This bun/creatine is one abnormality that keeps staying very elevated on my bloodwork, and my LLMD said that he would just continue to moniter it.
I'm starting to get very worried because when I do a google search it indicates kidney failure. Do people with lyme often have complications or result in death from kidney failure?
Here are my results from this past month:
BUN 25 ref range (7-25) Creatine 0.65 ref range (0.50-1.20)
BUN/Creatine ratio 38.5 range (6-22)
Can someone please advise on what this high level means exactly? I am taking so many meds. I don't know whether to stop... and which ones to stop, or just continue taking and hope nothing bad happens.
posted
Mandy, I don't the answers to many of your questions, hopefully someone else will respond.
I do know that several lyme drugs can cause kidney failure including omnicef. I like to use web md's medicine info. They list common and rare side effects much more extensively than the print outs you receive from the pharmacy. You may want to check out their website and look up the side effects of your meds and as always, talk with your doc about your concerns.
Posts: 73 | From ID | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
BUN reflects the amount of urea in the blood - the total is on the high normal side, the ratio of BUN:creatinine is elevated. Urea is formed by the breakdown of proteins in your body.
How is your diet and fluid intake? Severe calorie restriction or excessive protein intake can cause increased BUN. An upper GI bleed like a stomach ulcer can be a cause. Low blood volume due to dehydration or blood pressure meds like furosemide (Lasix) can be a cause as well.
If your LLMD does not seem to be worried yet, that is a good sign. If you are eating a moderate, balanced diet (ie. not the intro phase of Atkins) and have at least 5 mostly clear urinations a day it may just be an anomoly - not significant overall.
Has the ratio been elevated but steady over time, or is this a new elevated test?
Posts: 263 | From Capital Region, NY, USA | Registered: Jun 2008
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My diet consists of alot of protein. I drink tons of water but don't seem to eliminate it as fast as usual. I'm probably restricting calories because the candida diet is so limiting.
It has been elevated for months. But lately, I have mid to lower back pain. I have a feeling the massive amounts of orals are hard on my kidneys/liver. The PA said they would moniter it, my LLMD hasn't to my knowledge, paid attention to my bloodwork.
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Holy bananas, that's a lot of medicine you're on! LOL. Lots of abx for sure.
I wish I could answer your question though. :-( I'm also having some weird blood work come back every month.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hi Mandy,
Is there anyway to limit the protein in your diet? All protein has to be processed by the kidneys and it stresses the kidneys a lot. My husband is a type one diabetic and has been for 19 years, a doctor he went to was shocked that he has not been hopsitalized in all that time. I attribute much of it to our low protein, vegetarian diet.
I would talk to your doctor and ask about your high protein diet, he may want you to add more greens/nuts/fats.
posted
Yep lots of meds. My LLMD is the rockstar everyone refers to. Thanks for the replies.
Ocean, I will cut back on the protein. I eat alot of chicken. Maybe that is what it is...I do eat lots of nuts and greens, always have been a health food nut. The only thing I have cut out is bread and fruit.
I guess he thinks I'm handling everything pretty well so he just keeps adding and adding until...I keel over!
My next step is IV Rocephin, yipee!
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
i also had the high bun/creatinine ratio.. my llmd also said they will monitor it and it is not a concern yet..
she emphasized it many times to me.. she said it could be from high protein as well... i too eat alot of nuts, chicken, meat..its hard to not eat protein on a low carb/low sugar diet.. gotta eat something
Posts: 245 | From East Brunswick, NJ | Registered: Oct 2008
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-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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