Understanding blood results

[MrsWorried]

Looking for a wee bit of help please! For the first time ever I have a copy of hubby's blood test results and I want to know what I should be looking for? Can see the normal ranges and his results, but which are the key ones? I know he's not well and GP wanted to admit him - he refused - but just how unwell is he?Thanks very much x

[AyrshireK]

Usually if you get a print out of results it will give the result and alongside any out if range ones may have a * or be marked LO/LOW or HI/High and the range your lab is working to i.e. ALT 103* HI (7 - 40 u/l).

As regards which bloods may be causing concern it would be any that are way high or very low.

Katie

[MrsWorried in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks Katie x

[kensimmons in reply to MrsWorried]

Katie is right of course, but 1 percent of the time they don't show the range for reasons I do not know.

In that case you can look up the range of blood test results on google. For example go and google "ALT Normal Range Male 65 Years Old" and it will tell you. It's best you do that instead of me or anyone else linking to one site or one hospital because they all differ (one will say normal ALT is 10-40 and another will say 15-45) so googling gives you the range. They differ because different hospitals use different chemicals for the test and for a range of other reasons. They are all more or less about the same, though.

You will probably also be interested in the British Liver Trust pdf file about what exactly Liver Test results and what they can tell you. Good luck and take care!

britishlivertrust.org.uk/wp...

[MrsWorried in reply to kensimmons]

Thank you Ken x

[Roy1955]

Any of concern might be in bolder (darker) print.

[MrsWorried in reply to Roy1955]

Yes, noticed that, thanks Roy

[Readlots]

Hi, as Ken says, you can Google the results. I find the PBC Foundations ‘know your numbers’ section helpful. Even if your husbands liver condition isn’t PBC and he’s not new to liver disease, it gives you the key results to look at for liver health. pbcfoundation.org.uk/newly-.... But as Katie says, speak to a doctor or liver nurse, or the BLT helpline to understand them fully. It can be quite scary so make sure you’ve got support and don’t go looking if you’re having a wobble yourself

[MrsWorried in reply to Readlots]

That's great information, thanks very much x

[redpoint72 in reply to MrsWorried]

Morning love. Best advice I can give is ask your gp, liver nurse, or consultant to discuss them with you. It's ok getting results, but unless you can interpret them correctly, it just creates more worry and mither. I get my liver nurse or gp to discuss mine with me in layman's terms!!!. Consultant is always to busy!!!. Take care love.chris

[MrsWorried in reply to redpoint72]

Thanks xx

[Kristian]

Hi Mrs Worried,

Usually with the blood tests they are looking to see how things are changing over time and also for any significant differences from previous results. So the actual numbers may be a bit person specific, especially if they have been out of range for some time.

I actually think the important phrase in your post is the "gp wanted to admit him". Rather than the specific numbers I'd suggest this may give you a better indication of how unwell he may currently be. I don't know about anyone else's experience but, in my experience, it would be rare to be given that advice. For me, when they did, it was absolutely necessary.

I'm not trying to overly worry you in saying that. But, it may be that some treatment is needed that could help reduce the risk of things becoming much more complicated later. So if that was recommended to me, I'd already be there.

Hope thats helpful and i wish you both well.

[MrsWorried in reply to Kristian]

Thanks Kristian, yes that is the crux of it but he refused point blank. So in a way test results are less important if he's going to refuse care.We suffer from a continual stream of locum GPs and following his hospital stay 4 weeks ago he is in the list waiting for outpatient appt with a different consultant. So right now he doesn't have a main point of contact.

However the GP we saw this week who took the bloods has told addictions nurse that we might soon be moving to end of life care. I'm trying to process this, and practically work out how to move furniture to allow a hospital bed in tbe sitting room as he's struggling badly with stairs.

District nurses and OT are to call to assess the situation. Meantime life goes on in a parallel universe!

Sorry for rant.....x

[Kristian in reply to MrsWorried]

No worries for the rant. Its understandable. Good luck to you both.

[MrsWorried in reply to Kristian]

Xxx

[lonmallin50]

My doctor looks at them all if you go online they will show the normal rates for them all I know bilirubin is when your bile is not getting cleaned which sends you yellow

[Cornwallgal]

Good luck, Mrs Worried. X