Lab work is low- IS THIS OK??????

[Sunnytoday]

Do i need to see a doctor sooner than my heart doc appt in a month? Or are these ok?

Osmality, Urine 224  (390-1090 mOsm/kg)  
My glucose was fine- 84 (74-106), I'm not pregnant, and I wasn't drinking too much water, in fact I don't drink but 1 or 2 glasses of water day  so WHAT IS THAT???? I read that this low usually occurs when you have renal damage. IS THiS RIGHT?? If not, what is it? Quix???

Potassium Blood 3.2 (3.5-5.1)
SGOT 13 (15-37)
SPGT 30 ( 30-65)
LDH 92  (100-190)
Magnesium 1.6 (1.8- 2.4) this has been low for months even though I take Magnesium every day

Vit D 35 (30-80)
CPK 38 (21-215) these two are is fine, thank goodness

These were done a few days ago by the cardio and I don't have a follow up with him until my heart test in July(?) and I got the copies from the hosp. lab to take to my many doctor's and have in my home files and was surprised to see them low. So, of course I came here to se if ya'll have any ideas! :)  

thanks
~Sunnytoday~

[Sunnytoday]

thanks for the info steph- the nurse just called- see the my latest post!
~Sunnytoday~

[steph74]

From Lab Tests Online:

"Urine osmolality is frequently ordered along with plasma osmolality. It is used to help evaluate the body’s water balance and to investigate increased and decreased urine output. Increased urine output may be due to increased fluid intake, lack of appropriate amounts of ADH, or diabetes mellitus (increased glucose levels leading to increased urine output). Decreased urine output may be due to a variety of causes including decreased blood flow to the kidneys, an appropriate response to dehydration, or damage to tubular cells in the kidneys. Urine sodium and creatinine are often ordered along with urine osmolality. Sometimes a urine osmotic gap is calculated and used to help evaluate the kidney’s ability to excrete acid and reabsorb bicarbonate, to detect the presence of osmotically active molecules, and to compare with the plasma osmotic gap."

and

"Low and normal levels of LDH do not usually indicate a problem. Low levels are sometimes seen when a patient ingests large amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)."

and

"Decreased levels of potassium indicate hypokalemia. Decreased levels may occur in a number of conditions, particularly:

dehydration
vomiting
diarrhea
Hyperaldosteronism (see Aldosterone)
deficient potassium intake (rare)
as a complication of acetaminophen overdose
In diabetes, your potassium may fall after you take insulin, particularly if your diabetes had been out of control for a while. Low potassium is commonly due to “water pills” (diuretics); if you are taking these, your doctor will check your potassium level regularly.

Additionally, certain drugs such as corticosteroids, beta-adrenergic agonists such as isoproterenol, alpha-adrenergic antagonists such as clonidine, antibiotics such as gentamicin and carbenicillin, and the antifungal agent amphotericin B can cause loss of potassium."

Not sure on the other tests, but it looks like they're part of a liver panel.  The link for that is: http:// www. labtestsonline. org/ understanding/ analytes/ liver_panel/ glance. html  (remove spaces).

I'll be interested to hear what your doctor says about all this.  It doesn't sound really bad, but it does also indicate that you might have a malabsorption issue, especially if other levels have been consistently low.  Do you have low iron or B12?

Stephanie

[Sunnytoday]

yeah, it's 5:33 and still no call, and at this particular office they call even if the labs are all 100% fine (i know, i worked there for a week and when i called she said that's how they do it, they tell you even if they are fine).... i guess it'll be tomorrow 'till i hear. :P At least i know they are working on it.

Wish, thanks for the post, i'll have to think about it. I know i've GOT to think outside of the neurologcal box, so that's always interesting to hear other folks thoughts. NYU did test for Vitamin D deficiency, and my cardio just ran another calcium check and i'm all good there. while you are right, electrolytes do change... i pulled my latest tests, and it seems that they've been running low since June of 2008.... so there has to be something cuasing it. Endocrine would be a thought- i might check into that at some point. I do eat bananas- actually. You'd think that my potassium would be fine, just like my magnesium should be fine since I take the recommended daily dosage but it's still low. Thankfully my cardiologist knows all this and that's why he ran this batch of tests to see why it's all running low.... he's a dearie.

~Sunnytoday~

[Sarahsmom46]

I agree with Wish about this looking like an endocrine problem as you are having so many borderline low numbers.  Take her suggestion about the banannas, its amazing how well they can help with the potassium.  

I hope the nurse calls back tonight so you can sort this out.  I'll be watching for your post.

[wishforchange]

Haven't been following what's going on with you but sorry to hear you are having heart issues.  You can take heart (groan) that if levels were dramatically bad they would have phoned you immediately, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look at improving yourself.  

Remember a blood test is only a snapshot of you at a given moment, and electrolytes (sodium, potassium etc.) can change very quickly and be too high one reading and too low another.

Low potassium is not a great thing to have.  Bananas are a great source of potassium, as far as my murky mind can remember (keep worrying I am talking rubbish now, have forgotten the language of medicine).

Renal impairment?  Tricky one.  In its early stages it can show as just the ocassional off reading.  BUT, from what I remember you are (still?) on the underweight side.  This will make readings less easy to interpret.

I remember from so long ago reading your time line and just thinking it sounded like an endocrine problem.  I'm no medical guru but it just seemed to leap out at me.  May be nonsense.  But have you seen an endocrinologist?  Some of the neurological symptoms you describe, such as the involuntary movements of your head was it? can be from low levels of vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium or B12.  It may be a problem of absorbtion.

I still think, and am kind of glad to hear, as far as I understand, that you need to broaden your horizons and look beyond the neurological for answers.  The symptoms are there, but may not be from a neruo cause.  We've talked about this before haven't we?

You deserve to enjoy the best time of your life, your twenties.  But forties are pretty good too!  

One last suggestion.  Have you tried a good old fashioned naturopath?  Or a really good nuitritionist/dietician.  An on the ball one will test you for levels of essential foods in your blood.  My vitamin d defiiency would never have been foung were it not for my dietician.  And if you do have a deficiency, say eg. calcium, get levels checked again AFTER you have taken supplements for a while.  You will have your answer there, if they do not go up it is an absorbtion problem.  Used the eg of calcium, now wondering if it IS the cause.  Yes am going on about nothing solid, sorry...read my post and you'll see why I'm writing and writing and.....

But I so want to help you!

Keep us informed

wish

[rendean]

Thanks for the update. Please let us know what they say. Sending good thoughts your way!

Ren

[Sunnytoday]

Ren... I called the cardio's office and the nurse said for some reason the lab never made it to my chart- she's calling the hospital now and will hopefully call me back with answers today yet.

thanks for the advice... i'll update when she calls back
~Sunnytoday~

[rendean]

My opinion is you need to call the cardio TODAY and tell him you have seen the lab results and are concerned. The potassium is low which could affect your heart.
It's possible he hasn't seen the results yet but either way you need to point it out and get some answers BEFORE your appt.

Ren

[steph74]

I've found a great resource at "lab tests online" (google it as all one word and it should come up as the first link).  It explains what each test does, what abnormal values could mean and why they might be seen.  Not too detailed, but good information.

I found it really helpful when I was badly anemic, because there was a lot of crazy stuff (abnormally shapped RBCs, etc.) going on in my blood, but I was ultimately able to confirm that it was all from low iron.  (I know I should have just trusted my dr., but there was all this wacky stuff that seemed so strange!)

HTH

Stephanie