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

Insulin resistance can indeed trigger all of those issues, and increased hair growth might stem from PCOS, which itself can be caused by insulin resistance...

Jeffrey Peterson43 said:So, you can rest easy. After about four weeks in a brace followed by some physical therapy, there shouldn't be any lasting issues.
Honestly, just sell the motorcycle; it'll save your health in the long run. That’s exactly what I did.😉

I've only been in this brace for a week... my biggest headache right now is school. I'm worried about missing too many classes as the semester winds down and ending up having to take summer school :S. As for the bike situation, that's actually the worst part—it wasn't even my motorcycle and I wasn't even the one riding it! I was just sitting on the back as a passenger when suddenly we were both on the pavement, haha.🤷

Sam Hall15 said:that insulin resistance can trigger all of those symptoms, and that increased hair growth might actually be a byproduct of PCOS, which itself can be caused by insulin resistance...

And wouldn't you know it, I don't even have PCOS... But when he brought up the possibility of infertility? Honestly, I nearly fainted right there on the spot!

The silver lining, if you can even call it that, is that he handed me this little booklet outlining a specific diet plan. To be perfectly honest, I haven't been following it strictly because the whole thing feels like such an overwhelming disaster, but I am trying my best to cut out the sweets and keep my calories down to roughly this much. So, I step on the scale today after a full week of effort, and what happens? I've gained a whole pound!!!!!! Doesn't that just completely drain your motivation to try anything at all? I was really hoping to see a few ounces drop off, or at the very least stay exactly where I was, but instead, the number actually went up!?!=!?😠😲

With those higher insulin levels, you're naturally more prone to weight gain, so you really have to watch what you eat. I'd suggest sticking strictly to your diet and adding some physical activity into the mix—ideally some aerobic training. Don't give up easily, because there are plenty of people who successfully stabilize their hormone levels just by managing their body weight... good luck!

Sam Hall15 said:Is the doctor okay??? These results look perfectly fine to me. From what I can tell, this looks like a total waste of money on tests you don't even need... everything is within range, you're healthy 😁 so there

I noticed something: if a doctor is an absolute jerk, they’ll just dump you into more testing. But if they don't send you for more tests, then you're stuck "fighting tooth and nail" against them later on. I'm not talking specifically about Sark.
Why would anyone call extra testing a waste of money? We already pay enough in taxes for healthcare, not to mention whatever else we have to shell out for supplemental insurance.
Anyway, honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anyone where every single blood value was perfectly normal. There's always something slightly high or slightly low.
The only thing with Sark could be that his iron levels are too high, which is probably why the doctor is being cautious—we all know you have to keep an eye on your liver when that happens. 🙂
Isn't it better to prevent something than to try and fix it after the fact?

First off, he doesn't have excess iron; his results are actually quite normal. Furthermore, never should a doctor treat a lab report rather than the patient themselves. A single value falling outside the reference range without being tied to a patient's clinical status generally isn't worth further investigation—I emphasize "generally," as that doesn't apply to every type of test. And of course, wasting money by sending patients for unnecessary testing is a waste... I don't see any ambiguity there...

Sam Hall15 said:first off, his iron levels aren't even high, they're totally normal, and second never should a doctor treat a lab report instead of the actual patient. basically, if one single value is outside the reference range but doesn't tie back to how the patient actually feels, it usually isn't worth following up on—and I'm emphasizing "usually" because that goes for different types of tests. and obviously, wasting money by sending people for unnecessary tests is a waste, I don't see any confusion there...

I don't really see how much iron is actually there, he just says hemoglobin, MCHC, and some other stuff is elevated.
I see plenty of confusion here; you don't just look at a blood panel in a vacuum, you have to look at how the patient is doing overall.
Anyway, I've noticed everyone seems to mix up hemoglobin and iron, but you've gotta look at both.
They aren't the same thing.
And if you think getting extra tests done is just throwing money away—well, I disagree. I’d much rather have a picky, thorough doctor who wants to double-check everything (the healthcare system is what it is, and I have every right to demand thoroughness since I pay a massive chunk of my paycheck toward Medicare and private insurance premiums) than someone who just brushes you off with some antibiotics for a virus or whatever.
If a doctor has even a slight suspicion about something, I'd much rather they run more tests just to be safe.

If a doctor relies too heavily on lab results, they’re already failing; treating them as absolute truth makes them even worse. A truly competent physician uses data as a tool to check on a patient, not as a crutch. If you want someone thorough, look for a doctor who actually spends time talking to you and performing a physical exam rather than just ordering a battery of expensive tests... In this case, not a single value was outside the normal range—not even the Bank of America levels or the other blood counts—which clearly suggests the physician here lacks sufficient expertise...

Sam Hall15 said:Look, if a doctor leans way too hard on test results—and you definitely shouldn't be treating them as absolute truth anyway—then they’re basically a bad doctor by default. And the ones who just randomly scan results without actually checking on the patient? Even worse. If you're looking for a decent, thorough physician, find someone who actually takes the time to sit down, talk to you, and perform a real exam instead of just ordering a mountain of tests... This person doesn't have a single value outside the normal range, not even their Bank of America levels or other blood counts, so clearly we're dealing with a doctor who doesn't really know their stuff...

I’m guessing you’re either a doctor or a med student. I agree with one part—yeah, doctors should take enough time for an actual conversation and a physical exam. But if a doctor wants to run follow-up tests, why shouldn't they? It's not like they're paying out of pocket; Medicare covers those tests.
From what I gathered, he mentioned having three values that were over the limit regarding iron (and look, I know being low on iron sucks, but having too much is also bad news), especially when you factor in the blood count and hemoglobin.
Besides, from talking to them, I've noticed that every second doctor seems to have a different opinion on hemoglobin and iron. 🙂 Some people just stare at the whole blood panel, some compare the blood work to the iron levels, and others look at all three plus the physical exam and everything else.

Kimberly Ward said:I’m assuming you’re either a doctor or a med student. Look, I agree with you on one point: a patient needs enough time for a proper consultation and physical exam. But if the physician wants to order follow-up tests, why shouldn't they? It's not like it's coming out of their own pocket—Medicare covers those tests.
From what I understand, my husband mentioned he had three values that were too high regarding his iron levels (and we all know being low is bad, just like being too high is bad), based on his CBC and hemoglobin.
Besides, from my experience talking to providers, it seems like every other doctor has a different take on how to read hemoglobin and iron levels. 🙂 Some look at the full blood panel, others compare the iron directly to the CBC, and some factor in everything plus the physical exam and then some.

His results are perfectly normal; there are absolutely no "excessive values" here.
I'm with Sam Hall15 on this one.
Personal opinion doesn't change the data.
The doctor is essentially wasting taxpayer money that we all contribute to.
The man is healthy.🙂

I’ve been dealing with this nagging discomfort under my right ribcage lately, so I checked in with my doctor, who ended up ordering some blood work. A few of the numbers came back looking a bit off the charts:
GGT - 142
AST - 66
ALT - 129
TG - 2.28
LDL - 0.74
CRP - 5.69

My doctor thinks there might be something going on with my liver, so I've been referred to a gastroenterologist to figure out what's actually happening. 😲

Anyone here have any insight or similar experiences they can share?

Jeffrey Peterson43 said:His labs are totally fine, there’s zero "excess" anything here.
I'm with Sam Hall15 on this one.
Personal opinions don't change the data.
The doctor is just burning through the tax dollars we all pay into the system for nothing.
The guy is healthy.🙂

Look, I agree with Sam partially, but not entirely.
In my book, prevention is always better than trying to fix a disaster after it happens. It's better to be safe and get checked out.
Personally, I pay plenty for my Medicare plus some extra private insurance (and honestly, I've really needed that coverage this year).
Just a heads up: I don't see his hemoglobin, MCHC, or especially his iron levels on this report.

Kimberly Ward said:I agree with Sam Hall15 on certain points, but I can't get behind everything he's saying.
In my book, prevention is always better than trying to fix a disaster after the fact. It’s much smarter to catch things early.
Personally, I make sure I’m paying up for both my standard Medicare coverage and a solid supplemental plan—which, frankly, has saved my skin more than once this year.
One thing though: I don't see his hemoglobin, MCHC, or especially his iron levels listed anywhere on these results.

What exactly are we "preventing" or "treating" here?
Is it really helpful to go around scaring people for no reason?
And regarding those lab results, take a closer look; everything is right there in plain sight.

Frank Brooks34 said:I started feeling this sharp, stabbing sensation right under my right ribcage, so I reached out to my doctor. He sent me in for some blood work, and looking at the results, there are definitely a few red flags that fall outside the normal range:
GGT - 142
AST - 66
ALT - 129
TG - 2.28
LDL - 0.74
CRP - 5.69

My doctor told me I need to follow up with a gastroenterologist because he’s concerned about potential liver issues. 😲

Any thoughts from the community?

Your doctor is making the right call; you should definitely get in to see a gastroenterologist.
Those elevated liver enzymes are subtle, but they could certainly point toward some kind of liver lesion.
As for that pain under your right rib cage, in roughly 90% of cases, it turns out to be gallstones. There you go.

Jeffrey Peterson43 said:What exactly is there to prevent or treat here?
Is it really better to just scare someone for no reason by implying something is wrong?
As for the results, take a closer look, everything is laid out right there.

I'm saying I can't see anything because the photo of the results is blurry.
Personally, I think scaring someone unnecessarily is a bad move—there are much more subtle ways to deliver news without immediately jumping to the absolute worst-case scenario. Why does everyone default to assuming the worst possible outcome instantly?
I'm guessing you're a doctor by profession.

Frank Brooks34- these results suggest there might be some mild liver damage, possibly NASH, and that pain could stem from an enlarged liver—which aligns with a NASH diagnosis—or it could be related to the gallbladder, most likely due to gallstones, as Hannah Williams5 mentioned... your next step should be seeing a gastroenterologist for an abdominal ultrasound to clear everything up...

Brandon Newman95—I don't agree that it's better to unnecessarily scare patients; I never take that approach. There are many reasons for this, and ultimately, a proper approach involves explaining the situation clearly so the patient understands. If they are fully aware of the facts, the decision should be left to them, as everyone is responsible for their own well-being...

Sam Hall15 said:Brandon Newman95—look, I don't agree with the idea that you should unnecessarily scare patients. I never do that. There are plenty of reasons why, and honestly, if you take the right approach, you just explain the situation clearly. If they understand what's going on, let them make their own call. At the end of the day, everyone is responsible for themselves...

Here’s how I see it: you shouldn't go out of your way to terrify a patient, but you can definitely be direct.
Take my own experience, for instance: back in November, I caught some "weird" virus.
Literally every single one of my lab results was below the normal range. I was incredibly anemic and actually blacked out for a second, plus I felt totally wiped out. My hemoglobin was at 88 and iron was down to 2.9. And of course, the coughing came with a fever, even though my lungs and throat seemed fine. Should my doctor have just brushed me off or sent me straight to an internist or hematologist? Because he was such a huge help, unlike my OBGYN (who basically told me in the rudest way possible that I just froze up and then suggested I go see someone privately). Apparently, the low iron was something gynecological.
After hearing all that stuff from my GP telling me to just relax, that everything would be fine, and that they were just looking for the cause of the anemia, I felt so much better just knowing I had someone in my corner.

P.S. I'll shoot you a PM with the rest of the story.

I'll be looking out for your PM...
On another note, a quick word for all the women out there 😁 regarding anemia. I often hear or see people trying to manage it through their OB-GYN, but you really should be working with your primary care physician or a family doctor—or even a hematologist if things get more serious. While an OB-GYN can certainly play a role in the process, they shouldn't be the ones overseeing the entire treatment plan, even though that's frequently what happens in practice...

Sam Hall15 said:Waiting on a PM....
And just a quick word to all the ladies out there 😁 because I constantly hear—or see online—people claiming they get their anemia treated by their OB-GYN. Look, you should be handling anemia through your primary care doctor or a family practitioner, or if things get serious, a hematologist. Sure, an OB-GYN might play a small part in the process, but they definitely shouldn't be the ones running the whole show, even though that seems to be exactly what happens half the time...

I don't treat my anemia with an OB-GYN (that was just one specific test they ran). I manage it through both my hematologist and my primary care physician.