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doctors visit

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margaret22251
margaret22251

I have been to my doctor today for a check up, got a copy of blood results but double dutch to me, can anybody help please.

I could not have wished for a better doctor, she understoodpolymyalgia, and gian t cell arteritis, she disscuessed this with me as for a week i have had slight pains in my head, all day today, checked my ears and throat and my temple as the pain has been there, she was great.

My vit d was very low so eight weeks of tablets to take, i had to go to the nurse for my bloods doing again, and she will get in touch if need too.

She wants to see me agin in 2 weeks, and if any problems in the mean time i have to go see her.

She thought the weight loss was due to my loss of apetite, but keeping a check on that.

She asked if i had reduced but i told her no, as the pain is still in my neck and she said good, do it as you see fit, i was surprissed as i was armed with papers, but she went through them one by one with me.

1 like, 34 replies

34 Replies

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  • EileenH
    EileenH margaret22251

    Posted

    If you tell me the results I'll try to interpret them for you - but I need the figure, the test and the normal range they quote.

    This sounds like a gem - hang on to her!!!

    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 EileenH

      Posted

      they have done full blood count,urea and electrolytes,erythrococyte sedimentation rate,serum amylase level, serum c reactive protein level, here goes hope i do it right.

      lymphocyte count(42m) below range 1.18 10*9/L (1.5-4.0)

      Neutropphil count (42J) above range range 7.58 10*9/L (2.0-7.5)

      are these the right ones

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey margaret22251

      Posted

      Margaret, they look reasonably normal.  What figures are given for your ESR (Erithrocyte Sedimentation Rate) and your CRP (C-Reactive Protein) levels?
    • EileenH
      EileenH margaret22251

      Posted

      Pred and PMR change your white cell counts - PMR increases the neutrophils but yoursios barely above the range. I think pred reduces lymphocytes - again this isn't dramatically below range. Full blood count is to check for a lot of things but this isn't showing leukaemia or other nasty things. Don't worry!
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy margaret22251

      Posted

      Margaret the numbers in brackets eg lymphocyte count (1.5-4.0) are the average that you would expect people to have so if you are in that range or around the edge things should be OK, you have 1.18 for lymphocyte count. They have actually printed for you BELOW RANGE which is nice. I just get an asterisk if outside the range. The figures you should be looking for are Enthrocite Sedementation Rate - ESR and C- reactive protein levels - CRP which you mention.
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate 5mm/h (1.0-14.0)

      Serum C reactive protiens level  5mg/L(<9.0)

      thank you  thank="">

      thank you >

    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 ptolemy

      Posted

      is this my lympnode, as she mentioned this when i told her i had pain in my neck 
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey margaret22251

      Posted

      Well, those two results (ESR and CRP) are excellent, especially if you are someone whose blood test results at diagnosis showed raised ESR and CRP markers of inflammation.  A good sign, along with your symptoms, that the steroids are doing a good job of controlling your inflammation.  So whatever you're doing, keep doing it!winksmile
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy margaret22251

      Posted

      Lymphocytes are to do with white blood cells and are responsible for immune response. 
  • Mrs.Mac-Canada
    Mrs.Mac-Canada margaret22251

    Posted

    Hi Margaret,

    I'm so happy for you that you have found a knowledgable, caring Dr.  They are worth their weight in gold.  Now you can relax a bit with the peace of mind knowing that you have her to rely on to help you when you need it.

    Have a lovely day💐

    Diana🌸

    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 Mrs.Mac-Canada

      Posted

      Thank you Diana yes she was lovely, and hopefully she will stay like this,i did feel unhappy about going armed with the paper work, but she only questioned why did i ask about the  vitimins etc, and i said i was on this site, she said oh thats good for you, then at the bottom it said asked for bloods and she just said the recepitionist will get you them, i could talk about John a little to her as well, you all have been very kind to this newbie, and through this i am trying not to panic at the least little thing, she wants me to go on SSRI antidepressants but i dont want to, have you any thoughts on this please.biggrin

       

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy margaret22251

    Posted

    Margaret, did you get a printout of your blood test results? I find this really useful, just ask the surgery receptionist. Once you get used to the figures you can then check how things are going. I have heard that around fifty per cent of the UK population are vit D deficient. What was your reading? Mine was 26, it has now gone up with supplements.
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 ptolemy

      Posted

      Its not on this blood test, i think it was on the last obe, sorry to be thick, but what am i looking for
    • janet08828
      janet08828 margaret22251

      Posted

          Margaret don't put yourself down - it really is hard to find your way round this jungle that we seem to have landed in!

      I always look at ESR and CPR as they are the only two that I can make sense of really - I think that they are two that give that give the best picture of how you are doing.

      Your new doc. sounds great!

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey janet08828

      Posted

      Well yes, Janet, CPR would, I guess, "give the best picture of how you are doing".....or not as the case may be.  Love it, and it gave me my first giggle of the day!lol
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy margaret22251

      Posted

      I was just talking about any blood test results. As others have said ESR (usually should be below 20 but as you get older it could be a bit higher, mine started at 127) and CRP (should be around 0-5, mine started at 123!) these are the two tests people usually have for checking inflamation levels for PMR, although I have had several other tests off and on too, but always ESR and CRP. I think I have had fourteen so far, so a big envelope of test results. 
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 ptolemy

      Posted

      Hi Ptolemy, i have had another look and my vit D reading is not on this blood test, i cannot understand the other doctor not seeing this and doing anything about it, but i am going to make sure from now on that i can ask as many questions as i can without them thinking bad about me, as i know some doctors get really funny being questioned.
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy margaret22251

      Posted

      Vit D test is not taken regularly like ESR and CRP. If low they may take it again in several months time.
    • EileenH
      EileenH margaret22251

      Posted

      There isn't a lot of point doing vit D more than every 6 months at most except if it was very low and you were given high dose vit D to bring the level up when it makes sense to know . It also has to be requested specially - by no means all hospitals are able to do it and like many specialist tests it has to be sent away. It will be highest in September and lowest in May.
    • margaret22251
      margaret22251 EileenH

      Posted

      My dose for vit D is two colecalciferol (vit d3)20000u caps a week, 
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