Can any one help me undersand my lad results

[peaches94]

OK below is my lab results exactly the way they are on the paper. Can anyone help me understand the good and the bad. I am so confused. I go see a new Dr on Thurs and would like to be able to talk to them about my concerns but I'm sooooooo lost.

9/28/11
GFR 32_________RBC 5.19_______Blood urea 30_________Creatinine 1.8______creatinine urine 98_________Co2 31_______Phosphorus 2.9_______Hemoglobin 15.9_______Hemocrit 46.5________Calcium 9.8_________Microalbumin 73.6________Protine urine 117_______nitro glucose 88____platelit count 188____MPV 8.7____RDW 13.8_______MCH 31_____MCHC 35_____microalbimumin creatinine ratio 758.8______Parathyroid hormone 83

3/27/12
changes were: GFR 26___Blood urea 27____creatinine 2.16_____hemoglobin 14.6___hemocrit 42.4____calcium 9.2___creatinine urine 186____phosphorous 3.3____nitro glucose 98____plaitlet count 169__MCHC 35HPV 9.0_____RDW 14.0

5/2/12
GFR 25___Blood urea 30___nitro glucose 111___creatinine 2.22


!He only recheck e a couple last round any help understanding this will be greatly appreciated. What do u think should have already been done, what i can do anything is better than no information at all. Thanks again so much for all the help!

[jbeany]

Did the lab slips come with a listing of what was normal range?  Sometimes that varies slightly with the lab doing the testing, so it's good to have that.   

 I'd also suggest you go to www.kidneyschool.org and work through the module on lab test results.  (The whole page is good, but it's labs you want right now.)  You can go through it with your labs in front of you and make notes as you go of things you want to ask the new doc.

[peaches94]

Yes they do have guides on some of the things n thank u I will deff go check it out

[RightSide]

Well, Peaches94, from your labs, you're in better shape than I was when I started dialysis.

Your GFR is declining, showing that your kidneys are close to failing.  You have just declined to stage IV kidney disease.  When your GFR drops to about 14, that constitutes End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and dialysis is necessary.

But your hemoglobin and hematocrit ain't bad.  And your parathyroid hormone (PTH) is not bad at all.

You should have seen what my labs looked like.  My hemoglobin was only 7.4--half normal.  When they started me on dialysis, they also had to give me a transfusion of two units of blood.

[jbeany]

Your GFR was pretty stable since the last test though, so it's not declining quickly.  This is good thing!

[KAF454]

You're not at ESRD yet, Peaches94, but it's a pretty solid Stage 4. It looks like he's concentrating on your Glomerular Filtration Rate. At my lab a GFR less than 60 is kidney disease and less than 16 is rated "kidney failure". I'm told GFR loosely translates to percent of kidney function remaining. So 26 GFR would indicate roughly 26% remaining kidney function. It doesn't mean you won't urinate... but you won't get effective filtration of toxins and those toxins leave you feeling pretty crappy. I went on PD and got on the transplant list as soon as I dropped to 15 GFR.

[peaches94]

Thanx y'all and one more ? Should my Dr have already talk to me about the path I am going to take as far as dialysis and maybe doing a fistula if that's a choice. I just don't wanna have to make a decision at the last minute n not be prepared. It seems most of the stories Iverson read say it's better to have it n not need it than need it n not have it. I'm just not sure what to do. Should I mention it to my neph? THANKS again.

[jbeany]

You can ask him what percentage of function he usually has his patients begin the process of getting a fistula.  Most docs want you to get a fistula even if you plan to do PD, so that you have a usable access in case there is a problem with the PD.   

You are planning ahead and that's a good thing.  I suggest telling him you want to know your options now, so you can look into them thoroughly.  You'll also want time to check out the local centers and be able to look up their stats for success rates.  (There's a link on here for that someplace.)  A visit will be important.  You may be able to set up tours as well.  You need to know if your neph works exclusively with one center or has access to several.  What's available in your area?  How close to your home are they?  Do they do PD, NxStage, or nocturnal as well as regular in-center?  What are their shift times?  Do they only run two morning shifts or do they offer an evening one for those still working?  (Which is rare, but it doesn't hurt to ask.)

[peaches94]

Thank you jbeany i am going to make a list tomarrow of all the ?s i plan on asking the new one i see Thurs for my 2nd opinion and my reg one on the 28th. If u have any more that u think i should ask plz let me know. This is my life they r palying with and i want to be arouund to spoil some grandbabies someday. 

[KAF454]

Peaches94, there is an advantage to doing home PD if you have that option and will be eligible for Medicare. Home PD is the most economical therapy for Medicare and they'll begin coverage on day 1 instead of day 91. I don't know if they pick up home hemo on day 1, but a dialysis center social worker will have that information.

[M3Riddler]

OK below is my lab results exactly the way they are on the paper. Can anyone help me understand the good and the bad. I am so confused. I go see a new Dr on Thurs and would like to be able to talk to them about my concerns but I'm sooooooo lost.

9/28/11
GFR 32_________RBC 5.19_______Blood urea 30_________Creatinine 1.8______creatinine urine 98_________Co2 31_______Phosphorus 2.9_______Hemoglobin 15.9_______Hemocrit 46.5________Calcium 9.8_________Microalbumin 73.6________Protine urine 117_______nitro glucose 88____platelit count 188____MPV 8.7____RDW 13.8_______MCH 31_____MCHC 35_____microalbimumin creatinine ratio 758.8______Parathyroid hormone 83

3/27/12
changes were: GFR 26___Blood urea 27____creatinine 2.16_____hemoglobin 14.6___hemocrit 42.4____calcium 9.2___creatinine urine 186____phosphorous 3.3____nitro glucose 98____plaitlet count 169__MCHC 35HPV 9.0_____RDW 14.0

5/2/12
GFR 25___Blood urea 30___nitro glucose 111___creatinine 2.22


!He only recheck e a couple last round any help understanding this will be greatly appreciated. What do u think should have already been done, what i can do anything is better than no information at all. Thanks again so much for all the help!

Peaches94,

Here is a link to some of the above labs you have in question along with what they are and what they do for the body.   Please visit this link:   Blood Chemistry Explained

Try to learn as much as you can about not only the lab values, but anything can about the condition on why your kidneys failed.  Education is key...... Dont ever be afraid to question your docs...

///M3Riddler