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

Hey there 😊, I had some tests done because I’m heading to an appointment with my immunologist (Mayo Clinic), so I always have to bring updated blood work, CBC, urine, and now my doctor added CRP and electrophoresis to the list. I’ve been seeing this immunologist for about 15 years now, and luckily, I haven't been officially diagnosed with a specific disease yet—they just have me listed under seronegative spondyloarthropathy and some other stuff. Unfortunately, I deal with symptoms constantly: massive fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and it all started pretty abruptly with erythema nodosum.
Anyway, back to why those results freaked me out... a lot of things came back high, and my albumin is low, so I started worrying that maybe something is going on with my liver.
Also, back in June 2019, they found a cyst on my ovary. It isn't fluid-filled and hasn't gone away with treatment. My markers were all fine in June 2019, except for CA 125, which was at 46. I’ve seen two gynecologists, and they think it might be an endometrioma, but obviously, we won't know for sure until the laparoscopy I have scheduled for late March. I just did my markers again; everything looks okay except for CA 125, which is up to 80, and now 19-9 has jumped too—it's at 40, whereas it was 15 back in June 2019. The 15-3 marker is good, CEA is good, and H4 is also fine.
Since CA 125 and 19-9 are such non-specific markers, I immediately wondered if this could be linked to my liver? And I’m a total despairer; I take a ton of painkillers, and until two months ago, I was even on Decortin, though I'm trying to wean myself off it now.
So, yeah, I guess I just rambled through everything there 😁. I see the immunologist in two weeks, but I'm telling you, I'm a natural-born panicker... just trying to make it through these next 5 or 6 days easier... thanks.

Correction, I'm seronegative... not seronegative 😁😁

I find myself somewhat perplexed, as these test results actually appear to be perfectly within the normal range. 😕

There is absolutely no reason for alarm. 🙂

Keith Gonzalez said:I don't get it, these results look totally fine to me. 😕

No need to freak out. 🙂

They're just tiny deviations, but if it's nothing, then awesome 😊

So, after dealing with a constant cycle of exhaustion mixed with weird bursts of energy, struggling to wake up, feeling perpetually drowsy, hair thinning, and those random hot flashes, someone suggested I get my thyroid levels checked. Here’s what the results look like—technically within the normal range—but the person who advised me insisted I go in for more testing because they claim these numbers don't tell the whole story depending on age and other factors, implying things aren't actually looking great:

TSH 1.98 (S) ( o ) mU/L ref interval 0.27 - 4.20
T4 97.18 (S) ( o ) nmol/L 66.0 - 181.0
T3 1.63 (S) (o ) nmol/L 1.30 - 3.10

I'm creeping toward my late twenties here...

Thanks in advance for any input. 🙂

Hey, I need some help here. Not sure if I should move this to another thread, but I'm lost on where to post this question.
I'll try to keep this short and simple. I've already done the urine culture, all the STD testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, HPV), and an ultrasound on my testicles. Everything came back totally fine, so now I'm just stuck wondering what else I can even do.

Been dealing with this for like 2 or 3 months now. Thought it was just a bladder infection, but clearly not. Currently waiting on another urine culture to come back.
So, I’ve been getting this pain—not every single day, just hits me out of nowhere—and honestly, I can't make heads or tails of it. It's this dull ache in my testicles, plus this weird pressure that actually gets worse right after I pee. It’s bad enough that I end up feeling like a total despairer. Sometimes they feel swollen, almost like they're floating in water... I don't even know how else to put it. Weirdly enough, once I drink some herbal tea, it clears up. Then things go back to normal for days or even weeks. This latest bout popped up after sex, but I never used to have these kinds of aftershocks before.
My stomach's been acting up lately. Sometimes it just feels heavy, like this constant burning sensation, and I keep having to burp just to get some relief—kind of like how a baby burps to feel better, not like actual acid reflux.

Anyone got an idea or some advice? Because honestly, this is just getting ridiculous.

Everything looks good on the labs, except my leukocyte count is sitting at 10.6.

I am posting this here since there aren't any replies on the thyroid thread yet:

People, I need help! I had my hormone levels checked, sent the results to an endocrinologist, and this is what he wrote:

"What stands out immediately in these results is the thyroid hormone profile. Before you come in for an appointment, I would strongly advise repeating your TSH, FT4, and FT3. Additionally, you should have ACTH, morning cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, estradiol, total testosterone, and DHEAS tested."

What kind of tests are these? What exactly is the doctor suspicious about? For context, I am in menopause and have gained significant weight—that is my biggest issue, along with elevated lipids for which I am already on medication. Here are the results:

Not sure where to drop this question, so I'll just put it here. I'm taking Kendural C for anemia. Has anyone dealt with weird stool colors? It’s not black and it’s not brown—it’s more like a pale black. Like dark gray. I have colitis and my cholesterol is a bit high (5).
Some people say it could be bile issues? I'm eating fine, no nausea. The Kendural gives me some trouble, but I can handle it.

Not sure where to drop this question, so I'll just put it here. I'm taking Kendural C for anemia. Has anyone dealt with weird stool colors? It’s not black and it’s not brown—it’s more like a light black, sort of dark gray. I have colitis and my cholesterol is slightly elevated at 5.
Some people say it could be gallbladder issues? I'm eating normally and don't have any nausea. The Kendural gives me a bit of trouble, but I can handle it.

redcyclist7 said:I’m kind of lost on where to drop this question, so I figured I'd just post it here. I’ve been taking Kendural C because of some anemia issues. Has anyone else noticed their stool changing color? It isn't exactly black and it isn't brown either—it's more like this weird light black, maybe a dark gray sort of thing. I also deal with colitis and my cholesterol is running a bit high (around 5).
Some people mentioned it might be related to gallbladder stuff? I'm eating normally though, and I don't really get nauseous. The Kendural C can be a little tough on me sometimes, but I guess I can manage.

I’m actually on the exact same medication, and my stool looks pretty much identical to that. No worries at all. 😉

Could I possibly ask for some help with a test interpretation on these results:

(E) RBC (IFC) 4.57
(E) HEMOGLOBIN (IFC) 120
(E) HEMATOCRIT (IFC) 0.369
(E) MCV (IFC) 80.7 L
(E) MCH (CALC) 26.3 L
(E) MCHC (CALC) 325
(E) RDW (IFC) 13.5
(E) MPV (IFC) 8.7
(E) PLATELETS (IFC) 421
(E) LEUKOCYTES (IFC) 11.73 H
(E) NEUTROPHIL GRANULOCYTES (%) (IFC) 69.5
(E) LYMPHOCYTES (%) (IFC) 20.2
(E) MONOCYTES (%) (IFC) 7.8
(E) EOSINOPHIL GRANULOCYTES (%) (IFC) 2.0
(E) BASOPHIL GRANULOCYTES (%) (IFC) 0.5
(E) NEUTROPHIL GRANULOCYTES (abs) (IFC) 8.15 H
(E) LYMPHOCYTES (abs) (IFC) 2.37
(E) MONOCYTES (abs) (IFC) 0.92 H
(E) EOSINOPHIL GRANULOCYTES (abs) (IFC) 0.23
(E) BASOPHIL GRANULOCYTES (abs) (IFC) 0.06
(C) ESR (WES) 15
(S) IRON (Fe) (FOT) 7 L
(S) UNBOUNDED IRON BINDING CAPACITY
(UIBC) (FOT) 65 H
(S) TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY (TIBC)
(CALC) 72
(S) TRANSFERRIN SATURATION (CALC) 0.10 L
(S) C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) (IMT) 1.9
(S) FERRITIN (IMT) 18

Since I have fibroids and heavy periods, I’ve been struggling with my iron levels. Looking at these numbers, I guess they don't look great.

What would you say those elevated leukocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes mean, especially since my CRP and ESR are actually within the normal range? Should I be worried, maybe?
Could this just be a result of the sinusitis I've been dealing with for about a month now?
I also have asthma, so I typically use Advair and Flonase.

Thanks in advance 👍 🙂

Hello everyone! I was hoping to get some insight from you all.

I went in for my blood work again this year, and I’m running into an issue with the white blood cell count in my urine. Last year, it was sitting at 15 (where the range is 0-2), but in just one year, it has jumped all the way up to 46. On top of that, my protein levels are high, and my leukocyte esterase has gone from a one plus (+) to a two plus (++). My doctor sent me off for a urine culture, but everything came back perfectly fine—completely sterile. Now she’s just scratching her head, not really knowing what the next step should be.
Regarding my other health stats: my prolactin is high, and my androstenedione is also up (in terms of sex hormones), though my thyroid levels look normal. As for how I actually feel: I deal with constant inflammation and colds, and there’s this persistent sensation in my throat, like there's always some kind of mucus stuck in the back of my pharynx (sorry, I know that's not the most precise way to put it). I'm also dealing with skin issues, specifically tiny breakouts on my cheeks and along my jawline.
Whenever I start taking immune boosters—things like black seed oil, propolis, or royal jelly—I seem to dodge the flu entirely. But the second I stop? It’s right back to square one, even during the summer months.
If anyone has any hunches or could point me in the right direction regarding what might be causing this, please, I could really use the help.
Thanks!

Greetings! Can anyone shed some light on what this test interpretation actually means?

Varicella-Zoster virus IgM antibodies: negative
Varicella-Zoster virus IgG antibodies: 3.7 index positive

Hey everyone, I recently went in for an X-ray of my lumbar spine because my lower back has been feeling incredibly stiff and painful. I’m 25 years old, and this is actually the third time my back has just locked up on me; interestingly, I don't even feel the pain when I'm standing or walking, it just hits me differently.

Here is what the report says:
The lumbar spine images show normal vertebral heights, appropriate mineralization of the vertebral bodies, and preserved posterior intervertebral lines.
The width of the facet joint spaces as well as the intervertebral disc spaces across all segments appears normal.

To be honest, my primary care physician isn't exactly the most helpful when it comes to handing out referrals—I practically had to beg him for this one. His usual approach is just to hand out some injections, prescribe a few painkillers, and sign me off work for a couple of days. From what I can gather, since everything looks fine on paper, he thinks there isn't much to worry about.
Should I push him to send me for an MRI instead?
Just to give you a bit more context, the last time my back seized up was on January 1st. After about three days, the stiffness finally let up, but I've been dealing with this nagging ache whenever I bend over. It feels a little better if I move around and stretch, but that discomfort is definitely still lingering.
For what it's worth, about nine years ago, an X-ray of my thoracic spine showed some mild scoliosis and kyphosis.

I would really appreciate any advice you all might have, thanks!

Actually, there just isn't any clinical indication for an MRI at this stage. It is important to remember that the decision to order an MRI is typically reserved for specialists who can weigh all the factors. Based on what you have described, it seems more appropriate to schedule a consultation with a physiatrist; they would likely recommend physical therapy or perhaps some specific exercises you could perform right at home. That is essentially where things stand for the moment.

Keith Gonzalez said:Not really, because there just isn't any clear indication for an MRI right now. Besides, deciding if you actually need an MRI is something left strictly to specialists. Based on what's been described here, this looks more like a situation where you'd see a physiatrist for some physical therapy or maybe just some targeted exercises to do at home. That’s pretty much the gist of it for the moment.

Is it obvious from the test results what's actually going on? Like, why would they even send me to a physiatrist in the first place?

boldotter47 said:Hey! Can someone help me make sense of these results?

Varicella - Zoster virus IgM antibodies: negative
Varicella- Zoster virus IgG antibodies: 3.7 index positive

Not a doctor, but I checked this exact thing about a year ago just to be safe... IgM means an active infection, yours is negative.
IgG... if those levels spike again in 7-10 days, then you're looking at an active infection. If they don't go up, it’s probably just from a past infection...

If I got any of that wrong, let a doctor fix me...

Rebecca Harris86 said:Does the test interpretation show what's going on here? What would be the reason for sending me to a physiatrist?

The results look perfectly fine to me.
If you are experiencing actual pain, then that serves as a clear indication to start by seeing a physiatrist.

I don't have the full lab report on hand so I can't even upload it here, I just have what they told me verbally:
My 10-year-old kid is dealing with an infection right now—running a crazy high fever up to 104°F, we're on day four of this thing, and honestly, besides a cough, there isn't much else going on. The leukocyte count came back slightly under 2800.
Could this be caused by the flu? Do we need to go back for more testing to double-check everything, or is it totally normal to attribute something like this to the flu or some other similar infection?

Emily Ortiz27 said:I don't have the full lab report on hand to upload, so I can only provide the verbal feedback we received:
For a 10-year-old child currently fighting an infection (running a high fever up to 104°F, on the fourth day of illness, with nothing but a cough besides the fever), the leukocyte count came back slightly under 2800.
Could this be caused by the flu? Should we plan for a follow-up test to confirm, or is it reasonable to attribute this drop to the flu or a similar viral infection?

It is quite common for viral infections to trigger a temporary state of leukopenia. Much like how a storm might briefly disturb the surface of a lake before everything settles back to normal, these levels often stabilize once the illness passes. It would be wise to schedule a follow-up CBC once the child has fully recovered.