Creatinine Level: What does it mean if... - Kidney Transplant

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Creatinine Level

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What does it mean if your Creatinine levels are high? If you’ve experienced this what we’re the causes and we’re you given steroids and other meds. Also, is diet a factor? I am just wondering if I am getting too much protein.

I just had a transplant in April 2021 and had a wound care kit for about 6 weeks. Taken off just last week. Now this creatinine issue came up and the doctors are checking my levels for the past 3 days. If it doesn’t go down they may admit me.

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SOct91 profile image
SOct91

Congrats on your new kidney! Creatinine levels can vary and as I’m sure you know, it is only one indicator of kidney function.…it would be helpful to know what yours is. I’ve had a transplant almost 30yrs ago, and my creatinine has increased a little over time. I usually average around 1.5 which is considered “high” for some folks but stable for me. I’ve spiked to 1.94 before and freaked out but they just had me drink lots and re-do and I was able to get it back down. Fluid intake is key. My meds have never been adjusted based on creatinine, in fact I was lucky to get off prednisone but that was due to so many years out.

Protein can increase it as well, I’ve never gotten a clear amount that would be bad so I’m curious if others have. Since your kidney is new they may admit you to stay on top of anything. Ask them about protein intake and keep hydrating!

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador

For me, I am 21+ years post transplant. I just had mine go up from my stable creatinine of 0.8 to 1.26. We were on a 1,000 mile road trip that took us 2 days. By the time we reached our destination I had some pretty severe edema in my feet and ankles due to sitting in the car and eating every meal in a restaurant ( they salt everything). My nephrologist had me take up to 40 mg of Lasix a day for 3 days. It wound up dehydrating me, causing my BUN and creatinine to rise. Stopping the Lasix and drinking more water brought my creatinine back down to where it should be.For the first year after my transplant my creatinine did jump around a bit. I actually had 2 or maybe it was 3 kidney biopsy's to check if it was rejection. It never was a rejection episode.

If your doctor's think it could be rejection, the sooner they find it out the better. Caught early it can be reversed.

Best of luck with your new kidney!

Gardner-NY profile image
Gardner-NY

Congrats on just receiving your kidney donation so recently. For my spouse who received his kidney 2.5 yrs ago, the first 14 months, his creatinine numbers were all over the place and hemoglobin and white blood counts too. You are in good hands with your doctors and don't be super alarmed 'if' you do have to be admitted to the hospital. There they can get things improved faster thanyou can at home. If you had explained your numbers, that is useful too. My spouse creatinine normal is 1.8 to 2.0 Has not gone lower and his blood labs since Jan 2020 are good. I tell friends who want to understand that the work the kidneys does is like a huge orchestra and all the things your body does is an instrument and it takes time to get everyone together making beautiful music. If one instrument is having a bad day or week, then the orchestra cannot make the beautiful music, but will one day in the near future. Be patient and kind to yourself.

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