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

Maria Grant42 said:Are you experiencing any other symptoms? A cough? Pain in your ribs or just below the sternum? Any joint pain?

If you are feeling generally better—meaning no chills or rigors, and your temperature hasn't spiked above what you previously reported—then it stands to reason that the antibiotic is actually doing its job.

I am a bit confused, though; did your doctor specifically diagnose you with pneumonia or bronchitis?

When is your follow-up appointment?

If the malaise persists, or if the cough and fever continue to drag on, it might be worth getting a chest X-ray. At that point, we’d need to consider switching antibiotics to rule out the possibility that you've developed pneumonia.

Thanks for the reply and for asking the questions I neglected to mention myself.. 😉

I should have noted that I have a very heavy cough. Because I can't clear my throat properly, I've been taking Bisolvon, which has helped significantly; the coughing feels much more manageable now. I had a rengen taken the very first day the fever hit, and everything looked fine. Both the pulmonologist and my primary care physician listened to my lungs and confirmed they didn't hear anything unusual. As for fatigue, I don't feel weak at all!

Regarding the diagnosis, the doctor wasn't particularly specific. She just stated it was an upper respiratory infection and expressed relief that it hadn't moved down into the lungs. It actually surprised me how vague she was with the diagnosis. My follow-up is this Friday, once I finish the last dose of the antibiotic. For instance, I had no fever at all this morning, which is typical—I usually feel fine in the mornings, but by the afternoon, my eyes start stinging and I know the fever is returning.

Other than that, nothing hurts, aside from some chest discomfort from the coughing. That's about it.

Maria Grant42 said:The blood work looks fine, though we’re missing the ESR results.

ESR for what?
I just realized I missed that question...
I had my blood and CRP checked at an urgent care clinic using a finger prick—that's specifically why I went to a clinic that offers finger-prick CRP testing. I have a massive phobia of blood draws; it isn't even about the needles, it's the actual process of having blood taken. So, I only have the specific results I mentioned.

Linda Williams97 said:Sedimentation of what?
just realized I missed the question here...
I had my blood drawn and checked my CRP at an urgent care clinic—specifically one that does finger-prick tests since I have a massive phobia of blood draws. It’s not even the needles; it’s just the whole process. So, all I have is what I already mentioned.

That marker is called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or ESR (basically, how fast your red blood cells settle).

It’s usually ordered alongside a standard blood panel. It indicates inflammation, but unlike CRP—which reacts in a matter of hours—it takes much longer for the ESR to climb.

Look, honestly, it doesn't matter that much. Even if the CRP is slightly elevated, it isn't a huge deal, especially since your white blood cell count is within the normal range. If you aren't feeling wiped out, shivering, or running a fever, that’s a good sign. :

Anyway, here's an easy way to remember it: pneumonia generally hits with three main things:

a cough (either dry or productive)
fever (usually hitting above 100.4 F)
and intense fatigue.

Maria Grant42 said:To make it simple to remember: pneumonia generally presents with three main hallmarks:

a cough (either dry or producing phlegm)
fever (usually topping 100.4°F)
intense fatigue

I appreciate the response... honestly, I’ve been well-versed in everything regarding illness because my mother works at the Mayo Clinic, and I've had access to that expertise for over 20 years. Having her there means I get the best possible care available... even so, those lab results and the fluctuating levels still had me feeling pretty uneasy.

Thanks again!

Linda Williams97, you're too kind.👍 Don't mention it.

What’s actually considered normal here? My lab results show 21/42, but the reference range says 10/24—so does that mean I'm supposed to be at 10/24? What do these two numbers even signify when they're listed like that? Does this mean I have some kind of freaking inflammation? I read somewhere that birth control can spike these levels, too...

What’s the deal when you see high levels of squamous epithelial cells in a urinalysis? Is it actually something to worry about? What could be causing it—could it just be related to my cycle or maybe just the timing of the test itself?
Thanks!

I am reaching out to request some assistance. Could someone please explain what it means when a blood test result indicates morphological changes labeled as hypo ++? This concerns a male individual, and there is a growing sense of concern because we are struggling to understand the specific implications of this notation. I would be very grateful for any insight you could provide...

briskstag13 said:What counts as "normal"? My lab results show 21/42, while the reference range in parentheses is 10/24. Does that mean it should be 10/24? What do those two numbers actually signify—one over the other? Am I dealing with some kind of fake inflammation? I read somewhere that birth control can bump these numbers up, too...

Here’s the deal—ESR (mm/h) is roughly calculated as age plus 10 for women, then divided by two.

If you're, say, 20 years old, your upper limit for sedimentation would be:

20 + 10 / 2 = 15 (mm/h)

But generally speaking, most adult women up to age 50 fall within a 0 to 20 range.

Sedimentation rates naturally climb as you get older—plus, if you're dealing with anemia, things tend to trend higher.

Carol Roberts59 said:What does it mean if there's a high amount of squamous epithelium in my urine sample? Is it dangerous? What could it indicate—and does it have anything to do with the menstrual cycle or the timing of the test?
Thanks!

In principle, no—you'll see this in a perfectly normal urinalysis. Are we talking "high" levels specifically?
It’s just epithelial cells—basically surface cells from the bladder, urethra, or vaginal tract that contaminated the sample during collection.

placidmarlin15 said:I’m looking for some help—can someone explain what it means when blood work shows morphological changes hypo ++? It’s for a man, and there's a bit of a panic going on because nobody can figure out what this actually implies. Any answers would be appreciated.

Post the full urinalysis along with it—this is too vague to make sense of.

Thank you, Patrick Carter. Here are my urinalysis results:

Sp. Gravity 1.020 (1.005-1.030)
pH 6.0 (4.5-8.0)
Glucose normal
Urobilinogen 3.2 (up to 16)
some bacteria and amorphous salts present

However, hypochromic morphological changes were noted in the bloodwork. I will include the rest of the blood panel here, specifically the values that came back low:
Hemoglobin 117 (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.39 (0.41-0.53)
MCV 79.9 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 23.7 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 297 (305-360)
Iron 8.2 (11.0-32.0)
Morphological changes: hypo ++

The remaining blood values are within the normal range, though I can provide those as well if necessary...

Maria Grant42 said:Not really. You'd see that in any standard urine test. Was the amount significant?
It’s just epithelial cells—basically surface cells from the bladder, urethra, or vaginal area contaminating the sample.

Thanks! 🙂

I have been doing a bit of research online, and honestly, even the lower values aren't causing me too much anxiety. In my experience, it's usually more concerning when numbers are excessively high rather than low, at least that is how I have come to view it. However, these morphological changes are what I am truly struggling with...

placidmarlin15 said:Thanks, Pumpkin. Here are the urine results:

Spec. Gravity 1.020 (1.005-1.030)
pH 6.0 (4.5-8.0)
Glucose normal
Urobilinogen 3.2 (up to 16)
some bacteria and amorphous salts

However, hypo++ morphological changes were noted in the bloodwork. I will include the rest of the blood panel, specifically the low values:
Hemoglobin 117 (138-175)
Hematocrit 0.39 (0.41-0.53)
MCV 79.9 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 23.7 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 297 (305-360)
Iron 8.2 (11.0-32.0)
Morphological changes: hypo ++

The other blood values are within range, though I can provide those if necessary.

Is anyone available? If someone could offer even a brief comment, I would like to reassure someone that there is no need for panic...

Sediment urine test results?
Looking for someone who actually understands this stuff...

Appearance: cloudy
Color: yellow
pH: 5 (pretty sure that's fine)
Red blood cells/Hb: 300
Leukocyte esterase: 25
Red blood cells: >30
Leukocytes: 5-6
Epithelial cells: quite a bit
Bacteria: quite a bit...

(I think I might have a mild yeast infection, and I'm 7 days out from my period... maybe that's related to these numbers?)

If anyone can make sense of this, please help!
By the way, my urine culture was clear a month ago, but I'll probably redo it. I originally got this checked because of kidney concerns...
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Hey. I’ve got a bit of an issue here, so if you guys could help me out, I'd appreciate it. Dealing with some kidney problems lately, and I'm trying to figure out which tests are actually worth doing to check my kidney function and overall performance (besides just a urine culture). Also, any recommendations on where the best place to get this done would be? Thanks.☕

To check how your kidneys are functioning, the standard go-to tests are urea and creatinine. Usually, you'd have your blood drawn at a hospital for those, though I guess most local clinics or primary care offices can handle them too if your doctor sends over a referral.

If things need a deeper look, they might order additional tests—like a creatinine clearance test, for instance. For that one, you have to collect urine in plastic containers over a full 24-hour period. Then, the next morning, you head into the lab on an empty stomach to get your blood drawn and drop off those collection bottles for analysis.

It’s me again. My lab results aren't fully back yet, but I have a feeling it isn't anything too dire. From what I’ve been reading online, certain medications—specifically those for blood pressure or heart issues—can actually cause these levels to drop. However, I am still struggling to make sense of these hypo ++ changes... does anyone happen to know how to interpret that? I would truly appreciate any insight you might have. 🙂

I was wondering if anyone could help me out here... I don't want to start a whole new thread just for this little thing, but does anyone know how long a lab requisition stays valid? I saw my doctor back on August 27th to get one, but things just got so hectic and I couldn't make it in... I was hoping to head over tomorrow, but now I'm second-guessing if it's still good to go.