Creatinine Level High - Does this go away?

Puggle
Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband is 3 weeks out from rads and chemo (32 rads and 3 cisplatin)for stage II laryngeal cancer of the epiglottis. He was doing pretty good but getting daily IV fluids to help his hydration and keep the mucus a little under control. He was still not eating much due to the sore mouth and the mucus gagging him (no PEG) but his doctor's weren't too concerned yet. Today his MO decided to check his kidney function and found that his creatinine level was at 4 and had him admitted to the hospital. They want to hydrate him 24/7 for the full weekend. The MO said that his levels MAY return to normal over time and he PROBABLY wouldn't need anything like dialysis. Has anyone here had this side effect to cisplatin? Have your levels returned back to normal? Did you have to go on a renal diet?

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Kidneys
    Sorry to hear this, I did not have any problems with the chemo like this. Agree with the flushing and hope and pray it works for you.

    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    GFR
    I don't have my reports with me at the moment, but I have every blood test from the first through one just a few weeks ago, probably 25 - 30.

    I know that while reciving Cisplatin they stress highly on hydration and flushing the kidneys....to the point of even giving lasix during the sessions.

    I didn't have any comlications, but my GFR and other kidney function markers did fluctuate a lot..GFR dropping to upper 60's or lower 70's once.

    My chemo MD monitored everything closely, and told me that it wasn't uncommon for the level of change that I saw...normal GFR (for me) being 93, which mine is back at.

    JG
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #4
    Thanks for the input...
    So far the flushing seems to be working. It's gone down to 2.8 from 4. They are also giving him potassium.
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #5
    Creatinine
    We also have been dealing with issues of high creatinine. Buzz's levels fluctuate between 1.6 and 1.8 which is abnormal. He is 9 months post treatment. We saw a kidney specialist who told us his kidney function was at 50%. That sort of shocked us but she added that you have to be at 10% or below before dialysis is needed. As for diet, the renal diet has controlled levels of protein. But you husband will need adequate protein to recover. Once he is recovered he may need to watch the protein. Hopefully his levels will improve with hydration. And yes, Cisplatin is brutal on the kidneys. Karen
  • sue5749
    sue5749 Member Posts: 170
    #6
    hydration
    My husband has been in and out of the hospital now 3 times in the last month. First his sodium levels were low, I guess I was giving him to much hydration( water ) so got back on the water. Then about 5 days later went back to hospital with low blood sugar, got a infection had to have antibotics was in for another 5 days. Then he got phuemonia and was back for another 4 days. Went to the doctor yesterday did a blood test is blood sugar was 40 omg this has been a month from hell. Last night he got a fever of 101 so I crushed up 2 tyleno He had 35 rad treatments and 5 cemo treatments and he said he is done. Been vomiting and saids he has a hard time breathing because of all the mucus. We have done the breathing treatments and the suction. Tried everything! Just don't know anymore. It seems we get one things fixed and then something else happens. Sue
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #7
    Thanks Buzz and Sue
    Thanks for the input Buzz and Sue. It makes me feel better to know that others have gone through this. Sue, I'm sorry that your husband has had multiple issues. I hope they can help him out and give him some relief. I do think the fluids are helping my husband out a bit, if anything this experience will hopefully make him do everything he can to try to stay out of the hospital. I know he's feeling better because he just threw a proctologist (spelling?) out of his room. Hmmm.... sorry, wrong end! :-)
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #8
    Hydration is key
    Jim was hospitalized for a week after his second cisplatin for the same thing. His kidney function is back to normal but he was unable to do the third cisplatin. Jim's were so bad the doctor would not do the third cisplatin but his kidney function was normal a week after he was released from hospital.

    Praying your husband has a speedy recovery and his numbers return quickly to normal.

    Debbie
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #9
    jim and i said:

    Hydration is key
    Jim was hospitalized for a week after his second cisplatin for the same thing. His kidney function is back to normal but he was unable to do the third cisplatin. Jim's were so bad the doctor would not do the third cisplatin but his kidney function was normal a week after he was released from hospital.

    Praying your husband has a speedy recovery and his numbers return quickly to normal.

    Debbie

    creatinine
    I am 26 months post treatment and my creatinine is at 1.7 to 2.06 and this is abnormal and is watched closely, no dye or contrast for scans etc, no more pets just MRI and CT. I will always have this, Cisplatin was the cause, I was not told anuthing about this before treatment and had no idea that this could happen until after treatment, will have to watch and pray.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #10
    denistd said:

    creatinine
    I am 26 months post treatment and my creatinine is at 1.7 to 2.06 and this is abnormal and is watched closely, no dye or contrast for scans etc, no more pets just MRI and CT. I will always have this, Cisplatin was the cause, I was not told anuthing about this before treatment and had no idea that this could happen until after treatment, will have to watch and pray.

    Cisplatin
    Out of curiosity, would it have influenced your decision if you were made aware of the possible side effects?

    I mean in all honesty, every chemo drug that I was given had side effects that ranged from mild to wild, including death.

    Best,
    John
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #11
    Skiffin16 said:

    Cisplatin
    Out of curiosity, would it have influenced your decision if you were made aware of the possible side effects?

    I mean in all honesty, every chemo drug that I was given had side effects that ranged from mild to wild, including death.

    Best,
    John

    Would have still received Cisplatin
    No, it wouldn't have influenced the decision to use the drug. We had received an information sheet about cisplatin and all the side effects were listed. The MO told us that they would always flush while giving the chemo and that there was a chance to have kidney issues but it was rare. It seems like the main side effects that they saw the most and discussed more with us was neuropathy, nausea and the high frequency hearing loss. When you are being told that this is the best chemo drug for this type of cancer you just have to go with it and take your chances on the side effects.
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #12
    denistd said:

    creatinine
    I am 26 months post treatment and my creatinine is at 1.7 to 2.06 and this is abnormal and is watched closely, no dye or contrast for scans etc, no more pets just MRI and CT. I will always have this, Cisplatin was the cause, I was not told anuthing about this before treatment and had no idea that this could happen until after treatment, will have to watch and pray.

    PET Scan
    I was wondering about the PET scan since it uses the dye. I'm surprised that they didn't disclose all of the side effects to you.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    Puggle said:

    Would have still received Cisplatin
    No, it wouldn't have influenced the decision to use the drug. We had received an information sheet about cisplatin and all the side effects were listed. The MO told us that they would always flush while giving the chemo and that there was a chance to have kidney issues but it was rare. It seems like the main side effects that they saw the most and discussed more with us was neuropathy, nausea and the high frequency hearing loss. When you are being told that this is the best chemo drug for this type of cancer you just have to go with it and take your chances on the side effects.

    Puggle
    Hi Puggle, I was actually asking Denis, but I'm with you.... I mean at the time they tell you that you have Cancer and this is the chemo, drug or treatment plan they have had the best results with. I think most everyone is going to make the decision to go with it.

    Some of these things are temporary, some are not....

    Hoping that in time all of you recover or at least can live comfortably with what you've ended up with.

    I know that I am very fortunate compared to some on here, and I'm definitely thankful.

    Best,
    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #14
    Puggle said:

    PET Scan
    I was wondering about the PET scan since it uses the dye. I'm surprised that they didn't disclose all of the side effects to you.

    PET & side effects
    Very importance to remember is to keep hydrated, and wash out the body of the toxins from the rads. Also keep away for the public and family for the first 24 hours. I even make the wife sleep in a different bed the first night after my PET scans. She is too importance to me to get anything bad from my treatment.

    Just the way I do it.
    Hondo
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #15
    Hondo said:

    PET & side effects
    Very importance to remember is to keep hydrated, and wash out the body of the toxins from the rads. Also keep away for the public and family for the first 24 hours. I even make the wife sleep in a different bed the first night after my PET scans. She is too importance to me to get anything bad from my treatment.

    Just the way I do it.
    Hondo

    creatinine
    No I would still have taken the cisplatin, but would have been more conscious of the things that could happen and maybe have drank more and been more aware. At this point the damage has not changed anything except I keep a check of it and drink constantly, I would never know if anything was wrong as there are no side effects for me from it, I f I had not had the cisplatin I could well be dead now instead of enjoying my little grandson who is visiting us this weekend. I do think the doctors were amiss in not alerting me, my chemo doc said there was no damage even with a reading of 1.8, he said it would go down, it did not. I have recovered from my ordeal brilliantly, I have other problems, heart, back etc. It is what it is.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #16
    denistd said:

    creatinine
    No I would still have taken the cisplatin, but would have been more conscious of the things that could happen and maybe have drank more and been more aware. At this point the damage has not changed anything except I keep a check of it and drink constantly, I would never know if anything was wrong as there are no side effects for me from it, I f I had not had the cisplatin I could well be dead now instead of enjoying my little grandson who is visiting us this weekend. I do think the doctors were amiss in not alerting me, my chemo doc said there was no damage even with a reading of 1.8, he said it would go down, it did not. I have recovered from my ordeal brilliantly, I have other problems, heart, back etc. It is what it is.

    Sorry
    Sorry for the lack of information provided you.

    One thing that I especially liked (as I'm a trivia nut)...was that my chemo center had a chemo101 class for me and my wife.

    They passed out informational sheets on each chemo I was to recieve and tons of other literature & information was provided.

    Which was awesome being in written hardcopy form. As others mention, you never remember anything hardly that they tell you at the time because it's all so devastating initially.

    Glad you are doing well.

    John

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