Blood test for dialysis patients

[willieandwinnie]

Hi Everyone

I got my husbands lab results back and I wanted to share them with you. This is the first time ever that his phosphorus has been expectable by the doctor. YEAH! Anyway, I remember a while back there was a discussion about lab results and the numbers associated with them. I had to ask Epoman to help me get it on the site, I'm not too computer smart and it's in a table format.

Anyway, my husbands numbers are:

WBC             8.49
RBC              4.14
HGB              11.4
HCT              36.1
MCV                87
MCH              27.6
MCHC            31.9
HGB X 3         34.2
BUN                  62
Creatinie         10.4
Potassium         5.2
Bicarbonate        22
Alkaline Phos       75
AST/GOT           15
LDH                  122
Total Protein      7.1
Albumin (BCG)    4.4
Calcium              9.5
Phosphorus         3.0
Ca x P  Product    29
Magnesium         1.2
Sodium              141 
Chloride             102
Iron                    69
UIBC                 191
Trans Sat            28
BUN Post            14
UREA Reduc        77

We started taking fosrenol (1000mg) and they are working wonders. I'd be curious to hear about other patients lab results. I know every month at clinic we knew we were in for a sermon on something.

Everyone have a good evening

willieandwinnie

[Panda_9]

Well they look pretty good to me. Some of the levels are read differently to ours though. May I ask, was this pre or post dialysis? I assume its pre, but I just wanted to check.
Bicarbonate is a little low, is he on sodibic or something like that? Theres a few I dont know about, as they arent on any of my lab sheets. The phosphate is a bit of a concern, providing the ranges are the same as here. Our normal phosphate range is 0.8-1.5. Does the lab report have normal ranges written on it?? He may need to cut down the phosphate in his diet, and make sure he is taker a binder before all meals and snacks that contain significant phosphorous. I know the doctor said his level was acceptable, but if it were here, it wouldnt be.

[Epoman]

Well they look pretty good to me. Some of the levels are read differently to ours though. May I ask, was this pre or post dialysis? I assume its pre, but I just wanted to check.
Bicarbonate is a little low, is he on sodibic or something like that? Theres a few I dont know about, as they arent on any of my lab sheets. The phosphate is a bit of a concern, providing the ranges are the same as here. Our normal phosphate range is 0.8-1.5. Does the lab report have normal ranges written on it?? He may need to cut down the phosphate in his diet, and make sure he is taker a binder before all meals and snacks that contain significant phosphorous. I know the doctor said his level was acceptable, but if it were here, it wouldnt be.

Yeah those are USA numbers, his Phosphorus is GREAT! I wish mine was like that.  Mine is 9+ but that's why I'm in a wheelchair, because I'm an idiot. 

- Epoman

[Panda_9]

Epoman, do you know the normal ranges for phos? If his phosphate is good then I would say overall these bloods are excellent.

[Epoman]

Epoman, do you know the normal ranges for phos? If his phosphate is good then I would say overall these bloods are excellent.

3.0 to 5.5 mg/dL is the desired range for dialysis patients. His labs are great!

- Epoman

[Panda_9]

I really want to know what is the normal everyday range if you know what it is, as this is what we work off. When I say my bloods are in normal range, I mean they are in the range as they would be in a person not on dialysis.

[kitkatz]

Okay you bunch of brilliant people. Here is some of my brilliant bloodwork from today. Kaiser is sending me results on line, but no explanations of what in the heck it all means.

Chloride  93 low
CO2 32 high
CMV High
Creatinine 5.9
GFR 8- NB
BUN 36 High

All the rest of the labs fall within the normal ranges. Even my phosphorous was 5.4. Good for me. I do not have all of the results back yet.  Can someone explain, in simple English what these mean?

[goofynina]

I wish i knew Kit, guess we gotsta wait for Zachypoo     

(or anyone who knows for that matter)

[angela515]

I don't know either but I was surprised at your creatnine only being 5.9

[jbeany]

Okay, kitty, here goes -

Most of this is abnormal only in a healthy person.  You're already on dialysis, so your abnormal lab results are to be expected.

Chloride - the salt level in your blood.  Low numbers are probably better for you than high.  Healthy kidneys would keep this in balance.

CO2 - this indicates the acid status of your blood.  High levels indicate kidney problems.

Creatine - this is a waste product from normal muscle breakdown.  Again, high levels indicate kidney problems.

BUN - blood urea nitrogen - another waste product supposed to be removed by the kidneys.

GFR - Glomerular Filtration Rate - a test of how much kidney function you have.  30+ is healthy, 15 or below means you need dialysis. 

The only non-kidney thing on there is CMV.  That's the virus karol was talking about in some of the transplant posts.  A high level in a blood test may indicate that you have a high level of the antibodies in your blood - possibly a sign you are currently fighting the virus.  Perhaps the tired feeling is a result of that?  This one you need to talk to the docs about!

[angela515]

They should actually do the CMV testing for anyone on the list so your not doing last minute CMV testing before your transplant (which is required to be done) to know if you need to go on meds after and so forth. This test is also required to be done on the donated organ.

[kitkatz]

JBeany thanks for the elucidating and thoughtful response.  I will have doctor look into CMV stuff when I call him next week.