High red blood cell count....

[Forkingell]

First time poster here looking for some reassurance....

A month or so ago after experiencing sharp pains in what felt like my right lung, I went to the docs who referred me for an ultrasound to rule out gall stones (all clear) and then had a blood test, A week later I received a text from my surgery advising I’d need to repeat the blood test in a month. So I went for my re test today and asked the nurse why I needed another test and she said my red blood count was high but that she isn’t a doctor and couldn’t explain what that meant, only that it was 5.20 which was high.

Now after using dr google I have freaked myself out and am worried it could be lung related or even cancer of the blood!! For reference I am overweight 27 year old smoker...

Has anyone had this result before and if so, what was it??

Thank you in advance

Bumping my own post... spending the weekend worrying now 😭 results came back the following morning (Friday) and receptionist phoned me to make an appointment, so I have a telephone appointment first thing Monday with GP to discuss results...the receptionist lady said she could tell me the results on the phone there and then so I didn't need to worry over the weekend so I said yes please, then she went to read them and changed the subject completely! - am I worrying for nothing??

Do you actually have a copy of the blood results so that you can see exactly what it is that is 5.20
A normal RBC count would be:

men – 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (cells/mcL)
women – 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
Hence 5.2 would be perfectly normal .

@Floralnomad

Do you actually have a copy of the blood results so that you can see exactly what it is that is 5.20 A normal RBC count would be:

men – 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (cells/mcL)
women – 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
Hence 5.2 would be perfectly normal .

Thanks for replying I don't, wish I'd have asked her to print it out for me now though...

Maybe I got it wrong, but she showed me the screen and she showed me what was "normal" and then my RBC count which I'm sure was 5.20 and said it was quite a bit higher than it should be...

The above levels were taken off the NHS website . I’m wondering if the 5.2 relates to your haematocrit and is actually 52 % not 5.2 , a normal haematocrit would be 36-48% ish for a woman . Do you know what your actual Hb is ?

I don't 🙈 i don't know what that even is...
I just know she said RBC was unusually high, and when I looked at screen she showed me the numbers it should have been and I'm sure mine said 5.20. Ive likely got it all wrong!

Sorry op I'm confused, how did you leave it with the receptionist? She was about to read the results then what?

I wouldn’t stress about it anyway OP , if it was anything that serious I’m sure the Dr would have spoken to you on Friday .

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide

Sorry op I'm confused, how did you leave it with the receptionist? She was about to read the results then what?

The receptionist said she'd read them and tell me, I said yes please - then asked for me to clarify my mobile number and said the doctor would call Monday morning!

@Floralnomad

I wouldn’t stress about it anyway OP , if it was anything that serious I’m sure the Dr would have spoken to you on Friday .

Thanks @Floralnomad - I'm hoping that's the case too...

That's crap of her, I wonder if she just couldn't make head nor tail of them? I think it will be something and nothing, and probably just with being a smoker.
I'm sure you'll be fine op 🤞

Thanks @EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide - I think it was a bit crappy too... definitely a kick up the bum to quite the fags I think 🤦🏻‍♀️

Did you get to the bottom of it @Forkingell ?