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

I’m 27 years old and I've been dealing with some pretty frustrating bone issues for the last 2 or 3 years now.
It all started with this weird sensitivity and a burning sensation right in my ribs—that was actually the very first sign. Since then, things have progressed to a thickening around my sternum and this intense, burning feeling where my ribs meet the breastbone.
Every once in a while, I also get that same burning sensation deep in my arm bones.
I’ve ended up running several different rounds of tests because I wanted to be absolutely sure about everything, so I’ll just list the specific values that haven't been looking quite right lately:

PARATHYROID HORMONE IS NORMAL (it was only slightly elevated one single time)
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN BONES IS RISING... over a few months, it jumped from 32 up to 50 (ref range is 11.6-29.6)
VITAMIN D IS LOW (ref range is above 75... mine was at 50 when tested 5 months ago)
URINARY CALCIUM IS HIGH (ref range is 2.5-6.2... mine came back at 7.3)
BLOOD CALCIUM IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS (though it was elevated just once)
BLOOD PHOSPHORUS (sometimes slightly high, sometimes normal)
OSTEOCALCIN IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS
BETA CROSSLAPS ARE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS
24-HOUR URINE VOLUME IS HIGH (ref range is 600-1600, mine was 2200)
THYROID HORMONES ARE NORMAL
BONE DENSITY SCAN (DEXA) IS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS
TOTAL PROTEINS ARE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS

Looking at my symptoms and these lab results... do you think it’s possible that the high alkaline phosphatase in my bones and that burning pain in my rib and sternum area could be caused by my Vitamin D deficiency (which was sitting at 50 back in month 5)?
Also, is there anything else you think I should be getting checked out?

irontinker9 said:I'm 27 years old and I've been dealing with bone issues for the last 2-3 years!
It started with sensitivity and a burning sensation in my ribs (that was the very first symptom), then my sternum started thickening, accompanied by this intense burning feeling right where the ribs meet the breastbone.
Occasionally, I also get this burning sensation in my arm bones.
I've had all my tests done several times, so I'll just list the values that aren't within the normal range:..........................
Should I be getting any more testing done?

Go back and read the first post more carefully, or better yet, just provide the doctor's name and the full results including the units. To me, seeing "slightly elevated" or "slightly low" without context means absolutely nothing—the first time it’s a little off, the second time it’s different, and so on.

LATEST LAB RESULTS FROM MAY 2012

PARATHYROID HORMONE 24 ...ref range 15-65
CALCIUM 2.46... ref range 2.14-2.53
PHOSPHATE 0.99...ref range 0.79-1.42
24-HOUR URINARY CALCIUM 7.3...ref range 2.5-6.2
URINARY PHOSPHATE 19.4...ref range 12.9-42
24-HOUR URINE VOLUME 2200...ref range 600-1600
BONE-SPECIFIC ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 50...ref range 11.6-29.6
VITAMIN D 50...ref range above 75
OSTEOASCALCIN 26.9...ref range 11-43
BETA-CROSSLAPS 0.251...ref range up to 0.57

PARATHYROID HORMONE (FROM 2010) WAS HIGH—10.2...ref range 1.10-7.30
INORGANIC PHOSPHATE (SEPTEMBER 2011) WAS HIGH—1.47...ref range 0.79-1.42

DEXA SCAN NORMAL

MEDICAL HISTORY:
Dealing with bone-related issues for about 3 years now.
It all started with this strange sensitivity and a burning sensation right along my ribs. Then, my costal cartilage—you know, where the ribs meet the sternum—started thickening up. There are days when the stinging in that spot is so intense I can barely stand the feeling of clothes touching my skin. On top of that, I sometimes get this nagging discomfort and a burning sensation in my hand joints.
My bone-specific alkaline phosphatase seems to be on a steady climb over the last three years (ref range up to 29.6)... it was at 32, then bumped to 38, and now it’s sitting at 50!

I still don't have an official diagnosis. One doctor suggested it might just be a Vitamin D deficiency (which was measured at 50 back in May).
Honestly, it feels a bit hard to wrap my head around the idea that a minor Vitamin D shortage could be responsible for three years of constant symptoms and this creeping rise in my alkaline phosphatase levels. Does that really sound right to you guys?
Is this upward trend in alkaline phosphatase something I should be worried about?

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK... WHAT SHOULD MY NEXT STEPS BE?
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!

Hey there!

I posted all my lab results here a few days ago.
I just had a thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy done and got the results back, so I'm sending everything over again—including the biopsy findings at the end of the post. If you guys could help me make sense of these numbers, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks a million!
Charles Wright13

I'm 28, and I've been dealing with some thyroid issues. My mom used to struggle with hyperthyroidism, then switched to hypothyroidism, but thankfully she's doing fine now.
My sister actually suggested I get checked out after she noticed my neck looked a little off during a visit to the gynecologist.
Honestly, I've been feeling pretty depressed lately. Everything feels kind of hopeless, I'm gaining weight, my memory is shot, and I just feel... blah.
About two months ago, I started on Synthroid 50mcg, and here is what my labs looked like back then:

Bloodwork from two months ago:
TSH-7.57 (REF: 0.55-4.78), CLIA METHOD
TOTAL T4-110.2 (REF: 58.1-140.6), CLIA METHOD
TOTAL T3 1.9 (REF: 0.9-2.8)

Thyroid ultrasound results from two months ago:
The right lobe is 2x1.7x4.3cm, the isthmus thickness is 0.7cm, and the left lobe is 1.4x1.5x3.2cm. The overall echostructure is inhomogeneous, especially in the left lobe, which mostly contains a poorly defined hypoechoic zone measuring 1.4x1x1.1cm.

I had the biopsy yesterday, and my latest hormone and antibody levels (from yesterday) are:
FT4-value 14.8 units (pmol/L) (REF: 11.5-22.7)
FT3-value 6.27 units (pmol/L) (REF: 2.76-6.45)
TSH-value 2.67 units (mU/L) (REF: 0.44-4.00)
TPO-value >600 units (IU/mL) (REF: TGA-value 593 units (IU/mL) (REF:
Thyroid biopsy results:

Biopsy performed on the diffusely altered left lobe (I) and a formation near the upper pole of the left lobe (II).
Thyroid hormone and antibody levels were available at the time of the biopsy.

Cytology report:
I. Peripheral blood, some lymphocytes, rare small clusters of follicular cells.
II. The puncture yielded some thick, yellowish, acellular fluid (non-diagnostic material).

Could someone please explain if there are more tests coming my way and what this last biopsy result actually means?

Thanks so much.

I have a question—please, I really need some help here. My baby girl is 4 months old and hasn't received her vaccinations yet because her lab results just haven't been looking right... she currently has elevated
s-ast 124
a-alt 91
a-ggt 47

Chloe Diaz84 said:I need some help here. My 4-month-old hasn't been vaccinated yet because her labs have been all over the place. Right now, she's showing elevated levels:
AST 124
ALT 91
GGT 47

Since this was moved from "Pediatrics" under Child Health to this specific thread, please check the guidelines in the first post, here (click the link), and include the necessary details in your request. Once you do, someone (likely our colleague vividsailor7, who specializes in gastroenterology) will likely weigh in with advice.

Got my blood work back yesterday and saw a few red flags next to some elevated numbers. If anyone can make sense of this, I'd appreciate it:
S-GGT RESULT 39 REFERENCE VALUES(9-35)
PROTEIN S-CRP 11.6rEFERENTNE VRIJEDNOSTI (5.0)

The doctor asked if I was on any meds, and I told her yeah, just some stuff for pain and anxiety.
Everything else looks fine, I guess.

Betty Nelson71 said:I just got my bloodwork back yesterday and noticed a few things marked with checkmarks because they're elevated. Can anyone help me make sense of this?
GGT S-RESULT 39 REFERENCE RANGE (9-35)
PROTEIN S-CRP 11.6 REFERENCE RANGE (5.0)

Regarding the CRP, the doctor asked if I was taking any medications, and I told her yes (painkillers and anti-anxiety meds).
Everything else looks normal.

Seriously, did you even bother reading the very first post?
Is that really too much to ask?

Female, 30 years old, diagnosed with MS in 2006. - KitchenAid & Whirlpool study
Nov 11th - Detrunorm - prescribed by my neurologist for an "overactive" bladder, without even seeing a urologist.

Back in the winter of 2010/11, I started getting these tiny reddish spots on my arms and legs. In those areas, my skin—which has always been oily—became dry and "parched." They appeared very rarely and didn't last long (maybe 3 days max), just one at a time.

This spring, things took a turn for the worse. I currently have about 15 of them: on my arms, legs, glutes, and around my navel. They peel slightly, but now they linger longer and leave scars—pigmentation changes that are darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. At no point did these spots ever itch.

I saw a dermatologist the day before yesterday. She suspects dehydration. I have a follow-up in a month and a half once these results come back:
ESR, CRP, CBC, CMP, glucose, liver panel, urea, creatinine, Fe, UIBC, TIBC, urine, and total IgE.

I’ll get the CRP and IgE results in two weeks, but I received this today:

sedimentation Erc: 8 (0-24)
K-erythrocyte : 4.91 (3.86-5.08)
K-Hemoglobin : 151 (119-157)
K-Hematocrit : 0.453 (0.356 - 0.470)
MCV : 92.2 (83.0-97.2)
MCH : 30.7 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC : 333 (320-360)
K-leukocyte : 12.6 (3.4-10.0)

Lab coagulation:
Platelets : 315 (158-424)

Urinalysis:
cloudy, yellow, acidic
specific gravity : 1.020 (1.005 - 1.030)
protein : 1 (0)
glucose : normal (normal)
ketones : 0 (0)
bilirubin : 0 (0)
urobilinogen : normal (normal)
Blood - erythrocyte : 1 (0)
Blood - Hb : 0 (0)
leukocyte : 3 (0)
Nitrites : positive (0)

Urine sediment:
erythrocytes : 5-10
leukocytes: 30-40
Bacteria: heavy

Metabolites and substrates:
S-Glucose: 4.6 (4.40-6.40)
S-Total Bilirubin: 8 (3.0-20.0)
S-Creatinine: 94 (63-107)
S-Uric acid: 304 (134-337)

Enzymes:
S-ALP: 58 (54-119)
S-AST: 12 (8-30)
S-ALT: 9 (10-36)
S-GGT: 18 (9-35)

Trace elements:
S-iron: 29.6 (8.0-30.0)
S - UIBC: 37.5 (26-59)

Now, I am a total layman. If I remember correctly from biology class, elevated leukocytes mean a bacterial infection (but I don't feel anything—no fever, no pain).
The erythrocytes, leukocytes, protein, nitrites, and the heavy bacteria in my urine worry me. Where is this coming from? What does it mean?

One more thing: My primary care doctor has been incredibly sloppy lately. Did she actually include everything the dermatologist requested on the orders? It looks like TIBC is missing.
Can I wait a month and a half for these results, or do I need to get this to my GP immediately?

I went ahead and read through the first post and typed out all those values... but honestly, I’m sitting here wondering if I’m actually going to get an answer at all?!

Dear all,

I am once again reaching out to request your assistance.

Today, I received my grandmother's blood work and stool analysis results. She is 80 years old and a severe cardiac patient (having suffered two heart attacks), which means doctors have explicitly ruled out anesthesia or any surgical procedures for her. What shocked me today was the doctor's suspicion of colorectal cancer. We had the stool tested because my grandmother mentioned that for the last 20 days or so, her bowel movements have been very dark and loose. She also informed me today that she has been experiencing pain and pressure in her lower abdominal area for the past 5–6 days. I have pulled the blood work, and these are the specific values the doctor circled, which led to her referral for hospital treatment:

Here are the values (along with the reference ranges) that they told us today suggest cancer; we are heading in tomorrow for further testing:

sedimentation Erc: 53 (5-28)
leukocyte: 10 (3.4-9.7)
erythrocyte: 3.34 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin: 90 (119-157)
Hematocrit: 0.292 (0.356-0.470)
MCH: 26.9 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC: 308 (320-345)

Urea: 23.3 (2.8-8.39)
Creatinine: 188 (63-107)

Iron: 8.4 (8-30)

What struck me most is that these values are almost identical to those from 2009, 2010, and 2011—results that doctors previously dismissed, even during her two hospitalizations, telling us not to worry and attributing them simply to her age. Yet today, they are discussing mild kidney failure.

If you could assist me, is there any possibility that these values are not indicative of cancer, but perhaps something benign, such as hemorrhoids or an ulcer?

Thank you in advance.

Picked up my mom's labs today—she had her lactate dehydrogenase (LD) checked and it came back at 216 U/L (ref. range < 241).
Anyone know if this is actually fine or should I be worried? 🙂

Back here again asking for some help!

I just redid my CMV testing, and decided to check for EBV while I was at it. Last time, my CMV IgG was 1:21,000 and the IgM was negative. Now, the IgG is 1:13,000 and the IgM is still negative, which I know is a good sign. But—the EBV results are tripping me up: IgG anti-VCA (EIA) came back at 47 (normal is under 15), EBV IgM (EIA) is 4 (normal is under 13), and EBV EBNA IgG (EIA) is 26 (normal is under 3). Units are VE.
What on earth does that EBV IgM mean? And how much of a risk is it during pregnancy? Just a reminder, I’m actually planning to get pregnant soon, so I ran these tests proactively. I also had a full blood panel done about two weeks ago and everything looked perfect. Honestly, I feel great. Can someone please make sense of this for me?

Thanks!

dustygardener11 said:Picked up my mom's labs today. She had her lactate dehydrogenase (LD) checked. The result came back at 216 U/L, which sits comfortably within the reference range of < 241.
Can someone tell me if these results look okay, or what? 🙂

To whom it may concern,

The LDH result is, as you can see, within the normal range.

Greetings. 🙂

analogskipper72 said:Back again. Looking for some help.

Retested for CMV, and decided to run an EBV panel alongside it just to be thorough. Last time, my CMV IgG was at 1:21,000 with negative IgM. Now, the IgG has shifted to 1:13,000, while IgM remains negative—which, predictably, is a good sign. However, the EBV results are a different story: EBV VCA IgG came back at 47 (normal range is under 15), EBV VCA IgM is 4 (normal range is under 13), and EBV EBNA IgG is 26 (normal range is under 3). Units are VE.
What exactly does this EBV IgM result imply, and what kind of risk are we looking at during pregnancy? Just to clarify, I’m currently in the pre-conception phase, so I ran these tests as a precaution. My blood work from about two weeks ago was perfectly normal, and I feel fine. I would appreciate someone helping me make sense of these numbers.

Thanks!

To whom it may concern,

A positive IgG anti-VCA and positive IgG anti-EBNA, paired with a negative IgM anti-VCA, points toward a past Epstein-Barr infection. It’s hardly cause for alarm; most Americans have already run into this virus at some point in their lives.

As far as we know, there's no evidence that EBV causes issues during pregnancy.

Greetings. 🙂

Thanks so much, you guys really made my night🙂 I mean, yeah, 4 is obviously less than 13, so it's negative, but seeing it there at all still stings a little. I’m just crossing my fingers that everything turns out fine. Honestly, I think it's time to actually start trying for a baby... if I keep digging through medical stuff online like this, I'm just going to scare myself and my husband half to death with a million imaginary illnesses.😍

Thank you!

casualeagle6 said:White blood cells : 12.6 (3.4-10.0)

Urine sediment:
Red blood cells : 5-10
White blood cells: 30-40
Bacteria: heavy presence

Enzymes:
S-ALP: 58 (54-119)
S-AST: 12 (8-30)
S-ALT: 9 (10-36)
S-GGT: 18 (9-35)

Trace elements:
S-iron: 29.6 (8.0-30.0)
S-UIBC: 37.5 (26-59)

Now, I’m a complete novice, but if I recall correctly from biology class, elevated white blood cells indicate a bacterial infection (though I don't feel anything—no fever, no pain).
The red blood cells, white blood cells, proteins, nitrites, and massive amount of bacteria in the urine have me worried. What does this mean? Where is it coming from?

Also, one request: my primary care physician has been pretty sloppy lately. Did she include everything the dermatologist requested on the referrals? It looks like the TIBC is missing.
Can these results wait a month and a half, or should I get them to my doctor immediately?

Hello,

The urine analysis suggests a bacterial infection. However, you didn't mention any symptoms. This raises the question of whether the sample was collected properly or if there was contamination from vaginal secretions. From a gynecological standpoint, are you experiencing any discharge or discomfort?

There is mild leukocytosis in the blood, but without a full differential count, it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions.

A slightly low ALT level carries no clinical significance here.

TIBC can be calculated using the known Fe and UIBC values, so everything is fine there.

Perhaps Hrvoje would like to weigh in?

Best regards. 🙂

edit: Honey, wait for Dr. Hrvoje to log on. He will be able to guide you much better than I can.

Nicole Lilly, since this specific issue falls under Dr. Hrvoje's specialty, you'll get better advice from him, so please wait for his response. For now, I can comment that the results show anemia due to iron deficiency. One possible cause for this type of anemia could be bleeding—either general or from the digestive tract. However, these results alone cannot pinpoint the source of the bleeding. Standard protocol dictates that in such cases, we must rule out colon cancer as a potential cause. He will provide more detail.

Best regards. 🙂

Nicholas Myers, THANKS 🙂

I honestly have zero issues with my urinary tract or anything gynecological. No pain, no itching, no discharge. Nothing.
Theoretically, contamination is on the table: there were already about 20 dishes sitting on the shelf, and who knows if the next person stocking them stumbled and "compromised" someone else's samples with a stray drop or two? 😕 This whole sloppy sample collection process makes no sense to me. 🙂

Anyway, I rushed over to my doctor yesterday with the results. She told me to get a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test on Monday, saying, "then we'll panic if we need to." The provisional diagnosis is cystitis—I did a little digging online and realized maybe the rapid incontinence diagnosis was premature. It feels like I really need to settle this with a urologist.

So, the Democratic Party is missing from the results—even though the dermatologist specifically requested it. Is there anything else missing from the list? 🤷

vividsailor7 said:Can we just look at the first post?
It shouldn't be that hard.

I read the first post, but I really don't have the energy to type out three pages of lab results. That's the only weird part. My annual physical through work came back perfect, everything else is fine. I'm 33.

So how exactly do you expect doctors to write anything useful? 🙂 It’s incredibly ungrateful work trying to interpret any test results without having someone's full medical history and symptoms on hand. One tiny detail that seems irrelevant to you could completely flip the entire diagnosis.

casualeagle6 said:Nicholas Myers, THANKS 🙂

I don't actually have any issues with my urinary tract or anything gynecological. No pain, no itching, no discharge—nothing.
Theoretically, contamination is possible: there were about 20 cups already sitting on the shelf, and who knows if the next person putting their cup down tripped and "compromised" someone else's samples with a stray drop or two. 😕 This whole sample collection process seems incredibly sloppy to me. 🙂

Anyway, I popped into the doctor's office yesterday with the results. She suggested I get a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity test on Monday, saying, "Then we'll panic if we need to." The referral diagnosis is cystitis—I did a little digging online and concluded that perhaps the diagnosis of rapid incontinence was premature. It feels like I really need to settle this with a urologist.

So, the Democratic Party is missing from the results—even though the dermatologist requested it. Is there anything else missing from the list? 🤷

In any case, it’s good that you've been referred for further testing to clear up those sediment results.

From what I can see, there is no mention of the Democratic Party in your previous post. Is it possible you just missed transcribing it from the report?

Also, I noticed the dermatologist requested urea levels, but the report shows uric acid instead (and based on the reference ranges, it's not a typo), which are different parameters entirely. I'm not sure how critical urea is for your specific dermatological situation, but I'm simply noting that I don't see that parameter in your post despite the dermatologist asking for it. You might want to double-check the original lab report once more.