It's often difficult to determine what's causing a blood test to be all over the board. The first thought is usually, "something is wrong", but that's not necessarily always the case. Your diet, activity, current health, medications, environment and even the way the tests were performed can result in wide differences. The lab should be the same if possible, certainly when our RNA tests are performed during treatment. I'm including a link to a website, Dr. Moffat's a Naturopath and a Veterinarian (I know, I know) but she has compiled a list of things that help understand these various tests and what might cause them to change. As Jill recommended, a sit down with your doctor and perhaps a consult with a Hematologist can help to explain things further. Since your diet appears to be pretty good, it might also be worth calling a registered dietician to discuss your current dietary path. When you find a good healthcare team, confide in them and then trust them to steer you in the right direction. If you're not trusting or not getting the answers you are seeking, it's time for another opinion. We say it often here, "We are our own best health advocate".
Your AST and ALT levels are really good, nothing to worry about there!
Just a though about your iron levels, I`m not sure quite what`s going on and I`m not a doctor, but I`m just wondering whether you have a problem absorbing all the iron you`re taking?
I think the best thing would be to discuss these results with your doctor, if you haven`t already done so, and he/she will be able to give you more information. In the meantime I would continue to eat a healthy balance diet, and maybe leave out the iron supplements for now.
Maybe others will want to comment on these results. Try not to worry...
freesoul said
Aug 14, 2015
So I just got my more extensive blood panels back, yay!
Some things are really good. AST is 24, ALT 36, all the rest of liver panel, and INR are within range. That's good news.
However some stuff is just strange...
-Borderline hyperkalemia. I had actual hyperkalemia and dealt with this issue for a month earlier this year, close monitored because it can be quite dangerous. I switched to a low potassium diet (I am a big fan of fruits and veggies and juicing so it was radical!) but I thougth it went away...now potassium is back to 5.0 out of a 3.5-5.0 range. Not juicing anymore, so wtf? However, probably not Hep C related, I think?
-Neutrophils. Second consecutive result flagged. It's low, 1.8 and lower end of reference range is 2.0. But I am not on treatment yet. If I do start treatment it will likely go lower, so do I need to worry about this?
- Here is the one that really bothers me: IRON! I have been low-iron for over two years. It was suspected to be the cause of my fatigue (doctors...smh) so I was given iron supplements (yeah I know). The test flags anything below 25 as "probable iron deficiency" and below 15 as "anemia". Well, my results were 24 when I started, 17 to 22 those two years while taking iron supplements, and now- still taking the supplements- a whooping 14!!! Full-on anemia.
Seriously don't understand. I am a meat eater. I eat fortified oatmeal and cereal. I take iron pills!
Yes, this can happen with treatment but I am not being treated.
Did anyone experience this? Any ideas what's going on?
Mostly concerned about going into tx with pre-existing issues...
Hi FS,
It's often difficult to determine what's causing a blood test to be all over the board. The first thought is usually, "something is wrong", but that's not necessarily always the case. Your diet, activity, current health, medications, environment and even the way the tests were performed can result in wide differences. The lab should be the same if possible, certainly when our RNA tests are performed during treatment. I'm including a link to a website, Dr. Moffat's a Naturopath and a Veterinarian (I know, I know) but she has compiled a list of things that help understand these various tests and what might cause them to change. As Jill recommended, a sit down with your doctor and perhaps a consult with a Hematologist can help to explain things further. Since your diet appears to be pretty good, it might also be worth calling a registered dietician to discuss your current dietary path. When you find a good healthcare team, confide in them and then trust them to steer you in the right direction. If you're not trusting or not getting the answers you are seeking, it's time for another opinion. We say it often here, "We are our own best health advocate".
LAB TEST RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION
Hi FS,
Your AST and ALT levels are really good, nothing to worry about there!
Just a though about your iron levels, I`m not sure quite what`s going on and I`m not a doctor, but I`m just wondering whether you have a problem absorbing all the iron you`re taking?
I think the best thing would be to discuss these results with your doctor, if you haven`t already done so, and he/she will be able to give you more information. In the meantime I would continue to eat a healthy balance diet, and maybe leave out the iron supplements for now.
Maybe others will want to comment on these results. Try not to worry...
So I just got my more extensive blood panels back, yay!
Some things are really good. AST is 24, ALT 36, all the rest of liver panel, and INR are within range. That's good news.
However some stuff is just strange...
-Borderline hyperkalemia. I had actual hyperkalemia and dealt with this issue for a month earlier this year, close monitored because it can be quite dangerous. I switched to a low potassium diet (I am a big fan of fruits and veggies and juicing so it was radical!) but I thougth it went away...now potassium is back to 5.0 out of a 3.5-5.0 range. Not juicing anymore, so wtf? However, probably not Hep C related, I think?
-Neutrophils. Second consecutive result flagged. It's low, 1.8 and lower end of reference range is 2.0. But I am not on treatment yet. If I do start treatment it will likely go lower, so do I need to worry about this?
- Here is the one that really bothers me: IRON! I have been low-iron for over two years. It was suspected to be the cause of my fatigue (doctors...smh) so I was given iron supplements (yeah I know). The test flags anything below 25 as "probable iron deficiency" and below 15 as "anemia". Well, my results were 24 when I started, 17 to 22 those two years while taking iron supplements, and now- still taking the supplements- a whooping 14!!! Full-on anemia.
Seriously don't understand. I am a meat eater. I eat fortified oatmeal and cereal. I take iron pills!
Yes, this can happen with treatment but I am not being treated.
Did anyone experience this? Any ideas what's going on?
Mostly concerned about going into tx with pre-existing issues...