wired and tired"... and I think all of this really messes with my mental clarity, which is honestly the thing that bothers me most in life... so, yeah, in short... I can't easily prove the adrenaline thing, I'd probably need some more complex testing... you just have to believe me... I used various substances way back in the day, so I know what I'm talking about... so, do you really think I'm making this up and everything is fine? Like, am I supposed to just accept this for the rest of my life (along with some vague diagnosis like metabolic syndrome) or should I just go see a psychiatrist and grab some happy pills? Or maybe... maybe I should try harder to figure out what's actually wrong with me...

And also, I'm not a fan of how my FSH is sitting right at the very bottom of the range either, both times over that year-and-a-half span... but, whatever...

My bad, totally missed the first post

I'm 41—never really had health issues before, just some anxiety. Last time I got my blood work done back in late August 2011, everything was perfect. But we just did a company-wide physical at work, and these specific numbers have my doctor sweating:
erythrocytes 7.11
hemoglobin 212
hematocrit 0.641
RDW 15.6
platelets 98
MPV 10.9
monocytes 12.8
neutrophils 1.84
everything else looks normal
The doc sent me straight back for more testing.
Thanks for the replies

Austin Reed20 said:Look, my lab results show DHEA-S is consistently 50% above the upper limit—both times I checked, eighteen months apart. It’s also weird: my ACTH is hitting the bottom of the range while cortisol is scraping the ceiling. That's just my layperson's take, but listen to the symptoms. I am positive this is adrenal-related. I get these surges of adrenaline that hit me at random points during the day, or even stay with me all day, followed by these sudden, massive energy crashes. We're talking five to ten minutes before I'm totally wiped out, and it can last anywhere from half a day to weeks. Just total exhaustion mixed with that "wired and tired" feeling. Honestly, it's wrecking my mental clarity, which is the biggest issue for me in life. It's hard to prove the adrenaline spikes without more complex testing... you just have to take my word for it. I've used various substances in the past, so I know what I'm talking about. Are you telling me I'm just making this up? Am I supposed to just accept that everything is "fine" and live with some vague diagnosis like metabolic syndrome? Or should I just go see a psychiatrist and start popping happy pills? Or maybe actually put in the work to figure out what is wrong with me...

And on top of that, my FSH has been sitting right at the low end of the limit both times, too. Great. Just great...

My answer remains the same.
May the gods of luck be with you /if they even care/

David Jones45 said:My apologies, I didn't read the first post.

I'm 41 years old. Up until now, I haven't had any major health issues aside from anxiety. My blood work from late August 2011 was perfect, but we just had a corporate wellness screening at work, and these are the values that have my doctor concerned:
RBC 7.11
Hemoglobin 212
Hematocrit 0.641
RDW 15.6
Platelets 98
MPV 10.9
Monocytes 12.8
Neutrophils 1.84
All other values are normal
My doctor told me to go back and redo the blood panel.
Thanks for the reply

You absolutely need to repeat those tests. Those numbers are seriously high—it looks like hemoconcentration.

vividsailor7 said:Same answer.
Good luck—you're gonna need it.

They definitely need to run those labs again. Those numbers are way too high—looks like serious hemoconcentration.

How dangerous are we talking here?

David Jones45 said:How dangerous is this, really?

Look, it’s definitely not nothing to brush off. But before anyone starts panicking, you have to get those tests rerun. Lab errors happen more often than people care to admit, even at top-tier facilities.

Kate Newman2 said:I'm pregnant and currently on a low-molecular-weight heparin regimen—specifically Lovenox 0.6, twice a day. I just had some blood work done this morning, and here are the numbers:

BT (Bleeding Time) 90 (60.00 - 240.00 sec)
CT (Clotting Time) 320 (300.00 - 720.00 sec)
PT 10.00 (10.30-13.20 sec)
INR 0.91 ( 0.00 -1.25)
Platelets 117.6 (73.00-150.00)
PLT 167 (144.00-400.00)

Do these results look okay since I've already started the treatment? Any advice on what my next steps should be?

vividsailor7 said:Looks normal to me—though, honestly, I don't have much direct experience with this specific situation. Maybe one of our other colleagues can offer more insight.

That PT value is actually a little concerning to me. It feels a bit short, especially considering I'm already on the medication...😢

vividsailor7 said:It’s not totally harmless, but look—you gotta redo the tests first because lab errors happen all the time.

Look, I know I'm being a pain, but can someone just break down what hemoconcentration actually is?

vividsailor7 said:The answer hasn't changed.
Maybe Felix the Cat can help you out... if he actually can.

So, basically, having DHEA-S that's 50% over the limit is totally fine? And I guess having low ACTH paired with high cortisol is just me being delusional too? Because that’s what the response implies—that I'm just making things up?

Oh, and I totally forgot to mention my blood pressure. Right now, my average is sitting somewhere between 140-160 over 70-90. There’s always this big gap between the systolic and diastolic numbers. My heart rate stays mostly between 50-60, though sometimes it dips lower... it even hits 30 once in a while. Usually, when it slows down like that, I can really feel it, and the rhythm feels all wonky and irregular.
If I do something physical for just a minute or two—not like running a marathon or anything, maybe just lifting some weights for ten minutes—my pressure seems to normalize, like 120/70, while my heart rate jumps up to around 100-110.

Austin Reed20 said:So, having a DHEA-S level 50% above the limit is considered "normal," and low ACTH paired with high cortisol is just me imagining things? That’s the gist of the response—I’m just being delusional?

Sir,

Your DHEA-S value isn't nearly as elevated as the reference range might suggest to you.

The reference ranges listed here (upper limit of 7.7 µmol/l) likely differ from what you'll find in medical literature or at other US labs. It makes little sense to apply practically identical reference values to both men and women, given that DHEA-S levels in men are typically higher than in women, particularly between the ages of 20 and 30.

Furthermore, a mildly elevated DHEA-S level in men, when all other markers are stable, is often idiopathic—meaning the cause remains unknown.

Both your ACTH and cortisol levels fall within the normal range. I see no clinical reason to classify them as pathological.

It seems to me—and I agree with the previous colleague's assessment—that the root of your symptoms lies elsewhere.

Best regards. 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

Your DHEA-S levels aren't actually as high as they might look at first glance, even if you're looking strictly at those reference ranges.

I mean, I suspect the reference values listed here (with an upper limit of 7.7 µmol/l) are handled differently in medical textbooks or at other labs, because it just doesn't seem right to me that the exact same range applies to both men and women. We all know that DHEA-S levels in men are typically much higher than in women, especially when you're in that 20 to 30 age bracket.

Also, a slightly elevated DHEA-S in men, assuming everything else looks normal, is often just idiopathic—meaning, well, nobody really knows why it happens.

The ACTH and cortisol numbers in this report look totally fine to me, so I don't see any reason to call them pathological.

It seems to me—and I think I'm following what my respected colleague was saying earlier—that whatever is causing your symptoms might be coming from somewhere else entirely.

Best regards. 🙂

Actually, the DHEA reference value I posted was specifically for men. There are two different sets of ranges for women, depending on whether they've gone through menopause or not. I haven't been able to find much solid literature on elevated DHEA, especially when it shows up alongside high cortisol and low ACTH. The only thing that seems to fit these results is adrenal hyperplasia.
I guess I'm wondering, how does my adrenal gland produce this much DHEA-S and cortisol when the pituitary gland isn't even sending out the ACTH signal to stimulate it?
Don't you think that given the symptoms I'm dealing with, I should probably investigate these weird lab findings? Like, maybe I should go through an ACTH stimulation test or a 24-hour urine test with four samples or something? Standard blood tests for the adrenals feel pretty useless in this case...

vividsailor7 said:I’m not quite sure why they are trying to transition you away from metformin.🤷🤷
It looks like we’re seeing some very mild resistance here, but given how effectively you’ve responded to Metformin, I believe continuing with the current treatment plan is the right way to go.
A "normal" result is exactly what you want to see.

I tend to grumble a bit; I feel like I’m constantly fighting against my own endocrine system. Honestly, if everything is working exactly as it should, why on earth would anyone want to change a thing?

I have an appointment scheduled with my specialist at the local medical center in ten days. I haven't actually seen him yet, but ever since the leadership transitioned from public oversight to private management, it feels like the higher-ups have been giving me the runaround.
I happened to have a quick chat with my doctor earlier today. He suggested I come in for a follow-up because things were looking a bit unclear, so they decided to take me off the metformin for the time being.
It seems there is a misunderstanding regarding why I post. People assume my weight is the issue because I usually hover around 110 pounds, but that is simply my natural build—I've been at this weight for 25 years. Over the last few years, I've maintained it using Metformin; without it, my insulin spikes, my blood pressure climbs, and I end up gaining 10 pounds. Since most patients seen in a clinic are typically struggling with significant obesity, doctors often don't realize how much of a shock it is when I suddenly gain 10 pounds in just six weeks and feel like a tank. Once I started taking my prescribed medications, I managed to get back down to my baseline weight while keeping my diet and lifestyle exactly the same. As soon as I hit my target weight, my blood pressure dropped from 150/100 down to a healthy 115/75, and my doctor was able to take me off one of my medications.
I am never going to let them take me off metformin; I’ll fight tooth and nail to stay on it. Both of my uncles and my mother dealt with diabetes and eventually had to rely on insulin. Even though they weren't overweight and stayed active through sports and maintained healthy diets, they still ended up there. Because of that history, I am doing everything in my power to ensure I don't end up on insulin myself one day.
Alright, I'll stop pestering you now; I think you've all caught on to everything.

Hi everyone,

I went in for some blood work this morning because I’ve been feeling pretty off lately—dealing with dizziness, tremors, and just general malaise.

If anyone here knows how to read these, I could use some help interpreting the numbers:

Reference Range

ESR up to 10 mm/h
WBC 3.4 - 9.7
RBC 4.34 - 5.72
Hemoglobin 13.8 - 17.5
Hematocrit 41.5 - 53.0
MCV* 83.0 - 97.2
MCH 27.4 - 33.9
MCHC* 32.0 - 34.5
Platelets 158 - 424
RDW 9.0 - 10.4
MPV* 6.8 - 10.4

Glucose 3.9 - 6.2
BUN 2.5 - 7.5
Creatinine 65 - 120
Cholesterol < 5.3
Triglycerides* 0.4 - 1.9
Iron 11.0 - 32.0
Total Bilirubin 5.0 - 21.0
AST 0 - 38
ALT 0 - 48
GGT 0 - 55.0

URINALYSIS:
Appearance: Clear
Color: Yellow
Protein: Negative
Urobilinogen: Normal
Epithelial Cells: Trace
WBC 1-2
RBC 2-3
Bacteria Trace
Mucus Moderate

Looking for some insight before my appointment with the doctor in a week or two.
The MCV and MCHC levels are what have me worried...

To whom it may concern,

I have undergone repeat blood work because my iron levels were elevated six days ago, coming in at 50 (where the reference range is listed as 8-30).
Today, my results show iron at 45, TIBC at 52 (49-75), UIBC at 10 (26-59), and ferritin at 185.50 (13.00 - 150.00). I am 22 years old and maintain a very balanced, healthy diet, so I am curious as to what these numbers might indicate. Thank you.

David Jones45 said:Look, I know I’m being a pain in the neck here, but can someone please explain what hemoconcentration actually means?

It means thicker blood. Period.

Paul Ramirez59 said:Hello there,
..............................................

Your results look normal, aside from some slightly off lipid levels, which you can easily manage through diet. Check out the nutritional guides on the CVS Health website; they have plenty of resources there to help you get things back on track.

Lisa Turner46 said:Hello,

I've been getting my blood drawn repeatedly because six days ago, my iron levels were high at 50 (with the standard range listed as 8-30).
Today, my iron came back at 45, TIBC was 52 (range 49-75), UIBC was 10 (range 26-59), and ferritin was 185.50 (range 13.00 - 150.00). I'm 22 years old and maintain a very balanced, healthy diet, so I'm wondering what these numbers might indicate. Thanks.

Can someone please weigh in?

Lisa Turner46 said:Can someone please actually answer me?

Seriously, did anyone even bother to read the very first post??☕

Paul Ramirez59 said:Hi everyone,

I went in for some blood work this morning because I’ve just been feeling pretty off lately—lots of dizziness, tremors, and just generally feeling lousy during the day.

If anyone here is able to help, could you please make sense of these results for me?

Reference Ranges

ESR up to 10 mm/h
WBC 3.4 - 9.7
RBC 4.34 - 5.72*
Hemoglobin 13.8 - 17.5
Hematocrit 41.5 - 53.0
MCV 83.0 - 97.2*
MCH 27.4 - 33.9
MCHC 32.0 - 34.5*
Platelets 158 - 424
RDW 9.0 - 10.4*
MPV 6.8 - 10.4*

Glucose 3.9 - 6.2
Urea 2.5 - 7.5
Creatinine 65 - 120
Cholesterol < 5.3
Triglycerides 0.4 - 1.9*
Iron 11.0 - 32.0
Total Bilirubin 5.0 - 21.0
AST 0 - 38
ALT 0 - 48
GGT 0 - 55.0

URINALYSIS:
Clear
Yellow
Protein Neg
Urobilinogen Normal
Epithelial Cells Small
WBC 1-2
RBC 2-3
Bacteria Small
Mucus Moderate

I'm hoping someone can walk me through this before my follow-up appointment with the doctor (which is in maybe a week or two)....
I'm especially worried about those MCV and MCH numbers...

Look, I'm definitely not a doctor, but I guess if you look at fasting glucose over 5 combined with the liver producing a ton of lipids, it might point toward "metabolic syndrome" (you know, one of those fancy names doctors come up with to sound official), especially since you're actually feeling symptoms... If it were me, I'd probably start by checking my thyroid too—not just TSH, but maybe T3 and T4 as well—and I'd definitely cut back on carbs, especially sugar.

Austin Reed20 said:I’m no doctor, but if you’ve got fasting glucose sitting above 100 combined with a liver churning out a pile of lipids, you're looking at "metabolic syndrome"—which is basically just a fancy medical term we invented to make a cluster of issues sound more professional. Especially if symptoms are already showing up. If I were in your shoes, I'd start by checking my kidney function and getting a full thyroid panel—not just TSH, but T3 and T4 as well. Then, I'd cut out the carbs. Specifically, the sugar.

These results. It doesn't lead anywhere. Regarding metabolic syndrome.

There are options for managing metabolic syndrome. Strictly defined criteria. What specific criteria does a patient need to meet before a diagnosis is officially confirmed?

One of those metrics is actually fasting glucose above 100 mg/dL, not just anything over 90.

That, of course, isn't the only factor, nor is it the primary one.

To prevent any confusion, I am in complete agreement with the esteemed Dr. Hrvoje. The interpretation of user findings remains his domain. Betty Hughes6 kako slijedi:

vividsailor7 said:The results look good overall. Aside from some slightly off lipid levels—which can usually be managed through diet—everything else is within range.

Jessica Fowler4 Asks:
Regarding the DHEA reference range I posted: that specific number only applies to men. For women, you have to look at two different sets of reference values—one for pre-menopause and another for post-menopause. I’ve had a hard time finding much clinical literature on elevated DHEA, especially when it shows up alongside high cortisol levels and low ACTH. Based on these specific results, the most logical explanation seems to be adrenal hyperplasia.
How exactly is my adrenal gland churning out this much DHEA and cortisol when my pituitary isn't even sending the ACTH signal to trigger it?
Given my current symptoms, should I be looking into more specific diagnostic tests? I’m thinking about an ACTH stimulation test or perhaps that 24-hour urine collection with four samples. Standard blood work for adrenal function feels pretty useless at this stage.

It seems to me that setting the upper limit for DHEA-S at 7.6 μmol/L for men is far too low. In many labs, that kind of threshold is typically used for women, whereas men generally see much higher values.

Your other results fall within the normal range. It’s worth remembering that when testing hormone levels, you have to account for diurnal variation; they fluctuate throughout the day and aren't static constants. Just because a value sits near the upper or lower limit doesn't automatically make it pathological.

Armstrong, I've moved your post into its own dedicated thread here. here;
pantera0207, your post has been moved here.

I went in for my annual blood work, just like I do every year since I take birth control; I go once a year for a routine CBC checkup. This is actually only my first year on the pill. Here are the results:
RBC 4.68 (3.68 - 5.08)
Hemoglobin 147 (119 - 157)
Hematocrit 0.443 (0.350 - 0.470)
MCV 92.5 (83.0 - 97.0)
MCH 31.4 (27.4 - 33.9)
MCHC 339 (320 - 345)
RDW 12.6 (9.0 - 15.0)
Platelets 252 (158 - 424)
MPV 10.1 (6.8 - 10.4)
WBC 7.5 (3.4 - 9.7)
Neutrophils 64.9 (44.0 - 72.0)
# 4.85 (2.06 - 6.49)
Lymphocytes 29.5 (20.0 - 46.0)
# 2.20 (1.19 - 3.35)
Monocytes 4.0 (2.0 - 12.0)
# 0.30 (0.12 - 0.84)
Eosinophils 1.3 (0.0 - 7.0)
# 0.10 (0.0 - 0.43)
Basophils 0.3 (0.0 - 1.0)
# 0.02 (0.0 - 0.06)
PT 0.96 (> 0.70)
(P) 1.04 ( aPTT 27 (20 - 30)
aPTT ratio 1.05 (0.80 - 1.20)
Fibrinogen 1.8 (1.8 - 3.5)
Creatinine 73 (63 - 107)
Bilirubin 11.0 (3.0 - 20.0)
Glucose 5.42 (4.20 - 6.00)
Cholesterol 4.00 (< 5.0)
Triglycerides 1.6 (< 1.7)
Alkaline phosphatase 50 (30 - 120)
AST 18 (8 - 30)
ALT 14 (10 - 36)
GGT 9 (9 - 35)
Iron 50 (8 - 30)
Five days after these results came back, I did some follow-up iron testing at the request of my primary care doctor.
Iron 45 (8 - 30)
TIBC 52 (49 - 75)
UIBC 10 (26 - 59)
Ferritin 185.50 (13.00 - 150.00)
Last year, I also had bloodwork done (to make sure it was safe to start the pill; everything else looked fine then too), and the results were as follows—not sure if that's even relevant:
Iron 28 (8 - 30)
UIBC 16 (26 - 59)

So, I am 22 years old and taking birth control. As for symptoms, nothing major, though I do feel somewhat low on energy occasionally. Nothing out of the ordinary. My parents have healthy blood counts, though they also sit right at the upper limit for iron. My doctor referred me to a hematologist with a diagnosis of "Hemochromatosis vs. ?". For the record, I haven't been taking any vitamins or supplements, but I would really appreciate a second opinion.
TIBC 41 (49 - 75)