Blood test results are all over the place ?

[jjourneys]

I’ve been anemic for a few years with unknown origin causing it.

This is still the case but now my platelets and RBC have gone really high? Plus have lost 10kg without trying or changing anything.

Have got a follow up GP appt but it’s weeks away, so I’m going to push for a quicker one I think …

Also, has anyone experienced this?

No nothing else currently. That’s all the tests done now until they look at all the pictures and decide what’s what (if anything) 🤞🏻❤️.

I’ll update as soon as I know more.

I’ve updated on my other thread re abandoning the colonoscopy, as had letter from hospital today.

In brief: nothing sinister, however 2 ‘benign issues’ that require further investigation (an MRI of my liver and pancreatic ducts and a gastroscopy on my gullet and stomach). As my common bile ducts between liver and bowel is showing dilation, and I have some hernia growing between my stomach and first part of large bowel.

But these could be reasons why I’m maybe not absorbing nutrients and losing weight eh?? Which is what I’m presenting with. So more images and then he says he’ll see me in his clinic.

I’ve only just found this thread, I’m sorry you still don’t have answers.

one thing jumped out at me - you said you had B12 injections but aren’t now? B12 injections should be for life. When I had really low B12 my periods virtually stopped. Getting the deficiency corrected brought them back to “normal”. A B12 deficiency can cause a number of the things you’ve mentioned.

I’d be tempted to push the drs to give you loading doses again and then back on 2-3 monthly injections for life. It definitely sounds like you have issues absorbing nutrients. I b would try to find out your other vitamin levels too.

Thanks Tillow yes last December 2024 did all the loading doses etc for B12 full course, however they then decided my b12 is alright now … my vit D is low low (as is most of the UKs I believe), but my iron ferritin being 4/5 for over 5 years now is the tricky one, and now with weightloss they’re trying to get to the bottom of it.

The duct (tube) being expanded wider than it should between my liver and bowel can be either gallstones causing backup I think or a growth of some sort it seems?

It’s good though that maybe we are getting somewhere … be interesting what the future MRI on liver / pancreas tells them.

I guess it’s kind of reassuring for now? I hope you feel so anyway and that you don’t have to hang around for weeks to get MRId.

Yes and no, as having Dr Googled (!), there could be an issue with my liver / pancreas / gall bladder causing the duct dilation which is why they need the specific MRI, and although it could gallstones, it could be sinister (pancreatic cancer), with the weightloss combined. But does make sense re not absorbing nutrients and so it’s not me going crazy. Hopefully next MRI won’t be too long - weirdly I live across the road from the hospital and the MRI building, so I might pop in and say if they can fit me in in a last minute cancellation, I can get there in 5/10 mins notice. You never know might speed things along ….

From my last update on my thread, I got things a little muddled, as the letter I received actually was dictated and typed 3 weeks earlier (facepalm), after my first generic CT, before majority of the imaging that were mentioned in the letter (doh!). And it seems the thing they’re concerned about is this dilated bile duct (common bile duct / CBD) which from medical / scientific studies I’ve read in 60% of cases there is no reason for it, but in 40% it can be gallstones, varying cancers (pancreatic / liver / gall bladder), and other nasties triggering the tube to have to widen to allow bile through it. The pictures I’ve had done in the last two weeks will hopefully show them what is causing it and whether I need further intervention, or not … fingers crossed not, but allows for some explanation to the weight loss and bloods, as this is all linked.

So now, just waiting for a letter from the consultant or an appointment for him to tell me whether it’s something or nothing!

I hope your appointment comes quickly; the waiting is really frustrating.

I’ll update when I know :/ - they’ve had 2 x MRI now, colonography, CT, gastroscopy of upper tract, so they should have a good few pics now (!), however I’ve read they sometimes decide to do an endoscopic ultrasound as a next stage (so surgical endoscopy, while ultrasound at the same time), so this might be a next step … but until I get the call or letter, no idea.

I've had two endoscopic ultrasound biopsies. I think the ultrasound was to make sure he could "see" the tumour through the bowel wall before striking out through the wall to get the samples.

How are you? Are you still in limbo?

Yes, still waiting for the consultants letter (which due to wait means it is good news!) … although the last letter I had from him, I received 3 weeks after it had been dictated and typed! Thanks for asking, and will update as soon as I know. xx

@jjourneysplease put all of this into a thread or project on ChatGPT. Add all your scan results, blood tests and everything. Add all the details that you possibly can. Add your last period, dates of everything, how long it’s all been going on. And photos, emails, notes.
it doesn’t suffer from the same biases as the medical profession and will give you some ideas of what is and isn’t likely and is a good place to keep it all together. It’ll give you questions to ask etc.
Ask it to ask you questions for clarity too.

I did this and have read 1/2 scientific journals on stats outcomes of dilated CBD. It seems there is a 50/50 chance of it being something or nothing … and of the 50% something, split down into 10% gallstones (I don’t have any related pain), 10% cancer, 5% something else (I can’t remember all the intricacies). And usually an EUS (endoscopic ultrasound, so surgery) to determine what it falls into. My worst worry is that’s it’s early stages pancreatic cancer which is an option, but would be highly indicative if my pancreatic bile duct was dilated too, which they haven’t mentioned as yet. Just got to wait (although I have left a message chasing on their answerphone!)

So frustrating! Can you contact the consultant's secretary? Please push as much as you can.

Do you have pale coloured, floating poo? AFAIK that's an indication of pancreatic cancer.

Largely, yes … Will try the secretary’s number again today. That’s the one I left a message on last Friday. Fingers crossed eh.

In which case, lay it on thick. You're terrified of cancer, it's been going on for months at least, you're continuing to lose weight for no reason...

Can your GP chase too?

I’ve only just come across your thread @jjourneys but just wanted to say I hope you get some answers soon 🤞🏻

Will do Joy. Checked the calendar and it’s now been 3 weeks since my last scan (yesterday), and that was a time limit to hear back on the secretary’s answerphone message. Good idea re what to say etc - thank you xx

Thank you x

GP is cr8p :/

I’ve left the answerphone message, Joy ✔️ (in their recorded message it does say I have to leave up to a week to get a response to leaving a phone message, so we are getting near to that from the message I left last week 🤞🏻).

Let's hope they respond quickly.

UPDATE - I have now got an appointment to see the consultant come through. Tuesday 5th May 4.30pm … just another 5 weeks wait then!

Oh no! That's too long to wait. If you are close enough, let them know you'll accept a short-notice cancellation slot... obviously only if you don't need to make arrangements.