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

An elevated GGT level can sometimes indicate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which involves more pronounced fatty changes in the liver.
Potassium levels need to be kept strictly within the normal range. However, if you aren't experiencing any symptoms like weakness or tingling, it probably isn't anything too serious and your body will likely compensate on its own. That said, if you happen to be taking diuretics, you definitely need to replenish your potassium—maybe grab a few bananas. Also, if you're active in sports, potassium can easily drop due to intense physical activity, so just be mindful of adjusting your nutrition based on your body's specific needs.

Hello everyone, and my thanks to those offering responses; good advice and a kind word are always appreciated...
Basically, while getting a routine thyroid check, a friend nudged me into getting a full panel done, and by pure chance, I discovered some things aren't quite right. I had been on birth control for three years and stopped about three months ago because we decided to start trying for a baby. Over the last few years, I’ve dealt with frequent bouts of strep throat—twice a year—that only responded to penicillin injections, and I wonder if there's any connection to these results... I also remembered my OBGYN prescribed Diflucan, which I believe was about a month and a half ago.
Anyway, I will just list the values that fall outside the reference intervals.

MCHC 363 H g/L
NEUTROPHIL SEGMENTED GRANULOCYTES 1.64 L
basophils 0.07 H
neutrophil seg. granulocytes 36.7 L rel%
lymphocytes 49.9 H rel%

note: NEUTROPENIA

AST 31
ALT 41
GGT 30
alkaline phosphatase 47
glucose 6.1

I should mention that before the draw, I had some Gatorade, coffee, and a banana, as I hadn't anticipated needing a full blood panel and thought I was only checking my thyroid hormones...

I saw my doctor, who gave me a referral for a follow-up in three weeks to check bilirubin, cholesterol, AST, ALT, and GGT. Now, panic is setting in because she gave me a look that felt... strange, though perhaps I am overthinking it, and who knows, this internet can be a wonderful resource, but it can just as easily destroy the mental state of a worrier like myself...
Last night, I immediately went down a rabbit hole searching for everything related to liver disease, and naturally, every search result is flooded with hepatitis. Ugh, I didn't sleep at all, wondering how I am supposed to make it through these next three weeks...

Jonathan Doyle55 said:So, like, what’s the deal when your GGT is totally through the roof—say, hitting 100—but all your other stuff like AST and ALT are sitting there looking perfectly normal? It's super weird, right? Like, why is only one number acting out? And I was wondering... could something like having mono like ten years ago have anything to do with it? Is that even a thing?🤷
So, like, can I just... I don't know, maybe take some Silymarin and hope my brain finally decides to stop acting like a glitchy laptop and just snaps back to reality? Like, is that even a thing? Can you just pop a supplement and suddenly everything stops feeling like a total fog?

Look, I’m telling you, this whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with having had mono before. Seriously. People keep trying to pin it on that, but it's just not it. It's like when you think your car won't start because of a dead battery, but really, it's something totally different under the hood. This isn't about the mono. Period.

So, look, if you're seeing high GGT levels on your labs, you gotta know—it’s usually a massive red flag for alcohol-related liver issues. Like, most of the time, that's exactly what we're looking at. It's basically the body's way of waving a giant neon sign saying, "Hey, maybe dial back the drinks?"

And honestly? It could totally spike because of other toxic stuff floating around too. Like, you know how one bad ingredient can just mess up the whole vibe of a recipe? It's kind of like that. You get one thing out of whack, then some other nasty toxins start acting up, and suddenly everything is just way more intense than it should be. It’s a total domino effect.

Look, I’m telling you right now—if you’ve been hitting the booze, just stop. Like, dead stop. Right now. Seriously, quit cold turkey today. And don't even think about just feeling your way through it; go get an ultrasound on your liver immediately. Just get it checked out. Please.

Emily Booth said:The issue isn't related to having had mononucleosis.

An elevated GGT level is actually most often a red flag for alcohol-related liver issues.

It can also spike due to exposure to other toxic substances.

If you've been drinking, you need to quit cold turkey right now and go get a liver ultrasound.

Look, I don't drink... maybe two beers a month at most... that's why I'm asking here. Thanks for all the input. I started taking Silymarin to see if that helps—I mean, it shouldn't hurt, right? Once I finish two bottles, I'll go back and get my liver enzyme tests done again.

Laura Lopez29 said:Hi everyone, and thanks to all for the replies; good advice and kind words certainly go a long way.
Basically, during a routine thyroid checkup, a friend nudged me into getting a full panel done, and by pure chance, I found out some things aren't quite right. I had been on birth control for three years and stopped about three months ago because we decided to start trying for a baby. For the past few years, I’ve dealt with frequent bouts of strep throat—twice a year—and only penicillin injections seemed to do the trick; could that have anything to do with these results? Also, I just remembered my OBGYN prescribed Diflucan about a month and a half ago.
Anyway, I'll just list the values that fall outside the reference range.

MCHC 363 H g/l
NEUTROF.SEG.GRANULOCITI 1.64 L
basophils 0.07 H
neutrophil seg.granulocytes 36.7 L rel%
lymphocytes 49.9 H rel%

note: NEUTROPENIA

AST 31
ALT 41
GGT 30
alkaline phosphatase 47
glucose 6.1

I should mention that before the blood draw, I had a Gatorade, a coffee, and a banana because I didn't realize I'd be doing these specific tests; I thought I was just checking my thyroid.

I saw my doctor, who gave me a referral for a metabolic panel, bilirubin, cholesterol, AST, ALT, and GGT in three weeks. Now I'm starting to panic because she gave me this strange look... though maybe she didn't, who knows. Honestly, as much as the internet is a great tool, it can also mentally destroy worriers like me.
Last night, I immediately started searching everything about liver diseases, and of course, it's all filled with mentions of hepatitis. Ugh, I didn't sleep at all; how am I going to make it through these next three weeks?

What is the total white blood cell count? And please, take another look at those neutrophils—if they are at 1.6, you should see a hematologist as soon as possible.

Sam Hall15 said:What’s the total white blood cell count? And please, take another look at those neutrophils; if they're sitting at 1.6, you really ought to see a hematologist as soon as possible...

The WBC is 4.48

The segmented neutrophils are 1.64 L

And the percentage is 36.7

Now I'm starting to get a bit worried, what does all this actually mean...

I responded via DM

Jonathan Doyle55 said:Look, I don't even drink... maybe like two beers a month tops... that's why I'm asking! Thanks for all the help, seriously. I started taking some Silymarin to see if that helps... can't hurt, right? So I'll just finish two boxes and then go back for more liver tests...

Are you on any medications right now?

And what about cholesterol or triglycerides—are those levels up?

Also, do you work around anything toxic? Like dyes or nail polish or stuff like that?

Silymarin should definitely be good for you, won't do any harm, but honestly, it'd still be a smart move to figure out why that GGT is running high in the first place.

I’ve been stuck in this loop for months now, trying to figure out why my cortisol levels are through the roof. At first, I was convinced it was just the birth control, so I quit taking it. But fast forward five months later and my numbers are still spiked—both in the morning and the afternoon (8am = 803, 4pm = 410). I went in for a full hormone panel and everything else looks fine. I even had an adrenal CT scan done, which came back totally normal too. Now I'm waiting on an MRI. Honestly, I can't find a single answer online about whether someone can actually be born with high cortisol, or what kind of meds you even take if the MRI ends up being clear.😕

Sam Hall15 said:A high GGT might point toward non-alcoholic steatohepatitis—basically some more noticeable fatty liver stuff going on.
As for potassium, you really want to keep that within the normal range, strictly speaking. But honestly, if you aren't feeling any weirdness—no weakness, no tingling sensations, nothing—then it’s probably not a huge deal and your body will just balance itself out. Though, if you happen to be on diuretics, then yeah, you definitely need to replenish that potassium; just eat a bunch of bananas or something. And if you're hitting the gym hard, potassium can slip away pretty easily from all that physical exertion, so just watch your diet based on what your body actually needs.

I heard that even with potassium, wounds don't heal right—anyway, I've got these symptoms, plus my iron levels are chronically low too.
It's kind of like when your blood gets too thick.

I deal with this exact issue myself; I get these insane itches, and the second I scratch, scabs just pop up instantly, and they won't heal for years.

So, I'm heading in for allergy testing in a couple of days—should I bring up these results regarding the clotting issues and the potassium to my doctor?

Emily Booth said:Are you taking any medications?

Is your cholesterol or triglyceride level running high?
Do you work around toxic substances? Dyes, paints, anything like that?

Silymarin should definitely help you out—it won't cause harm—but honestly, you really ought to figure out why your GGT levels are spiked in the first place.

I’m currently taking Imunomax (though I wonder if the shiitake mushroom extract might be disagreeing with my liver?

I'm not sure about this bolded part... I really should go grab my lab results to check those specific numbers too. I'll try to get them and let you know. Thanks, thanks, thanks...

For the most part, I don't take anything, I don't smoke, and I don't deal with paint. I usually sleep well, but lately, there's been a lot of stress and not enough physical activity... though I highly doubt such a massive spike in GGT would come from just that.

Jonathan Doyle55 said:I’ve been taking Imunomax (maybe the shiitake mushroom extract isn't sitting right with my liver?

I’m not quite sure about this bolded part... I really should get some blood work done to check on that specifically. I'll try to figure it out and let you guys know. Thanks so much for the help!

For context, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't even use nail polish. I usually stick to a regular sleep schedule, though lately, I've been dealing with a lot of stress and haven't been very active. Still, I doubt my GGT levels would spike that high just from those factors alone...

That makes sense. Have you reached out to a gastroenterologist yet?

Hey, if anyone can help, please hit me back ASAP. I’ve been dealing with high white blood cell counts for two years now—we're talking anywhere from 13 to 20—and even after taking Sumamed and a bunch of other antibiotics, nothing is budging. My doctor is totally stumped on why they won't drop. On top of that, my RDW-CV is low, my GGT is sitting at 118, and my CRP is up to 19.3.
It’s been a lot to handle. I’m juggling asthma, migraines, high-risk HPV, and PCOS, plus some insulin resistance is starting to creep in. I was on Yasmin for years, but they just switched me over to Celest.
I’m seriously asking for any advice or leads here because I’m running out of people to turn to. Even the specialist internist I saw couldn't figure out what's going on.
Thanks in advance.

Gerald Lewis36 said:please, if I could just get an answer ASAP... I've had high white blood cell counts for 2 years now, hovering between 13 and 20, even though I've been on Sumamed and all sorts of antibiotics. My doctor can't figure out why they won't drop. Also, my RDW is low, GGT is at 118, and CRP is 19.3.
I'm dealing with a ton of stuff—asthma, migraines, high-risk HPV, and PCOS, plus insulin resistance is starting to creep in. I was on Yasmin for years, but now they switched me over to Celest.
I'm seriously begging for help because I'm at my wit's end. The internist I saw couldn't find the root cause of any of this.
Thanks in advance.

Hey, have you actually seen a hematologist yet? Your CRP is up, your GGT is up too, and they're still keeping you on hormones for the PCOS? Have you gone through testing for autoimmune issues or rheumatoid factors? And what’s your ESR looking like?

Honestly, it feels like your OBGYN and your internist should be talking to each other way more than they are.

Besides the asthma and the gyno stuff, are you feeling anything else? Like joint pain? One thing I know for sure: just throwing antibiotics at you without finding the actual cause isn't going to fix a thing.

Maria Jones40 said:Well, have you actually reached out to a gastroenterologist yet?

I honestly thought I’d need a hematologist for liver stuff. I didn't think a gastroenterologist would have much to offer in this department... My plan is to stick with some Milk Thistle for a month or two first, and then I'll go get my liver enzyme tests done to see where things actually stand.

Gerald Lewis36 said:Please, if I could get an answer as soon as possible. For two years now, my white blood cell count has been elevated, ranging from 13 to 20. Despite taking Sumamed and various other antibiotics, my doctor can't figure out why they won't come down. My RDW-CV is also low, my GGT is at 118, and my CRP is 19.3.
I’ve been dealing with quite a few health issues—asthma, migraines, high-risk HPV, and PCOS, plus some developing insulin resistance. I was on Yasmin for years, but they've switched me over to Celest.
I’m really asking for some help here because I honestly don't know who else to turn to. The internist I saw couldn't find the root cause.
Thanks in advance.

An absolute white blood cell count doesn't tell the whole story on its own. Honestly, I don't think it's fair to list out all the specific tests you should undergo right now because I don't actually know you—your age, your gender, your medical history, the medications you're currently on, or whether you've had a full physical lately. Because of that, your best bet is to take all your previous medical records and schedule an appointment with a hematologist.

Hey everyone... back in month 6, I had some blood work done and these were the results:
cholesterol - 6.3 (3.0-5.0)
alkaline phosphatase - 53 (54-153)
AST - 53 (8-30)
ALT - 20 (10-36)
GGT - 8 (9-35)

My doctor basically brushed off the high AST, saying it wasn't a big deal. She didn't say a single word about why my GGT and alkaline phosphatase were low, either. Her only advice was to cut back on fatty foods because of the cholesterol and come back for more tests in three months. Well, I just got my latest results back, and here they are:

alkaline phosphatase - 45 (54-153)
AST - 52 (8-30)
ALT - 19 (10-36)
GGT - 11 (9-35)
GLUCOSE - 2.9 (4.4-6.4)
Now I'm spiraling again over that elevated AST and the low alkaline phosphatase (which has actually dropped even further since month 6). As for the glucose, they just told me it's low because I probably hadn't eaten much. Can anyone help me out? My gynecologist actually expressed concern and wondered why my primary doctor hasn't sent me for liver-specific testing yet. Is this really as serious as it sounds?

Hi everyone, my mom just got some blood work back and her cholesterol levels came in at
LDL 4
HDL 1.05
TRIGLYCERIDES 2.6

Could someone please help me make sense of these? I'm wondering if these numbers are too high compared to the standard ranges. I'm honestly pretty worried because my grandmother passed away from a stroke at a very young age
Thanks in advance

Hannah Phillips50 said:Hi everyone... I had blood work done back in month 6 and these were my results:
cholesterol - 6.3 (3.0-5.0)
alkaline phosphatase - 53 (54-153)
AST - 53 (8-30)
ALT - 20 (10-36)
GGT - 8 (9-35)

My doctor mentioned that the elevated AST isn't an issue... she didn't say anything about the low GGT or alkaline phosphatase, other than suggesting I cut back on dietary fats due to the cholesterol... and to check my levels every three months. I just had more blood work done and here are the numbers:

alkaline phosphatase - 45 (54-153)
AST - 52 (8-30)
ALT - 19 (10-36)
GGT - 11 (9-35)
GLUCOSE - 2.9 (4.4-6.4)
Now I'm worried again about that high AST and the low alkaline phosphatase (which has dropped even further since month 6). Regarding the glucose, they told me it was likely low because I hadn't eaten much. Can anyone help? My OBGYN actually expressed surprise that my doctor hasn't referred me for liver testing yet... is this something serious?

Given that your AST remains consistently elevated, it might be wise to consult a gastroenterologist or at least an internist first, then follow up with a specialist if needed. While these specific elevations aren't extremely high, getting a professional opinion would provide peace of mind. Some possibilities could include NASH or fatty liver issues...

John Parker6, there's really no reason to be overly anxious. Your mom's cholesterol levels are just slightly elevated, and for most people, a solid diet is all that's required. Of course, if she were considered a high-risk patient, medication would definitely be necessary, but the mere fact that her mother passed away from a stroke doesn't automatically put her in that category. Does she happen to have high blood pressure?