For family and friends
Normal results, and still unwell: both can be true
A page to share with the people close to you.
Someone you love has had tests, and the results came back normal. They still do not feel well. It is natural to feel relieved by the results, and confused by what they still describe.
What a normal result tells you
A normal result is real and good news: it rules out what that test was looking for. Each test answers a specific question. A normal range is built from large groups of healthy people, so it describes most people, not every person.
What it does not tell you
It does not mean nothing is happening. Fatigue, poor sleep, low mood and pain are real experiences even when no single test explains them. Sometimes the picture only becomes clear when several things are looked at together, over time.
How you can help
- Take what they describe seriously. Feeling heard, taken seriously and understood is part of care.
- Help them keep their results and reports together in one place, in date order.
- Encourage them to keep seeing the doctors who treat them, and to keep any prescribed treatment unless that doctor changes it.
Dr. Heba Haddara, physician. This page is general information. It does not replace advice from the doctor who treats you.
Source: how reference ranges are set, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline EP28.