AIBU to be concerned about these blood test results?

[strawberrieshortcake]

I understand if this may come off as me being a hypochondriac but I am a bit worried about these test results. It’s specifically because I have tried to understand what ‘cremated red blood cells’ mean and I can’t get anywhere on google. I have had a few blood test with GP after going in with extreme fatigue and dizziness/fainting as symptoms. I have been tested for vitamin deficiencies in a previous blood test a few weeks ago and was a bit low on iron and vitamin d but b12 levels are fine. (Just mentioning as I know people will ask).

I’m obviously not asking anyone for diagnosis, just wanting anyone to shed light on the complicated phrases.

My GP said she passed the results on to a haematologist a few days ago but hasn’t got back to me. Also I won’t be able to see her till January 15th in any case so I don’t want this worry eating me up while I wait.

All I can see is that your neutrophils are a bit low. In my experience (not a Dr) neuts are pesky little blighters that react to any infection or inflammation and may easily recover next time you have a blood test. Everything else looks to be in normal range.

No idea about cremated red cells.

Also in my experience if it was anything to worry about they wouldn't make you wait until January - they'd be on it immediately.

Also my doctor did call and say my iron was a bit lower than expected after starting on ferrous sulphate but I don’t see the iron levels on here?

It says 'crenated', not cremated. It describes the shape of the cell as they view it on the film. Sorry if that was just a type, figured it would help with your google search if not though!

@FuzzyPuffling the doctors office are not making me wait till January. It’s me who can’t make it there till mid January because I’m travelling. I am waiting for her to call back after she said she would get back to me after the haematologist looked at the results. Thanks though for the info about neutrophils.

I think cremated means they are not able to hold as much haemoglobin molecules or bind oxygen as well as they might. I am also not a Dr but did study a range of medical sciences back int eh 80s.... my memory may not be correct though.

*typo

@SilentAndQuietLight yes sorry it was a spelling error I meant crenated. I didn’t get anywhere with it on google, it kept coming up with animal studies and purely scientific pages. No mention of what it indicates in blood tests.

Iron is the haemoglobin OP. Its slightly low 117 - normal range 120 - 150

@msmith501 thank you for that, may explain my shortness of breath!

As others have said, it's 'crenated', and it's to do with an alteration in shape. It can indicate a poorly prepared slide IIRC - not a doctor, but a physio and that was what I came across in the 1980s/90s

Your red blood cell count is very slightly low, so are your neuts. Are you stressed or run down? Been ill?
I'm not a doctor or nurse, I've been ill though - that's the limit of my experience! If your vitamin D is low, get supplements ASAP.
I personally wouldn't be concerned by blood results like that. Crenated RBCs could just mean something happened to the sample after it was taken (it lost moisture or gained moisture, can't remember)

@Brookers01234 ah ok thank you. Not as low as it has been in the past so that’s good.

@ChristmasFluff so you think it’s an error with the person who checked the sample?

Autocorrect hates "crenated"!

I repeat (really) if your bloods were seriously out of order, you wouldn't be "allowed" to wait until January...you'd be very very fast tracked to hospital. Try not to worry.

@Tahitiitsamagicalplace I haven’t been sick in the past few months with anything tangible just exhaustion and fatigue as well as dizziness/fainting.

I was worried because in the past it’s just been iron tablets or vitamin d and I’ve never had the abnormal cells so I was concerned. Thanks for the reassurance.

@FuzzyPuffling I think I haven’t explained myself well. My doctor said she would call me back to arrange another appointment but I know I won’t be able to attend one any time soon because of travelling. Obviously I know it isn’t life threatening or i’d be in a hospital.

I’m an ex blood scientist, I used to produce the reports and interpret blood films amongst other things, so this is my area of expertise. Crenated red cells is what happens when your blood sample is old before a film was made, it’s a reaction to the anticoagulant called EDTA that’s in the tube to stop the sample from clotting. You have the occasional reactive lymphocyte, which may indicate a current or recent viral infection, this could also be the the cause of your slightly low neutrophil count, however, that could just be something that is normal for you. Your haemoglobin is slightly low, but again this may be normal for you, I would consider eating more iron rich foods though. My opinion is these results are all within the scope of normal and I would not be concerned.

Should add that crenation of red cells can also be caused by an underfilled sample, it’s an artefact and nothing pathological.

What was your vitamin d level? I had similar issues earlier in the year plus joint pain and swelling, but I was so exhausted that could barely function. Vitamin d was 51, which is just on the cusp of normal. I felt a million times better once I started on high dose vitamin d.

@Ariesscientist90 thank you so much for the information, you have really put my mind at rest. A lot of people have said my results look like I recently was sick but I wasn’t as far as I am aware. I am happy to see it is mostly normal. I am taking iron supplements and my doctor thinks I have naturally low neutrophils but this makes me sick more often which is a worry.

@mindutopia I don’t have my levels for that because it was a previous blood test. I remember that It was just under the minimum normal so my doctor said I should take supplements and I take 1000iu a day!