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

Started by vividsailor7 · · 👁 271 views · 3.9K replies

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rowdybadger65 rowdybadger65 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Aug 2013
#2841 ·
Hey everyone!
If there happens to be anyone here who feels comfortable navigating radiology reports, I’d really appreciate it if you could reach out to me.
I've got an appointment with my OB-GYN, but they can't squeeze me in for another month, and there are a few things on this MRI report
that have me feeling a bit uneasy. Thanks so much!
Lawrence Thomas77 Lawrence Thomas77 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jun 2020
#2842 ·
Felix the Cat said:Hello there,

As you can see, the results aren't particularly organized, but based on what's here, we can't pinpoint the exact issue. That elevated white blood cell count—specifically the lymphocyte levels in your case—definitely needs follow-up. I wouldn't want to speculate right now because there are so many possibilities. You really need to check in with your primary care physician; they’ll guide you toward further testing—likely more lab work first, and then potentially a specialist depending on those initial results. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. I ended up undergoing quite a gauntlet of tests based on that CBC, and I've essentially been through the wringer.
So, here’s the breakdown:
Right after the blood work, I went straight for a chest X-ray and an EKG (I actually ended up in the ER because I was feeling this tightness in my chest and wanted to be seen immediately). They drew more blood at the same time to check metabolites and enzymes. Everything came back within the normal range. The radiologist's report was also clear—no infiltrative changes, heart shadow width looks normal, and no signs of acute congestion on the X-ray.
The doctor was actually pretty concerned and told me I needed an abdominal ultrasound ASAP, given the bruising sensation under my left rib and those high white blood cell counts. He was so worried he even gave me his direct number and recommended a specific private specialist, insisting I call him once the ultrasound was done.
The next day, I had a color Doppler ultrasound. The internist concluded everything looked perfectly fine—liver, spleen, pancreas, both kidneys, bladder, prostate, abdominal aorta, thyroid, etc.—everything was normal in shape and size (I won't list every single organ here, though!).
Given the CBC and the clean ultrasound, the doctor concluded it might just be some kind of "virus" and suggested I see an infectious disease specialist.
The specialist ruled out any acute inflammation, but mentioned we could run serology for EBV and CMV, otherwise, we'd have to look into hematological or immunological issues.
Honestly, I was pale and completely drained, bracing myself for the worst. I managed to get an appointment with a hematologist in about 6 or 7 days, so I'm having another CBC and differential white cell count done this Friday so the hematologist has everything ready by Monday.
Strangely enough, my blood work improved—the white blood cell count normalized—and the hematologist's conclusion was that there were no indications for further hematological investigation.
But here's the thing: I still don't feel great. Especially after all this drama where I went through every possible test only to find nothing. My GP is prescribing 5mg of Normabel and basically telling me to try and stress less—suggesting it's viral and that since I'm young, if it were anything truly serious, it would have shown up clearly by now.
However, I still have that dull ache under my left rib—though it's getting a bit weaker—along with some weakness in my legs, slight tingling, and a low-grade fever around 98.6°F...
Yes, I tested negative for COVID via PCR, but I haven't done serology yet.
I'm not sure; if anyone has advice on what my next steps should be, I'd really appreciate it. Is it possible this is an autoimmune condition just simmering under the surface?

I've attached the latest results from Friday.
Thanks so much.

Sent from my Mi 8 using Reddit
coastaltiger7 coastaltiger7 Member
32 messages
joined Dec 2020
#2843 ·
I've been dealing with this pain under my left ribs for years now. Sometimes it's just a dull ache, sometimes it gets a bit sharper, and other times I just feel this weird shifting sensation inside without any actual pain. On top of that, I’ve been running a slight fever. Every test I've gone for comes back perfectly fine. The only thing I haven't done is a colonoscopy—I just couldn't bring myself to go through with it. I don't really pay much attention to it anymore, though it isn't exactly great living with this constant discomfort. It's not unbearable, but it definitely gets on my nerves.
Peter Rogers Peter Rogers Active Member
60 messages
joined Dec 2011
#2844 ·
When it comes to that nagging pain right under my ribs, it’s always that damn H. pylori acting up.🤷
It isn't exactly rocket science to figure out what's going on, either.
coastaltiger7 coastaltiger7 Member
32 messages
joined Dec 2020
#2845 ·
They ran those tests on me too, and the results came back negative.
crimsoncanyon3 crimsoncanyon3 Newcomer
1 message
joined Apr 2020
#2846 ·
coastaltiger7 said:They ran those tests on me too, but the results came back negative.

I’m not sure how old you are or what your family medical history looks like, but if you're dealing with any symptom that just won't quit, you really need to dig deeper to find the cause. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get some imaging done, like an X-ray or a scan, just to be safe.

-----www.oncology.us
Hannah Barnes6 Hannah Barnes6 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Mar 2018
#2847 ·
Hey guys, quick question,
What does it mean when I see +/- on my urinalysis?
For example,
for ketones, my result shows +/-, qualitative, but the reference range says negative.
Thanks in advance...
Edward Mitchell50 Edward Mitchell50 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Apr 2020
#2848 ·
Hannah Barnes6 said:Can someone help me out?
What does +/- mean on a urine test result?
For example,
for ketones, it shows +/- qualitative, but the reference range is negative.
Thanks in advance

It probably means there are trace amounts of ketones in there. Qualitative just means they're checking if it's present or not rather than giving a specific number. Ketones shouldn't be there, which is why the reference range is listed as negative.
coastaltiger7 coastaltiger7 Member
32 messages
joined Dec 2020
#2849 ·
crimsoncanyon3 said:I don't know how old you are or what the family medical history looks like, but if any symptom sticks around or keeps coming back, you really ought to look into it. It probably wouldn't hurt to get some imaging done, like an X-ray or something.

-----www.oncology.us

What kind of tests are you talking about?
Yeah, the symptom has been there for years. It just shows up, disappears, and then comes right back again.
dustybison58 dustybison58 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Oct 2020
#2850 ·
Hi.

My doctor says these results are fine. But I'm looking at this TSH level and I've got doubts. Is this actually okay?

https://www.imageupload.net/image/hVnVa
ironsurfer10 ironsurfer10 Active Member
104 messages
joined Dec 2007
#2851 ·
dustybison58 said:Hi there,

My doctor mentioned that these results look fine, but I'm still a little stuck on this TSH level. Is it actually within a normal range?

https://www.imageupload.net/image/hVnVa

Yeah, it looks perfectly fine to me!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using Reddit
dustybison58 dustybison58 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Oct 2020
#2852 ·
ironsurfer10 said:Yeah, fine by me!
Sent from my Galaxy via Reddit

Great. Thanks for the reply. 🙂
Nicholas Davis4 Nicholas Davis4 Active Member
106 messages
joined Mar 2023
#2853 ·
I didn't want to start a whole new thread because I wasn't sure if it would even stick around... plus, it isn't exactly an official lab report...
I went to the clinic today to get some blood work done, and right at the entrance, the nurse checked my temperature... she smiled at me and said, "You're running a bit low at 95.9."
Since my temperature usually hovers right around 98.6, seeing it that low felt really out of character for me.
What do you all think?
crimsoncanyon3 crimsoncanyon3 Newcomer
1 message
joined Apr 2020
#2854 ·
Brenda Alvarez24 said:I didn't want to start a whole new thread because I doubt it would stay up for long... plus, it isn't an official lab result...
I went to the clinic today for some blood work, and right at the entrance, the nurse was checking temperatures... she smiled at me and said, "You're at 96 degrees."
Since my temperature is usually right around 98.6, this felt incredibly low.
What do you guys think?

If they were using those quick infrared forehead scanners, they aren't exactly reliable. For one thing, the reading is heavily influenced by the ambient temperature around you.
They use them just because they're fast, but honestly, they seem more like a gimmick than a useful tool.

----oncology.net
dustybison58 dustybison58 Newcomer
5 messages
joined Oct 2020
#2855 ·
Hey,

I need some clarity on this specific section of my microscopic slide report.
The results show no mycoplasma or ureaplasma, but I'm wondering—do I actually need to go through with more swabs?

https://www.imageupload.net/image/oMwDb
Timothy Wells9 Timothy Wells9 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Apr 2021
#2856 ·
Hello, I’ve noticed my urea levels are elevated; the reading came back at 385, whereas the standard reference range goes up to 337. Does this present a significant concern...
Nicholas Davis4 Nicholas Davis4 Active Member
106 messages
joined Mar 2023
#2857 ·
My PTH is 8.5; the lab's reference range is 1.5-7.6 pmol/L.

About ten years ago, my PTH was also above the upper limit.
However, most lab reports mention that these ranges aren't set in stone, suggesting that being slightly high or low might not be significant.
Should this elevated PTH result be considered a concern, or could it just be my personal normal?

I have SLE, and my kidney function has generally been fine (though I really should recheck my urine protein levels since it's been a while), but I do deal with recurring kidney stones—they pass easily since they stay small. I also have low Vitamin D due to the lupus; I take supplements, though I haven't monitored my levels lately. My doctor at the Mayo Clinic suggested it wasn't critical because my lupus diagnosis makes the distinction less impactful regarding my overall treatment.

A long time ago, when I was 15, my ionized calcium was high, but I never followed up on that test. My doctors didn't think twice about it at the time.

An endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic reviewed this PTH level during a follow-up visit for my de Quervain's, but even they didn't seem concerned.

What steps should I take regarding this? Is there actually any need to do anything?
Could there be a connection between PTH levels and kidney stones? I've read they can be linked, but I don't want to overthink it...
restlessdriver restlessdriver Member
17 messages
joined May 2019
#2858 ·
Based on my own experience, I’d suggest getting your calcium and vitamin D levels checked. If that calcium comes back high, it might be linked to your PTH levels—possibly indicating hyperparathyroidism...

Sent from my ASUS_Z01KD via Reddit
Adam Green5 Adam Green5 Newcomer
1 message
joined Mar 2020
#2859 ·
Hey, my ALP came back low at 50, even though the normal range is 60-142. I've been feeling pretty wiped out lately... could this be something with my thyroid or maybe my liver?
Thanks
silvergardener14 silvergardener14 Newcomer
1 message
joined Aug 2020
#2860 ·
So, I’m asking for my husband—he just had some routine blood work and a urine test done, and the only thing that came back outside the normal range was his alpha amylase:

(U) alpha amylase 612 H U/L 0 - 400

Is this something we should be worried about?

His other alpha amylase reading was totally fine:

(S) alpha amylase 78 U/L 23 - 91

If it's relevant, he also had an abdominal ultrasound, and aside from a tiny little old kidney stone, everything looked perfectly normal.

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