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

Maria Fisher46 said:The lab results you listed show only minor fluctuations, and I don't believe they are linked to the symptoms you're experiencing. Additionally, I don't think HPV is related to this either. However, seeing blood on the toilet paper shouldn't be ignored, regardless of your age.

Thank you so much for the response!

It might be related to constipation... Sometimes I go a day or two without being able to go. That could be why there's blood during bowel movements, as I feel a sharp stinging sensation at the exit. It happened a few times, then things seemed okay for a bit, then it returned, and now everything is normal again...

It could be my diet, lack of movement, or not enough fluids (I'm breastfeeding and mostly stay home...). I am trying to improve all of that. I drink warm boiled water in the morning and eat pears and prunes... I've also started exercising lightly. Perhaps that will help...

P.S.: I had hemorrhoids toward the end of my pregnancy, and they flared up a bit due to straining during labor, but then they subsided...

I'm going to see my doctor anyway, so I'll ask her for a referral for some testing. Maybe blood work, another colonoscopy, or even a pelvic exam...?

Megan Jones27 said:I’ll just see my doctor and ask for a referral for some testing. Maybe a CBC, another colonoscopy, or even an endoscopy...?

Repeating a blood count is pointless unless you wait at least three or four weeks. You won't gain any new insights. It might be best to start by seeing your primary care physician; they can evaluate the situation and determine the next steps.

Hi there... I’m 26 and just got my total IgE results back. It came in at 111, while the cutoff is 100. Interestingly, the specific tests for dust mites, grass pollen, cat dander, and dog hair all came back at 0. From what I gather, there’s some kind of allergy present in my system, but I haven't identified the trigger yet. What does a total IgE level actually signify, and is there any way to lower it? Thanks.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...581822d9e2a60f

So, I’ve actually gone ahead and marked the specific areas here just so you can see exactly which parts of my body are being hit the hardest.
An X-ray showed some major changes in my temporomandibular joints—some kind of luxation. Apparently, it was all because of a wisdom tooth, which they ended up performing an alveolotomy on two months later... Honestly, I’m tapped out; that’s really everything I can recall from my various tests. Someone, please, help me!!! 🙂

I wanted to throw a quick question out there—is it actually possible to deal with intense sinus inflammation while your blood work comes back looking completely normal? Like, everything shows up clean, no viral markers, no bacterial indicators... nothing. If the labs aren't picking up any infection, then what on earth could be causing this mess?

Grace White66 said:I wanted to throw a question out there. Is it actually possible to have really intense sinus inflammation without a blood test picking anything up? Like, no viral infection and no bacteria. If that's the case, what on earth would be causing it?

Yeah, it's totally possible.
Clinical situations are always moving targets, and blood work isn't always going to catch everything in real-time.
So, my advice? Go ahead and get the CBC redone. Also, how is the CRP looking? 🤔

It could also be some kind of post-infectious thing—basically just your body still reacting after you've already fought off a bacterial or, much more likely, a viral infection.

But hey, we can't forget about allergies either. 🤔

The real reason I’m even bringing this up is because a friend of mine was told by her doctor—based solely on a blood panel—that she doesn't have a virus or a bacterial infection, just a common cold. Like, wtf? First, the doctor's logic left me completely baffled, and then there's the fact that the blood work supposedly shows everything is fine... even though it clearly wasn't.

Maria Fisher46 said:What's the actual number?

Look, you can't just totally brush this off, even if I honestly don't think this is going to be the "smoking gun" that explains why you're feeling so miserable. You really need to get a full clinical workup done by a doctor, and then depending on what they find, you'll have to go down whatever rabbit hole comes next. Right now, there's just no way to pinpoint exactly what's causing all those symptoms you're dealing with.

Thanks a ton for the reply.

Hey everyone!
So, I just got my thyroid labs back, and if anyone here actually knows what they're looking at, I'd love some input:
TSH 3.48(0.25-5.01) Ft3 3.8(4.0-8.3) Ft4 8.1(10.6-19.4)

For context, about three years ago my TSH was running high (around 8), so I was prescribed Synthroid 25. I’ve been off it on my own for quite a while now, which is why I decided to get these tests done. Based on this, my Ft3 and Ft4 are low, even though the TSH looks fine. Any thoughts?

Hello. I am hoping someone might be able to provide some insight. (I have been trying to get an answer to this question for three months now, but I keep getting ignored—I must be posting it incorrectly every single time, so let me try once more!)

To give you some context, I am 27 years old and generally in good health. In August 2014, I underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove a benign tumor from my left ovary; the pathology report confirmed it was non-cancerous. The doctors said the procedure went smoothly, and my follow-up appointments with the gynecologist were all perfectly fine. However, I am struggling with one specific issue. I am not certain if there is any connection, which is why I mention the surgery, but immediately upon waking from anesthesia, I suffered through three days of intense stomach pain. Neither an IV injection nor Pepto-Bismol helped. The pain was also centered around my navel, and it didn't finally subside until they removed the drain that had been in me for those three days.

Since then, I have been experiencing intermittent pain on the right side of my abdomen near my belly button—somewhere in the vicinity of the small intestine or duodenum. This discomfort intensified between October and December, becoming a daily occurrence. It isn't excruciating, but it is constant. While the pain has lessened slightly, it keeps returning. During two separate ultrasounds, doctors told me everything looked normal, though they noted my stomach wall appeared thickened and suggested I undergo a gastroscopy, as the location of the pain suggests a possible duodenal ulcer. I should clarify that I don't have issues with heartburn, I feel bloated occasionally, and food doesn't seem to trigger anything—just this localized pain and discomfort near my navel. I have lost some weight, but perhaps that is just because I haven't been eating much.

Gastroscopy:
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: results were normal
Gastroscopy: corpus and antrum findings were normal. External antral impression. SIGNIFICANT bile regurgitation. Dropped stomach.
Duodenoscopy: results were normal
Deep Duodenoscopy: results were normal.

Biopsy:

The material consists of pieces of mucosa from the gastric corpus with superficial inflammation, and a piece of mucosa from the gastric antrum with diffuse, very sparse chronic inflammatory infiltrate. HP negative.

In short, since these pains have persisted for three months, I have a consultation scheduled with a gastroenterologist in about a month. These are my blood test results from two days ago; we are still searching for the cause of this abdominal pain.

I will only list the values that were high or low; everything else fell within the normal range (I did not test for cholesterol, blood sugar, bacteria, calcium, or lipase).

CBC:

basophil count: 1.1 H (0-1)
neutrophil count: 39.8 L (44-72)
lymphocytes: 50.0 H (20-46)

enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP): within normal limits

(U) AMS: 418 ( (S) AMS: 55 (23-91)

IRON, TIBC, UIBC: within normal limits

URINE:

ERYTHROCYTES: + (one/three) ref. interval 0/neg
leukocytes: 2-5
erythrocytes: 2-5

A significant amount of bacteria and squamous epithelial cells were present.

The urine sample wasn't my first morning catch, and it was somewhat dilute—I am not sure if that impacts the diagnostic accuracy, as I didn't realize I would need to provide a urine sample as well.

Thank you, and I apologize in advance if I am posting this in the wrong section, but I wanted to include the lab results.

edit: CRP - 0.3 (2-12)

WBC 4.3 (3.4 - 9.7)
Neutrophils (#) 1.39 (2.06-6.49) L
Lymphocytes (#) - within reference range
Neutrophils (%) 32 (44-72) L
Lymphocytes (%) 55 (20-46) H
Eosinophils, basophils, immature granulocytes, and monocytes are all normal.
ESR 2 (4-24) L
TSH 4.980 (0.465-4.68) H. Antibodies are normal. I am not currently on any medication. Albumin, alpha, and beta globulins are normal.
IgG, IgM, IgA are within reference ranges
Total protein 72.9 (bedridden patients 60-78) ?????
RBC 5.39 (3.86-5.08) H
All other CBC values are normal

1.) For quite some time now, I've had a single enlarged lymph node on my neck; it's mobile. This has been going on for about four years, ever since I had infectious mononucleosis. During a thyroid ultrasound and nuclear medicine scan, the doctor didn't even mention this specific node being enlarged. I can't feel anything above the collarbone or under my armpits, but I can feel them in my groin—though they are extremely small. My doctor mentioned that almost everyone can palpate nodes in the groin area and that they aren't considered enlarged unless they exceed 1.5 to 2 cm. (I tend toward hypochondria.)
What I really want to understand is why my lymphocytes are elevated while my neutrophils are low. My immunologist insists that this blood work is perfectly normal and gives me no reason for concern, especially given my age. I would appreciate your perspective. These blood counts have remained largely consistent for the four years since I recovered from mono. I am a 21-year-old female.

2.) In my case, the mononucleosis dragged on for an incredibly long time. I had a fever lasting about two weeks, reaching up to 102 F. The throat pain was excruciating, accompanied by swollen lymph nodes. Initially, the antibodies indicated an acute infection, while IgG was negative for the first month and a half. Later on, even after a year, both the acute infection antibodies and the IgG antibodies remained positive. Is that typical? My spleen and liver were slightly enlarged, though they returned to normal after about one or two months, along with my liver function tests.

I should also mention that over the last few months, I've battled infections including E. coli, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma, which eventually led to reactive arthritis. Additionally, I am a significant hypochondriac by nature; early on, I even suspected an HIV infection, despite the fact that my boyfriend is a regular blood donor and is completely safe. Within the last two months, while undergoing these tests, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder due to excessive stress. I am also a dedicated bodybuilder and train regularly. If any of that is relevant. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Nicholas Myers, if it isn't too much trouble, would you mind checking your private inbox?

Nicholas Myers

First off, hello everyone. Since I see quite a few medical professionals in this group, I’d like to politely ask for a little guidance. For nearly a year now, I’ve been dealing with joint and muscle pain (lately, it's even hit my elbows), stinging sensations (for months, I’ve had this burning feeling at the top of my spine and the back of my neck!), sharp pains under my ribs, and so on. In the midst of all this, I accidentally discovered through testing that my IgG for Borrelia burgdorferi came back borderline positive. I had a Western Blot done, though I turned down an ELISA because my doctors warned me about its unreliability. I've been on a course of antibiotics for two months now because there are still other symptoms I won't list right here... The working diagnosis is suspected Lyme disease, but that isn't my main focus right now. I really want to concentrate on this:

Here is what’s actually bothering me. I’ve undergone MRIs of my brain, as well as my cervical and lumbar spine, because my EMG showed moderate to severe neurogenic lesions from C4 to C7, and also in the lumbar and sacral regions. Now I'm stuck on a question: how can the nerves show up as damaged on an EMG when the MRIs are completely normal? I mean, not a single pathological change was detected anywhere. Could anyone provide some insight into this? Is it possible the doctors missed something again (like the Lyme, perhaps, which might have moved into a chronic phase since I never developed that characteristic bullseye rash...)? What would you advise? I would be incredibly grateful for any help, as I am honestly going to lose my mind waiting for my neurology appointment; nothing makes sense to me. How can there be nerve damage if nothing is compressing them? My blood sugar is fine, I don't have any STIs, and I'm at a loss as to what else I should even be testing for. I'm only 22 years old, and I am so unsettled by this that I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality—I just can't deal with people experimenting on me when nobody actually knows what is happening. And when those burning and tearing sensations hit me, I feel completely incapacitated...

To add a bit more context—my SSEP for the vagus and tibial nerves came back normal! My CBC was perfect. Thyroid looks okay, though my FT4 is slightly low; it shouldn't be under 10, and mine is sitting at about 9.84, which doesn't seem like a huge deal... TSH and FT3 are normal. My CRP is consistently slightly elevated, around 15-20... ANA and other rheumatic markers are negative... even hepatitis tests came back negative... Abdominal ultrasound was perfect. I'm starting to feel like I'm not thinking straight, and I'm beginning to doubt if Lyme is the only thing at play here... Sorry for the long post, but I truly feel like a lab rat.

Nicholas Myers

I was hoping someone could help me make sense of these lab results.
I've been dealing with chronic lower back pain for years. I've seen two of the top neurosurgeons in the country, an amazing orthopedic surgeon, and a chiropractor—they all say my spine is fine. My MRI also came back clear. They told me I just need to work on my muscles since they've weakened.

But honestly, I don't think it's just muscle issues. I've started digging into this myself, and I'm wondering if it might be some kind of arthritis. I have appointments with a physiatrist and a rheumatologist in two weeks. Since I'm pretty impatient, I figured I'd reach out here and see if anyone can weigh in.
I took photos of the reports, but I can't figure out how to upload them, so I'll just type everything out.

HLA-A 3 11
HLA-B 18 35
HLA*DRB1* 01 15
CDC-REACTION DATE 00/00/24
Note: N97; AUTO CM IS NEGATIVE

result unit ref inter remarks
ANA (ENA) IIF homogeneous titer <1:100 1:100

dsDNA negative
SS-A 52 negative
SS-A 60 negative
SS-B negative
Sm negative
SM/RNP negative
DNA-topo 1 negative
Jo-1 negative
CENP-B negative
RIBO negative
aCI IgG 5 <10 neg
aCI IgM 7 <10 neg

I hope I transcribed everything correctly. From what I've gathered online, it looks like this ANA result is positive.

If you have a moment, could you let me know if you have any idea what this might mean?
Thanks in advance!

restlessstag71 said:Nicholas Myers

I would also like to ask you for some help interpreting these lab results.
I’ve been dealing with chronic lower back pain for quite a while now. I have already consulted two of the top neurosurgeons in the country, along with an excellent orthopedic surgeon and a chiropractor, and they all maintain that my spine is perfectly fine. My MRI results came back clear as well. They suggested I focus on strengthening my muscles since they've weakened.

However, I can't shake the feeling that this pain isn't just a muscular issue. After doing a bit of digging, I've started wondering if it might be some form of arthritis. I have appointments scheduled with a physiatrist and a rheumatologist in two weeks, but I am naturally quite anxious and was hoping someone might be able to weigh in sooner.
I took photos of the reports, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to upload them, so I will transcribe the data here.

HLA-A 3 11
HLA-B 18 35
HLA*DRB1* 01 15
CDC-REACTION COUNT 00/00/24
Note: N97; AUTO CM IS NEGATIVE

result unit ref inter notes
ANA (ENA) IIF homogeneous titer <1:100 1:100

dsDNA negative
SS-A 52 negative
SS-A 60 negative
SS-B negative
Sm negative
SM/RNP negative
DNA-topo 1 negative
Jo-1 negative
CENP-B negative
RIBO negative
aCI IgG 5 <10 neg
aCI IgM 7 <10 neg

I'm not entirely sure if I transcribed everything correctly. From what I've gathered through my own research online, it seems this ANA result is positive.

If you could find a moment to help me understand what this might imply, I would be incredibly grateful.
Thank you in advance!

I have a bit of experience dealing with certain types of inflammatory arthritis. In most cases, the pain is most intense in the morning and tends to subside once you start moving around. That stiffness can last anywhere from thirty minutes to much longer, depending on how far things have progressed. If you suspect arthritis, you really should get a CRP test to check for active inflammation in your system. You should also look into a Waller-Rose test, which can indicate rheumatoid arthritis—though typically, that only turns positive about six months after symptoms first appear. It wouldn't hurt to get an ESR (sedimentation rate) done if you haven't already, as that's another key marker for inflammation, and perhaps an AST test to rule out strep-related arthritis, though I doubt that's the culprit here. If you haven't had a Rheumatoid Factor test yet, you should do that too. Lupus can certainly cause back pain, but since your immunoglobulins look normal, I wouldn't jump to that conclusion just yet. If you notice any skin rashes or other systemic issues, make sure you see a rheumatologist or an immunologist immediately, assuming you aren't seeing one already.

Hey Jason James3,

Thanks for reaching out. I’ve got an appointment with a physiatrist/rheumatologist in two weeks, so I'll see what they have to say. I was thinking about just paying out of pocket for those tests you mentioned; it's not like it's going to break the bank. I had my physical about a month ago and my CRP and ESR weren't elevated, but I'm planning to redo all of that along with the stuff you suggested. I have to admit, I'm pretty freaking out. I also forgot to mention that I gave birth three months ago, and I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore (36 years old), so I'm just hoping this is all connected and that everything "coincidentally" lined up this way.
Thanks again for checking in.

restlessstag71 said:Hey Jason James3,

I appreciate you reaching out. I have an appointment with a physiatrist/rheumatologist in two weeks, so I’ll see what their take is. I was actually thinking about paying out of pocket to run those specific tests you mentioned; honestly, it isn't going to break the bank. I had my physical about a month ago, and my CRP and ESR levels weren't elevated, but I plan to redo all of that along with the extra labs you suggested. I have to admit, I am feeling quite anxious about this. I neglected to mention that I gave birth just three months ago, and since I'm no longer exactly a spring chicken at 36, I can only hope there's a logical connection between everything and that this whole mess is just a series of unfortunate coincidences.
Thanks again for the help.

Don't mention it. It is highly probable that this is tied directly to your pregnancy; it is quite common for women to experience increased joint, bone, and back pain following childbirth. You really shouldn't let anxiety take hold just yet. If there were an active inflammatory process, your CRP and ESR would likely be showing signs by now, especially after this much time has passed. Even if it does turn out to be arthritis, it isn't the end of the world—plenty of people manage it successfully through consistent physical activity and a disciplined diet. I would suggest supplementing with calcium, magnesium, Omega-3, and Omega-6. Pineapple also possesses excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Of course, these aren't substitutes for professional medical intervention, but they can certainly provide some relief. Just to be safe, you might want to check your urine pH levels; an elevated pH can often be a culprit behind this type of discomfort. Make sure to get the Waller-Rose, rheumatoid factor, immunoglobulins, CRP, and sedimentation checked. Wishing you the very best!

Patrick Lopez33 said:I’m not naive anymore; I don't think Lyme is the only thing at play here... Sorry for the long post, but I feel like a lab rat.

It’s clear you’re dealing with something more complex than a single issue, which isn't something we can untangle here on a forum. However, if there hasn't been any meaningful improvement after such an extended course of antibiotics, it’s time to take a hard look at the Lyme diagnosis itself. You also need to reconsider whether continuing this specific antibiotic regimen is necessary. If it hasn't worked by now, it likely won't—and it might actually be doing more harm than good.

Regarding the discrepancy between the EMG and the MRI results: think of it this way. An EMG can signal that damage exists, but it can't pinpoint the cause. On the other hand, an MRI can visualize certain types of damage, but it won't catch everything.

Frank Roberts37 said:Hi everyone.
Here are my thyroid labs. If anyone here knows their stuff, I’d appreciate some insight:
TSH 3.48 (0.25-5.01), FT3 3.8 (4.0-8.3), FT4 8.1 (10.6-19.4)

About three years ago, my TSH was high—around 8—and I was prescribed Synthroid 25. I stopped taking it on my own quite a while ago, so I decided to get some fresh testing done. My FT3 and FT4 are low, though TSH seems within range.

What symptoms are you feeling? Any other medical issues currently or recently (pre-testing)? Are you on any medications at all (not just thyroid meds)?

Linda Johnson66 said:Hello. Hoping someone can weigh in. (My question has been getting bypassed for three months now; I must be formatting it wrong, so let's try this again!)

The lab results you listed don't explain your symptoms; they look fine. Your urinalysis doesn't suggest a urinary tract infection, and given how you described the collection process, it might not even be a representative sample.

Neither an abdominal ultrasound nor a gastroscopy shows anything regarding the large intestine, which could also be the culprit behind your abdominal pain.

Unfortunately, based strictly on what you've shared here and these specific tests, pinpointing the cause of your stomach pain isn't possible.

Angela Moore63 said:1.) I've had a single, movable swollen lymph node in my neck for quite some time now. About 4 years, ever since I had infectious mononucleosis.

How big is the node? There is a very low probability that a node staying enlarged for that long—assuming it's even enlarged at all—is linked to anything malignant.

My main concern is why my lymphocytes are elevated while my neutrophils are low. My immunologist claims this is a normal blood count and nothing to worry about, especially given my age. What do you all think? This has been my typical CBC for about 4 years, following my bout with mono. I'm a 21-year-old female.

Your lymphocytes aren't actually "high" because their absolute count is within range. They only appear elevated as a percentage, which makes sense since the neutrophils are down. Your neutrophils are indeed slightly low. In extremely rare instances, cases have been documented where neutrophil counts remain low for over a year after an EBV infection, so I can't say for certain if that mild neutropenia could be explained by that in your case. Given that the levels have been low for over four years and the decrease is mild without other symptoms, a benign cause is most likely. However, if those neutrophils have truly stayed below the normal threshold for this long, we're looking at chronic neutropenia, which appears to be either constitutional or idiopathic. That said, some basic follow-up testing in that direction would be wise just to put the matter to rest.

2.) For me, the mononucleosis dragged on for ages. I had a fever hitting roughly 102°F for about two weeks. Severe sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. Initially, antibodies indicated a fresh EBV infection, and IgG was negative for the first month and a half. Later, even a year later, there were positive antibodies for both recent infection and IgG. Is that normal? My spleen and liver were slightly enlarged, and my liver function tests were abnormal for about a month or two before normalizing.

I didn't catch exactly which antibodies were elevated or the specific timeline, so to interpret that properly, you'd need to list out the serology results chronologically—every single parameter.