DIAGNOSIS HELP

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anon - 13 Jan 2004 04:29 GMT

I am a 37 year old male who has had a lot of weird health problems
over the past 12 years and would like to take another crack at getting
it resolved.Anyone feel free to take a crack,but please this is not a
joke so try to be serious.I eat a good diet and am 5'7 and 165 lbs.I
have not been diagnosed with anything serious as of present and take 0
meds.Here are some test that I have had
done,rbc=low,sgpt=elevated(high on 2
tests),ekg=normal,catscan=normal,rhuematoid arthritis
emzyme=normal,gastric emptying=normal,bp=115/80,pulse=80.
Here are the problems I have: fatigue,weak legs,breathing is hard
after minor exertion,the skin on my face dries out and flakes around
my upper lip and lips crack,gum peel,mental confusion,last blood test
showed a real low rbc count(have not had it rechecked),headache if I
do hard exercize,occasionaly I can see blood on my stool/toilet
paper(I have a small hemmerhoid),my eyes are really bloodshot upon
rising in the morning,constant ringing in ears,sore throat,slow
healing after minor bruising/injury.
Here is the confusing part.If I take a strong
vitamin the problems get better.Taking a potent multivitamin in no way
resolves the problems but it is the difference between functioning at
a mediocre level with,or at a unsatisfactory level without.
Thank you for any help you can provide!

feel free to email me
tickyul@netzero.net

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JEDilworth - 13 Jan 2004 06:29 GMT

It takes a physician to order the tests you describe. What does your doc
say about these results? When you say RBC is low, that doesn't give much
information unless you include the actual hemoglobin results. Most docs
will want to evaluate further a low blood count and an elevated SGPT
(can indicate liver problems). Are you avoiding what the doc has to say?

Are you seeing an "alternative health practitioner???" There's got to be
more to this than you describe in your posting.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology (but used to do chemistry and hematology)

> I am a 37 year old male who has had a lot of weird health problems
> over the past 12 years and would like to take another crack at getting
> it resolved.

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anon - 14 Jan 2004 02:22 GMT

> It takes a physician to order the tests you describe. What does your doc
> say about these results? When you say RBC is low, that doesn't give much
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> yes a regular md ordered theses tests and I have not gotten a really clear answer on the high sgpt and low rbc count.If the doc had strong advice for me I would take it.

Are you seeing an "alternative health practitioner???" There's got to be

> more to this than you describe in your posting.
>
> No I think alternative practitioners are good for some things,but not my case.thanks for your reply.I post as much as I practically can,I have no reason to be evasive.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)

> Microbiology (but used to do chemistry and hematology)
>
> > I am a 37 year old male who has had a lot of weird health problems
> > over the past 12 years and would like to take another crack at getting
> > it resolved.

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JEDilworth - 14 Jan 2004 06:37 GMT

Diagnosis via newsgroup is asking for trouble. I am not a physician.
People that post in here are mostly laboratory technologists.

A good page to check for lab test interpretation is Dr. Ed Uthman's page
(he's a clinical pathologist that posts on one of the big lab
listservs);

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

He lists increased SGPT as follows:

"Increase of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT, formerly called
"SGPT") is seen in any condition involving necrosis of hepatocytes
[liver cells], myocardial cells [heart cells], erythrocytes [red blood
cells], or skeletal muscle cells. [See "Bilirubin, total," below]"

How is your bilirubin? Did you have one done? If you had a SGPT, you
probably did. That is also increased in liver and other conditions. The
results are split between direct and indirect bilirubin, although some
labs just screen and do a total, which includes both. Direct bilirubin
is increased in liver problems; indirect is increased in hematological
problems.

"Serum total bilirubin is increased in hepatocellular damage (infectious
hepatitis, alcoholic and other toxic hepatopathy, neoplasms), intra- and
extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, intravascular and extravascular
hemolysis [breakdown of red blood cells], physiologic neonatal jaundice,
Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert's disease, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, and
fructose intolerance."

There are many medications that can cause liver problems also (see page
for list).

Perhaps you need another doc. Elevations of SGPT and other liver enzymes
(was a GGTP ordered?) are not normal and should not be ignored. Also,
men should not have low blood counts. If your hemoglobin was low (you
had to have had one to get an RBC count) that should also be
investigated ASAP. What was your result?

If you get your blood drawn again, do NOT drink alcohol for a few days
before the test. Actually, if you have elevated liver enzymes, you
shouldn't be drinking any alcohol AT ALL. Also, if you are taking any
herbs or stuff from health food stores, be sure to report these to your
doc. Some herbal products can effect liver enzymes.

Sorry for my previous skeptical tone. I've learned, from a few years of
newsgroup postings, to be cautious in my answers.

Other techs might chime in more if you'd post actual numbers from your
lab work. It's very difficult to interpret "low" and "elevated" without
numbers AND normal ranges. Every lab has a slightly different normal
range for their liver enzymes (has to do with methodology,
instrumentation, and other things) and blood counts.

Good luck.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

> > yes a regular md ordered theses tests and I have not gotten a really clear answer on the high sgpt and low rbc count.If the

doc had strong advice for me I would take it.

> > No I think alternative practitioners are good for some things,but not my case.thanks for your reply.I post as much as I

practically can,I have no reason to be evasive.

Reply to this Message

anon - 15 Jan 2004 01:52 GMT

> Diagnosis via newsgroup is asking for trouble. I am not a physician.
> People that post in here are mostly laboratory technologists.
>
> I am just trying to get a better focus on where the doctor should look.

A good page to check for lab test interpretation is Dr. Ed Uthman's
page

> (he's a clinical pathologist that posts on one of the big lab
> listservs);
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> thanks for the interesting information.

Perhaps you need another doc. Elevations of SGPT and other liver
enzymes

> (was a GGTP ordered?) are not normal and should not be ignored. Also,
> men should not have low blood counts. If your hemoglobin was low (you
> had to have had one to get an RBC count) that should also be
> investigated ASAP. What was your result?

Yes I am going to see another doc.I think that all emzymeze where
normal except for sgpt and rbc count.I guess I will need this
rechecked to make sure.it has been a while since the last test.

If you get your blood drawn again, do NOT drink alcohol for a few days

> before the test. Actually, if you have elevated liver enzymes, you
> shouldn't be drinking any alcohol AT ALL. Also, if you are taking any
> herbs or stuff from health food stores, be sure to report these to your
> doc. Some herbal products can effect liver enzymes.

thanks I rarely drink and wont before the test.Also I take only
a daily multivitamin and thats it.

> Sorry for my previous skeptical tone. I've learned, from a few years of
> newsgroup postings, to be cautious in my answers.

I am used to it,there is a lot of weirdos on the net.It gets
kind of hard never getting serious replies when you make a real
post,oh well.

> Other techs might chime in more if you'd post actual numbers from your
> lab work. It's very difficult to interpret "low" and "elevated" without
> numbers AND normal ranges. Every lab has a slightly different normal
> range for their liver enzymes (has to do with methodology,
> instrumentation, and other things) and blood counts.

I will post more numbers when I get to the doc and he does
tests,thanks for the information!!!

> Good luck.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> things,but not my case.thanks for your reply.I post as much as I
> practically can,I have no reason to be evasive.

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nyc grrrrl - 18 Jan 2004 03:05 GMT

> I am just trying to get a better focus on where the doctor should look.

Years ago I had a mind-boggling array of symptoms and had every test from
Thyroid scans to Brain MRI to tilt table testing and everything else in
between. I was even evaluated by a major research hospital for inclusion in a
Chronic Fatigue Study.

Well after many years I found an ENT (now retired) who finally diagnosed severe
sinus disease. After surgery all the strange symptoms ceased.

Just something for you to think about.

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kuhnfucius - 20 Jan 2004 06:35 GMT

Sinus and ocular migraines can be difficult.

Signature

Detective Tom Polhaus: " Heavy. What
is it?"
Sam Spade: "The, uh, stuff that dreams
are made of."

> > I am just trying to get a better focus on where the doctor should look.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Just something for you to think about.

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volantus4 - 09 Feb 2004 23:29 GMT

I am not a physician. I suggest that you contact a physician about
this matter.
However, the data strongly suggests that you have an alanine
metabolism problem which may be associated with a myriad of metabolic
and physical disorders.
I would suggest that you ascertain if you are diabetic as some of your
symptoms and signs are indicative of diabetes mellitus. You can
purchase the materials necessary for self diagnosis with regard to the
same at your local drug store.
This is just a suggestion. Again. I am not a physician. Please contact
a physician with regard to this matter.

Mr. C.V. Compton Shaw,R.N., CLA, BS Biochemistry

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