Lab results

[widalys]

I had my blood result back for my TSH and I notice something that wasn't there before and need to know what it means because my Dr. didn't mentioned anything to me and I didn't see the results until I went home. I notice that the RDW was high. What does that mean?  Should I worry.

Thank you

[widalys]

Thank you for responding, I feel a bit better now. All other values are within range but I never notice that to be high so of course I think about what else is wrong with me.
I am schedule for more blood work in the first week of August and I am schedule to see my Endo on the 25th of August. I want to see the results right there and see if its the same or not and bring it up to my doctors attention.

Again thank you.

[mtkst13]

i have this as well.  i think it means that there is a large variation in size of your red blood cells?  i think if the other values (rbc count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, etc) were out of whack, they'd be more concerned.  were you other values within range?  maybe you need more iron in your diet?

i guess on any given day our blood work can change depending on our stresses, exposures, diets, etc.  i have high rdw and low hemoglobin.  i'm getting reevaluated at the end of august to make sure things are the same or better.  if they're worst, then they'll try to determine if there's something else going on.

look it up on the internet.  there are lots of explanations.  of course, if you're like me, you could end up thinking you have every disease in the book!!  ;)

take care.