Dont understand test results

[BRANDY]

I am trying to get help on my test results    please someone  help  I cant find any   my nurse cant explain  she is reading what info she has which  hasnt  helped  and neph didnt cover these results.   my microalbumin is 1263.4   and  my creatine --- alb/ creat ratio is 1831  what does this mean   my gfr has went back up to 24%  from 21%  which that is better  what do the other results mean.?

[monrein]

http://www.stacommunications.com/journals/pdfs/cme/cmepdfoct03/drklassenmicroalbuminuria.pdf

Is this of any help? 

[BRANDY]

MONREIN---- that was a good website   thank you    but I still dont know what Im lloking at.  it says something about  nephropathy  what exactly is this  not trying to sound stupid   maybe I am  but dont understand    and wont if i dont ask questions   I know I should ask doc but wont see him for another month   by then I will forget to ask    that website says  30 - 300 mg a day    BUT MINE is 1263.4  that is alot higher  what does this mean? does anyone know    Im all beside myself on this

[monrein]

Brandy, nephropathy just means diseases of the kidney.  Diabetic nephropathy would be kidney disease caused by diabetes.  Your nephrologist is your kidney specialist.  Nephrons are the things in the kidney that do the filtering of water and wastes.

Don't get beside yourself because things will be harder to understand.

Remember that many of your blood work results are completely abnormal because your kidneys aren't working very well.  Your gfr at 24% tells you that.   It means they're only working about 24% of normal so of course lots of things will be out of whack.  Your microalbumin (which means "little Protein") is way high because you have a lot more than a little protein in your blood.  Are you diabetic by the way? 

Try not to stress yourself out with blind worry OK. 

Don't worry about sounding stupid.  Keep on asking and things will get clearer bit by bit.  I'm happy to try and answer whatever I can and I know that others here will too.

[pelagia]

The Mayo Clinic also talks about microalbumin on one of it's websites:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/microalbumin/MY00143

Are you seeing your doctor again soon?  You should ask him to explain the results and the implications for your longer-term health.

[BRANDY]

Thank you I can understand better by what you said Monrein and yes I am diabetic for 34 yrs.  Im on pump now  and it has hjelped  but now Im ckd  what else is going to go on    I know  diabetic are sucsessful for everything. Also  I will seee my neph in a month.  He didnt cover  all my test results, thats why I am concerned .   But Monrein you have eased my mind alot    thank you 

[monrein]

You're welcome Brandy, that's why we're here, to help one another and I'm glad you feel a bit better.   

[nursewratchet]

Brandy,  if your Nurse is not helpful, your next best go to person is the Dietician.  They are excellent in enterpreting labs for you.  Does your Dr. only come 1x/month?  Ours comes once a week. 

[Chris]

Brandy,  if your Nurse is not helpful, your next best go to person is the Dietician.  They are excellent in enterpreting labs for you.  Does your Dr. only come 1x/month?  Ours comes once a week. 

Hopefully your dietician at your center doesn't use those darn smiley faces on their reports. Those just don't mean a thing and just down grade us as if we were little kids. If she doesn't give you the proper information, ask for a print out from the center or ask the doctor for a print out. The more you know the better you will be when it comes to monitoring what foods effect you and your fluid intake.

Hope you have your eyes checked by an opthalmologist and aretinal specialist. Loosing vision to diabetes just plain sucks, but can be dealt with.

[kitkatz]

I get smiley faces on the computerized report. I told her I hated them.  She just said oh well the computer does it.  The other night she walked by with the lab report and went over it with me.  Then said your phosphorous is good. You qualify for another prize. Oh wow! I have a bottle of soap and a plastic poinsettia plant in the house from her prizes. I may just save them all wrap them up for next years Secret Santa.... Nah...too cheap!

[Chris]

I get smiley faces on the computerized report. I told her I hated them.  She just said oh well the computer does it.  The other night she walked by with the lab report and went over it with me.  Then said your phosphorous is good. You qualify for another prize. Oh wow! I have a bottle of soap and a plastic poinsettia plant in the house from her prizes. I may just save them all wrap them up for next years Secret Santa.... Nah...too cheap!

What a B.S. answer, "the computer does it"  Yeah, well if everyone you follow is walking off a cliff.......

Real numbers tell you what is going on, not those da#@ smiley face crap.

Did I mention that I hate those smiley faces on my report?








EDITED:Corrected spelling error in my quote-kitkatz,Moderator

[Restorer]

I'm grateful that I get a print-out of all my lab numbers every month, and my nurse goes over the numbers with me. It might be better for me because I'm a PD patient, and I'm expected to be able to take control of my own care. Though I don't consult with the nutritionist much, because she's only in on Mondays, and she never seems to have any more information for me than I could come up with on my own.

[BRANDY]

To answer several questions--- I see my neph every 3 months, When I go to Doc. I talk to neph about test results, but usually he doesnt cover all on tests  I guess I will have to have him cover all test resullts with me   then I wouldnt have to worrry or ask to many questions.   I will get the hang of the Docs yet Im just not agressive enough  guess I will have to tho.Thank you for your time.

[nursewratchet]

Medicare has requirements for the Doc to see you, and depending on the state, they have certain requirements on the  number of visits\month.  My clinic has the Dr. every week, for every patient.  I have 2 fulltime Social Workers, and 2 Dieticians, all here every day.  Check to see what the regs are in your stae, and if you aren't seeing them at that rate, you need to raise hell, then call the state to complain...

[G-Ma]

2 full time social workers? wow...we have 1 part time..very part time.   

[pelagia]

Medicare has requirements for the Doc to see you, and depending on the state, they have certain requirements on the  number of visits\month.  My clinic has the Dr. every week, for every patient.  I have 2 fulltime Social Workers, and 2 Dieticians, all here every day.  Check to see what the regs are in your stae, and if you aren't seeing them at that rate, you need to raise hell, then call the state to complain...

Isn't this for the dialysis clinic?  I didn't think Brandy was doing dialysis.

[nursewratchet]

OOPS, Brandy!  Sorry, I thought you were in clinic already.  Microalbumin, is just a protein spilling of the kidneys, which is a measure of kidney function.  You already knew that, it's just another test that verifies it.  Helps determine GFR. 

[BRANDY]

No Im not on dialysis, just trying to get the hang of these darn test results.  I really need to talk more with my neph  I do realize that   but it seems I understand you people  that live with  this condition  better than my neph  and  I really treasure you   thanks alot 

[monrein]

http://www.kidneyschool.org/splash/toc.shtml

Here is a great site Brandy.  Go to module 7 for good, clear info about lab teasts.

[BRANDY]

 --Morein  for website