Anxious and ldh question

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Anxious and ldh question

  • Post
    • January 28, 2019 at 5:44 pm
    Coragirl
    Participant

      Hello, my husband has scans tomorrow and I am so worried. He has not been feeling well the past week and has been coughing a lot. I looked at his test results today in his patient portal and saw that his ldh  has gone up a bit since his last scans. It went from 173 to 198 on December 30. I know that is still in the normal range, but his ldh is usually lower. Does this mean he has progressed? Can other things affect ldh? I'm nervous about this and any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

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    • Replies
        • January 28, 2019 at 5:46 pm
        Coragirl
        Participant

          This is Amie, I don't know why it posted Anonymous.

          • January 28, 2019 at 7:07 pm
          Linny
          Participant

            LDH levels can vary. My readings have been as high as 209 and as low as 171. The changing levels don't always mean there's a problem. Some of the things that can cause changes in the levels include: strenuous exercise, inflammation, how your blood sample is handled in the lab, how your blood sample is stored in the lab, taking too much Vitamin C, and if your platelet count is higher than normal.

            Just know there are other reasons besides cancer that can cause changes to LDH levels.

            Hang in there. Praying for good results for your husband.

             

              • January 28, 2019 at 8:38 pm
              Coragirl
              Participant

                Thank you Linny, I just get so nervous when it is scan time. 

                • January 29, 2019 at 3:56 pm
                Linny
                Participant

                  You're welcome! I totally understand the anxiety. It does lessen over time. My anxiety was so bad at one visit that the medical staff didn't allow me to leave the office until my blood pressure dropped down. I told them that it was going to be fine because the doctor had just told me my scan results were good. But they still made me wait. 

                • January 28, 2019 at 9:35 pm
                AMcReader
                Participant

                  Hi Amie, I know it’s hard not to get anxious about little shifts like this but his LDH is still very much in the normal range. My LDH just recently went from 142 to 230. I freaked out but my oncologist assured me that 1) that is still in the normal range and 2) in my case, it could easily be traced to inflammation in my liver caused by the combo. And, sure enough, when I went back the next time it was steadily on its way down and back in the 100s. It’s also January, which means this is prime time for people to get little colds and other things that can cause this number to go up. It’s one lab report, so I would try not to worry too much!

                  Hugs to you!

                    • January 28, 2019 at 9:51 pm
                    Coragirl
                    Participant

                      Thanks Amanda, how are you doing? I hope you are feeling well and enjoying your baby. Hugs to you too!

                      • January 28, 2019 at 10:45 pm
                      AMcReader
                      Participant

                        I’m doing really well! I had a rough time with my first combo infusion and had to wait a few weeks longer than planned to get the second one but I haven’t had any bad reactions to the second infusion and am happy to be living and feeling normally again!

                        My little girl is growing like a weed — walking all over the place, chattering like crazy and always smiling. She is a true joy. We’re planning her first birthday right now and having way too much fun with it. The theme is “Here comes the sun, Lennon is one!” (Is that ironic in some weird Melanoma-y way?), so there will be rainbows and sunshine decorations filling our house.  Minus this annoying Melanoma thing, life is good! I hope the same is true for you!

                        • January 28, 2019 at 11:54 pm
                        Coragirl
                        Participant

                          So good to hear you are feeling well and tolerating the combo. First birthdays are the best! Happy Birthday to Lennon and love and prayers to you and your family.

                        • January 29, 2019 at 12:08 am
                        Johnjk04
                        Participant

                          Amie and Allyn wishing you both the best tomorrow. I never really checked on my ldh, shame on me, so I can not offer any assistance. Isn't this forum marvelous, the fellow patients have so much stability to lend all of us.

                            • January 29, 2019 at 1:22 am
                            Coragirl
                            Participant

                              This forum is amazing, I am grateful to all of you. I shouldn't be looking at Allyns labs because I just get nervous and I don't really even know what most of it means! Hope you are staying warm.

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