Surgical follow-up/Creatinine Levels

anmazon
anmazon Member Posts: 144
in Kidney Cancer #1

I had a follow-up appointment with my oncologist/urologist/surgeon (5 weeks post-surgery).  

He said that everything looks good, I'm healing well, I look healthy, blood work looks fine.

He did, however, seem to be concerned that my creatinine level was at 1.4, when it had been at 1.1 immediately post-surgery.

What are the "normal" creatinine  levels for a six-foot-tall, 50-year-old woman with one kidney?

(This sounds like the beginning of a bad joke...)

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Anne

  

 

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Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    Healthy creatinine levels

    Anne, I give up - so what are the "normal" creatinine  levels for a six-foot-tall, 50-year-old woman with one kidney?  You're right about the joke!  With Gary and Fox on hand there's scope for a suitably funny answer.

    Meantime, I think this link will give you some helpful info on this topic:

    http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/creatinine-and-creatinine-clearance?page=3

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #3
    Texas_wedge said:

    Healthy creatinine levels

    Anne, I give up - so what are the "normal" creatinine  levels for a six-foot-tall, 50-year-old woman with one kidney?  You're right about the joke!  With Gary and Fox on hand there's scope for a suitably funny answer.

    Meantime, I think this link will give you some helpful info on this topic:

    http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/creatinine-and-creatinine-clearance?page=3

    Thank you.

    Thank you, Mr. Wedge!

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #4
    anmazon said:

    Thank you.

    Thank you, Mr. Wedge!

    There once was a woman from nantucket....

    ...so a 50 yo 6' woman walks into a bar.....with one kidney mind you.....the bar tender says, "We don't serve 6' 50 yo women with one kidney here."  Anmazon says, "Thats OK, I wasn't going to order one!!!!!!!!!!"Smile

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #5
    foxhd said:

    There once was a woman from nantucket....

    ...so a 50 yo 6' woman walks into a bar.....with one kidney mind you.....the bar tender says, "We don't serve 6' 50 yo women with one kidney here."  Anmazon says, "Thats OK, I wasn't going to order one!!!!!!!!!!"Smile

      I love it!
     

    Wink  I love it!

     

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #6
    anmazon said:

      I love it!
     

    Wink  I love it!

     

    Love it!

    The guy's a genius. I knew I could depend on Fox - cap that Gary!

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #7
    Texas_wedge said:

    Love it!

    The guy's a genius. I knew I could depend on Fox - cap that Gary!

    You guys are too hilarious!

    So I had to get cancer and lose a kidney to meet some people with warped senses of humor....

    Again, a painful initiation, but I'm delighted to be here.

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #8
    Texas_wedge said:

    Love it!

    The guy's a genius. I knew I could depend on Fox - cap that Gary!

    You guys are too hilarious!

    So I had to get cancer and lose a kidney to meet some people with warped senses of humor....

    Again, a painful initiation, but I'm delighted to be here.

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #9
    anmazon said:

    You guys are too hilarious!

    So I had to get cancer and lose a kidney to meet some people with warped senses of humor....

    Again, a painful initiation, but I'm delighted to be here.

    Not warped

    No, I am not warped, I am perverted...  If I were warped, then I would tickle you with a feather... but being perverted I use the whole chicken....  :)

    Ron

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #10
    anmazon said:

    You guys are too hilarious!

    So I had to get cancer and lose a kidney to meet some people with warped senses of humor....

    Again, a painful initiation, but I'm delighted to be here.

    Createnine

    HI Anne...  not sure why your Doc is all worried about 1.4 level.   OK, so different doctors have different opinons on what is "normal" or not.  Yes lower would be better, but 1.4 is not dangerous at all.   However depending on the Doc, some won't use the Contrast (dye) when doing scans at above 1.4, some use 1.5, and some will use 1.7 as the "number."   I was at 1.7 before surgery, and due to the complex surgery I had, I went up to a whopping 7.6..!!   Now I am back to the 1.7 or 1.8 range pretty steady.   My levels are too high to use Contrast with my scans, but it does not seem to be an issue.

    OK, so you lost a Kidney like many of us here..  Not sure how long ago that painful event happened, but your one Kidney is now doing 100% of the work.  Sometimes that single Kidney steps up and takes charge, sometimes it doesn't.. usually not a big deal overall.  But worth monitoring, as Createnine is an indicator of your remaining Kidney Health.  FYI, my remaining Kidney has a big Cyst in it, which was known prior to my surgery and is why my one Kidney is a bit sensitive.

    Hope this helps...

    Ron

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #11
    GSRon said:

    Createnine

    HI Anne...  not sure why your Doc is all worried about 1.4 level.   OK, so different doctors have different opinons on what is "normal" or not.  Yes lower would be better, but 1.4 is not dangerous at all.   However depending on the Doc, some won't use the Contrast (dye) when doing scans at above 1.4, some use 1.5, and some will use 1.7 as the "number."   I was at 1.7 before surgery, and due to the complex surgery I had, I went up to a whopping 7.6..!!   Now I am back to the 1.7 or 1.8 range pretty steady.   My levels are too high to use Contrast with my scans, but it does not seem to be an issue.

    OK, so you lost a Kidney like many of us here..  Not sure how long ago that painful event happened, but your one Kidney is now doing 100% of the work.  Sometimes that single Kidney steps up and takes charge, sometimes it doesn't.. usually not a big deal overall.  But worth monitoring, as Createnine is an indicator of your remaining Kidney Health.  FYI, my remaining Kidney has a big Cyst in it, which was known prior to my surgery and is why my one Kidney is a bit sensitive.

    Hope this helps...

    Ron

    Hilarity

    Anne, your sense of humour guarantees that you'll fit in a treat here and you wouldn't have felt quite right here, not being a caregiver, if you had two whole kidneys. 

    It's all relative - hell, there are probably some doctors who would consider Ron normal!

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #12
    GSRon said:

    Createnine

    HI Anne...  not sure why your Doc is all worried about 1.4 level.   OK, so different doctors have different opinons on what is "normal" or not.  Yes lower would be better, but 1.4 is not dangerous at all.   However depending on the Doc, some won't use the Contrast (dye) when doing scans at above 1.4, some use 1.5, and some will use 1.7 as the "number."   I was at 1.7 before surgery, and due to the complex surgery I had, I went up to a whopping 7.6..!!   Now I am back to the 1.7 or 1.8 range pretty steady.   My levels are too high to use Contrast with my scans, but it does not seem to be an issue.

    OK, so you lost a Kidney like many of us here..  Not sure how long ago that painful event happened, but your one Kidney is now doing 100% of the work.  Sometimes that single Kidney steps up and takes charge, sometimes it doesn't.. usually not a big deal overall.  But worth monitoring, as Createnine is an indicator of your remaining Kidney Health.  FYI, my remaining Kidney has a big Cyst in it, which was known prior to my surgery and is why my one Kidney is a bit sensitive.

    Hope this helps...

    Ron

    Thank you, Ron

    Ron, thanks.  My surgery was 5 1/2 weeks ago, and I'm still trying to figure out what is right or "normal.". He didn't present it like "Your C level is 1.4, and you have only hours to live!!!!," he just noted that it was higher than it was immediately post-op (1.1).  Which got me wondering where I really should be.

    He's awesome and I trust him implicitly, but everything scares the pants off of me now (don't worry, not literally).

     

    I'm sorry to hear about your cyst, Ron, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me.

    I've got quite a learning curve going on here.

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #13
    Texas_wedge said:

    Hilarity

    Anne, your sense of humour guarantees that you'll fit in a treat here and you wouldn't have felt quite right here, not being a caregiver, if you had two whole kidneys. 

    It's all relative - hell, there are probably some doctors who would consider Ron normal!

    Ron, normal?

    Laughing

    Thanks, Mr.  Wedge.  

    Maybe Ron should come to New Mexico,  we're anything but normal around here.  

    I'm keeping track of all my funny stories for posterity or for when I have really bad days and need a laugh.  Between the marriage proposal and retraction and the busybody who thought I went out to get breast implants (which, trust me, I do NOT need), and 100 stories in between,  I've got hilarity to spare.

    Am I scared?  You bet.

    As long as I can laugh? And as long as I've got support from you all?  Cancer doesn't have a chance.

    Warm regards.

    Anne

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #14
    GSRon said:

    Not warped

    No, I am not warped, I am perverted...  If I were warped, then I would tickle you with a feather... but being perverted I use the whole chicken....  :)

    Ron

    How in the world did I miss this one?

    Tongue Out

    What kind of chicken, Ron?

    This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.   

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #15
    anmazon said:

    Thank you, Ron

    Ron, thanks.  My surgery was 5 1/2 weeks ago, and I'm still trying to figure out what is right or "normal.". He didn't present it like "Your C level is 1.4, and you have only hours to live!!!!," he just noted that it was higher than it was immediately post-op (1.1).  Which got me wondering where I really should be.

    He's awesome and I trust him implicitly, but everything scares the pants off of me now (don't worry, not literally).

     

    I'm sorry to hear about your cyst, Ron, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me.

    I've got quite a learning curve going on here.

    Anmazon, don't worry too much

    Anmazon, don't worry too much about the creatine level.  My mom's is now at 2.4.  When you have one kidney removed it usually takes a while for the other to kick in and yours is still in a great range!  All this new stuff can be quite alarming when you begin this journey (alot to learn) but trust us on this board to let you know when more investigation is needed!  You are doing great!  

    Ron, I hope that chicken is cage free, grass fed, organic!  ;)

     

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #16
    angec said:

    Anmazon, don't worry too much

    Anmazon, don't worry too much about the creatine level.  My mom's is now at 2.4.  When you have one kidney removed it usually takes a while for the other to kick in and yours is still in a great range!  All this new stuff can be quite alarming when you begin this journey (alot to learn) but trust us on this board to let you know when more investigation is needed!  You are doing great!  

    Ron, I hope that chicken is cage free, grass fed, organic!  ;)

     

    Thank you, angec.

    Thank you for your kind response. I couldn't have possibly found a kinder, more supportive group.

    I still want to know what kind of chicken Ron has, though--I have a real affinity for Rhode Island Reds.

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #17
    anmazon said:

    Thank you, angec.

    Thank you for your kind response. I couldn't have possibly found a kinder, more supportive group.

    I still want to know what kind of chicken Ron has, though--I have a real affinity for Rhode Island Reds.

    What chicken..?

    Or should I say who is chicken..??   Yes, I know it was scarey getting here... and hope your scare is over with..  do the follow ups, be villigant..!

    So, the true story... Hmm.. hope this is not tooooooo much.. but about 1975 (ish).. I had some local pals.. fun folks.. well Mary decided she was going to make some artsy custom T shirts.. and she made me one...  I only wore it a few times...  why you ask..?  Well on the top part it had in large letters the word "SUPER"  and under it was ah er a picture of a male chicken... and it was NOT a Rooster...    People would ask why I would have a shirt that says Super Chicken on it.. and I would have to educated them on to determine sex of an animal...  I think I still have that shirt around here...  :)  Hope it made the ladies blush... heh...

    Be Well All..!

    Ron

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #18
    GSRon said:

    What chicken..?

    Or should I say who is chicken..??   Yes, I know it was scarey getting here... and hope your scare is over with..  do the follow ups, be villigant..!

    So, the true story... Hmm.. hope this is not tooooooo much.. but about 1975 (ish).. I had some local pals.. fun folks.. well Mary decided she was going to make some artsy custom T shirts.. and she made me one...  I only wore it a few times...  why you ask..?  Well on the top part it had in large letters the word "SUPER"  and under it was ah er a picture of a male chicken... and it was NOT a Rooster...    People would ask why I would have a shirt that says Super Chicken on it.. and I would have to educated them on to determine sex of an animal...  I think I still have that shirt around here...  :)  Hope it made the ladies blush... heh...

    Be Well All..!

    Ron

    Thank you, Ron

    Plan to be quite vigilant.

    Giggling over super chicken story.

     

    A

  • Darron
    Darron Member Posts: 310 Member
    #19
    Raising C level

    Mine crept from 1.0 or so in October post op to 1.6 a few weeks ago. They gave me a bag of IV fluid and I was told to drink at least 2.5 to 3.0 liters of water per day. The next week I was down in the 1.3 range. I think they wanted to make sure it wasn't a trend and had a bit to do with hydration. Hope they gave you some feedback on make sure you drink plenty of water. I am not 6' female, so the volume may be different. 

    Sorry, no twisted humor from D on this one. looks like the usual suspects covered it pretty good though.

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #20
    Darron said:

    Raising C level

    Mine crept from 1.0 or so in October post op to 1.6 a few weeks ago. They gave me a bag of IV fluid and I was told to drink at least 2.5 to 3.0 liters of water per day. The next week I was down in the 1.3 range. I think they wanted to make sure it wasn't a trend and had a bit to do with hydration. Hope they gave you some feedback on make sure you drink plenty of water. I am not 6' female, so the volume may be different. 

    Sorry, no twisted humor from D on this one. looks like the usual suspects covered it pretty good though.

    Thank you, D

    I think it was his way of reminding me to stay hydrated and watch the sodium.   Point taken.  Just wondering where I should be, and it sounds like I'm not too far off.

    I was hoping for a good joke from you this morning, but I guess I'll have to wait....

    Thank you.

    Anne

  • anmazon
    anmazon Member Posts: 144
    #21
    Darron said:

    Raising C level

    Mine crept from 1.0 or so in October post op to 1.6 a few weeks ago. They gave me a bag of IV fluid and I was told to drink at least 2.5 to 3.0 liters of water per day. The next week I was down in the 1.3 range. I think they wanted to make sure it wasn't a trend and had a bit to do with hydration. Hope they gave you some feedback on make sure you drink plenty of water. I am not 6' female, so the volume may be different. 

    Sorry, no twisted humor from D on this one. looks like the usual suspects covered it pretty good though.

    Thank you, D

    I think it was his way of reminding me to stay hydrated and watch the sodium.   Point taken.  Just wondering where I should be, and it sounds like I'm not too far off.

    I was hoping for a good joke from you this morning, but I guess I'll have to wait....

    Thank you.

    Anne

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