concerned over rising creatinine level.

@contentandwell my BUN is 46, creatinine is 2, GFR is 24, potassium is 4.7. I take furosemide, which pulls some of the potassium out of the body, and watch my dietary potassium intake. The thing is, I feel great. I don't understand why my labs say that I should feel awful.

I think a high level potassium is just related to whether or not you should be on lisinopril. For some reason my neph. thinks it is a better way to go for CKD. I don't know. Anyway, I'm doing fine and my BP is good with what I'm on now so I really don't see a need for change at this time.

@kamama94 I just went back and checked my numbers from last Thursday. My BUN is a little out of range at 31, creatinine also at 1.14, GFR is only 48, and potassium is OK at 4.1! I haven't gotten a call from the transplant department though so I guess they figure that is OK for me with the immunosuppressants I take.
I always wonder why the protein number is lower than range though because I eat A LOT of protein.
JK

@contentandwell Maybe you're spilling protein in your urine? That might explain the urea nitrogen not being higher in the bloodstream. . . I'm just guessing, of course. Besides, how much protein is a lot - more than 35 grams a day?

@kamama94 I haven't been very good about tracking my food on myfitnesspal recently, I am hoping to get back to it today because I want to lose 10 pounds, but I have my protein set at 60 and I am generally there or slightly over.
You sound very much more knowledgeable about these tests than I am. Medical jargon tends to make me glaze over, it's all Latin to me, and Latin was never my favorite subject in school either.
What causes a person to spill protein into their urine? I actually don't worry about it unless my transplant department calls me with concerns. I figure that's what they are there for.
Jk

@contentandwell Old habits die hard, I'm a retired nurse so medicalese is familiar to me.

The liver helps process protein and sends it to the kidneys which turn it into urea. BUN stands for Blood Urea Nitrogen, which usually is elevated when the kidneys don't filter as well. It can build up in the bloodstream or come out in urine. Check with your care team but it may be that since your BUN is fairly stable your kidney(s) are putting protein waste products into your urine, which is as it should be - unless there's too much, which can mean your body's not getting/using it. This happens naturally with muscle exercises and weight loss.. I'm not a physician and I'm not diagnosing or prescribing, I'm just stating an opinion based on the little I know.

I agree, if the transplant department thought it was a problem, they'd have you cut back on the protein. It sounds like you're pretty stable.

I'm sending you positive thoughts and wishing you well!

Thanks, @kamama94 As I said, according to the lab work my protein is low! If they aren't worried then neither am I. I do exercise a lot, so that can effect this? Interesting.
Thanks for your opinion.
JK

i read someplace that oatmeal isnt good for kidneys,tho good for cholestrol.that was my go to breakfast.Anyone heard anything? Also I stopped taking REMERON as side effects for kidneys werent good.Any one with any fact?

@irenec Yes, I've heard conflicting opinions regarding oatmeal, too. I guess moderation would be the key and limiting it to once or twice a week would still give a person iron and vitamins. It's recommended on some renal diets, to be avoided on other renal diets. I seldom eat oatmeal myself. Like you, I'd be interested to learn what others have found out about it.