Doc wants me to stop creatine and protein supplements due to lab results. Help!

[Threxx]

I'm not sure if she just wants me to stop temporarily to compare results or what but her only instructions to far based on my urine and blood labs was to stop taking protein and creatine supplements, increase my water intake, and come in 2 weeks later for follow-up labs.

Do you guys think she just making sure that the reason for my elevated creatinine levels is because of the creatine and not due to poor kidney functions, or should my creatinine levels NOT be elevated regardless of whether or not I'm supplementing with creatine and protein?

Here's my values for reference from my metabolic panel... I'm leaving out a lot of stuff that I don't think is a related value but if you need it to give me a better answer just ask, there's a lot here:
BUN: 22.1 mg/dL (5.0-26.0 normal range)
Creatinine: 1.7 mg/dL (0.5-1.5 normal range)
BUN / Creatinine Ratio: 13.0 (no normal range given)
Total Protein: 7.3 g/dL (normal range 6.0-8.5)

I know I will probably get a good answer to this question from a qualified medical professional in a 2-3 weeks when I go to visit but the anticipation is killing me... I hope she's not going to tell me I have to get off protein and creatine altogether. Especially protein. Or worse yet that she thinks I have some sort of kidney issue.

My hopes are that the elevated creatinine is normal for users of creatine and she simply wants to confirm in a controlled experiment that is why she's seeing that value, and no other reason.

[ZimZim]

I had to get all these tests done, and my diet is good and I take protein and creatine also, but even when I took these my test results were not that high.
How much protein are you getting a day and how much creatine are you taking? Seems like it might be too much man.

EDIT: but I am no dr or health specialist, those are just my opinions based on my experience.

[BULLandTERRIER]

Your real problem is elevated protein,creatinine is just above upper limit and the reason for that is probably insufficient water intake.

[SupremeMMA]

Those numbers do seem pretty high. It sounds to me like she wants to see what your normal kidney functions are without having to process all the protein/creatine you are putting into your body. I would do what she says.. stop taking the protein/creatine and get the follow-up just to make sure everything is alright. Better safe than sorry.

[dbc5]

Dude, listen to your doctor. If she is taking another set of tests, she going to want a comparison. Do as she says, get the second set of tests and see where that leads you.

[Hansolo261]

yeah stop, give it a rest and see what happens

[__AM__]

My hopes are that the elevated creatinine is normal for users of creatine and she simply wants to confirm in a controlled experiment that is why she's seeing that value, and no other reason.

Not at all.I've been consuming creatine for about 1 year (5g a day) & my test results are in the normal range.So is my protein.
Even if everyone here says it's OK don't risk you health for muscle,wait for your specialist's opinion.

[|ceman]

Dude, listen to your doctor. If she is taking another set of tests, she going to want a comparison. Do as she says, get the second set of tests and see where that leads you.

Agreed.

Outcome is one of two major possibilities:

1) You just have to increase your water intake - the kidneys need lots of water and even more when processing lots of protein

2) You might have a medical condition, which to test for properly, you'll have to reduce exogenous strain on your kidneys

Either way, listen to your doc.

[Threxx]

Sorry guys... I accidentally copied down the normal range for protein from the result above it. I edited my original post with the actual normal range for protein, which I am in the middle of.

Still, though, despite being in the middle of the protein range she wants me to quit taking protein supplements, which I'm not doing that much of anyway but I'm going to take this to mean reduce my protein intake. I've been taking in around 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound (200-300 grams and I'm 190 pounds) for the last couple of months.

Believe me I am not going to disobey doctors orders... not looking to do that at all. I'm just kind of curious what you guys think of the results... if you guys have seen creatinine levels get outside of the normal range from taking creatine as well, etc...

Thanks all.

[deserusan]

Supplemental creatine raises creatinine levels which are a marker physicians look at for certain ailments. Basically, if you take creatine the day of or before a test it can sku the results greatly. You can relate to taking mouthwash right before a breathalyzer test. It will sku the results (provided you weren't drunk already and used it to mask the smell...lol) . I did this with CEE once and since it degrades almost immediately into creatine my "crit" levels were through the roof. She's right in saying you should lay off so she can get an accurate reading. Don't worry my friend, it's to your benefit.

[user19]

Does creatine supplementation cause your natural production to shut down??.. I've been taking White Flood and Green Mag and been researching ALOT more on creatine and still dont understand it 100%.. is it potentially dangerous to your organs?.. Kidney's especially??
-Been considering to stop my stack. i take torrent post workout to. So i only use half a scoop of green mag before my workout.

[__AM__]

Does creatine supplementation cause your natural production to shut down??.. I've been taking White Flood and Green Mag and been researching ALOT more on creatine and still dont understand it 100%.. is it potentially dangerous to your organs?.. Kidney's especially??
-Been considering to stop my stack. i take torrent post workout to. So i only use half a scoop of green mag before my workout.

Creatine supplementation is not supported by scientific community (not the shady industry scientists) but I haven't seen proven side-effects of normal dosage supplementation.

[raw72034]

Supplemental creatine raises creatinine levels which are a marker physicians look at for certain ailments. Basically, if you take creatine the day of or before a test it can sku the results greatly. You can relate to taking mouthwash right before a breathalyzer test. It will sku the results (provided you weren't drunk already and used it to mask the smell...lol) . I did this with CEE once and since it degrades almost immediately into creatine my "crit" levels were through the roof. She's right in saying you should lay off so she can get an accurate reading. Don't worry my friend, it's to your benefit.

Taking mouthwash before a breathalyzer doesn't skew those results. A breathalyzer is measured from the intestines...not the mouth.

[jblaze4lif]

Taking mouthwash before a breathalyzer doesn't skew those results. A breathalyzer is measured from the intestines...not the mouth.

wrong ...

"Alcohol* is not digested upon absorption, nor chemically changed in the bloodstream. As the blood goes through the lungs, some of the alcohol moves across the membranes of the lung's air sacs (alveoli) into the air, because alcohol will evaporate from a solution -- that is, it is volatile. The concentration of the alcohol in the alveolar air is related to the concentration of the alcohol in the blood. As the alcohol in the alveolar air is exhaled, it can be detected by the breath alcohol testing device. Instead of having to draw a driver's blood to test his alcohol level, an officer can test the driver's breath on the spot and instantly know if there is a reason to arrest the driver. "

but either way .. mouth wash isn't going to do jack **** to skew a Breathalyzer test

[xoxx]

If thats urnine protein level, It has no correlation to the amount of whey protein you intake.
Thats whay my doc said.

[wakingmalice]

If thats urnine protein level, It has no correlation to the amount of whey protein you intake.
Thats whay my doc said.

qft.

if you piss out too much protein its an internal problem, not a consumption problem.

[__AM__]

qft.

if you piss out too much protein its an internal problem, not a consumption problem.

It can be a consumption problem if you overdose.Your body can digest only so much.

[wakingmalice]

It can be a consumption problem if you overdose.Your body can digest only so much.

maybe if your in the upwards of 700 grams. but i believe a consumption of 2x your bw in protein doesnt show abnormal results. i know this because, i consume that much protein, and have normal results and my brother, not a bodybuilder, eats like ****, has elevated protein in his urine probably not even taking in 100 grams a day.

[TheStiffmeister]

I'm not sure if she just wants me to stop temporarily to compare results or what but her only instructions to far based on my urine and blood labs was to stop taking protein and creatine supplements, increase my water intake, and come in 2 weeks later for follow-up labs.

Do you guys think she just making sure that the reason for my elevated creatinine levels is because of the creatine and not due to poor kidney functions, or should my creatinine levels NOT be elevated regardless of whether or not I'm supplementing with creatine and protein?

Here's my values for reference from my metabolic panel... I'm leaving out a lot of stuff that I don't think is a related value but if you need it to give me a better answer just ask, there's a lot here:
BUN: 22.1 mg/dL (5.0-26.0 normal range)
Creatinine: 1.7 mg/dL (0.5-1.5 normal range)
BUN / Creatinine Ratio: 13.0 (no normal range given)
Total Protein: 7.3 g/dL (normal range 6.0-8.5)

I know I will probably get a good answer to this question from a qualified medical professional in a 2-3 weeks when I go to visit but the anticipation is killing me... I hope she's not going to tell me I have to get off protein and creatine altogether. Especially protein. Or worse yet that she thinks I have some sort of kidney issue.

My hopes are that the elevated creatinine is normal for users of creatine and she simply wants to confirm in a controlled experiment that is why she's seeing that value, and no other reason.

wow that is a high creatinine level even if you are on creatine. did you have a basic metabolic pannel with 8 labs on it? how was the rest of it? were you adequately hydrated? i say stop the creatine, increase fluids and see what it says then.

[deserusan]

Taking mouthwash before a breathalyzer doesn't skew those results. A breathalyzer is measured from the intestines...not the mouth.

but either way .. mouth wash isn't going to do jack **** to skew a Breathalyzer test

Have you ever tried it? I have and Listerine does indeed skew it. It contains a high amount of alcohol at around 27% alcohol. It's also confirmed by research.

JAMA. 1993 Dec 22-29;270(24):2955-6.

[fireman+scott]

I had blood draw for my Dept and my results were:

Bun-21 normal(5-26)

Creatinine-1.24 normal(0.76-1.27)

Bun/Creatinine-17 normal(8-27)

Total Protien-7.1 normal(6.0-8.5)


The Doc didnt say anything bout the levels, and mine are in the range or higher than yours, huh makes me think i may need another opinion

[fireman+scott]

Hey guys i went back and looked at my results since 04, and they are all about the same give or take a point or two lower sum years. Usally if there is a high range the results are flagged on our results. I 've been taken creatine on and off for 10yrs and i drink plenty of water, so i will just monitor it.

[TheStiffmeister]

its weird guys.

my BUN is high due to a high protein diet (~300g a day). my BUN i believe was around 29.

my creatinine at that time was 0.96 though.

recently i had creatinine levels done but was taking creatine it showed as 1.3. kinda scary but the whole blood sample was messed up b/c the rbc's had lysed bc quest left the sample out. i had them repeated a few days later and made sure i was adequately hydrated. my creatinine levels were then at 1.0 which is what you want to be at.

[__AM__]

its weird guys.

my BUN is high due to a high protein diet (~300g a day). my BUN i believe was around 29.

my creatinine at that time was 0.96 though.

recently i had creatinine levels done but was taking creatine it showed as 1.3. kinda scary but the whole blood sample was messed up b/c the rbc's had lysed bc quest left the sample out. i had them repeated a few days later and made sure i was adequately hydrated. my creatinine levels were then at 1.0 which is what you want to be at.

Did you drink water 12 hours prior to your test?

[TheStiffmeister]

Did you drink water 12 hours prior to your test?

who the hell wouldn't drink water 12 hours before the test.

the test is not influenced by water. you are thinking about eating with regards to glucose test. glucose wasn't the issue. you should always maintain adequate hydration. all my labs came back normal including sodium, chloride, and potassium.

drink water in the day as well.

[__AM__]

who the hell wouldn't drink water 12 hours before the test.

the test is not influenced by water. you are thinking about eating with regards to glucose test. glucose wasn't the issue. you should always maintain adequate hydration. all my labs came back normal including sodium, chloride, and potassium.

drink water in the day as well.

Some tests require that you fast (abstain from food and drink) for a certain period of time before blood tests.I'm not sure if testing for creatinine/protein is one of them.

[quank]

her only instructions to far based on my urine and blood labs was to stop taking protein and creatine supplements, increase my water intake, and come in 2 weeks later for follow-up labs.

how much water were you drinking on a daily basis before going to the Doctor?

[Threxx]

how much water were you drinking on a daily basis before going to the Doctor?

You know I honestly don't remember. I usually do a pretty good job of drinking water relative to the average person... but the doctor did ask me to drink 'plenty' of water for the week leading up to the test and I might not have done the best job of that.

I've set as my goal, starting a couple days ago up until I get re-tested in a couple of weeks, to drink at least 1 gallon of pure water a day. Think that should be enough? I mean hopefully it's not enough to skew the test results to show that I'm healthy when I'm actually not?

[chasinSKURT]

Taking mouthwash before a breathalyzer doesn't skew those results. A breathalyzer is measured from the intestines...not the mouth.

A breathalyzer is measured from the intestines???

No