Regular labwork didn’t go as planned

[numbersguy82]

So I went last Friday to have bloodwork done for both my upcoming psychiatrist and hiv doctor visits. I can see my results as soon as they arrive, and immediately I saw my creatine level at 1.44 which was sky high compared to my January labs.

I show up for my appointment today and my Doctor had pulled in two colleagues to review my information. Their fear is obviously acute renal failure. I’m not presenting any symptoms outside of general malaise and urinating more frequently. They ordered new labs for rush, and they told me if they come in the same or worse, tomm I will be checked in to the hospital.

So it was def not my usual in and out breezy visit that I’m accustomed to. There’s a chance I’m in lithium toxicity and if that’s the case I can simply adjust my dosage and avoid the hospital stay. It also could have been a fluke reading. So I guess I’ll see what tomm brings.

[Tonny2]

             ojo.              I’m sorry to read your post but less wait and see. Hang in there, we are here for you and please keep us posted. Everything is going to be OK… Hugs.

[Jim Allen]

Yeah, generally no panic is needed, repeating the labs is a good idea and waiting for the results particularly as you take Lithium. 

You haven't been taking anything new? Hopefully, the results will be better today and you can continue with the Lithium.

Keep us posted, although before you ask, no, you can't have my kidney.

Hugs, don't stress.

[numbersguy82]

Thank you Tonny and Jim. It’s nice to have an outlet to blow off steam and find support. Of course in came some “Jim Wisdom” as well to make me feel better, so I guess we will see what my results say.

[BubbaPat]

Hey kiddo!

I hope the next visit goes bette.  So far, my favorite doctors have all been "Eh.. let's get this redone.  At your age, numbers get weird." and then we get retested and all is good.  Still fat and old.. but hey... still here.

I even once had pneumonia so bad the nurses kept poking me with their fingers.  They thought it funny and odd that I walked in there on my own power.  They couldn't believe I was up, walking and talking with 70% oxygen.  Now as for the STUDENT doctor... that little whi.. woman, almost got cussed out.  She spoke to me then went and told my husband that he should get our affairs in order.  I knew, from ACROSS the room that something along those lines was said because he went W H I T E.  When I saw him, I got mad then flipped him off to know I was okay.  I told MY doctor that either he teach her or I would.  She came around when I was asleep.  Never saw her again.

Crossing my fingers, saying a prayer, and doing a jig (as long as my hip holds) to get your numbers where they need to be.

Bubba hugs,
Patrick

[daveR]

1.44 is a bit high but I think still a long way off failure. Mine rose slowly then peaked in around 1.36. stayed there for years even through medication changes. Then suddenly dropped back down to normal range again.
If it can happen to me it can happen to you. I did nothing special.

Good luck
Dave

[numbersguy82]

Bubba and Dave, you both are fantastic.

Bubba I need to take you along to my next appt so I can be sure to get proper care 🤣

Dave that is super helpful information. Also mildly frightening that you never knew why it was elevated and that it just went back down on its own. Reading your comment made me feel much better!

My updated results came back in much better. My creatine was down to 1.14 and everything else was within normal parameters. My Doctor called it a transient blip…. But is still having me return in 2 weeks to test again.

Honestly I'm on the fence with my feelings about this situation. On one hand I’m annoyed that I lost sleep and worried over results which probably weren’t much to actually be concerned about. On the other hand I feel extremely blessed that my provider was so proactive, pulled in colleagues, and made the ordeal have a sense of importance and urgency. I know not everyone has access to that kind of care, so I feel like being upset would be just rubbing in my privilege.

So for now I guess I’ll make sure I’m drinking enough water and watching out for symptoms until my next appt. Thank you again everyone, and Jim hold off on that gofundme and put away your wash-n-wear funeral tux… for now 😅

[Tonny2]

           Ojo.                @numbers?, i’m glad that you are back to normal and you know that we are here for you for whenever you need a lift. Usually sometimes lab work has to be repeated because they are not perfect. He had to happen to me and the best is to worry until you have something to worry about, easy to say, but I know what I mean. I’m glad that you have it a good health plan, we unlucky to do have it because there are other people in different countries that you could sleep for one night because of the result of other people they had to wait  weeks or even months… again, I’m happy for you and please keep us posted.… Hugs


Ps.
Sorry for the typos

[numbersguy82]

Tonny I will def take your advice, from now on I am not worrying unless i see a result twice!

I do feel like there’s something going on as my urination has been off as of late and also I have felt poorly. But I’m glad to know it’s not kidney failure!

[Tonny2]

                     ojo.                 Hell numbers, if you knew how many times I felt like you after seeing a lab work result was mistake And they way I felt, just like you felt, and then knowing that was the error, that’s why I decided to focus and that a battery solved. It could be a mistake until otherwise proven the country.. I remember one time well I was in the hospital because of hemolytic anemia that after I started treatment, prednisone, the nurse came to get some bloodwork done and lay it on, came back and told me that the treatment wasn’t working. What meant that I was dying, I told him to check my blood again so he did and he came by later on with different results, treatment was working my hemoglobin was increasing. Sometime we had to hold down to hope most of the time. Hope they last. I’m not sure I’m making sense because I’m dictating this message with an awful headache. In an event, I told you, I’m glad that everything is OK and less keep fighting,… Hugs.


Ps. if you’re having prob urination  prolems, check with the urologist I think that you are in your 40s and maybe it’s time for you to be checked for prostate problems.


Ps. again, I’m sorry for the typos. I’m not thinking straight.

[Jim Allen]

Jim hold off on that gofundme and put away your wash-n-wear funeral tux… for now 😅

Life is full of disappointment, I was already planning my trip and had pictured a closed coffin funeral due to your cat.

Anyhow, glad to hear it was just a blip.

[numbersguy82]

Life is full of disappointment, I was already planning my trip and had pictured a closed coffin funeral due to your cat.

Anyhow, glad to hear it was just a blip.

Yea thanks for putting that whole “Charley eating me after I’m dead” fear in my head 🤣

[Jim Allen]

Yea thanks for putting that whole “Charley eating me after I’m dead” fear in my head 🤣

You're welcome, now you don't have to worry about Charley starving Just don't sleep too deeply, Charley could get confused.

[leatherman]

Yea thanks for putting that whole “Charley eating me after I’m dead” fear in my head 🤣

omg!!! do you know that's exactly why I quit taking ARVs one time?!?! That damned Sustiva (which would go on to become part of Atripla) really messed with my head. One day I fell down the stairs, only getting bruised, but all 7 cockers came to kiss me and "make things better" as I laid in a crumpled mess at the foot of the stairs trying to recover from my tumble. That night the lovely Sustiva dreams/nightmares gave me some terrible worries about my doggies not being so helpful as I laid at the bottom of the steps with a broken leg or neck.

TBH stopping Sustiva and ending up in the hospital nearly dying of pneumonia a few months later really was worth not becoming puppy chow.

Charley could get confused.

and that's why I have dogs not cats. LOL

[leatherman]

Hell numbers

I know it's not what you meant; but literally, that's a sentiment I can get behind.
"hell. numbers!"

In all my years, numbers have been a problem, a worry, bad news, and good news. For myself, I say if I'm feeling fine and my labs come back odd, then I don't worry until or if my next labs are off too. If I'm feeling bad, then I want the numbers to show the problem.

[Tonny2]

                     ojo.                 Hell numbers, if you knew how many times I felt like you after seeing a lab work result was mistake And they way I felt,



          @numberguy82…I didn’t mean “hell numbers” when I tried to type (dictating) Wes hello numbers because I forgot your user’s name, but, as Leatherman says, numbers are numbers and sometimes we had to get them checked if they come back bad, then we worry about it and check West next to solve the problem.


Ps. again, I’m sorry for the typos, when I post I use the dictation of my cell phone.