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What Do These Blood Reports Indicate?
Question: I've been to my PCP numerous times and he just blows off my lab results. He put me on iron supplements for low iron. That has improved but my Mchc is low and rdw is high. This has been the case for better than 8 months. I went to the ER in April due to sores on face and head. I was diagnosed with Shingles on my right side of face and head. The ER did labs and said my Labs indicate stage 3 kidney disease. I went to my PCP and he said there was no worry of CKD. Total cholesterol was 220 in May and 211 in July.
I have constant pains in my head (not headaches), behind my right eye, etc. I feel off balance at times, dizzy, and at times it takes longer to fully focus than previously. I don't have as much stamina, etc.
Please help me.
I have constant pains in my head (not headaches), behind my right eye, etc. I feel off balance at times, dizzy, and at times it takes longer to fully focus than previously. I don't have as much stamina, etc.
Please help me.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend following steps
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam. I did review your concern.
Your blood reports indicate a normal hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as normal wbc differential count and normal platelet count.
The MCV as you said is normal but the RDW and MCHC are a bit off. These changes are signs of either early iron deficiency anemia or vice versa recovering iron deficiency anemia as they are very sensitive parameters and become normal the last with iron treatment.
You also have stage 3 kidney disease which can complicate interpretation a little bit as it can cause anemia due to low erythropoeitin. But thankfully your hemoglobin is better.
I would recommend a ferritin, TIBC and transferrin receptor analysis in case your MCHC and RDW do not normalize by next month or your hemoglobin lowers after a blood count repeated next month.
As far as headaches behind right eye are considered, with loss of balance, I would consider investigating them further if the headaches persist. The common causes of headache are high blood pressure, migraine and CNS problems, for which blood pressure monitoring is the best initial test to be done. If the headaches are persistent with severe dizziness I would recommend vitamin B12 levels and a CT/MRI of brain.
So your blood report does not need to be worrisome now but rather focus should be on treating your headache and dizziness problems.
I hope this helps.
wish you all the best
let me know if you have any questions or concerns
sincerely
dr parth desai.
I would recommend following steps
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam. I did review your concern.
Your blood reports indicate a normal hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as normal wbc differential count and normal platelet count.
The MCV as you said is normal but the RDW and MCHC are a bit off. These changes are signs of either early iron deficiency anemia or vice versa recovering iron deficiency anemia as they are very sensitive parameters and become normal the last with iron treatment.
You also have stage 3 kidney disease which can complicate interpretation a little bit as it can cause anemia due to low erythropoeitin. But thankfully your hemoglobin is better.
I would recommend a ferritin, TIBC and transferrin receptor analysis in case your MCHC and RDW do not normalize by next month or your hemoglobin lowers after a blood count repeated next month.
As far as headaches behind right eye are considered, with loss of balance, I would consider investigating them further if the headaches persist. The common causes of headache are high blood pressure, migraine and CNS problems, for which blood pressure monitoring is the best initial test to be done. If the headaches are persistent with severe dizziness I would recommend vitamin B12 levels and a CT/MRI of brain.
So your blood report does not need to be worrisome now but rather focus should be on treating your headache and dizziness problems.
I hope this helps.
wish you all the best
let me know if you have any questions or concerns
sincerely
dr parth desai.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Am on iron supplements. I was told that my blood work indicates possibly having CKD but my primary care physician said absolutely not. I had a normal colonoscopy a month ago. I had a uterine ablation in 2010 so do not lose blood through menstruation. My B12 was good on blood tests as well.
My blood tests have shown high RDW and MCHC for over 8 months.
could my blood test results show cause for the dizziness, brain fog, etc. ?
My blood tests have shown high RDW and MCHC for over 8 months.
could my blood test results show cause for the dizziness, brain fog, etc. ?
Brief Answer:
A normal blood result rules our blood problems as cause of brain fog,dizzy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam,
Thank you for your reply query.
The blood result can indirectly show reasons for dizziness, but we need to better investigations then that to ensure the cause of your dizziness.
Once the blood work is near normal as in your case- The best approach would be to monitor your blood pressure in sitting and standing state to find out any orthostatic change, to do certain manuvers like dix-hallpike test to see if your inner ear is causing you the dizzy feeling and then a CT scan or an MRI scan to rule any CNS problem inside the skull.
mOre commonly it is blood pressure problems that cause headache and dizziness.
Regarding your RDW and MCHC, if they are elevated for 8 months I would recommend a peripheral blood smear examination to see the red cell morphology. Basically these computer indicators are to detect red cell shape and size and hemoglobin content. Since your hemoglobin level is normal, there is nothing much to worry about right now, and it can just be a normal variant change in RDW. however you can consult a hematopathologist to have a look at your peripheral blood just for accurate documentation.
About the CKD, your last creatinine and Blood urea nitrogen levels would help determine the problem.
So all in all, our primary aim should be to accurately find out what is causing you this dizziness/brain fog with headache as you mentioned which can be done by postural blood pressure monitoring, certain inner ear test and imaging studies of head at last. Proper treatment then according to the cause found out will provide you adequate relief.
I hope this helps.
wish you all the best mam.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns.
thank you for choosing health care magic.
Sincerely
Dr Parth Desai.
A normal blood result rules our blood problems as cause of brain fog,dizzy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam,
Thank you for your reply query.
The blood result can indirectly show reasons for dizziness, but we need to better investigations then that to ensure the cause of your dizziness.
Once the blood work is near normal as in your case- The best approach would be to monitor your blood pressure in sitting and standing state to find out any orthostatic change, to do certain manuvers like dix-hallpike test to see if your inner ear is causing you the dizzy feeling and then a CT scan or an MRI scan to rule any CNS problem inside the skull.
mOre commonly it is blood pressure problems that cause headache and dizziness.
Regarding your RDW and MCHC, if they are elevated for 8 months I would recommend a peripheral blood smear examination to see the red cell morphology. Basically these computer indicators are to detect red cell shape and size and hemoglobin content. Since your hemoglobin level is normal, there is nothing much to worry about right now, and it can just be a normal variant change in RDW. however you can consult a hematopathologist to have a look at your peripheral blood just for accurate documentation.
About the CKD, your last creatinine and Blood urea nitrogen levels would help determine the problem.
So all in all, our primary aim should be to accurately find out what is causing you this dizziness/brain fog with headache as you mentioned which can be done by postural blood pressure monitoring, certain inner ear test and imaging studies of head at last. Proper treatment then according to the cause found out will provide you adequate relief.
I hope this helps.
wish you all the best mam.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns.
thank you for choosing health care magic.
Sincerely
Dr Parth Desai.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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