Sorry for the interuption, I'm back to pick up where I left off.
You also mentioned your creatinine lab tests - "normal" in Nov, but "down" in Jan.
You said ... "in January Creatinine was 70 and suppose to be greater than 90 " ...
During my trial they took lots of various creatinine and clearance measurements on me too, and some after. Again, my lab may be using dif. normal ref. ranges than your lab, so it will be hard to discuss your results, but first I just wanted to clarify that you DID mean "serum creatinine"?, not kinase.
For "serum creatinine", a normal ref. range of 50 to 90 umol/L is used by most Canadian labs.
I was a wee bit worried about my kidney function when in trial (just because of my past kidney hx), so I tried to figure out all the different kidney function tests they were doing on me, I had to look up all the dif ones each time!(creatinine and clearance, GFRs, BUNs, etc.)
But regarding the "serum creatinine" test (when looking at that test alone), it's my understanding that a significant "low" serum creatinine can just be a temporary fluctuation, caused by something as simple as dehydration, or weight loss (muscles), therefore a low can be way less significant than a "high" serum creatinine. A high serum creatinine can also just be a temporary fluctuation, if serum creatinine runs consistantly too high tho, be assured, they would look into your bloods more, perhaps do a urine test, to make sure your kidney function is good enough for adequate "clearance" of your serum creatinine. So, maybe explains why your docs are not excited about a fluctuation, and or a fluctuation in the range you showed for your serum creatinines?
One other thought (another variable to consider) - did you use the same lab? - sometimes I wonder if you can obtain slightly dif lab results when dealing with dif labs.
I pour over every lab I get!, until I feel satisfied with them, I hope you are feeling good and not fretting about yours! Nothing can feel better than your 2 year SVR ones!
Keep us posted dear, you know we are all ears for you and RC. Love, from your most ardent fans! C.
Canuck said
Apr 12, 2017
Hey Chris,
So glad to hear from you and to know you two are still hanging in there.
Good news, your January 2 year SVR! How we mark these milestones, each and every one, so meaningful they are, in so many ways. Documenting our efforts, struggles, in the good fight for our health.
So, what does your Abbie 5 year follow-up plan consist of? ... every 6 months, or, once per year labs (ultrasound/fibroscan)? My Gilead one is every 6 months with all of the above but with the ultrasound "ad lib" as required. My last ultrasound led to a CAT for which i was grateful to have.
Knowing your labs, and all your medical data is an imporant part of this journey, I believe, the more you are are aware of the better.
You can rest easy knowing you are well cured, and take satisfaction that the whole of your health is being well followed.
Your chols. do not sound too bad, not "perfect", but in N. America how many people have perfect chols.?!! A growing minority I am afraid. Mine tend to the higher side too, and it seems I may have run that way for some time, according to the chols. I've had done (only a couple in the past decade) compared to the ones I have had since my initial dx of HCV in 2015.
I see your lab uses dif ref. ranges than my lab, so, may be hard to compare numbers, but generally I am guessing U.S. chol. range is likely close to Canadian chol. range. "Normal" (wished for) being less than 200. So, your 209 is not too shabby (not very much over 200). For your most recent chol. at 252, my lab uses a range called "borderline", which falls between 201 and 240 - the 240 being considered "borderline high". So, your latest 252 is also not much over a borderline high. My doc always mulls over my chols., importantly, he also always looks at the "balance" of my lipids, compares the "ratio" of the "bad" to "good" chol. as a "worry or not worry" factor. With my triglycerides OK, and a "good balance" (still owning good chol in proportion to the "bad" chol), he seems satisfied enough at where my numbers run even if my total chols. run somewhat over norm. Next chol. test ask if they always do (or will) run the chol "panel", which would include trigycerides, AND, the "ratio" calculation of good to bad chols.
Hm, oops, gotta go, will write more later. glad you posted. C
Tig said
Apr 11, 2017
Hi Chris,
There you are! I have been wondering how life was treating you both. Glad to hear you're still doing well and continuing the SVR life! We can be thankful for that, no doubt!
I wouldn't be concerned about those fluctuations in lab values either. The cholesterol was up, but that drop is a good indication that you've got it on a better course. My wife is taking medication to keep it under control due to an A Fib problem that popped up out of nowhere. So many things are interrelated and one malady brings on another, then another... This growing up stuff can be complicated sometimes!
Give my best to RC and let us know what's happening with his treatment. There are a lot of people here that care. As for you, I want you to stay away from all that good cholesterol rich food! Let's get that down and then we can start talking about some rich and decadent treats!
Be well Chris and do check in often, we miss you two!
Tig
RAGDOLL said
Apr 11, 2017
A little late in posting, but I did achieve 2 years SVR in January 2017. I am on the Abbvie 5 year follow up plan with Viekira Pak. ALT 42 (range less than 55) and AST 32 (range 5-34) according to their lab. So all good there. However, my Cholesterol is still dancing around like the stock market, in January 252 but in November it was 209 at annual physical. What's up with that? Also in January Creatinine was 70 and suppose to be greater than 90 but was normal in November. Who knows...doctors not concerned.
Very greatful that the treatment worked and that I had the opportunity to participate in the trial.
For those who know me and RC we are still alive and taking one day at a time.... and the beat goes on...
Chris,
Sorry for the interuption, I'm back to pick up where I left off.
You also mentioned your creatinine lab tests - "normal" in Nov, but "down" in Jan.
You said ... "in January Creatinine was 70 and suppose to be greater than 90 " ...
During my trial they took lots of various creatinine and clearance measurements on me too, and some after. Again, my lab may be using dif. normal ref. ranges than your lab, so it will be hard to discuss your results, but first I just wanted to clarify that you DID mean "serum creatinine"?, not kinase.
For "serum creatinine", a normal ref. range of 50 to 90 umol/L is used by most Canadian labs.
I was a wee bit worried about my kidney function when in trial (just because of my past kidney hx), so I tried to figure out all the different kidney function tests they were doing on me, I had to look up all the dif ones each time!(creatinine and clearance, GFRs, BUNs, etc.)
But regarding the "serum creatinine" test (when looking at that test alone), it's my understanding that a significant "low" serum creatinine can just be a temporary fluctuation, caused by something as simple as dehydration, or weight loss (muscles), therefore a low can be way less significant than a "high" serum creatinine. A high serum creatinine can also just be a temporary fluctuation, if serum creatinine runs consistantly too high tho, be assured, they would look into your bloods more, perhaps do a urine test, to make sure your kidney function is good enough for adequate "clearance" of your serum creatinine. So, maybe explains why your docs are not excited about a fluctuation, and or a fluctuation in the range you showed for your serum creatinines?
One other thought (another variable to consider) - did you use the same lab? - sometimes I wonder if you can obtain slightly dif lab results when dealing with dif labs.
I pour over every lab I get!, until I feel satisfied with them, I hope you are feeling good and not fretting about yours! Nothing can feel better than your 2 year SVR ones!
Keep us posted dear, you know we are all ears for you and RC. Love, from your most ardent fans! C.
Hey Chris,
So glad to hear from you and to know you two are still hanging in there.
Good news, your January 2 year SVR! How we mark these milestones, each and every one, so meaningful they are, in so many ways. Documenting our efforts, struggles, in the good fight for our health.
So, what does your Abbie 5 year follow-up plan consist of? ... every 6 months, or, once per year labs (ultrasound/fibroscan)? My Gilead one is every 6 months with all of the above but with the ultrasound "ad lib" as required. My last ultrasound led to a CAT for which i was grateful to have.
Knowing your labs, and all your medical data is an imporant part of this journey, I believe, the more you are are aware of the better.
You can rest easy knowing you are well cured, and take satisfaction that the whole of your health is being well followed.
Your chols. do not sound too bad, not "perfect", but in N. America how many people have perfect chols.?!! A growing minority I am afraid. Mine tend to the higher side too, and it seems I may have run that way for some time, according to the chols. I've had done (only a couple in the past decade) compared to the ones I have had since my initial dx of HCV in 2015.
I see your lab uses dif ref. ranges than my lab, so, may be hard to compare numbers, but generally I am guessing U.S. chol. range is likely close to Canadian chol. range. "Normal" (wished for) being less than 200. So, your 209 is not too shabby (not very much over 200). For your most recent chol. at 252, my lab uses a range called "borderline", which falls between 201 and 240 - the 240 being considered "borderline high". So, your latest 252 is also not much over a borderline high. My doc always mulls over my chols., importantly, he also always looks at the "balance" of my lipids, compares the "ratio" of the "bad" to "good" chol. as a "worry or not worry" factor. With my triglycerides OK, and a "good balance" (still owning good chol in proportion to the "bad" chol), he seems satisfied enough at where my numbers run even if my total chols. run somewhat over norm. Next chol. test ask if they always do (or will) run the chol "panel", which would include trigycerides, AND, the "ratio" calculation of good to bad chols.
Hm, oops, gotta go, will write more later. glad you posted. C
There you are! I have been wondering how life was treating you both. Glad to hear you're still doing well and continuing the SVR life! We can be thankful for that, no doubt!
I wouldn't be concerned about those fluctuations in lab values either. The cholesterol was up, but that drop is a good indication that you've got it on a better course. My wife is taking medication to keep it under control due to an A Fib problem that popped up out of nowhere. So many things are interrelated and one malady brings on another, then another... This growing up stuff can be complicated sometimes!
Give my best to RC and let us know what's happening with his treatment. There are a lot of people here that care. As for you, I want you to stay away from all that good cholesterol rich food! Let's get that down and then we can start talking about some rich and decadent treats!
Be well Chris and do check in often, we miss you two!
Tig
A little late in posting, but I did achieve 2 years SVR in January 2017. I am on the Abbvie 5 year follow up plan with Viekira Pak. ALT 42 (range less than 55) and AST 32 (range 5-34) according to their lab. So all good there. However, my Cholesterol is still dancing around like the stock market, in January 252 but in November it was 209 at annual physical. What's up with that? Also in January Creatinine was 70 and suppose to be greater than 90 but was normal in November. Who knows...doctors not concerned.
Very greatful that the treatment worked and that I had the opportunity to participate in the trial.
For those who know me and RC we are still alive and taking one day at a time.... and the beat goes on...
God Bless to you all. CC