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

Hello 👋

I had my hormone levels tested on day two of my cycle. Most results are back, except for one—androgen something? 🤔 So I am waiting for that last piece before heading to my gynecologist, though I am left wondering about these current numbers. It is worth noting that I induced my period using hormonal pills; my doctor prescribed them, and without them, I wouldn't have had a cycle to test in the first place, which is why I went for these labs.

Free Testosterone 7.1 (0.21-14.2)
LH 13.60 (mid-follicular phase: 2.12-12.9, mid-menstrual cycle: 19.2-103, mid-luteal phase: 1.20-12.9)
FSH 5.32 (mid-follicular phase: 3.85-8.78, mid-menstrual cycle: 4.54-22.5, mid-luteal phase: 1.79-5.12)
Testosterone 2.3 (0.4-2.6)
Estradiol 230.8 (mid-follicular phase: 99-448, mid-luteal phase: 179-1068, periovulatory: 349-1589)
Prolactin 574.0 (70.8-566)
DHEA-S 6.8 (0.49-10.61)
SHBG 79.2 (18.2-135.5)

Essentially, I am confused as to how day two of a cycle fits into these "mid-phase" ranges mentioned here 🙂 and what it implies that my prolactin is slightly elevated.

Thanks.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey Elizabeth Cooper2,

The zinc levels are within the normal range, so you're good there. Mobility is also looking fine, just like you mentioned. Most importantly, those key spermogram parameters are all within the normal limits—which, as you pointed out, is exactly what you want to see. It’s a solid sign.

I’m not entirely sure if slightly elevated citrate levels carry any real clinical weight, especially if that’s the only outlier in the whole analysis while everything else hits the mark. You really need to run that by a urologist who specializes in this stuff to be certain.

Best, 🙂

Dear Bradley Walker,

Like my colleague already pointed out, the prognosis for liver disease is a massive moving target depending on the specific diagnosis. Even with the exact same condition—say, chronic Hepatitis B or C—different patients face wildly different outcomes.

Right now, we just don't have enough data points to pin down exactly what your husband is dealing with or what the long-term outlook looks like.

What I can tell you right now is that staying active is actually recommended and helpful, so don't let him just rot in bed; he needs to move, but obviously, he should listen to his body and not overdo it.

Dietary changes are pretty much mandatory at this stage. Think more frequent, smaller meals—maybe four to six a day—rather than big heavy ones. Cut out the canned junk, greasy foods, anything fried or heavily grilled, and definitely ditch the soda. Alcohol is a hard "no." Stick to plant-based fats like olive oil, and load up on fresh or cooked fruits, veggies, and whole grains. For protein, go with lean meats, poultry, low-fat dairy, eggs, or fish. Of course, these specifics change based on the actual diagnosis—some foods might be totally off-limits for certain liver issues—but we won't know that until the doctors give you a definitive answer.

Just try to be there for him and stay positive as much as you can. It's tough.

Stick closely to whatever your doctors tell you to do.

Wishing you and your husband all the best. 🙂

Hepatitis markers came back negative!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

So, what's next? What other tests do you think we should get done?

Hey there, it's me again 🙂
I'm posting all my recent lab results here because I really need some help—my doctor honestly seems completely lost regarding these numbers.
Sedimentation 26 H
Leukocytes 13.5 H
MCV 80.7 L
MCH 27.0 L
Glucose 6.2 H
Alkaline Phosphatase 46 L
Iron 6.2

Serum lipemic

Triglyceride 4.69 H
Cholesterol 5.4 H
LDL Cholesterol 3.46 H
Hypochromia

Ferritin 163.5 H (Range 10-120)
Even though my ferritin is high, my doctor is still forcing me to take iron supplements (which is why I say she has no clue what she's doing)

24-hour Urine Analysis

Total Protein 172 H
Protein/Creatinine Ratio 109 H
HbA1c 5.6% (What does this even mean?)

Ultrasound: Hyperechoic liver, borderline dimensions suggesting diffuse lesions. (Could this be happening because of that elevated ferritin?)
Hepatitis B and C markers are negative.

Can anyone give me a general opinion? What is going on with me???
I have to mention that I’m dealing with liver pain almost every single day now. It actually started while I was on Silapen, which I was prescribed for absolutely no reason (my doctor suspected strep throat, but she didn't even bother doing a swab???).
THANKS

mistymaker8 said:I need some general opinions here. What's going on with me???
I have to say, I've been getting pains near my liver almost every single day, and it all started while taking Silapen, which was prescribed for no real reason (my doctor suspected I had strep throat, but without even doing a swab ???)
THANKS

I can't speak for everything else, but maybe it's actually your stomach hurting? 🤷

melloworca6 said:I don't know about anything else, but honestly? Maybe it’s just your stomach acting up. 🤷

Pain can definitely be tied to diffuse liver lesions—like if you're dealing with fatty liver disease. Though, honestly, "fatty liver" itself doesn't usually hurt; most of the time, it’s totally asymptomatic and won't give you any warning signs at all. So yeah, those pains could absolutely be coming from changes happening in the liver.

"Diffuse liver lesion" is such a massive, vague umbrella term. It basically just means your liver looks different on an ultrasound, but the scan itself isn't going to tell you *why* things look funky. It’s just pointing at a problem without giving you the answer key. The causes? Honestly, they're all over the map. Most of the time, you're looking at fatty liver. Then there's viral hepatitis—though we can rule out A, B, and C here—or other types like alcohol-related issues, drug-induced damage, or even other viruses like CMV or EBV. You also have to consider metabolic stuff like Wilson's disease or hemochromatosis, autoimmune liver diseases like autoimmune hepatitis, or even inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's. It's a wide net.

So, you've got elevated Ferritin? Honestly, we’re probably not looking at iron deficiency anemia here. It feels more like you're dealing with some other underlying issue—what doctors usually call "anemia of chronic disease." That said, it could totally be a mix of both, especially since women are way more prone to iron deficiency because of their cycles. You didn't mention what your TIBC, UIBC, or reticulocytes look like. Also, I'd need to see your AST, ALT, and GGT levels to get the full picture.

Bubreg: You’ve got protein in your urine. Could be some kind of glomerular issue, like a form of glomerulonephritis. Honestly, those things can be triggered by basically anything—we're talking a hundred different causes ranging from infectious stuff to autoimmune damage.

HbA1c is basically glycated hemoglobin. It lets you eyeball the average glucose concentration over the last 8 weeks. Seems totally fine to me, as far as I can tell.

Serum looks lipemic: basically because my fat levels are through the roof.
Lipids: they can end up spiked if you're dealing with some kind of diffuse liver lesion. Just something to keep on the radar.

Did an actual internal medicine specialist even look at you and order these tests, or is this just your primary doctor handing stuff out while you two wing it together? Honestly, it looks to me like you need a real, high-quality evaluation—someone who’s actually going to take all these scattered results, pile them up, examine you properly, and get a full history. Do you have hematuria—meaning, is there blood in your urine? What about your blood pressure? Your age? Weight? Any medical history? Everything matters here. Just dropping random test results on a forum bit by bit isn't going to get you anywhere. Look, that iron they gave you isn't going to do squat. Your Ferritin is too high. That basically means your body actually has plenty of iron stores, but for some reason, they're "trapped" or locked away where they can't be used. You aren't dealing with iron-deficiency anemia here; you've got anemia caused by something else entirely.
Look, obviously nothing is ever 100% certain. I’m just throwing out my best guess based on the lab results you laid out.

wiredcanyon2 said:Pain can be part of a diffuse liver lesion—for instance, if you're dealing with fatty liver. Though, "fatty liver" itself doesn't usually hurt or cause symptoms. So, the pain could definitely stem from changes happening in the liver.

"Diffuse liver lesion" is a pretty broad term. It basically means the liver has changed somehow, but an ultrasound alone won't tell you why. Possible causes range from fatty liver and viral hepatitis A, B, or C (which were ruled out) to other types like alcohol-related, medication-induced, or other viruses like CMV or EBV. It could also be metabolic issues like Wilson's disease or hemochromatosis, autoimmune liver diseases, or even inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's.

Since your ferritin is high, this probably isn't iron-deficiency anemia. Usually, that would be caused by something else entirely—what they call "anemia of chronic disease." That said, you could have a combination of things, especially since women are more prone to iron deficiency due to their cycles. You didn't mention what your TIBC, UIBC, or reticulocyte counts are, or your AST, ALT, and GGT levels.

Kidneys: You have protein in your urine, which could point to a glomerular disorder, like some type of glomerulonephritis. There are a hundred different things that can trigger glomerulonephritis, ranging from infections to autoimmune damage.

HbA1c is your glycated hemoglobin; it gives an estimate of your average glucose concentration over the last three months. Looks fine to me.

Serum lipemic: This is due to elevated fats.
Lipids: These might be elevated as part of a diffuse liver lesion.

Has an actual specialist seen you and ordered these tests, or is this just your primary doctor calling the shots? Honestly, it sounds like you need a solid second opinion—someone who will actually look at the big picture, take a full history, and connect the dots. Do you have hematuria (blood in your urine)? What’s your blood pressure? Your age? Weight? Any medical history? All of that matters. Just posting results bit by bit on a forum isn't going to get you answers.The iron she gave you won't help because your ferritin is high, which suggests your iron stores are actually there, but they're "locked away" for some reason. You don't have iron-deficiency anemia; you have anemia caused by something else.
Obviously, nothing is 100% certain; I'm just speculating based on what you've shared.

Look, I'm just listing what was abnormal in my results. Everything else—GGT, AST, ALT, TIBC, UIBC, etc.—is within the normal range. (Reticulocytes?)
I don't smoke, and I don't drink alcohol at all. If I had hematuria, would it show up in a 24-hour urine test? My BP goes as high as 130/80. I'm 26, and I am overweight. As far as I know, I haven't had any major illnesses, and I don't have anyone to ask for help.
I know the iron won't work, and I would have even mentioned the ferritin thing to her if I hadn't.
All in all, she's a terrible doctor (I hate saying this, but you can see for yourselves).
I saw a nephrologist about the proteinuria, and she basically brushed me off, saying it was just because of my high BMI and that I should go on a diet.
Then I saw a hematologist, who concluded it wasn't anemia per se, but microcytosis and hypochromia, which could be a result of latent iron deficiency.
After everything, I still have no idea what's going on or what my diagnosis is. I'm asking for advice here: what else should I do? What tests should I run? Unfortunately, I can't afford private specialists because, being a foreign national here, I have to cover my own healthcare costs.
Basically, my doctor's main priority is just getting me pregnant, clearly—even if it comes at the expense of my own health.
Thanks a lot.

mistymaker8 said:Look, I’m just listing what came back abnormal in my results. Everything else—GGT, AST, ALT, TIBC, UIBC... all within normal range. (Reticulocytes?)
I don't smoke, I don't touch alcohol at all. If I have hematuria, would that show up in a 24-hour urine test?? My blood pressure peaked at 130/80, I'm 26kg overweight, and as far as I know, I haven't had any medical issues before, but I don't exactly have anyone to ask.
I know taking iron won't fix everything, and I wouldn't have even brought up the ferritin if I hadn't mentioned it to her.
All in all, my doctor is terrible (sorry to say this, but you can see for yourselves)
I saw a nephrologist about proteinuria, and she basically brushed me off, saying it's just because of my BMI and that I need to go on a diet.
Then I saw a hematologist who concluded it's not actually anemia, but microcytosis and hypochromia, which could be caused by latent iron deficiency.
After all these tests, I still have zero clue where I stand or what my diagnosis is, so I'm asking you guys for advice on what else I should do or what tests I should run. Unfortunately, I can't afford private specialists since, being a foreign national here, I have to pay for my own health insurance plus supplemental coverage.
Basically, my doctor's main priority is just getting me pregnant, clearly even if it costs me my life.
Thanks a lot.

If you're carrying 26 kilograms of extra weight, that liver lesion is most likely hepatic steatosis—basically fatty liver. There is NO medication for fatty liver other than dieting, physical activity, and essentially changing your entire lifestyle. It might sound cliché, but that's what the literature says. Your liver enzymes seem steady, which is a good sign. When you saw those two specialists, they had to put some kind of diagnosis on your chart based on the labs, right? What did they actually write down? And did the hematologist recommend any specific follow-up tests?

wiredcanyon2 said:If you’re carrying 26 extra pounds over your target weight, that liver lesion is most likely just hepatic steatosis—basically fatty liver. There isn't a magic pill for fatty liver; it’s all about diet, staying active, and basically overhaulng your lifestyle. It sounds cliché, I know, but the medical literature backs it up. Your liver enzymes seem stable, which is a good sign. When you saw those two specialists, they had to provide some kind of diagnosis on the report, right? What did they actually write down? And what did the hematologist suggest for follow-up testing?

Honestly, you have me laughing a little now. I don't have 26 extra pounds—unfortunately, I have more than that—but I am 26 years old. As for my weight, it's mostly down to genetics and PCOS. I saw the hematologist about five months ago, and they suggested a blood culture test (which I'm planning to do soon), checking my thyroid (which is fine), a gynecological exam where they diagnosed the PCOS, and a gastroscopy—though I'm still working up the courage for that one🙂. They also checked my Ferritin, which is high, and my Vitamin B12 and folic acid, which are normal. So, the hematologist gave me no diagnosis, and the nephrologist didn't have much for me either, other than telling me to monitor my proteinuria every six months, lose some weight, and cut out meat and salt. That's pretty much it.

mistymaker8 said:Oh, you guys actually made me laugh there. I don't have 26 extra pounds—unfortunately, it’s more than that. And I’m 26 years old. Personally, I blame my genes and PCOS for the weight. I saw a specialist hematologist about five months ago, and they suggested a hemocult test (which I'm planning to do soon), checking my thyroid—which I did, and it's fine, a gynecological exam where they confirmed the PCOS, and a gastroscopy—well, I'm still working up the nerve for 🙂, ferritin—which is high, and Vitamin B12 and folic acid, which are normal. So, the hematologist gave me nothing, and the nephrologist didn't find anything either, just told me to monitor my proteinuria every six months, lose some weight, and cut out meat and salt. That’s basically it.

Hahaha😁 I guess I missed that part about the 26lbs. Anyway, from what I know—and from looking into how extra weight affects things—carrying extra pounds can absolutely cause proteinuria. Usually, that clears up once you drop some weight. Some people deal with proteinuria without having any actual kidney pathology, either. It would be a smart move to get a urinalysis (microscopic exam) done. Have you had that yet? Honestly, I think your nephrologist gave you solid advice. Just try following it; if you don't, you'll never know. That fatty liver is almost certainly due to the weight, and those lesions can clear up over time. Doing the hemocult is a great call, too—definitely do that so you can rule out any GI bleeding.

wiredcanyon2 said:Hahaha😁 I guess I missed that 26g part. Anyway, from what I know and based on my own research, carrying extra weight can absolutely trigger proteinuria. Usually, once you drop the pounds, the proteinuria clears up. Some people just deal with it without having actual kidney pathology, too. It would be a smart move to get a urine sediment exam (microscopic analysis) done—have you gone that route yet? Honestly, I think your nephrologist gave you solid advice; you should probably follow it, otherwise, you're just guessing. That fatty liver is almost certainly tied to the extra weight, and those lesions can resolve over time. Getting a fecal occult blood test is also a great call to rule out any GI bleeding.

😁 I had my first sediment test back on November 25, 2010, and this was the result:
Leukocytes-high 0-2
Erythrocytes- 3-5 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells - high 0-1
Bacteria-some 0
Mucus-some 0

Qualitative urine analysis—everything negative except leukocyte esterase at 2 (normal is 0)

January 5, 2011—sediment
Leukocytes-1-2
Squamous epithelial cells-3-5
Bacteria-high
Mucus-some
Calcium oxalate crystals-high

Qualitative analysis—all normal.

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing good. 👋
I need some help here.
Ended up in the ER at the Mayo Clinic last night. I collapsed, and my labs are looking pretty rough. 😢
CRP is through the roof—doctor said she’s never seen it this low, like 1.01... wait, scratch that, it's crazy high.
My CK (creatine kinase) is 516 (the max should be 135).
Calcium is low too,
and my lymphocytes and erythrocytes are basically non-existent right now.
Since I was diagnosed with adnexitis and a 4.8 x 3.9 growth, and they put me on antibiotics, shouldn't my CRP be even higher?
I'm also being treated at a cancer institute (fibroadenomas, my mom had breast cancer).
I actually passed out during a neurology exam, but the CT scan didn't show any ischemic changes.
My lymph nodes are swollen, and honestly, I don't even know where to start figuring this out.
😢

Thanks in advance for any input.

mistymarlin7 said:Hey everyone, hope you're all doing good. 👋
I need some help here.
Ended up in the emergency room at the Mayo Clinic last night. I totally collapsed, and my labs are looking pretty rough. 😢
CRP is super low—doctor said she’s never seen it that low before, like 1.01...
My CK (creatine kinase) is 516 (normal max is 135)
Calcium is low too,
and my lymphocytes and erythrocytes are basically non-existent.
Since I was diagnosed with adnexitis involving a 4.8 x 3.9 growth and they put me on antibiotics, shouldn't my CRP have been elevated?
I'm also being treated at a cancer institute (fibroadenomas, mom had breast cancer)
I actually passed out during a neurology exam, but the CT scan didn't show any ischemic changes.
My lymph nodes are swollen, and honestly, I don't even know where to start figuring this out.
😢

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Look, if you've been on antibiotics for a while to deal with those ovarian issues, your CRP could have dropped. CRP reacts to treatment pretty fast. Sed rate is much slower. Having a low CRP doesn't necessarily mean anything specific; it might just be your baseline. Sometimes CRP doesn't track inflammation perfectly, though that usually happens with certain chronic autoimmune diseases or liver failure. Creatine Kinase can spike due to muscle disease, but it also goes up from overexertion or muscle inflammation after physical activity. It can also rise during a myocardial infarction, but that's not the best indicator (doctors look at other enzymes for heart stuff), and it can happen with cerebral ischemia (but since they did a CT, that's probably not the issue).
As for the rest, I don't know what to tell you. There's just not enough info to go on.

Susan Morales66 said:Hepatitis markers came back negative!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

What else should we have him tested for?

Dear Bradley Walker,

It looks like your husband will need a series of tests to pinpoint why his liver enzymes remain persistently elevated.

Beyond a thorough medical history and physical exam—alongside assessing liver function (ALT, AST, GGT, AF, Bilirubin, albumin, PV, etc.), a complete blood count, blood glucose, lipid panel, sedimentation rate, CRP, and the liver ultrasound (which has already been completed), plus those negative hepatitis serology results—the workup will likely include, if it hasn't already, testing for antibodies used to screen for autoimmune liver diseases, iron, Ferritin, transferrin, copper, ceruloplasmin, and AAT...

Furthermore, if the aminotransferase levels stay high, your gastroenterologist might recommend a liver biopsy.

As you can see, and as my colleague wiredcanyon2 pointed out, there is a wide spectrum of potential causes behind the kind of diffuse liver lesions identified via ultrasound.

To put it simply: when patients present with elevated aminotransferases (ALT, AST) who don't consume alcohol or certain medications, test negative for hepatitis viruses, and test negative for autoimmune markers, but *do* have elevated lipids, blood sugar, or excess body weight, there is a very strong possibility they are dealing with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

NAFLD is one of the most frequent culprits for long-term elevated liver enzymes. This progression can move from simple fatty liver (steatosis) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and ultimately, if damage persists, to advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.

If it turns out to be fatty liver, losing weight through a balanced, healthy diet and increasing physical activity—while avoiding alcohol and unnecessary medications whenever possible—should ideally improve the liver tests and reverse some of the changes.

The catch is that to officially diagnose NAFLD, you first have to rule out all other reasons for high liver enzymes—the ones wiredcanyon2 mentioned earlier (viral hepatitis, drug-induced or toxic injury, autoimmune diseases, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, etc.). Consequently, your husband has quite a diagnostic journey ahead.

Your best course of action is to consult with a gastroenterologist and proceed with the necessary testing.

Best regards. 🙂

Here's my PDF too. Good grief, I feel like I just scrolled through and immediately bumped right into a dozen posts about the exact same issues.

I recently ended up in the emergency room because I was dealing with a fever, vomiting, and just feeling completely wiped out. It wasn't exactly a life-threatening crisis or anything, but I figured I should probably see a doctor anyway—mostly because I wanted to get a definitive diagnosis.

The EKG came back normal at the ER. My heart rate was a little elevated, but I guess that’s just par for the course in a situation like this—plus, I’ve always been a bit of a worrier.
The urine analysis came back mostly within the normal range, though they did flag something small. ErythrocyteI think it was a 3 on the first test, then it dropped to a 1 on the follow-up after 24 hours, and finally, a week later—it hit zero.

Full blood work report: everything looks absolutely perfect until you hit the liver results. Then comes the shock. Bilirubin is fine, GGT is fine, but then... ALT and AST. Almost both. Ten times. It’s more than just normal. To make matters worse, my results from the other day were actually a bit better—only five times higher than they should be.
It's been about a week now since my ALT and AST levels came back at double the normal range, even though everything else looks perfectly fine. As of right now, things are still sitting at that same level.

Also, when I finally made it to the clinic, I was as dehydrated as the Sahara. I had to spend a week on IV drips just to feel somewhat human again. For the first two days, they could barely get the line started because they were struggling to find a good vein. I honestly don't even get how it happened—I felt perfectly fine the day before, and then overnight, everything just went sideways.

First, I had an abdominal ultrasound, and honestly, nothing showed up. Everything looks completely normal—well, except for my gallbladder, but I don't have one of those anymore. 😁It was removed about two years ago... just some kidney stones. After that, they went on this massive hunt for viruses—everything from HIV and hepatitis to Epstein-Barr and CMV, plus a bunch of bacteria whose names I can't even remember and honestly have zero desire to learn.
In short, all searches regarding infectious diseases: Negative..

And that was the end of it—the doctor finished my treatment plan. She told me to take Silymarin and Peptoran for a month, watch what I eat, and said, "It'll all be fine."
Honestly, that just isn't enough for me. I need to know exactly what went down and whether I'm still sick. I really need some advice on who to reach out to—like, what kind of specialist should I be looking for? Should I be hunting down a gastroenterologist?

I don't buy those excuses from doctors like, "Well, you know, it was Easter, everyone overindulged a bit..." That’s just plain false. For me, those damn holidays were just normal days, no different from any other.
I'm 23 years old, standing about 6'1", and weighing in around 175-180 lbs. My cholesterol and blood sugar levels are totally normal, I don't smoke, and I'm not much of a drinker either...

Maria Fisher46 said:Autoimmune liver diseases, hemochromatosis, and Wilson disease. These are some heavy hitters when you look at how the body can sometimes turn on itself. It’s a lot to process.

How exactly are these three conditions diagnosed? And are we talking about anything seriously major here?

I'm looking for some kind of reason to pressure my doctor into admitting me to the hospital. Honestly, I don't even want to spend half an hour lying in a hospital bed, but I've been spiraling with anxiety ever since they sent me off to get tested for HIV. 🙏

crimsondrifter15 said:Well, I’m diving into this PDF too. Man, I immediately run into posts with the exact same issues.

I recently ended up in the ER because of a fever, vomiting, and feeling totally wiped out. It wasn't life-threatening or anything, but I wanted to see a doctor and actually get a diagnosis.

The EKG at the ER was fine—heart rate was a little high, but I guess that’s expected when you’re feeling like crap, plus I’m a bit of a hypochondriac anyway.
The urine analysis was pretty much normal, except they found a few tiny erythrocytes (I think it was 3 on the first check, then 1 after 24 hours, and zero after a week).

Complete blood count: absolutely everything looks perfect until you hit the liver panels. Then—boom. Bilirubin is fine, GGT is fine, but ALT and AST are both nearly 10 times higher than they should be. The next day, things improved slightly, being "only" 5 times the limit.
Fast forward a week, and ALT and AST are still double the normal level, while everything else remains steady. That's where I'm at right now.

Also, by the time I got to the clinic, I was dehydrated as the Sahara. Spent a week on IV fluids just to feel human again. For the first two days, they could barely even get a line in because they couldn't find a good vein. I don't know how it happened, but one day I was perfectly fine, and then overnight, everything went south.

First, I had an abdominal ultrasound—nothing showed up. Everything looked completely normal (aside from my gallbladder, which I don't have 😁. Had it removed 2 years ago due to stones...). After that, they went full throttle with testing for viruses: HIV, hepatitis, EBV, CMV, and some bacteria whose names I don't know and honestly don't care to learn.
Long story short, all the infectious disease tests came back negative.

And that’s where the story ends with my doctor. Her "treatment"? Take > for a month, watch what you eat, and "it'll be fine."
Look, that’s not enough for me. I want to know exactly what happened and if I'm still sick. I need advice on who to talk to—what kind of specialist should I be looking for (a gastroenterologist?)?

I'm not buying those little doctor excuses like, "Well, you know, it was Easter, maybe you overindulged a bit..." That is straight-up not true. Those damn holidays were just regular days for me.
I'm 23, 6'1", and about 175-180 lbs. No high cholesterol, no blood sugar issues, I don't smoke, I don't drink heavily...

How are these three diseases diagnosed? And are we talking serious stuff here?

I'm trying to find a reason to force my doctor to send me to the hospital. I don't exactly enjoy lying in a hospital bed for even thirty minutes, but I've been anxious ever since they sent me to test for HIV. 🙏

Hey there. Fever, vomiting, and weakness usually point toward some kind of gastrointestinal infection, though it could be other things. Regarding the dehydration—that's nothing unusual; you were dehydrated because you were vomiting. As for the liver enzymes, the most common culprit for elevated levels is hepatic steatosis or fatty liver. Also, viral hepatitis can cause spikes, especially if they're 10X the normal limit. Don't sweat the HIV testing; once they run the panel, you'll know, and you can relax knowing it's ruled out. You said the "viruses" were negative.
Autoimmune hepatitis isn't that common—it's actually quite rare, affecting maybe 2 in 100,000 people. It's more frequent in women and is diagnosed through immunological tests and a liver biopsy. Forget about it!
Wilson disease: You diagnose this by checking serum copper levels, ceruloplasmin, and doing a 24-hour urine copper test; sometimes they’ll even go for a liver biopsy. Hemochromatosis: For hemochromatosis, you're looking at elevated blood iron and high transferrin saturation (Fe/TIBC), plus high ferritin, and potentially a liver biopsy. It’s a genetic thing, so usually, someone else in the family has it too.
Then there’s this thing called NASH—non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. An AST/ALT ratio of less than 1 might point toward NASH. Diagnosis is confirmed via biopsy.

Ultrasound: If they aren't seeing any diffuse liver lesions, I’d say you can breathe easy regarding your liver and those specific conditions.
The real question now is whether your liver is actually linked to that bout of vomiting and fever, or if it was just a random finding. The liver is a sensitive organ; it reacts to pretty much everything happening in the body. For instance, during any other infection—like pneumonia or some nasty GI bug—your transaminases can spike. Yours dropped back down quickly, which to me looks like a non-specific reaction. Honestly, I think you just had some kind of gastrointestinal infection, probably viral or maybe some food poisoning. I think your doctor gave you solid advice: watch what you eat for a bit and then redo the labs in, say, a month to see how things are trending. Will you know with 100% certainty exactly what happened? Probably not!
Your doctor isn't going to admit you to the hospital over this, especially since you're feeling fine now. They might send you out for outpatient testing if they feel it's necessary. Anyway, if you have more questions, fire away. Cheers.

wiredcanyon2 said:Your transaminase levels dropped pretty quickly, which looks like some kind of non-specific reaction to me. I suspect you probably dealt with some sort of gastrointestinal infection—likely viral or maybe even just food poisoning. I think your doctor gave you solid advice: just watch what you eat for a bit and then redo the tests in, say, a month to see how the numbers trend. Will you know for certain 100% what happened? Probably not!
The doctor isn't going to admit you to the hospital for this, especially since you're doing fine now; she might just send you out for some outpatient testing if she thinks it's necessary. Anyway, feel free to ask if you have more questions. Best,

That’s basically what my doctor told me too—that she wouldn't even admit me to the hospital since I don't have any (known) infectious diseases. On one hand, I'm glad the results came back negative (since they were testing for some pretty nasty stuff), but on the other, I'm a little disappointed because they didn't pin down exactly what went wrong.

I probably don't have Hemochromatosis, seeing as everyone in my family is slightly anemic anyway. So, there's really only one test left that could definitively confirm something: a biopsy? And I am 100% sure she won't send me for that. Ever since I found out how those are done, it hasn't sounded appealing at all. 😬

Well, nothing else to do then. I'll just finish up my therapy (Silymarin + Peptoran) and then head back in for bloodwork in a month.

crimsondrifter15 said:The doctor basically told me she won't even admit me to the hospital since I don't have any "known" infectious diseases. Look, on one hand, I'm relieved my results came back negative—especially since they tested for some pretty nasty stuff—but on the other, it’s kind of a letdown because they still haven't pinned down what's actually going on with me.

I probably don't have Hemochromatosis, considering everyone in my family runs a bit anemic anyway. So, there's really only one test left that could give us a definitive answer: a biopsy? And I am 100% certain they aren't going to send me for that. Honestly, ever since I looked up how they actually do it, the whole idea sounds zero percent appealing. 😬

So, yeah, nothing else to do. I guess I'll just finish up this regimen of Silymarin + Peptoran and then go back for more bloodwork in a month.

One thing you need to realize here: you said your liver ultrasound looks good. If you had diffuse lesions or if your transaminases were sky-high or chronically elevated, then maybe a biopsy would be on the table. But right now? It’s totally unnecessary. Your doctors actually did a thorough job covering all the bases—they screened you for hepatitis causes, ran the ultrasound, and I'm assuming they hit all the other standard labs too. For now, you can breathe easy.

Can someone please tell me what this means?🤷

I'm totally lost here. I honestly thought it was just the iron levels that mattered.😕....

Anyway, if anyone knows, please, please, please....
thanks 🙂

Chloe King26 said:Can someone please explain what this means?🤷

I'm totally lost here. I honestly thought it was just about the iron levels😕....

Anyway, if anyone actually knows, please, please, please....
thanks 🙂

It could mean anything from low erythrocyte production or rapid breakdown, to issues with hemoglobin structure, weird cell shapes, or absolutely nothing at all... look, if you're gonna ask a question, actually list the numbers and tell us why you even bothered getting tests done in the first place. Just posting this way isn't going to get you much info. There's a massive difference between having a hemoglobin of 60g/L versus 119g/L, or erythrocytes at 1.2x10... When you're trying to figure out anemia, you need the full picture—stuff like TIBC, UIBC, Ferritin, MCV, reticulocytes, Bilirubin, and so on.🙂

Lmao, I have a question if anyone knows anything or has advice, since my follow-up isn't for another 15 days.
I dealt with this virus back in November 2010—felt like a nasty flu, and they confirmed it via serology.
On 11/30/2010, my serology looked like this:
CMV IgG 9900 Positive
CMV IgM 0.862 Positive

I ran the tests again a few days ago, and now it’s:
CMV IgG 29356 Positive
CMV IgM 0.235 Positive

Can someone explain what IgG and IgM actually mean? Can this virus still cause me trouble, and what kind of numbers do I need to see before the results come back negative?

Cheers