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

Greetings....
My father just left his doctor's appointment, where he was told his sedimentation rate is 173....
What does that actually mean? The doctor ordered follow-up tests for tomorrow to check his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP....
I'm quite shaken and honestly at a loss for how to process this....My father was born in 1965.

Donna Sanders3 said:Best wishes....
My father just got back from his doctor, and they told him his sedimentation rate is at 173....
What on earth does that mean? They wrote down that he needs to go back tomorrow to test his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP....
I am absolutely terrified right now and honestly have no idea what to think....

Based strictly on those numbers, I’d say we’re looking at some kind of inflammation. Check out that previous post by wiredcanyon2 regarding what specific details you need to provide.

vividsailor7 said:Based on this data, I’d say we’ve likely hit a snag. Check wiredcanyon2’s post above for the full list of what needs to be documented.

My apologies, I haven't been following the other comments...

I'm pasting the guide here too. If you guys have any other suggestions, just throw them out there and I'll update it.

melloworca6 said:Guidelines for asking questions about Lab Results - Opinions:

To get the most precise and accurate answers regarding your lab results interpretation, we suggest including the following when you post your data:

- complete results - many values can't be properly read if they're listed in isolation without the surrounding context.
- reference ranges - if your report includes reference ranges, please include them. Different labs use different standards; a number alone doesn't mean much without knowing the specific range used by that facility.
- age - you don't need to give your exact age, but a general idea like "early twenties" or "late forties" helps significantly, as normal values vary across different age groups.
- reason for testing (your symptoms) - this is crucial. It’s nearly impossible for anyone to interpret your results accurately if they don't know why you were sent for testing in the first place.
- brief medical history - if you have other existing health conditions, list them. It provides a much clearer picture.
- other details - it's also helpful to mention if you're pregnant or dealing with similar circumstances, as that changes how results are viewed.

Thanks for the input, everyone. 🙂

My father hasn't been feeling well lately. He had severe headaches and felt quite dizzy. After seeing his doctor, he was told his blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar were all too high. He’s since started medication for those, and they seem to be under control now. Last Friday, he had some blood work and urine tests done. He went back today to review the results, and the doctor noted his sedimentation rate is 173, his cholesterol is slightly elevated at 6.34, and his ALT is 67. His blood pressure, sugar, and general blood count are fine, though. The doctor ordered him to go back tomorrow to re-test his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP. My father was born in 1965. He’s never really dealt with health issues before—not even a common cold. His only prior concern was with his veins, for which he tried laser treatment, but it didn't help. I am incredibly anxious about this. If anyone could offer any insight, I would be truly grateful.

Donna Sanders3 said:Basically, my dad wasn't feeling well the other day—he had this massive headache and just felt completely off. He went to see his doctor, who told him his blood pressure was sky-high and that his cholesterol and sugar levels were up too. He started taking medication for the pressure and the sugar, and those seem to be under control now. Last Friday, he had some blood work and urine tests done. He went back to the doctor today to go over the results, and they said his sedimentation rate is 173, his cholesterol is a bit high at 6.34, and his ALT is 67. His blood pressure and sugar are fine, and the rest of his blood work looks okay. The doctor ordered him to come back tomorrow to get his erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP checked again. My father was born in 1965. He’s never had health issues before, not even a common cold. The only thing he ever struggled with was his veins; he tried laser treatment to fix them, but it didn't do anything. I am SCARED to death right now, and if anyone could help me out even a little bit, I would be so incredibly grateful.

You mentioned he was taking sugar pills, but you really need to clarify that for yourself—DID HE HAVE Diabetes Mellitus OR NOT? I can't work with vague details. You need to send me his full lipid panel and liver function tests.

I'm 41 years old, and for the second time in my life—about two years apart—I've dealt with these abnormal, involuntary movements involving my arms, legs, and body all at once. They feel like sudden bodily jerks, and I stay fully conscious through it all. The first episode lasted about two days, coming in waves lasting several minutes each. This second one happened about ten days ago and lasted roughly an hour, also in waves of a few minutes. There was no stress or physical exertion involved; it just happened out of nowhere while I was sitting there. It eventually calmed down on its own.
Neurologist findings, EEG, TCD, and Brain CT: all clear.
EEG results: Mid-voltage cerebral activity shows an alpha rhythm of 9-11 Hz. Partial blocking is present. No asymmetry or paroxysms noted. HV remains unchanged. Findings are within normal limits.
TCD results: Visualization of the Circle of Willis and VB flow shows normal SBSK in all examined blood vessels, physiological circulation directions, and normal waveform signatures.
Brain CT results: Shows a normally positioned and appropriately wide fourth ventricle with normal absorption values in the infratentorial region. The third ventricle is medioponated supratentorially, and the lateral cerebral cortex is symmetrical. Basal cisterns and sulci are normal. Brain tissue density values are within normal limits. Bone structures of the neurocranium show no pathological changes.
Thyroid results:
T3 1.65 (Range: 0.89-2.44)
TSH 0.982 (Range: 0.350-5.000)
FT4 14.42 (Range: 9.00-19.5)
Anti TPO 9.64 H (Range: Bloodwork:
Total protein 71.0 (Range: 66-81)
Copper 19.3 (Range: 12.2-25.1)
Immunoglobulin A 1.65 (Range: 0.70-4.00)
Immunoglobulin M 1.64 (Range: 0.40-2.30)
Immunoglobulin G 9.9 (Range: 7.0-16.0)
Ferritin 28 (Range: 20-200)
Albumin 67.8 (Range: 58.0-70.0)
Alpha 1 globulins 2.2 (Range: 1.0-2.8)
Alpha 2 globulins 9.1 (Range: 7.0-12.0)
Beta globulins 8.3 L (Range: 9.0-14.0)
Gamma globulins 12.6 (Range: 8.0-17.0)
Albumin 48.1 (Range: 42-50)
Alpha 1 globulins 1.6 (Range: 0.7-2.0)
Alpha 2 globulins 6.5 (Range: 5-9)
Beta globulins 5.9 L (Range: 6-10)
Gamma globulins 8.9 (Range: 6-12)
CA 19-9, GICA CA 15-3 5.7 (Range: CA 125 32.4 (Range: CEA 1.29 (Range:
I still have an eye exam, SEP/SEEP, and a brain MRI left to do. I was wondering, is a 1.5T MRI sufficient, or would it be better to go to a specialist who has a 3T machine? If that's the case, I'd have to travel to New York City. The facility in my hometown only has a 1.5T, so I'm feeling pretty undecided about it.

Olivia Anderson10 said:Is a 1.5T MRI sufficient, or would it be better to head over to the neuro center since they have a 3T? If I go that route, I'd have to travel all the way to New York City—my local clinic only has the 1.5T, so now I'm feeling a bit torn.

For a standard brain MRI, 1.5T is perfectly adequate.

Thanks, wanderingcobra76

Olivia Anderson10 said:I’m 41 years old, and for the second time in my life—with about a two-year gap between them—I’ve been hit by these abnormal, involuntary movements. We’re talking arms, legs, and my entire body jerking all at once. And the kicker? I was fully conscious the whole time. The first time this happened, it lasted for two days, coming in waves that lasted a few minutes each. This most recent episode started about ten days ago; it lasted roughly an hour, also in waves of several minutes. There was absolutely no stress involved, no physical labor, nothing. It happened out of nowhere while I was just sitting there. It eventually calmed down on its own.
Neurologist's report, EEG, TCD, Brain MSCT: all clear. Nothing found.
EEG results are back: average voltage cerebral activity shows an alpha rhythm of 9-11 Hz. There is some partially expressed blocking. No asymmetry or paroxysms were detected. The HV remains unchanged. Overall, the findings are within normal limits.
The TCD results are back: the assessment of the Wilson loop circulation, along with the VB slice, shows perfectly normal SBSK in all examined blood vessels. Circulation follows physiological directions, and the signature waves look completely normal.
The brain MSCT results are back. The fourth ventricle looks perfectly positioned and appropriately wide, with normal absorption values in the infratentorial region. Everything in the supratentorial area shows a medioponated third ventricle and symmetrical lateral cerebral cortex. The basal cisterns and sulci are all normal too. Brain tissue density values are right within the normal range, and the bony parts of the neurocranium show no pathological changes whatsoever. All clear on this front.
Thyroid test results:
T3 at 1.65 (Reference Range: 0.89–2.44).
TSH 0.982 | Reference Range: 0.350–5.000
FT4 14.42 (Reference Range: 9.00–19.50)
Anti-TPO is sitting at 9.64 H, while the reference range says anything under 5.61 is normal. This is definitely out of bounds.
Biochemistry:
Total protein is at 71.0, which falls right within the standard range of 66-81. Everything looks solid there.
Copper 19.3 (Normal range: 12.2–25.1)
Immunoglobulin A is sitting at 1.65, with the normal range being between 0.70 and 4.00. Everything looks perfectly fine here—right in the sweet spot.
Looking at these results, your IgM is sitting at 1.64, which falls right within the standard reference range of 0.40 to 2.30. Everything looks perfectly normal here. No need to stress!
I just got my latest lab results back, and I'm looking at my Immunoglobulin G levels. It’s sitting at 9.9, while the standard reference range is listed between 7.0 and 16.0. On paper, everything looks perfectly normal since I'm right in the middle of that bracket. But honestly? I can't help but feel like there's more to the story here. When you're dealing with all the other symptoms and constant uncertainty, seeing a number that's "fine" according to a lab manual feels incredibly dismissive. It doesn't capture how I actually feel. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of "normal" result when things clearly don't feel right?
My Ferritin is sitting at 28, while the standard range is listed between 20 and 200. Honestly, looking at those numbers makes me want to scream. I know technically it’s "within range," but being right on the edge like this feels anything but normal. It's frustrating when you feel like garbage but the lab results just shrug their shoulders at you. Anyone else dealing with these borderline levels?
Albumin 67.8 (Reference range: 58.0–70.0)
Alpha 1 globulin at 2.2 (Reference range: 1.0–2.8). Everything looks perfectly normal here. No need to stress!
Alpha-2 globulin is at 9.1, while the standard range sits between 7.0 and 12.0. So, everything looks perfectly normal here. No need to stress about it!
Beta globulins are sitting at 8.3, which is low compared to the standard range of 9.0 to 14.0. I'm looking at this and honestly, it’s just one more thing on the pile. It's frustrating when you're trying to get a clear picture of what's going on with your health and the numbers just don't line up. Everything feels like a puzzle piece that won't fit.
Globulin levels at 12.6, with a normal range between 8.0 and 17.0. Everything looks perfectly fine here.
Albumin 48.1 (Normal range: 42-50). Everything looks perfectly normal here.
Alpha-1 globulin at 1.6 (Reference range: 0.7–2.0).
Alpha 2 globulins at 6.5—within the normal range of 5 to 9. Everything looks steady there.
My beta globulins came back at 5.9, while the normal range is supposed to be between 6 and 10. It’s just slightly low, but honestly, seeing anything outside those standard numbers always gets my blood pumping. I can't help but feel a bit on edge about it. Has anyone else dealt with low beta globulin levels? I'm trying to stay calm, but you know how these things go.
Globulin levels at 8.9, while the range says 6-12. Honestly, I’m staring at this and just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It feels like everything is hovering right on that line where things start getting complicated. Anyone else dealing with these kinds of borderline numbers? It's exhausting.
CA 19-9 levels came back at 2.00, which is well under the 37 threshold. Everything looks normal on that front.
CA 15-3 is at 5.7. The reference range is anything under 31. Looks like I'm sitting pretty on that one.
CA 125 came back at 32.4. Since anything under 35 is considered within the normal range, I guess I can breathe a little easier for now. Still, waiting on these results is absolutely nerve-wracking.
CEA 1.29 — anything under 5.0 is considered normal. Looks like everything is looking good on that front!

I still have my eye exam, SEP/SEEP testing, and a brain MRI left to do. I’m stuck on a decision: is a 1.5T scanner good enough, or should I really make the trek to New York City to hit up a neurology specialist who has a 3T? If I go the 3T route, I’ll have to travel all the way to the city. My local clinic only has a 1.5T, so now I’m just sitting here second-guessing everything.

Here’s how this should look. The results are fine. Are you experiencing any issues with your period? If there are clinical indications, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get an ultrasound of your ovaries and thyroid. Personally, I’d only add an electrolyte panel (K, Na, P, Ca) to complete the workup.

vividsailor7 said:If it's just one U/L, everything looks totally normal. It's actually those higher numbers that start getting worrying.

Thanks, Doc!🙂

Casey Rogers47 said:Thanks, Doc.🙂

Don't mention it. Happy to help anytime.

vividsailor7 said:So, here’s how this looks. The results seem pretty organized. Are you experiencing any issues with your period? If there are clinical indications, it probably wouldn't hurt to get an ultrasound of your ovaries and thyroid. I guess the only thing I would add to that is checking your electrolytes (Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Calcium).

Thanks for taking a look at my lab results. Honestly, I feel a little bit better knowing you think everything looks okay. Regarding my periods, I actually had surgery for endometriosis about ten years ago—it was a laparoscopy where they didn't remove anything, just cleared out some adhesions and cysts. I stay on top of it with regular checkups, so that’s all under control. I do get occasional spotting that isn't tied to my cycle, but my gynecologist says that's pretty typical given my history with the disease. Earlier this year, I actually missed an entire period. I went through all sorts of tests to try and figure out why, but everything came back within the normal range. Eventually, my cycle just kind of reset itself and went back to being regular. Endometriosis has definitely played a role in infertility issues for me, too. I don't take any birth control pills, though, mostly because of my heart condition.
I’ve already touched base with my gynecologist about getting sent off for some tests to figure out if this might be related to my upcoming hormone changes. For days now—and maybe that's actually what's triggering these episodes—I've been dealing with these intense bouts of shivering. It hits me for a few hours at a time, whether it's during the day or in the middle of the night, and it feels like this deep, bone-chilling cold that I just can't shake. It's almost like I'm freezing from the inside out. Then, after a bit, it's as if my circulation finally kicks in and I warm up within a few minutes, only to have the shivering return again an hour later. It's pretty strange; people are walking around in short sleeves while I'm stuck sitting there in a heavy jacket just trying to feel normal.
I forgot to mention that I’ve been diagnosed with grade I-II mitral valve prolapse, so for the last two years, I've been taking Ormidol 25 mg every single day. I started it to help manage my heart rate, arrhythmias, and tachycardia. It seems like the medication has actually helped reduce the frequency of those symptoms a bit, I guess.
I'm still waiting on some more blood work to come back from the local clinic, so once those results arrive, I might be able to share them here with you all.
I've gone in for thyroid ultrasounds a few times now, and they've always come back within the normal range, I guess.
So, Sam is back from the city now, feeling completely depressed. We went out for a walk—just me, my husband, and the dog—and everything seemed fine at first. But then, at one point, it was like something just clicked inside my body. I don't know how else to describe it, but it was a literal click. Suddenly, this overwhelming weakness hit my legs, my arms, my entire body. My balance just went totally off, and it felt like I was either going to pass out or my legs were simply going to give out underneath me. I’m also getting these tingling sensations that sting in my hands and feet. My husband asked if we wanted to grab coffee, but I told him I was feeling poorly again, so we just headed straight home. Once we got in, I just broke down crying. This isn't me. I don't recognize this helpless person who feels so sick all the time. I’m crying because I feel like I’ve permanently lost my old life—that version of me that was happy, cheerful, and carefree. Now, this is just my new reality, and I honestly have no idea how dark things are going to get. Everything has just spiraled out of control over these last few weeks; it's affected my whole life and my entire family. I just want my old life back.
This depression is honestly killing me. Every once in a while, I’ll take 2 mg of Normabel just to try and trick my brain into feeling something else, I guess.
It feels like multiple sclerosis is constantly spinning around in my head, and honestly, dealing with the cramps on top of it is just killing me.
I know that by doing this, I’m only making things worse for myself, but honestly, it feels pretty impossible to resist.
I finally quit smoking after twenty years, and honestly, I’m not feeling any kind of withdrawal at all—no cravings or anything, not even a single urge to just have one puff.
It feels like my brain has just completely locked up from fear.
There is one thing I just can't wrap my head around. I don't mean that I'm constantly dwelling on everything that's going on with me—work keeps me busy, and I have good people around me. For instance, we were out walking today, laughing and having a great time; everything felt genuinely positive. At no point did it even cross my mind what was wrong with me, but then, out of nowhere, it was like a switch just flipped. Within a single second, I started feeling terrible. I'm not imagining things, either; I truly felt this physical weakness and a complete loss of balance. So, I didn't just think myself into being sick; it was actually happening.
I just don't get it at all, I guess

Hello, if anyone could help me make sense of these lab results...
HSV serology report

HSV IgM - POSITIVE - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 1 IgG - POSITIVE - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 2 IgG - negative - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 1 IgG WB - POSITIVE - (WB method) - reference values: neg
HSV 2 IgG WB - negative - (WB method) - reference values: neg

I don't really understand these reference values... there's nothing listed under result and unit, which should be there. Based on this, it looks like I don't have HSV 2, but I had those symptoms about a month ago along with everything else. I felt terrible, almost like a severe sore throat—everything just ached... and then a sore appeared on my lip for the first time. I saw both a gynecologist and a dermatologist, but neither could give me a clear diagnosis at the time. So, I went seeking a second opinion at the local hospital, where they sent me for more blood work through infectious disease specialists. I've never had this in my life before, so maybe that's why the reaction was so intense. They say almost everyone carries HSV 1 from a young age and experiences it at least once... but I'd never had any issues until now; I've always been perfectly healthy, aside from the occasional cold sore. Now, I seem to have picked up both, even though the person who likely passed it to me said they'd been inactive for a year. It’s just awful that this happened to me...

Olivia Anderson10 said:Thanks for taking a look at my labs. Phew, I can finally breathe a little easier knowing you said everything looks okay. Regarding my period situation—about ten years ago, I had surgery for endometriosis. It was a laparoscopy where they didn't actually remove anything, just cleared out some adhesions and cysts. I stay on top of it with regular checkups, so it’s all being monitored closely. I do deal with occasional spotting that isn't tied to my cycle, but my gynecologist says that’s normal given my history with the disease. Then, earlier this year, I missed an entire cycle. I went through every single test imaginable to figure out why, but everything came back within the normal range. Once that passed, my cycle just went right back to its usual rhythm on its own. To be honest, the endometriosis has definitely played a role in infertility issues. And just so we're clear, I don't take any birth control pills because of my heart condition.
I’ve already coordinated with my gynecologist to get sent in for some testing regarding potential hormone shifts. For days now—and honestly, this might be exactly what's triggering these "attacks"—I’ve been hit by these intense bouts of shivering. It happens both during the day and in the middle of the night, lasting for hours at a time. It’s this bone-deep, internal coldness where I just cannot get warm, no matter what I do. Then, suddenly, it feels like my blood finally starts circulating properly and I warm up within a few minutes. But then? An hour later, the freezing shakes come right back, rattling me from the inside out. It’s ridiculous. People are walking around in short sleeves, and here I am, bundled up in a heavy jacket just to survive.
I totally forgot to mention that I’ve been diagnosed with Grade I-II mitral valve prolapse. Because of that, I’ve been taking Ormidol 25 mg every single day for the last two years to help manage my heart rate, arrhythmias, and tachycardia. Honestly, it feels like the medication has actually helped dial back those symptoms quite a bit.
I'm still waiting on more blood work results from the local clinic, so once those come in, I'll be able to post them here for everyone to see.
I've had my thyroid checked via ultrasound several times now, and every single time, the results have come back perfectly normal.
Well, Sam is back from the city, looking absolutely depressed. We went out for a walk—just me, my husband, and the dog—and everything seemed fine at first. Then, out of nowhere, it was like a switch flipped inside my body. I’m talking about a literal *click*. Suddenly, my legs, my arms, my entire body just gave out. I felt this overwhelming weakness, like my balance was totally shot and I was either going to pass out or my legs were simply going to quit on me entirely. On top of that, there’s this stinging tingling sensation shooting through my hands and feet. My husband asked if we wanted to grab a coffee, but I just told him I was feeling crappy again, and we headed straight home. Once we got in, I just broke down. I burst into tears because this isn't me. This helpless, sickly version of myself is a stranger. I’m crying because it feels like I’ve permanently lost the life I used to have—that happy, vibrant, carefree existence. Now, this is my "new reality," and honestly, I have no idea how dark it’s actually going to get. Everything has just spiraled out of control over these last few weeks. It’s turned my whole life, and my family's lives, upside down. I just want my old life back!
This depression is absolutely killing me. Sometimes I’ll take 2 mg of Normabel just to trick my brain into feeling even remotely normal.
Multiple sclerosis is constantly spinning in my head, and honestly, having this much pain in my hips is absolutely killing me.
I know I'm only doing myself a disservice by acting this way, but man, it is so incredibly hard to fight the urge.
I finally quit smoking after 20 years, and honestly? I’m not feeling any kind of withdrawal at all. There isn't even a single craving for just one puff.
It feels like my brain has completely locked up from pure fear.
There’s one thing I just can’t wrap my head around. And look, it’s not like I’m obsessively dwelling on everything that’s happening to me all day—I stay busy with work, I have great friends, and honestly, everything was perfect today. We were out for a walk earlier, laughing and having a blast, just enjoying the moment. Not once did the thought of being sick cross my mind. But then, out of nowhere—just pure, random coincidence—it hit me. One second I was fine, and the next, it was like a switch flipped. I started feeling physically weak and completely losing my balance. I am telling you, I didn't imagine this. It wasn't "all in my head." I wasn't thinking about my health, yet the physical sensation of being unwell just slammed into me out of thin air.
I honestly have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. I am completely lost here!

Once you gather all those neurological test results and they finally line up perfectly, there’s a high probability that what you're actually dealing with is psychological. Don't take this the wrong way—I really don't mean to offend anyone—but I honestly think it would be a smart move to sit down and have a real conversation with a psychiatrist.

Megan Jones27 said:Hey everyone, if anyone can help me make sense of these lab results...
HSV Serology Results

HSV IgM - POSITIVE - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 1 IgG - POSITIVE - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 2 IgG - negative - (EIA method) - reference values: pos >1.1 neg HSV 1 IgG WB - POSITIVE - (WB method) - reference values: neg
HSV 2 IgG WB - negative - (WB method) - reference values: neg

I don't really get these reference values... and under "result and unit" there’s nothing listed... which is weird because there should be something there. Based on this, it looks like I don't have HSV 2, but I had those symptoms about a month ago along with every other possible issue. I felt sick, like a massive sore throat or something awful, my whole body was aching... and then a sore appeared on my lip for the first time. I went to see both a gynecologist and a dermatologist, and neither of them could give me a straight answer or a solid diagnosis at the time. So, I went looking for a second opinion at the General Hospital, and they sent me for more blood work through the CDC department. I've never had this in my life, so maybe that's why the reaction was so intense. They say almost everyone carries HSV 1 and we all deal with it at least once... but I've always been perfectly healthy until now, aside from the occasional cold sore on my lip every once in a while. And now, out of nowhere, I've picked up both, even though the person who likely passed it to me told me later that their infection had been inactive for a year. It's just awful that this happened to me...

Based on these results, you tested positive for the herpes virus.
IgM means it's an active infection.
IgG means it's something you've had before.

Excuse me, does an HSV positive result mean I have it (either one or both), where HSV 1 is still active but HSV 2 isn't? Or perhaps that I don't have HSV 2 at all? Does this imply that I could be infectious even without any external symptoms?

Or does this negative result next to HSV 2 mean it was never present, or rather, that I haven't contracted it yet?

Megan Jones27 said:Sorry, so does being HSV positive mean I actually have it (either one or both), given that HSV 1 is still active but HSV 2 isn't? Or does it mean I don't have HSV 2 at all? Does this mean I'm infectious even if I'm not showing any external symptoms?

Or does that negative result next to HSV 2 mean it was never present—that I haven't had it yet?

Since the HSV 2 came back negative, you don't have it.
The HSV 1 is positive, which means you have it and it's currently in an active phase or outbreak; make sure you report this to your gynecologist.

Thank you, I called today because I was expecting my father's test results, but even after a month, they still haven't arrived, despite coming in on Tuesdays. They will likely arrive next week, so I will inform the OBGYN about these findings then and see what the next steps are...

vividsailor7, thanks for your input, if only your words were actually worth something!
I’d sign off on a diagnosis like that in a heartbeat, provided there isn't some physical cause behind it.
If my brain MRI comes back normal, I guess there won't be a happier person in the entire US than me!
When it comes to the psyche, it really is such a powerful force in this world—the way it can actually influence bodily movements, I've certainly seen that for myself.
I'll check back in once I have the results.