O/T but need some help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
O/T but need some help!
5
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 4:45pm

There are plenty of you out there who know a lot.  So I am posting my test results hoping someone can point me in the right direction.


RBC 5.52 (4.0 - 5.1)


HgB 15.2 (12.1 14.9)


HCT 45.3 ( 37.0 - 44.0)


MCV 82.1  (82.3 - 93.2)


Lymph 24 (28-42)


MONO 12 (4 -8.5)


ALK PHOS 154 (30 -115)


I know these aren't dangerously high or anything.   I was just curious.  From what I read if those values were low it would indicate anemia.  If they are high it's called hemochromatosis.   I am not saying I have it, but I read it could elevate liver enzymes.   I dont think I ate the day they took my blood. But I did have a cold.  I know the doc there looked at my total t4 and said my thyroid was normal, but it wasn't. It was close. I guess "close enough".    OK- let me know if you find anything.  THanks so much everyone!! If you know of a board around here who deals with this let me know. I did a search and only found library stuff.



April

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2004
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 5:33pm
Hi April - just wondering what your doctor felt about this blood work? Didn't you just have a thyroidectomy? I think I posted back and forth with you alittle last week. I was to my surgeon today and I am having one in about 3 weeks. MaryAnn
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 5:50pm

Hey there!


I got these blood tests taken the week before surgery.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2004
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 4:00pm
Persistant elevated liver enzymes can be an indication of hemochromatosis. There are other things that can raise the liver enzymes, too including chronic infections and "fatty" liver. If you want to rule out the hemochromatosis, ask for serum iron, TIBC (total iron binding capacity), and serum ferritin. Danger zone: % saturation greater than > 40% and/or ferritin greater than > 150 ng/mL. Most doctors still seem to think that hemochromatosis is a disease of older white men. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorders. My husband was diagnosed in 1999. He has persistant health problems that could have been avoided if a doctor would have paid attention to the labs (his ferritin level was over 1000 at the time of diagnosis).
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 5:03pm

hmmm...can I just to my regular doc and say - can you check my iron levels? I have a feeling if I say I think I have....they will just block me out and say you are fine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2004
Fri, 02-04-2005 - 1:40pm

Sorry, it has taken me so long to get back to you. I've been on a deadline crunch at work for the past 2 weeks and have been offline during that time. You can check out the American Hemochromatosis website and www.americanhs.org.

Do not simply ask your doctor to test you for iron overload/hereditary hemochromatosis, but rather ask for these blood tests by name: serum iron,TIBC (total iron binding capacity), and serum ferritin (blood taken in doctor's office from your arm not your finger.) Remember hematocrit (hct )and hemoglobin (hgb) are not tests to confirm HH.

Here is an easy way to get direct testing without a prescription and results sent directly to the patient only. Call Healthcheck USA www.healthcheckusa.com toll free at 1-800-929-2044 for a testing lab near you. Blood testing for a complete iron profile, which includes, serum iron, TIBC and serum ferritin and "do it yourself" genetic test kits that you use at home are available (no blood, no needles, no pain).

Chris