Lab ??s I know you arent drs but Im CONFUSED

[TanyaFromTexas]

I tried to compare my stuff from what yall have posted, I did a search for labs.

The paper i have in front of me isnt the same. my ana direct is 7 but it says the reference range is 0-99

my cpr inflamatory is <4.0 and the ref range is 0-5.0

my free t4 is 1.23 and the ref is .085-1.72

my ra factor is <10.0   and ref is 0-14

my sed rate is 5 ref is 0-20

TSH (no clue what that is 1.87 ref is 0.35-5.50

my ccp antibidies IgG/Iga is 2 and ref range is 0-19

Theres some other stuff but Im not sure what of thats important./ The dr had to move myt apt to next week so they went ahead and faxed me the results. From what I see yall posting there are different numbers and I dont have a clue what any of mine mean, I tried to google and got a headache.

[irish]

If I am reading this correctly it looks like all your tests are in the normal range. You have to make sure that you keep the decimal point in the correct place when you check them.

Example, the ANA is 7 and the reference range is 0-99. This means that your Ana is 7 which is very low. The normal or reference range is zero through 99.

The crp is under 4.0 and the normal or reference range is between zero and 5.0. The "under 4" is well within normal range.

The t4 is 1.23 which is over .085 and under 1.72 so it is normal. The ra factor is below 10.0 and the normal or reference range is between 0 and 14.  Sed rate is 5 which is low normal in the reference range of 0-20.

I think that you must get the idea by now. The decimal point is very important in lab tests. Most tests use it and can have a couple numbers before the decimal and a couple numbers after the decimal. Example TSH 12.86 lab value and the reference range of 0.35-5.50. This would mean that the 12.86 (which is a very possible reading by the way) is above normal. I won't go into what the TSH means when it is not normal as it is one of those crazy tests that is hard to explain what is high and what is low. Soooo, just a sample of how the decimal is used or shows up in reading lab values.

Simple but hope it helps. Irish

[aussie mum]

Hi Tanya,

I'm not an expert... but the TSH is one of the general Thyroid tests. It measures the amount of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone released from your Pituitary Gland.

If the result is too low - your thyroid could be overactive.
If the result is too high - your thyroid could be underactive.

Your result seems to be within the normal range.

This website has a good explanation - http://www.labtestsonline.org.au/understanding/analytes/tsh/test.html

Hope all goes well at the Dr next week.

Aussie Mum

[TanyaFromTexas]

thanks! so If everything is in normal range does that mean they arent going to realize how freaking miserable I am??

no one can deny my eyes are just CRAP for lack of a better word.

Is she going to say sorry I cant help you... bye?

I know you cant predict... but I dont see how everything is pretty normal when I feel like I have the flu and hurt every single day.

T

THANKS!!

[tomsmom]

Tanya,
Looks like Irish has done a great job explaining the lab work. As for doctors discounting your symptoms because your bloodwork looks normal-- it's possible, depending upon your doctor.  No doctor should ever do that though.  Symptoms should be addressed.  If you've recently been on a steroid or you're on Plaquenil, that can make your disease activity less apparent in your blood.  Hopefully your doctor knows you well enough by now to not solely rely on bloodwork.
Last time I had bloodwork done I could barely stand up, I was so achy and weak.  Turned out my bloodwork looked great.  Go figure. LOL  But my rheumy is familiar enough with me not to just treat based upon labs.
I hope all goes well at your next appointment.

[TanyaFromTexas]

So have any of you had good blood work but feel like crap all the time? is that common???

[echofuzz]

hi, Tanya.

i had normal results for a couple years but was pretty sick. i went from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, being told that i was perfectly healthy. and yet i hurt all the time and was exhausted. it took quite a while for me to have any abnormal blood test results. and i know some folks never end up having any abnormalities show up.

as it is, the "only" abnormal results i have now are ANA, one of the SJS antibodies, and a "very low" RF. oh, and last time i had an elevated CRP (i think).

hopefully your doctor is a good one and listens to YOU and not just the test results. i wish you luck with it!

take care,
eileen

[Prairie Gal]

Tanya, my blood tests are in the 'normal' range but I'm fortunate because my rheumy, as he told me, was "taught to treat the patient, not the lab tests."   I hope your dr. is of the same mind so you get some help.

I've taken Plaquenil for 9 years now; it has helped me a lot.

[Nathan]

If there are any specific labs you would like explaining, feel free to ask away. I'm sure one of us will know the answer.
On a side note, I am a bit dubious over the "new" ana direct test... I'm not entirely sure I trust it yet.

[Carolina]

Tanya, my blood work is always normal.

I clearly have stuff going on.

Dry eye, dry mouth.

Interstitial cystitis, which is a bladder inflammation.

Numb feet, tingling legs.

Sweating, dizziness.

You name it, I have it.

But ALWAYS sero negative.  (negative blood work)  (until one day it is positive, but I won't live that long).

sooooo

I don't count officially.

Who cares.

Kisses

Elaine

[irish]

I would venture to guess that most of the people on this board have gone to the doc feeling really ill (but you look so good) and come home with normal blood work. The one problem that I see is that many times the docs don't do the right blood work.

If a person went to an immunologist or hematologist they might have more blood work done to check issues pretaining to the autoimmune stuff. So many times the ANA is done and that is all. It is an important test, but there are other tests that can provide some input into our health status. My GP is very good, but he has no clue about autoimmune and immune system issues and admits it.

Do not get discouraged if blood work isn't positive. It took me many years to have any positive blood work and now it seems that all of it is turning positive and some of it wasn't checked until I saw the immunologist. The main thing is to find a doc who will treat your symptoms. Keep the faith cause you need to be persistant. Irish. 

[Suzie]

Hang in there, Tanya.

I'm right there with you on the negative for everything merry-go-round. My eyes are burning today and I can't eat because of my reflux, my stomach and guts hurt, my legs are like lead, and I'm aching all over. This is after 7 weeks of feeling pretty good. But still, my blood work is perfect, so I'm not really sick am I? Yay me! 

I pushed and pushed to see a really good rheumatologist. He gave me Plaquenil based on my symptoms to try. It made me really sick so that was a bust.

But it did make me look beyond rheumatology and autoimmunity for answers. And I found that I have pretty much all of the symptoms of Small (nerve) Fibre Neuropathy. You do too, Carolina! Hasn't any doc mentioned this to you, or tested you for it, Carolina? It leaps off the page.

So many of us feel like total crap, while "looking good" both on paper and in person. It's not "all in your head". You're suffering and need and deserve help. The trick is knowing where to find it.

We're all here rooting for you,

Suzie