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Question: need opinion elevated potassium
| joe0987
- Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:29 am |
I'm a 45 year old male, hypertensive and on Beta blockers since age 22 (controlled, rarely over 140/90, typically 133/82, lower in evening), taking Lipitor and 1 asperin every day . One year ago my comp metabolic panel came back with elevated potassium ( 5.
8 on a 5.
4 max scale), but the nurse stabbed me good so on the repeat test they were careful and it was 5.
5 on 5.
4 max scale. 6 months ago everything fell into normal range (BUN,
Creatine etc.)
I just had another comp metabolic panel and the nurse had to use a syringe (sp?) to draw my blood; stabbed me really bad ( They historically always have trouble finding my viens).
Now my potassium is elevated again, every thing else was normal. GP wants me to repeat in 1 month.
I am worried about kidney failure because I read about it on the web as a cause of elevated potassium and scared myself because the one test they right did a year ago showed 5.
5.
Am I really at risk for kidney failure?? Should I be evaluated by a nephrologist??
I don't have Diabetes and no one in my family has ever had kidney problems.
|
| Theresa Jones, RN
- Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:54 pm |
 Hi joe0987,
Hypertensive states may affect all body organs. In answer to your question, yes, your kidneys may become affected and an evaluation by a Nephrologist is certainly warranted with periodic follow-ups to be sure that there are no anomalies. My concern is elevated potassium levels may cause complications, for example, Arrhythmia's of the heart. Have your elevated potassium levels been treated? If not I would certainly inquire about this with your physician.
Sincerely,
Rntdj
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