Hi Glenn:

I just emailed you with the complete blood work. What I am going to post on this thread are the results that kicked out in the abnormal range.

So if anyone has a clue what is going on in this guy's body, I'd welcome any comments. His feet are killing him. He didn't have an emg test yet. But he just got some new blood work done. Here are the ones that kicked in the abnormal range.

Oh, my friend wrote me the following about his blood tests:

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A-- looks like this is NOT in any way related to rheumatologic condition. I had specialist run tests especially for lupus and sjogren's syndrome - previously very specific test was negative for straight rheumatoid arthritis.
B-- testing out of range in many other categories related to general complete blood count and urine test. you can see the asterisk and comments in bold print. do not want to worry too much. MAIN CONCERNS are the way out of line 1-WBC and 2-RBC in urine. in blood the results not that out of line.
C-- Also- 3- calcium level concerns me as out of range and it can explain bone pain in the feet. my research shows high calcium is a parathyroid problem. one of your friends commented on getting my calcium re checked.


Doctors assistant called and just said to take Vitamin D and come back in 2 weeks for new urine test. says new blood test not needed.


Complement C4, Serum - 38 Range: 9-36 - mg/dL Adult Flag: H

**RBC - 11-30 Range: 0 - 3 - /hpf Flag: A- I THINK BIG ISSUE- WAY OFF- NO SYMPTOMS OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION FOR ME.

**WBC - >30 Range: 0 - 5 - /hpf Flag: A- I THINK BIG ISSUE AS TESTED MORE THAN 6X NORMAL BUT NO SYMPTOMS OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION-

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy - 17.2 Range: 30.0-100.0 - ng/mL Flag: L- 6 MONTHS AGO WAS ONLY 8.5 SO NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

WBC - 10.0 Range: 3.4-10.8 - x10E3/uL- NORMAL BUT GETTING HIGHER. 6 MONTHS AGO ONLY 8.8

RBC - 5.87 Range: 4.14-5.80 - x10E6/uL Flag: H- 6 MONTHS AGO WAS 5.7 SO WENT UP

Neutrophils - 76 Range: 40-74 - % Flag: H- SLIGHTLY HIGH BUT ONLY 68 JUST SIX MONTHS AGO

Neutrophils (Absolute) - 7.7 Range: 1.4-7.0 - x10E3/uL Flag: H- slightly high BUT ONLY 5.8 SIX MONTHS AGO

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Thanks to anyone who has any idea.

Melody

--there are a lot of things which could be causing these abnormalities--autoimmune inflammation or an infection among them--but it would also be prudent for further blood testing to be done along the lines of a peripheral blood smear to examine and type the neutrophils, in particular, because, unfortunately, these type of abnormalities can also be seen in certain types of malignancies. It would be good for these to be ruled out, if they can be (especially as neuropathy is a known accompaniment to several types of blood cancers).

(Anyone else who wants to chime in, feel free. I admit to being somewhat uncomfortable bringing this up, as I do not know the person who Melody is communicating with; it's not someone we're familiar with on the boards her that we could private message. But I do feel it would be irresponsible of me not to bring this possibility up for him to get checked out--I had personal experience, years ago, with a tutoring student who had bruises on her legs that she claimed to be just due to hard soccer games but which I suspected might warrant further investigation, but I did not say anything at the time--turned out she was diagnosed with leukemia down the road, and I'll live with that for the rest of my life. It has made me a lot more paranoid, and maybe I jump the gun too much with suggesting further testing, but I feel better safe than sorry.)

I agree with Glenn....

Elevated complement C4 is associated with cancers, and colitis.

Could be anything causing the other elevations from infections to kidney disease.

In the meantime, stopping drinking would be a good idea too.

This fellow will need more doctoring IMO.

edit to add -- the RA test is not very accurate. And neither is the ANA for lupus. ANA will not change for most people with a drug induced lupus either. Many people with lupus test at times with normal ANA's. And I know some who had positive ANAs after a pregnancy which normalized in a few months. So one cannot rely 100% on either test, when only done one time.

To Glenn and Mrs. D

Your information is invaluable. However, these things I CANNOT WRITE because this is a family member (through marriage) who suffers from extremem anxiety right now. And I mean Extreme. His feet hurt. That's all he cares about. He looked up all things neuropathy (never dreaming it might actually be caused by a cancerous tumor somewhere in his body or possibly something else) and we don't know this for sure right? But SOMETHING is going on.

As his doctor told him to come back in two weeks for more urine tests and told him he doesn't need more blood work, how the heck do I over ride that.

He did come to me for info because he knows I know people who are very well versed in medical terms and neuropathy etc. I know for a fact, he is NOT prepared to hear this.

So how do I write to him and prepare him to ask his doctors to go for the tests that were specified in Glenn's posting.

I need to word it so that it doesn't make his blood pressure go sky high, he doesn't have a panic attack, etc.

I'm thinking I can write.

David: Some of your readings are rather high and that gives them cause for concern. They indicate that you might want to get the following tests done.
(then I can mention the tests that Glenn indicated in his post) to rule out autoimmune inflammation or infection, etc. . I can do this without mentioning cancer, etc. Just that further testing in these areas would be prudent.

Then I can write what Mrs. D wrote about her RA tests.

I just want to word this so he doesn't drop on the floor saying 'OMG, I'm dying".

you see what I'm up against?

Thanks guys

Melody

Don't do anything Mel.... he is an adult and can look stuff up himself.

Sometimes it is best to not do anything and let the patient do
what he needs to.

The bottom line is that he needs more doctoring...and testing, etc.
Have him do that.

My sister in law just phoned me. I ran the whole thing by her. She told me to email him just saying that there were (as he knew) some test results that kicked out abnormal and that he should go for further testing. She said I should mention the tests that Glenn suggested. So I said 'no problem.

So that's what I'll do. it's up to him whether he pursues this or not.

And I thank all of you very very much

Love , Melody