I did a blood test. What does my blood report interpretation say?

Question

Hi doctor,

I just got my blood work done and would like to know exactly what these results mean. Also, I do want to mention that I am a heavy drinker.

The report says that RBC is low at 3.19, MCV is high at 116, MCH is high at 39.2, RDW is high at 16.5, platelets are low at 141, calcium is low at 8.5, AST is high at 75, and ALT is high at 35.

Can you give me a better explanation of these results?

Also, my bones are very achy, and lately I keep seeing blood dots under my skin. It looks like a blood clot. I also feel tired most of the time. When I was about 18 years old, my doctor said I was anemic.

I started drinking heavily about 10 years ago.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have multiple abnormalities in your blood work. Your red blood cell parameters, such as MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin), and RDW (red cell distribution width), are elevated, which can be caused by alcohol intake, thyroid dysfunction, or folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency.

Additionally, your RBC (red blood cells) and platelet counts are low, which may be due to bone marrow suppression from alcohol consumption or alcoholic liver disease.

Elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT) can also be attributed to alcoholic liver disease or other forms of hepatitis. Furthermore, your calcium level is slightly low, possibly indicating a vitamin D deficiency.

Based on these findings, I recommend the following investigations:

Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies.
Hepatitis B core antibody.
Hepatitis C antibodies.
Vitamin D, B12, and folic acid levels and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.
Additionally, I would advise HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing and a liver ultrasound.

For treatment, I suggest the following medications. However, it is crucial to consult your specialist doctor, discuss these options with them, and proceed with their consent:

Take vitamin D 2000 IU daily along with 1000 mg of calcium per day.
Take vitamin B12 500 mcg daily.
Take Folic acid 1 mg daily.

Please ensure you visit a doctor for proper evaluation and personalized guidance.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.