Creatine and BUN

• by asully
• 2021-07-03 02:46:06
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 787 views
• 2 comments

Hey y'all,

Sorry no updates on my listing status yet (more information on that next week, when I have answers I will make a post).

In other heart related news:

My weekly labs (now drawn at my weekly home nurse visit to change my IV line bandages) came back with elevated BUN and creatine.  I should have asked for numbers but assumed it would be uploaded to my online records (I was incorrect on that front).  So all I know is they are elevated but not how much they are elevated.  It was concern enough for the heart failure clinic to call after business hours and inform me and instruct me to discontinue torsemide for 48 hours before resuming.  The thinking is I am running dry.  This is the second time this has happened recently, the first being when I got stuck at the hospital for cardiogenic shock.  At that time I was so dry my right atrial pressure was almost 0 and recorded as 1.  They stopped diuretics for a few days while the milrinone kicked in at the hospital then switched me off furosemide (80mg) and onto a lower dose of torsemide (20mg).  I haven't had any problems with dehydration since coming home (until possibly now).  But my fluid intake is still plenty adequate, and one would think the lower dose (about half the equivalent of I am correct) should have prevented me from "running dry" or hypovolemic again.  I still have mild peripheral edema in my calves (it's never once gone away completely since my HF journey began), and mild pelvic area edema.  My urine is not dark as one would expect with dehydration.  I am worried that these jumps in creatine and BUN could have more to do with low perfusion from low output than they do a lack of fluids.  I do know that stopping my diuretics for 2 whole days will make my cankles puff up like balloons and I will likely gain over 5 lbs in this short time (done this dance before).  I suppose my question will be answered with time but I am curious if end organ dysfunction is the more likely culprit?  Labs will be drawn again next week after I fill up like a water balloon which if improved I suppose indicate dehydration which is better than the opposite.  Second question I have is why am I struggling so much more now with balancing fluid homeostasis?  Is it all related to the progression of advanced HF?  Is it a common problem in advanced HF patients to relieve congestion without triggering a complete low output state?  One would think in the five years I took 80mg furosemide this problem would have come up sooner if I was merely just on to much diuretics.

Any input, similar expieriences, or education on the matter would be appreciated!

Hope y'all are feeling well this weekend, and Happy Fourth of July weekend to all those in the states (or abroad and celebrate)!

Asully