blood test results

[CC66]

Mornin folks 

I have had my 2nd fortnightly blood tests after starting Leflunomide and have been given the results from my 1st test. me being the kind of guy i am, i'm very curious as to what it all means, what's high, what's normal etc.... so that i can understand each time if things are improving.
is there a good resource indicating normal levels of everything?
i know i can talk to my rheumy nurse and ask (and i will), but next appointment is 2 weeks away

Cheers

[Caroline]

Mornin folks 

I have had my 2nd fortnightly blood tests after starting Leflunomide and have been given the results from my 1st test. me being the kind of guy i am, i'm very curious as to what it all means, what's high, what's normal etc.... so that i can understand each time if things are improving.
is there a good resource indicating normal levels of everything?
i know i can talk to my rheumy nurse and ask (and i will), but next appointment is 2 weeks away

Cheers

CC66,

That is very difficult to answer. Over here in NL, even the counts between different laboratories can vary for some things they measure.
But if you ask for the results on paper, then mostly there are the "normal" values mentioned behind the measurement of your own blood.
Only a doctor can explain what is high and normal, this because sometimes values interact with each other. E.g. measurement for your kidneys can influence each other in such a way that they need a doctor experience to interpret them.

[Bill]

Hello cc,

There would be heaps on-line I should imagine. When I get sent my results they are in the form of the parameter being measured, the measurement, and then the normal range for the parameter (usually in brackets). Values outside the normal range are often highlighted in red and are usually annotated.

Hope this helps you.

[Caroline]

double bubble Bill

[jiml]

Mornin folks 

I have had my 2nd fortnightly blood tests after starting Leflunomide and have been given the results from my 1st test. me being the kind of guy i am, i'm very curious as to what it all means, what's high, what's normal etc.... so that i can understand each time if things are improving.
is there a good resource indicating normal levels of everything?
i know i can talk to my rheumy nurse and ask (and i will), but next appointment is 2 weeks away

Cheers

Hi there the best way I can help is show a set of the ones I get
I have marked the side which is the actual reading
On the other side of the page is the range your readings should fall between
So look at the first number then glance at the right of the page for comparison to normal readings





Yours may read differently and be different things that are tested for but they are likely to have a similar format

I hope that helps

[CC66]

Cheers all... feeling silly now as i see the ranges in mine now Jim has pointed them out 

[jiml]

Cheers all... feeling silly now as i see the ranges in mine now Jim has pointed them out 

No problem unless you know, the readings are confusing ...it took me a while to figure it out
Pleased it helped