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

Sandra Vaughn50 said:We’re talking about melanoma here, one of the most aggressive skin cancers out there. It's serious. If the disease is caught while it's still localized to the skin lesion, surgical excision can remove it entirely, which is considered a successful cure.

Clark and Breslow measurements classify based on how deep the tumor has penetrated. A Breslow depth of 2.9 mm falls into stage 4 (out of 5).
Statistically, the five-year survival rate for this group is around 60-75%. This implies the tumor hasn't metastasized in these patients, meaning they live beyond five years—effectively cured.
In 25-40% of cases, the disease has spread. Once melanoma becomes metastatic, it's unfortunately incurable and fatal. Standard chemotherapies often fail due to high tumor resistance, and experimental drugs haven't yielded much promise yet.

Exactly. That "fluid injection" (scintigraphy) is meant to check if the sentinel lymph node has been hit by the tumor—basically looking for regional metastasis.

Thanks for the quick reply. I owe you one...
I know this might not be the right place for it, but could anyone suggest what might actually help? (I've read things about flaxseeds and flaxseed oil). You can answer here or just send me a private message.
Thanks again, and sorry if this question is out of place...

Sandra Vaughn50 said:A neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio like this can happen after you've bounced back from a viral infection.
For future reference, when you're posting lab results, please include the reference ranges too. We actually need those to make sense of anything.

A PT/INR of 1.0 is perfectly normal for someone who isn't on oral anticoagulants (like Coumadin or Xarelto). If someone *is* on blood thinners—whether it's for atrial fibrillation, a previous stroke, or a prosthetic heart valve—then we're looking for a target PT/INR between 2 and 3.5.

If you were on that kind of medication, you'd definitely know what PT/INR meant.

Yeah, I had HPV.
As for the PT/INR? I’m not on any blood thinners, which means everything is fine.

Hi there!
I'm a woman in my early 30s.
I just had some bloodwork done because I'm scheduled for a hysteroscopy soon—dealing with a submucosal fibroid.

Everything looks fine according to the standard ranges, except for my platelets (138, when they should be 158-424), bilirubin (27.6, instead of 3 to 20), lymphocytes (47.7, while the range is 20-46), and neutrophils (40.6, vs. the 44-72 range).

I don't have any symptoms and I'm not on any medication—plus, my platelets were slightly low a few months ago too, so I guess they just always hover around 140.

I'm not sure if this matters, but I should mention that a few months back, my iron was high (it was 34, and the max for women is 30), so I had my ferritin checked—the result was 20.53, though the reference interval is 13 to 150).

Also, during some research study I participated in through a friend's service, it turned out my Vitamin D was incredibly low—only 8.6 nmol/L. After about a month, I had it retested at Mayo Clinic and it was up to about 35 (in that month between tests, I was taking roughly 2000 IU daily and making sure to get some sun, then bumped it to 5000 IU for a month after the new results). I'm going back for more bloodwork at the end of October to see how things look after the summer. My calcium, bone ISO-ALP, and inorganic phosphates were all okay, but my alkaline phosphatase was 40 U/L (range is 54-119).

Thanks for the help!

A specialist recommended I get my vitamin levels and electrolytes checked out privately.

My primary care doctor claims only electrolyte panels are covered by Medicare, making vitamin testing an impossibility through them. To be honest, he’s been wrong before—ordering the wrong tests that don't actually address the suspected issues, making inaccurate medical claims, or just being stubborn about handing out referrals.

So, I’m trying to figure out if there’s any truth to that. I also want to know the best way to get these tests done, where to go, and how reliable the results actually are.
I suspect some deficiencies might be stemming from long-term digestive issues (definitely the gallbladder, maybe the liver) along with symptoms like joint pain and constant fatigue. From what I remember reading, Vitamin D and calcium come up a lot, but is there anything else worth looking into?

To everyone here—I would appreciate some assistance in deciphering these medical results. The entire report is written in Latin, and unfortunately, my Latin is non-existent.

graniteridge5 said:Hello, I was hoping someone could help me make sense of this report. It’s all in Latin, and I never studied the language.

This is an autopsy report regarding the cause of death. It looks like an elderly individual who passed away from head trauma. Specifically, a blow to the right side of the head—the temporal region above the ear—which crushed the skull, causing brain edema and intracranial bleeding. This isn't a literal translation, just my summary of what happened.

Susan Chavez said:Everything falls within the normal range—except for my platelets (138, when they should be 158-424), bilirubin (27.6, instead of the usual 3 to 20), lymphocytes (47.7, vs the target of 20 to 46), and neutrophils (40.6, whereas 44 to 72 is expected).

I am feeling perfectly fine and I'm not on any medications—my platelets were slightly low a few months ago as well, and it seems they always hover right around that 140 mark.

I would suggest requesting a platelet count using citrate solution—just to rule out pseudothrombocytopenia, which is essentially a false low reading.

bluemason3 said:A specialist recommended—through a private consultation—that I get my vitamins and electrolytes checked.

However, my primary care physician insists that only electrolyte tests are covered by Medicare; apparently, there is no way to test vitamins under the plan. In my experience, though—he has been wrong quite often—sending me for the wrong tests, making medically inaccurate claims, or simply refusing to write referrals.

Yes, vitamin tests are certainly covered by Medicare—especially if you have a written recommendation from a specialist. You should double-check that with Loomis.

graniteridge5 said:Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me make sense of this report. It is entirely in Latin—a language I have never studied.

I am translating just the bottom portion of the document.

Cause of death:

Brain contusion resulting from a gunshot wound to the right temporal region of the head.

I’ve posted here before about my blood work... anyway. For two years now, I’ve been seeing these consistent shifts in my results. I have hypothyroidism, by the way. Every single time, my lymphocytes are high and my granulocytes are low. My doctor doesn't seem particularly concerned, which is unsettling since the pattern is identical every time. Should I be pushing for more testing? Here is one set of results; the other six are exactly the same.

WBC 8.9 (3.4-9.71)
RBC 4.31 (3.86-5.08)
Hemoglobin 129 (119-157)
Hematocrit 0.380 (0.356-0.470)
MCV 88.1 (83.0-97.2)
MCH 89.8 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 339 (320-345
Platelets 241 (158-424

Neutrophils 34.6 (44-72) L
Lymphocytes 48.9 (20-46) H
Monocytes 6.5 (2-12)
Eosinophils 7.1 (0-7) H
Basophils 0.7 (0-1)
Luc 2.3 (0.0-4.0)
Neutrophils 3.08 (2.06-6.49)
Lymphocytes 4.34 (1.19-3.35) H
Monocytes 0.57 (0.12-0.84)
Eosinophils 0.63 (0.00-0.43) H
Basophils 0.06 (0.00-0.06

Anna, I’m looking at your blood work and I honestly can't believe it! I've been dealing with the exact same thing for the last 8 or 9 months... my lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. It all started right after I gave birth, along with a whole bunch of weird symptoms that nobody could actually explain to me... Could it be hypothyroidism for me, too?

Sent from my iPhone 6 using Reddit

Sandra Vaughn50 said:Yeah, obviously vitamins are covered by Medicare, especially if you have a specialist's written recommendation. You might want to double-check that with Loomis.

I checked with Medicare. They said they don't cover them.

Good afternoon, everyone. My back completely seized up on me recently, so I went to see my doctor for some pain relief injections and medication just to take the edge off. For about a year now, I’ve been dealing with morning back pain, but I always managed to push through—I swapped out my pillow, bought a new mattress, but nothing seems to work. This time, however, the pain was paralyzing. It’s radiating from my right lower back down through my hip and the entire right leg; it’s a constant, burning stiffness that is driving me crazy. My physician ordered blood work, and these were the results:
http://postimg.org/image/iba8ek0c3/
I’ve been prescribed antibiotics and have a follow-up in ten days.
If anyone has a moment to take a look, the labs seem to suggest systemic inflammation, though
my doctor couldn't confirm if that's directly related to this sudden back spasm. She asked if I was coming down with a cold, which I'm not, or if there were other underlying issues. Since this past spring, I've also experienced significant hair loss. I initially dismissed it as seasonal shedding since it started in the spring, but it hasn't stopped... my hair is falling out in clumps. When I first consulted a specialist about it, the advice was simply to take vitamins and use specialized shampoos, but nothing has provided relief.
Additionally, about two months ago, I dealt with a granuloma on a molar that had an old root canal from several years back. It caused a terrible odor and a fistula on my palate, so the tooth had to be extracted. Could an issue like that still leave traces of inflammation in my system? Generally speaking, I feel like a wreck. Between this intense pain in my back and leg, I can barely get out of bed in the morning. On top of that, I'm feeling incredibly weak and exhausted. Age: 30.

bluemason3 said:I checked with Medicare—they said they aren't going.

So, I finally got my referral for Vitamin D testing. To be honest—and this is kind of a mess—my previous results from that private lab were pretty abysmal, but I managed to get a referral through Medicare after seeing a state-appointed endocrinologist. My GP could barely even figure out how to write the damn thing—it was painfully obvious she’d never dealt with this before.

Getting your Vitamin D levels checked privately—it’ll run you like $200 or something... I guess.$83 The lab results are usually ready within a day or two—though at the federal facility in Chicago, they’re still working on the Reber case—but if you order it yourself, you're looking at about a month just to get the screening done, and then another three to four weeks waiting on the actual results... or at least that was my experience, I guess.

I suppose—if you ask me—testing vitamin levels through bloodwork is just generally pointless. It's all a bit much, I guess. $67 Given the vitamin levels and that total figure—I mean, honestly—it’s going to be an uphill battle getting Medicare to cover all of this at once, especially if you're just coming in with some private specialist's recommendation. If you want to actually get a referral that sticks, you'll likely need a state-appointed specialist to sign off on it first—then maybe your primary care doctor can write the actual referral. It's a headache, I guess.

Sandra Vaughn50 said:I’d suggest getting a platelet count done using a citrate solution—just to rule out pseudothrombocytopenia, which is basically a false low reading. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks so much for the response! I’m going to redo the test today—maybe that'll actually show something useful this time—so I'll let you know how it turns out.

Sandra Vaughn50 said:I’d suggest getting a platelet count done using a citrate solution—just to rule out pseudothrombocytopenia, which is basically a false low reading.

The follow-up test came back at 180. Thanks again!

Laura Lopez47 said:I’ve posted here before about my blood work, but let's try this again. For the last two years, I've been seeing a consistent pattern in my lab results. I have hypothyroidism, by the way. Every single time, my lymphocyte counts come back elevated while my granulocytes are low. My doctor doesn't seem particularly concerned, which is frustrating because the results are identical every single time. It feels like a recurring theme rather than a fluke. Should I be pushing for more specialized testing? I've transcribed one set of results below; the other six are exactly the same.

Based on everything here, you likely have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A blood count like this is completely expected given that diagnosis, and it’s going to stick around for quite some time. Since your absolute lymphocyte count is hovering around 4x10^9/L, I don't see any reason to pursue further testing for lymphocytosis unless you’re actually experiencing symptoms—things like swollen lymph nodes, or an enlarged liver or spleen. According to the International Consensus Group for Hematology Review, additional workup isn't indicated until that lymphocyte count hits 5x10^9/L. As for the granulocytes, they aren't actually low; the percentage just looks smaller because there are more lymphocytes present. It's basic math. Your absolute granulocyte count is perfectly normal.

What’s the logic behind the frequent blood work? Is there a specific reason they keep ordering these panels so often?

Megan Jones27 said:Ana, looking at your blood work, I’m stunned. It’s an exact mirror of what I’ve been dealing with for the last eight or nine months. The lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils—it’s all there. For me, this pattern surfaced right after childbirth, accompanied by a laundry list of bizarre symptoms that left everyone scratching their heads. No one could give me a straight answer. Could it be hypothyroidism, just like my situation?

It’s possible, but you really need a proper internal medicine workup first. If I recall correctly, you’ve dealt with blood in your stool along with abdominal and back pain. Besides, finding lymphocytosis isn't a definitive indicator of autoimmune thyroid issues; it can pop up in all sorts of other autoimmune conditions too.

bluemason3 said:I checked with Medicare. They said they aren't going.

They're covered, 100%. But there’s a catch: that specialist referral has to be officially indicated through Medicare. If it's just coming from a private clinic, your primary care physician isn't obligated to write you the referral.

Susan Chavez said:To get a referral from a specialist, your primary care physician would have to write you a referral first..

Actually, no. Under current Medicare regulations, a family doctor isn't obligated to do anything. A specialist can suggest a test, but the primary care physician makes the final call on whether that testing is actually necessary. They have the authority to deny a referral, though they obviously take full responsibility if that assessment turns out to be wrong.

Ashley Booth12 said:Good afternoon, everyone. My lower back completely seized up on me, so I went to see my doctor for an injection, some pills—anything to kill the pain. I’ve dealt with morning back pain for about a year now, but I usually manage to work through it. I tried switching pillows, getting a new mattress, but nothing helps. This time, though, it’s different. It just locked up. The entire right side—from my lower back down through my hip and all the way down my right leg—is aching, stiff, and burning. It's driving me crazy. She ordered blood work, and these were the results:
http://postimg.org/image/iba8ek0c3/
I was prescribed an antibiotic and have a follow-up in 10 days.
If anyone is willing to take a look, the labs seem to indicate inflammation, but
my doctor isn't certain if it's actually inflammation or just because my back went out. She asked if I had a cold; I don't. She asked if there were other issues; since this spring, I've been dealing with excessive hair loss. At first, I figured it was just seasonal, but it started in the spring and hasn't stopped... it's coming out in clumps. When I first brought it up, the doctor just told me to take vitamins and use anti-hair loss shampoos, but nothing has worked.
Also, two months ago, I had a granuloma on a molar—a tooth that had a root canal done about 6 or 7 years ago. It was spreading behind the tooth, causing a terrible odor, and a fistula formed on my palate. They ended up pulling the tooth. Could that still be causing visible inflammation in my system? Honestly, my overall health is a disaster right now. Between the back and leg pain, I can barely get out of bed in the morning. Then there's the general malaise and extreme fatigue. Age: 30.

Which antibiotic were you given? Did they run any tests besides blood work? Do you have a fever?

It's impossible to say for sure if this sudden flare-up of lower back pain radiating down the leg is linked to the dental issue, but theoretically, it could happen—for instance, if bacteria from the dental site entered the bloodstream and migrated toward the spinal area.

Given how poor you say your general condition is, you really should head to the local ER for further evaluation.

Hi everyone, could someone help me make sense of these results? It's for my mother (she's 55), and she's already been dealing with a disc protrusion in her
.

Maria Fisher46 said:It looks like you have Hashimoto's. A blood count like this is perfectly expected and will likely stick around for quite a while. Since your absolute lymphocyte count is hovering around 4x10*9/L, I don't see any reason to dig deeper into the lymphocytosis unless you're actually feeling symptomatic—you know, swollen lymph nodes, liver issues, spleen stuff, etc. According to the International Consensus Group for Hematology Review, further testing is only indicated once that lymphocyte count hits 5x10*9/L. Also, your granulocytes aren't actually low; the percentage just looks smaller because there are more lymphocytes present. The absolute count is totally fine.

The next logical question is why the blood work keeps being repeated. Is there an actual reason for that?

Maybe. But you really need a proper internal medicine exam first, especially since you mentioned having blood in your stool and some abdominal and back pain. Besides, lymphocytosis isn't exclusive to autoimmune thyroid issues; it pops up in other autoimmune disorders too.

They'll go, 100%, provided a specialist actually deems the test necessary—and I mean a specialist covered by Medicare, not a private one. If it’s a private specialist, your primary care doctor isn't obligated to write the referral.

Yes, I do have Hashimoto's. It all started three years ago after I gave birth... felt like I was choking in my neck. That's how I realized my thyroid was acting up.

As for the blood work... I get it done constantly because I'm always dealing with sinus infections, colds, viruses, sore throats, etc. My doctor keeps sending me in for labs because of it.
Thanks for the answer.

Maria Fisher46 said:It’s possible, but you really should start with a thorough internal medicine evaluation, especially since you mentioned having blood in your stool and some abdominal and back pain. Also, lymphocytosis isn't specific to autoimmune thyroid diseases; it can show up with various other autoimmune conditions as well.

I've never actually had blood in my stool, just some minor bleeding from hemorrhoids and occasional constipation after giving birth.

The pain still comes and goes occasionally.

I recently had a Pap smear, and they found Trichomonas vaginalis for the first time, so maybe that's what's causing the pain... I'm currently treating it with Medazol vaginal suppositories (partner tablets) because I am breastfeeding.

I went for a consultation at the allergy and clinical immunology department... They ran tests, reviewed all my results, and listened to me, but they seemed just as puzzled by my symptoms as I am. They just suggested taking an antihistamine as needed—though I don't even need one right now—and getting another CBC.