Wellness

[Plaid Pants2]

Today in the mail I got my lab results, but I don't know what it all means.

Sodium  -  137   mmol/L

Potassium. -  3.9  mmol/L

Chloride  -  101  mmol/L

Carbon Dioxide  -  27  mmol/L

Calcium  - 9.9  mg/dL

BUN  - 16  mg/dL

Creatinine  -  0.8  mg/dL

GFR Estimated (MDRD)  -  >60  mL/min/1.73m^2

Glucose  -  105  mg/dL

Alkaline Phosphatase  -  70  U/L

Bilirubin, Total  -  0.5  mg/dL

AST  -  17  U/L

ALT  -  21  U/L

Total Protein  -  7.7  Gm/dL

Globulin  3.2  Gm/dL

Albumin/Globulin Ratio  -  1.4  Gm/dL

What I need to work on is getting my cholesterol numbers down.

I won't share all of those numbers, but I will share my HDL number of 61, and my cholesterol/HDL ratio of 4.1

So, what do all of these things mean?

Anyone care to explain to a dummy like me?

TIA!

[piperbay]

I had lab work done in April and was given a printout with the ranges. They should have given you the ranges. For example, the fasting glucose range from my test would be 70-99 mg/dl . Call and see if you can get a printout that explains the numbers in range.

[nomless]

Ask your doctor to explain the numbers and areas of concern, if any.

[SilleeMee]

I'm a retired lab tech and I used to perform those tests in the lab. Your lab report should show you whether or not your numbers are within normal ranges and if they are not then your doctor can explain why they are not. As far as what those tests mean to your health, you can google each one and get that info. The abnormal results, if any, are the tests you may want to ask your doctor about. Metabolic panels are used to give your doctor a general and overall picture of your health. It serves as a diagnostic tool and window into your physical wellness.

[Moonchilde]

Every print-out I've ever received, or had emailed to me or obtained online has the lab's "normal" value range right next to or beneath the individual's numbers.

These "normal range" numbers do vary slightly from lab to lab, so there isn't one identical set of Normals applicable to everyone's results.

[lolakimono]

[lolakimono]

[SilleeMee]

Normal ranges may vary from lab to lab. So it's important to look at the normals you got from the lab where you got tested and not those pulled off the internet. @lolakimono

Fore example...since I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, my normal hemoglobin level would be considered high by a lab at sea level.

[lolakimono]

@SilleeMee

I understand, but on a Friday evening when someone starts a post about labs, I assume that the doctor's office and the lab are closed.  If this helps her not to worry all weekend about something that is within the normal range, I see no harm.  If it's not in the normal range, she can search other sites to see what that might mean, or just wait until Monday.  

She can probably go to her lab's site and see similar information, but since I don't know what lab that is, this is what I found.  I do think it's strange not to have the values explained with the report. 

[Bri36]

You really should be talking to your doctor about this.

Telling you that blood glucose above 100 is considered pre-diabetic should be something your doctor tells you, not someone on a shopping board.