Hubby's Potassium Level High, Then OK

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi,
My husband Les has been having very good blood numbers.  Then, last Thurs. the charge nurse came out to the waiting room
and told him his Potassium was at 7, and it was way too high!  When he got home from his treatment and told me, to say I got
upset was to put it mildly.  I am very careful about his diet, especially the potassium. 
When I called and talked to the nurse she told me that it could have been the way the blood was "spun" at the lab, and they had
drawn another sample.  On Saturday I talked to her, the number was 5.  Still a little higher than I like but far from
what it was originally.
I was wondering if this had ever happened to anyone else, where the lab has done something to the bloodwork to make such
a drastic change in a reading.
I hope everyone is feeling good, and enjoying their weekend. Best to all,
Anne and Les

[Joe Paul]

Yeah, Ive had high readings then re-drawn and OK. Our dietitian says it depends on how long the blood sits before testing. I live in Pennsylvania, the blood is sent to California for testing - go figure!

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi,  Joe Paul,

We live in New Jersey.   I wonder if our bloodwork goes to Cal. also?  Go Figure is for sure, who would think they
would send it that far?

Anne

[MyssAnne]

 We switched over to National Renal Alliance, and all our testing is done in California. Oddly enough, it's fastaer than when it was done insite! Go figure.

[goofynina]

I know when i was on Hemo, they had to change my solution, when i asked them why, they said that one had lesser potassium.  Could it be from the solution that they dialyze us with?   

   i wish i would've paid better attention

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi. Nina, Missy and Jo Paul,

Thank you for replying.  At least I know that we are not alone  with lab errors, or whatever, being done to
blood work  Needless tosay  that they scared the Blessed  Bejuz outof me, as my husband had triple bypass surg.
Feb. 06.  this was the beginning of this whole nitemare for us   He had no kidney  problems prior  to his surgery.

Rite now he is relaxing and celebrating the Cowboys big win today

Anne and les

[boxman55]

Nina-I have also heard that there are differant solutions with differant potass levels. I need to research that more. Does anyone else know?   Boxman

[Diane]

There are different solutions that can be used during dialysis.  They are called dialysate baths.  A 2 K+ (or 2 potassium) bath will take more potassium out of your blood than a 3 K+ bath because there is less potassium in the solution and that makes the concentration lower so it will pull more potassium out of your blood.  There are also different levels of calcium in the dialysate baths. 

If you tend to run a lower potassium level in your blood, the doctor may want you to be on a 3 potassium bath so that your potassium doesn't go too low at the end of a treatment.  A low potassium is just as bad as a high potassium. 

The same thing goes for calcium.  Most units have a 2.0 calcium and a 2.5 calcium bath.

You can tell what bath you are on by looking at the jug on your machine.  It should be clearly marked on the jug.  These baths are checked and double checked in our unit, and I would imagine in your unit as well.

Hope this helps. 

[kellyt]

I got a call from my neph's office and the nurse asked me how I was feeling.  This was strange because they never call to check on me.  I was feeling fine.  She asked a lot more questions and then told me that my potassium was extremely hight on my recent lab.  I usually do my lab work one week prior to my doctor visit so she had me go in the next morning for a re-draw and it turned out normal.  She said it must have been a "bad draw".   That's my only potassium story.  However, when I asked how serious it could have been I was shocked to hear the answer!  I had no idea that high potassium could stop your heart!  My doctor told me that potassium is used in "lethal injections".  yikes!   

[goofynina]

There are different solutions that can be used during dialysis. They are called dialysate baths. A 2 K+ (or 2 potassium) bath will take more potassium out of your blood than a 3 K+ bath because there is less potassium in the solution and that makes the concentration lower so it will pull more potassium out of your blood. There are also different levels of calcium in the dialysate baths.

If you tend to run a lower potassium level in your blood, the doctor may want you to be on a 3 potassium bath so that your potassium doesn't go too low at the end of a treatment. A low potassium is just as bad as a high potassium.

The same thing goes for calcium. Most units have a 2.0 calcium and a 2.5 calcium bath.

You can tell what bath you are on by looking at the jug on your machine. It should be clearly marked on the jug. These baths are checked and double checked in our unit, and I would imagine in your unit as well.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Diane, that is the info i was talking about 

[KR Cincy]

My home hemodialysis (Pureflow and NxStage) system uses a 1k potassium bath...my level got too low, so I'm now instructed to eat a high potassium food each day...and I gotta tell you, that first full baked potato and first banana never tasted so good. My neph wanted me on a 2k bath since my level was so low, but I convinced him I'll eat more potassium foods, just give me a shot! Now he's all for it...

[goofynina]

Good, i am glad you found out what works best for you (baked potatoe and bananas sound good to me)    Enjoy......    (just please make sure you keep checking your blood)