Please advise

[2X'sNana]

I just received a copy of my blood work I had done last week. Can someone please tell me if these levels are serious? This is the first time these have shown up "high". :worried:

Test Name

CMP:
CO2 "high"

AUTO DIFF:
MO% 15.1 "high" (normal range 3.0-10.0)
LY# 2.43 "high" (normal range 1.20-2.00)
MO# 1.23 "high" (normal range 0.20-0.80)

Urinalysis:
Protein -Trace Positive
LEUK -Trace

Urine Micro:
WBC 0-3
RBC Negative
EPISQ 0-3
BACTI - Trace

All the other blood work came back in the reference range. What do these levels mean? I am somewhat worried about it but not going to panic until I know what is going on. I guess I have been use to my levels being within range except my ana which was 1280 and speckled pattern. I did have protein in my urine before. Is this normal or could something be brewing? I would appreciate any help you have to offer.

Thank you,
Janice
PS: I go to my rheumy on June 29th. I would like to educate myself before going. I can then ask questions as if I know what I am talking about! :lol:

[Maia]

If I understand your bloodwork abbreviations correctly, it sounds like the DIFF results are indicating high levels of different kinds of white blood cells; usually this indicates some kind of infection.

Trace of protein in the urine is usually not significant if only occurs every now and then, but if this happens routinely then might want to do the 24 hour urine collection. The trace of bacteria in the urine might indicate a bladder infection or contamination of sample with bacteria (because of eqpisq cells also appearing).

Basically, I would recommend contacting the doctor that ordered these tests and asking for his/her opinion on the results and if you should come back in for some repeat testing before you see your rheumy again (& ask if there is any reason to be concerned at this point. A lot will depend on any symptoms you're having at the moment too I would imagine.

Good luck!

[Clare.T]

Hello Janice

Your appointment is 6 weeks away and by that time these results might be quite different. Results can fluctuate daily depending what else happens to be going on - passing infections for example might bring abnormalities in white blood cells, or stress, or sometimes lupus

It's up to the doctor to determine what blood tests might mean because that depends on other signs and symptoms. What we can do to understand them is limited in many cases

Protein in the urine from time to time isn't anything to worry about and can have several causes. I agree with Maia about calling your doctor to let him know but I also suggest not getting blood test results before seeing the doctor because any abnormalities tend to lead to worry.

It's interesting that your ANA is normal now after being so high

:)

Clare

[2X'sNana]

Thanks Clare and Maia for your replies.

Do the levels that were marked high mean it has something to do with the white blood cells? I get so confused with all this stuff. I do like to try to understand it though. It threw me this time because I have never seen results using MO%, EO%, BA% NE#, LY#, etc. I have been trying to figure out what those stand for. Does MO stand for monocyte? LY for lymphocyte?

I think you are right about infections Clare. I had the flu a few weeks before I had the blood work done. I have been dragging ever since and still get so exhausted. I assume/hope that is the cause for the "flags".

My ana has always been 1280 and hasn't ever gone down to my knowledge but he hasn't run the ana for a long time. Sorry I made it sound as though it was high and is now normal. He hasn't run the ana for about a year or so. that is way I said it was 1280. Sorry I wasn't clear on that. :blush:

My rheumy has seen my blood results and hasn't called me in for more tests which is a good thing. He is a good dr. and keeps a close watch on things so as long as I don't get a phone call from his office I will assume he isn't worried about things.

I have one more question. CO2 stands for carbon dioxide. Mine came back high for CO2. What would cause that to flag high? I know this sounds really dumb but I am going to ask it anyway...can carbon dioxide like people get in their homes that make them sick cause that? I have never seen this in blood work before??? Sorry to sound so dumb. :blush:

You both have helped ease my worries.
Thank you again,
Janice

[Marmalade]

Information here about the CO2 test. It's to do with electrolyte balance mostly and not to do with anything in the home.

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/co2/test.html

[Clare.T]

Hello Janice

I am sorry I misunderstood your question. I quite agree that it's very useful to know what is being tested and a general idea of what the results might mean and also what your own results usually are, as part of being an informed patient and working in partnership with the doctor.

About 15 years ago I made a sort of spreadsheet from the results of the previous 15 years blood test results as part of my endeavour to understand better and easily compare. That was pre online era of course so what I could find out about them was very limited indeed. I didn't have a clue what some of them meant, such as anti ds DNA.

I put the names of the tests down the left hand side then had dated columns for the results and a place to make notes of information about any abnormalities at any time, if I had knew what the reason might be. It was so much easier than riffling through 30 or 40 sheets of results to compare them.
When I finally had information sources I was very interested to see that I once had high levels of ds DNA. Nowadays I would have a fit if that turned up because I know that it might mean greater systemic involvement, a not very good new development.

When finally I found out what the anti -Ro antibodies were all about, I went back to my spread sheet and saw I had had high levels each time they had been tested but I hadn't had a clue what their significance might be, it was all mumbo jumbo to me and I supposed if it mattered the doc of the time would have said something. He was an excellent and caring doctor.
I am sure he knew what they were but to him it wasn't all that relevant as it didn't make any difference to my treatment I suppose.
(I had been diagnosed many years before, only not quite correctly) As it turned out, they are very important to my accurate diagnosis and disease features.

About the ANA - it is very common not to test it routinely after diagnosis because it isn't regarded as an indication of disease activity or necessarily good response to treatment

CMP:
CO2 "high" .......

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/co2/test.html

AUTO DIFF:
MO% 15.1 "high" (normal range 3.0-10.0)
LY# 2.43 "high" (normal range 1.20-2.00)
MO# 1.23 "high" (normal range 0.20-0.80)

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cbc/test.html

See also

http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/lab_test.html

Urinalysis:
Protein -Trace Positive
LEUK -Trace

Urine Micro:
WBC 0-3
RBC Negative
EPISQ 0-3
BACTI - Trace
http://www.fpnotebook.com/URO147.htm

I'm glad your doc has seen them and isn't worried. Perhaps you'll have retests before your appointment even sooner, to see if there are still signs of urinary infection.

:)
All the best
Clare

[2X'sNana]

Clare and Marmalade,

Thank you so much for your help. It was very helpful.

Clare, thank you so much for all of those sites you passed along. They were very helpful.

Thank you again,
Janice