Guest guest Posted June 6, 2005 Report Share Posted June 6, 2005 , I'm sorry the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions for you, but I'm glad you have just a few more days with the yucky bag. I'm sure it will be a big relief to get rid of that! As for your labs, all I can share is what I've been told. My albumin was low before I had the j-tube and I was told that indicates malnutrition. I don't know if it can indicate other things or what the high total protein means. My BUN has been elevated for years but is usually under 30. I've asked several doctors what it means and the only answer I've been given is that it indicates dehydration. It is true that when I'm in the hospital on IVs that the BUN returns to normal. My nephrologist has suggested using a daytime fluid drip now through my j-tube to help prevent more kidney stones. Whether that alone with bring down the BUN I don't know. We are working on getting another pump that is more ambulatory. I hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is as smooth as possible. I too feel much better having my local physicians to help. Something about being close to home when you're feeling awful that is comforting. Sending prayers and hugs, Barbara _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LILQT4U1984@... Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 4:40 PM To: tpnsupport ; Subject: quirky lab values Hi- I went to see my cardiologist today and he chalks all my probs up to my mitochondrial disease and there is unfortunately nothing that can be done for that. He said it was fine for me to go ahead with the surgery on Wed. I will have another echo and appt in one year. My EF is not good, but not terrible at this time so he doesn't want to do anything further now. He doesn't attribute my symptoms primarily to the heart but to my overall metabolic disease causing me to feel poorly. I then went for my pre-op labwork and some things were kinda funny. Overall everything was alright, but my total protein was very high 7.6 and my Albumin too low at 2.4. My last labs 3 wks ago my albumin was 3.6 and Total protein 6.5. I don't understand why the albumin decreased if the protein increased since both are proteins. Any ideas? Also my BUN is rising and is now 34 from 20. I usually have a BUN of around 7. H&H was a touch low but thats normal for me and not actually all that bad for me. I'm experiencing alot more fatigue and weakness and will be glad when Wed. is behind me. I do feel more confortable with the surgery being done locally. Thanks for your help and prayers on Wed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2005 Report Share Posted June 6, 2005 In a message dated 6/6/2005 10:04:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, laurie.fitzgerald@... writes: My BUN has been elevated for > years but is usually under 30. I've asked several doctors what it means and > the only answer I've been given is that it indicates dehydration Hi , A high BUN does indicate dehydration. It can also indicate kidney issues, especially if the creatinine is also high. I know you had some trouble with that a few months ago so they should be especially watchful of it as you go into this surgery. Please know I am thinking of you and praying for you this week. Malisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2005 Report Share Posted June 6, 2005 Was it blood protein or urine protein? I know that a high urine protein is indicative of problems with the kidneys. The protein is suppose to be kept in the body by the kidneys. The protein molecule is suppose to be too big to be filtered through the kidneys, but problems can cause the filter holes to enlarge. It is also affected by age which shouldn't apply to you. As people age, a higher urine protein is normal. laurie > , I'm sorry the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions for you, but > I'm glad you have just a few more days with the yucky bag. I'm sure it will > be a big relief to get rid of that! As for your labs, all I can share is > what I've been told. My albumin was low before I had the j-tube and I was > told that indicates malnutrition. I don't know if it can indicate other > things or what the high total protein means. My BUN has been elevated for > years but is usually under 30. I've asked several doctors what it means and > the only answer I've been given is that it indicates dehydration. It is true > that when I'm in the hospital on IVs that the BUN returns to normal. My > nephrologist has suggested using a daytime fluid drip now through my j-tube > to help prevent more kidney stones. Whether that alone with bring down the > BUN I don't know. We are working on getting another pump that is more > ambulatory. I hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is as > smooth as possible. I too feel much better having my local physicians to > help. Something about being close to home when you're feeling awful that is > comforting. > > > > Sending prayers and hugs, > > Barbara > > > > _____ > > From: [mailto: ] On Behalf > Of LILQT4U1984@... > Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 4:40 PM > To: tpnsupport ; > Subject: quirky lab values > > > > Hi- > > I went to see my cardiologist today and he chalks all my probs up to my > > mitochondrial disease and there is unfortunately nothing that can be done > for > that. He said it was fine for me to go ahead with the surgery on Wed. I > will > have another echo and appt in one year. My EF is not good, but not terrible > > at this time so he doesn't want to do anything further now. He doesn't > attribute my symptoms primarily to the heart but to my overall metabolic > disease > causing me to feel poorly. > I then went for my pre-op labwork and some things were kinda funny. > Overall everything was alright, but my total protein was very high 7.6 and > my > Albumin too low at 2.4. My last labs 3 wks ago my albumin was 3.6 and Total > > protein 6.5. I don't understand why the albumin decreased if the protein > increased since both are proteins. Any ideas? Also my BUN is rising and is > now 34 > from 20. I usually have a BUN of around 7. H&H was a touch low but thats > normal > for me and not actually all that bad for me. > I'm experiencing alot more fatigue and weakness and will be glad when > Wed. is behind me. I do feel more confortable with the surgery being done > locally. Thanks for your help and prayers on Wed. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2005 Report Share Posted June 6, 2005 Hi and Barbara, : I am sorry that the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions to help your current condition, but am glad to hear that he feels you can go through with the surgery. I know that alone must be a relief to you. I know how much you want to get rid of that BAG for GOOD!!! I think that your Cardiologist is probably right on track about it being your mitochondrial disease that is causing all of your heart and heart related problems. Right now I am wearing an event monitor to monitor my heart for a whole month. I am almost half way through. There is concern about my heart since the last echo showed that my heart was throwing PVC's, SVC's and SVE's, along with tachycardia. I really wanted to have my heart monitored before the surgery, so I could go into the surgery with a good feeling and not feeling that something might be wrong with my heart and I would end up with complications during surgery. My albumin and my pre-albumin are both low and I was told that it indicates malnutrition. That is what really pushed them into making the decision that I get a J tube. My BUN levels are also high and that does mean that you are dehydrated. So it looks like both Barbara and I were both told the same things concerning the albumin and BUN Levels. Good Luck with the surgery !!! Just a few days longer to wait. Keeping you in my prayers. HUgs, Ann-Marie At 08:32 PM 6/6/2005, you wrote: >, I'm sorry the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions for you, but >I'm glad you have just a few more days with the yucky bag. I'm sure it will >be a big relief to get rid of that! As for your labs, all I can share is >what I've been told. My albumin was low before I had the j-tube and I was >told that indicates malnutrition. I don't know if it can indicate other >things or what the high total protein means. My BUN has been elevated for >years but is usually under 30. I've asked several doctors what it means and >the only answer I've been given is that it indicates dehydration. It is true >that when I'm in the hospital on IVs that the BUN returns to normal. My >nephrologist has suggested using a daytime fluid drip now through my j-tube >to help prevent more kidney stones. Whether that alone with bring down the >BUN I don't know. We are working on getting another pump that is more >ambulatory. I hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is as >smooth as possible. I too feel much better having my local physicians to >help. Something about being close to home when you're feeling awful that is >comforting. > > > >Sending prayers and hugs, > >Barbara > > > > _____ > >From: [mailto: ] On Behalf >Of LILQT4U1984@... >Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 4:40 PM >To: tpnsupport ; >Subject: quirky lab values > > > >Hi- > > I went to see my cardiologist today and he chalks all my probs up to my > >mitochondrial disease and there is unfortunately nothing that can be done >for >that. He said it was fine for me to go ahead with the surgery on Wed. I >will >have another echo and appt in one year. My EF is not good, but not terrible > >at this time so he doesn't want to do anything further now. He doesn't >attribute my symptoms primarily to the heart but to my overall metabolic >disease >causing me to feel poorly. > I then went for my pre-op labwork and some things were kinda funny. >Overall everything was alright, but my total protein was very high 7.6 and >my >Albumin too low at 2.4. My last labs 3 wks ago my albumin was 3.6 and Total > >protein 6.5. I don't understand why the albumin decreased if the protein >increased since both are proteins. Any ideas? Also my BUN is rising and is >now 34 >from 20. I usually have a BUN of around 7. H&H was a touch low but thats >normal >for me and not actually all that bad for me. > I'm experiencing alot more fatigue and weakness and will be glad when >Wed. is behind me. I do feel more confortable with the surgery being done >locally. Thanks for your help and prayers on Wed. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2005 Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 This was plasma protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2005 Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2005 Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 Thanks, Ann-Marie, for the confirmation. It's always reassuring to me when the docs actually agree! I guess the high BUN is another reason to do a daytime drip of fluids through the tube. If it makes me feel better, it will be worth it. Hope your surgery goes okay. Have they gotten it scheduled yet? You've had a looooong wait. Barbara _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Ann-Marie Mc Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 10:48 PM To: Subject: RE: quirky lab values Hi and Barbara, : I am sorry that the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions to help your current condition, but am glad to hear that he feels you can go through with the surgery. I know that alone must be a relief to you. I know how much you want to get rid of that BAG for GOOD!!! I think that your Cardiologist is probably right on track about it being your mitochondrial disease that is causing all of your heart and heart related problems. Right now I am wearing an event monitor to monitor my heart for a whole month. I am almost half way through. There is concern about my heart since the last echo showed that my heart was throwing PVC's, SVC's and SVE's, along with tachycardia. I really wanted to have my heart monitored before the surgery, so I could go into the surgery with a good feeling and not feeling that something might be wrong with my heart and I would end up with complications during surgery. My albumin and my pre-albumin are both low and I was told that it indicates malnutrition. That is what really pushed them into making the decision that I get a J tube. My BUN levels are also high and that does mean that you are dehydrated. So it looks like both Barbara and I were both told the same things concerning the albumin and BUN Levels. Good Luck with the surgery !!! Just a few days longer to wait. Keeping you in my prayers. HUgs, Ann-Marie At 08:32 PM 6/6/2005, you wrote: >, I'm sorry the cardiologist didn't have any suggestions for you, but >I'm glad you have just a few more days with the yucky bag. I'm sure it will >be a big relief to get rid of that! As for your labs, all I can share is >what I've been told. My albumin was low before I had the j-tube and I was >told that indicates malnutrition. I don't know if it can indicate other >things or what the high total protein means. My BUN has been elevated for >years but is usually under 30. I've asked several doctors what it means and >the only answer I've been given is that it indicates dehydration. It is true >that when I'm in the hospital on IVs that the BUN returns to normal. My >nephrologist has suggested using a daytime fluid drip now through my j-tube >to help prevent more kidney stones. Whether that alone with bring down the >BUN I don't know. We are working on getting another pump that is more >ambulatory. I hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is as >smooth as possible. I too feel much better having my local physicians to >help. Something about being close to home when you're feeling awful that is >comforting. > > > >Sending prayers and hugs, > >Barbara > > > > _____ > >From: [mailto: ] On Behalf >Of LILQT4U1984@... >Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 4:40 PM >To: tpnsupport ; >Subject: quirky lab values > > > >Hi- > > I went to see my cardiologist today and he chalks all my probs up to my > >mitochondrial disease and there is unfortunately nothing that can be done >for >that. He said it was fine for me to go ahead with the surgery on Wed. I >will >have another echo and appt in one year. My EF is not good, but not terrible > >at this time so he doesn't want to do anything further now. He doesn't >attribute my symptoms primarily to the heart but to my overall metabolic >disease >causing me to feel poorly. > I then went for my pre-op labwork and some things were kinda funny. >Overall everything was alright, but my total protein was very high 7.6 and >my >Albumin too low at 2.4. My last labs 3 wks ago my albumin was 3.6 and Total > >protein 6.5. I don't understand why the albumin decreased if the protein >increased since both are proteins. Any ideas? Also my BUN is rising and is >now 34 >from 20. I usually have a BUN of around 7. H&H was a touch low but thats >normal >for me and not actually all that bad for me. > I'm experiencing alot more fatigue and weakness and will be glad when >Wed. is behind me. I do feel more confortable with the surgery being done >locally. Thanks for your help and prayers on Wed. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2005 Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 I have no knowledge of this - at least that I can find in my brain. Have an uneventful surgery and a quick recovery. Hugs, laurie > This was plasma protein. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2005 Report Share Posted June 7, 2005 I have no knowledge of this - at least that I can find in my brain. Have an uneventful surgery and a quick recovery. Hugs, laurie > This was plasma protein. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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