Creatine a little high- Normal?

angec

Mom is one month post op. Her creatine is 2.8 is it normal for it to be high after surgery?

icemantoo

Creatine
Angec,

2.8 seems a little high. Check with the doctor. 1.5 is normal and 1.8 is common for those of us with one Kidney. Checking on the internet kidney failure is at 10.0 so that seems a long ways away.

Icemantoo

growler9

Creatinine
angec - I'm curious what the Doc said when he told you it was 2.8? That is high, in particular for an older, skinny lady. Creatine is produced in the muscles and a small portion is converted to creatinine and filtered out by the kidneys. It's possible for an older, skinny, (very little muscle) lady to need dialysis with a creatinine level of 3. It's also possible that a young, male body builder (lots of muscle) could have a creatinine level of 30 before needing dialysis.

The number given by icemantoo, 10.0, would be a mean level where an average, middle age person would need to start dialysis.

Please let us know what the Doc says about that level. I would really like to know.

My best to you and your Mom. Alan

angec

growler9 said:

Creatinine
angec - I'm curious what the Doc said when he told you it was 2.8? That is high, in particular for an older, skinny lady. Creatine is produced in the muscles and a small portion is converted to creatinine and filtered out by the kidneys. It's possible for an older, skinny, (very little muscle) lady to need dialysis with a creatinine level of 3. It's also possible that a young, male body builder (lots of muscle) could have a creatinine level of 30 before needing dialysis.

The number given by icemantoo, 10.0, would be a mean level where an average, middle age person would need to start dialysis.

Please let us know what the Doc says about that level. I would really like to know.

My best to you and your Mom. Alan

Thank you very much Iceman
Thank you very much Iceman and Growler9.

I saw the report and the reading was 2.2 not 2.8. Two doctors opinions.

Her medical doctor said she is probably dehydrated, drink more water. Nothing in way of helping as far as meds go.

Another medical doctor (specializes in homeopathy) said it is not alarming in the fact that it can take a while for the other kidney to begin to carry the full load. However, he did give her advanced homeopathic remedies to aid her and prevent further deteriating. She goes back in a month to repeat her tests. He also said there was nothing in the report that indicated she was dehydrated.

icemantoo

angec said:

Thank you very much Iceman
Thank you very much Iceman and Growler9.

I saw the report and the reading was 2.2 not 2.8. Two doctors opinions.

Her medical doctor said she is probably dehydrated, drink more water. Nothing in way of helping as far as meds go.

Another medical doctor (specializes in homeopathy) said it is not alarming in the fact that it can take a while for the other kidney to begin to carry the full load. However, he did give her advanced homeopathic remedies to aid her and prevent further deteriating. She goes back in a month to repeat her tests. He also said there was nothing in the report that indicated she was dehydrated.

Creatine
angec,

Well 2.2 sounds a lot more normal than 2.8. However even if at 2.2 she is at risk for any dye or contrast and if another doctor orders that remind them of this reading.

Icemantoo
a/k/a the other Garry from Michigan

angec

icemantoo said:

Creatine
angec,

Well 2.2 sounds a lot more normal than 2.8. However even if at 2.2 she is at risk for any dye or contrast and if another doctor orders that remind them of this reading.

Icemantoo
a/k/a the other Garry from Michigan

Iceman, thanks for the
Iceman, thanks for the reminder. As a matter of fact she is due to oncology for her very first meeting since sugery a month ago. They told us she would most probably get a ct scan and the contrast wouldn't hurt. We want to opt for mri since she has had so many ct scans in the past we wonder if that increased her chance of cancer two years ago. She must have had a scan every day for two months to monitor her pancreas and some other issues. i know the mri can see major structures.

My question is, how long after surgery do they start chemo? I heard it was 12 weeks at the very least to give the patient's wounds a chance to heal, especially if diabetc. Anyone know? Maybe i should post that as a topic? Thanks other Gary from Michigan. By the way, it has been my experience that those who come from Michigan are very smart!

Texas_wedge

icemantoo said:

Creatine
angec,

Well 2.2 sounds a lot more normal than 2.8. However even if at 2.2 she is at risk for any dye or contrast and if another doctor orders that remind them of this reading.

Icemantoo
a/k/a the other Garry from Michigan

Creatinine
MedicineNet.com has a fair enough outline at

http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm

Creatinine clearance rate is only one indicator of kidney function and not an absolute touchstone. As an indication of GFR it becomes less reliable as an indicator as renal failure progresses. The GFR has to fall considerably before it manifests in an elevated creatinine excretion rate.

Also, there are confounding factors, notably body composition (greater musculature generates a higher (healthy) rate of excretion and meat intake is relevant - a veggie diet should witness a lower excretion rate of creatinine. Consequently, large departures from the norms will make creatinine clearance levels not correlate well with the actual GFR.

angec

Texas_wedge said:

Creatinine
MedicineNet.com has a fair enough outline at

http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm

Creatinine clearance rate is only one indicator of kidney function and not an absolute touchstone. As an indication of GFR it becomes less reliable as an indicator as renal failure progresses. The GFR has to fall considerably before it manifests in an elevated creatinine excretion rate.

Also, there are confounding factors, notably body composition (greater musculature generates a higher (healthy) rate of excretion and meat intake is relevant - a veggie diet should witness a lower excretion rate of creatinine. Consequently, large departures from the norms will make creatinine clearance levels not correlate well with the actual GFR.

Interestingly i have not
Interestingly i have not seen one blood test yet with a GFR. Shouldn't they be testing for that? Do you all see a kidney specialist after surgery or just the regular medical doctor? Thanks TW for your input as always. Was a bit worried about you as i hadn't seen you online yesterday. I hope you had a good day away with the family.

icemantoo

angec said:

Interestingly i have not
Interestingly i have not seen one blood test yet with a GFR. Shouldn't they be testing for that? Do you all see a kidney specialist after surgery or just the regular medical doctor? Thanks TW for your input as always. Was a bit worried about you as i hadn't seen you online yesterday. I hope you had a good day away with the family.

Seeing a Nephrologist
angec,

I did not see a Nephrologist until 8 and 1/2 years later and without the blessing of my GP or Urologist. After the fact with having a low GFR they are no longer against it. My GFR has now reached 45 from a low of 41 and that is good. I do not think GP's have many recovering RCC patients to compare with and I think the Urologist is focused on Cancer prevention not Kidney function. It finally got easier for me when I got on medicare and did not need an Insurance referral and could do things on my own. This is one of the few points I have differed with my doctors on and I tell them that.One of the major focuses of my Nephrologist is to keep my BP much lower than the GP did as poor Kidney function from high BP causes heart incidents 10 times more than Kidney failure.


Icemantoo