Got my blood test back...

These were the results (they came back by mail):

Blood Count - Normal
Blood Sugar - 85 (Normal)
Potassium - 5.9 (Abnormal - High)
Kidney function test - 0.9 (Normal)
Liver Enzymes - Normal
Sodium - 144 (Normal)
Calcium - 10.7 (High but Normal?)

I was wondering what to do about the potassium and calcium... is that a bad thing? I'm not like... downing bananas and I rarely if ever drink much milk or have a lot of dairy. I was actually pretty surprised that my sodium level was normal considering that I get WELL over the recommended amount .

If there's anyone out there with experience in this type of thing, any help you we appreciated :D Thanks!!

P.S. All of my stats can be found in my profile.

High potassium is actually very dangerous to your heart!! I know of mulitple people who have almost died from complications - not to scare you! I'm sure they would've called if they were very concerned. But you should look up a list of high potassium foods and try to avoid them for awhile. =)

I was just reading up on that actually... My dear sweet chicken seems to be included in that list :( Maybe that's where I'm getting so much of it. I use tyson boneless skinless chicken as my main source of protein and its my dinner 2-3 nights/week.

*EDIT*

As far as the potassium goes, does anyone know what the regular range is? Am I really far out of it or could it have just been a borderline fluke? I'm reading that the walls of the red blood vessels can be ruptured upon having the blood withdrawn and that causes the release of excess potassium - if its borderline, could that have been a factor? I definitely want to bring those levels down if there really is an issue there..

I doubt that the chicken alone, 2-3 nights a week would cause your potassium level to be considered abnormal-high, i would guess that it would have to be several things and probably something(s) that you eat daily.  although it might just be the way your body processes potassium and short of cutting things like your chicken out of your diet your potassium levels would remain high.

I would definitely call and speak with your doctor and see if they cant give you a more in depth/better answer and solution to lower your potassium level.

edit

just saw your edit, and a quick search turned up this info:

The normal range is 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L *(looks like you're just above the normal range)*

a bunch of info about potassium levels can be found here:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/artic le/003484.htm

Thank you dybo, I'll definitely check that out. I've got an appointment with my doctor in a week or so for something unrelated, but when I go in, I will definitely bring this up to him and see what he thinks.

I really appreciate the help you guys - I'm just completely ignorant on this subject, short of the last 10 minutes of research.

Hey, I'm a nurse on a cardiac floor at a local hospital. Like your friend said, normal potassium level is around 3.5-5(depending on the hospital/lab). You're level is high, If you were my pt.(already sick in a hospital), I would be calling a doctor to notify him of the result. But you're healthy otherwise, and the other important labwork looks great. I would so, make sure that you avoid high potassium foods, don't forget lite salt, they have a lot of potassium in it. Which is fine for most people as long as their potassium levels are fine. I did want to add that the lab reports (on the results) if the blood work was hemolized(spelled correctly?), which is when the specimen is thick in some areas, and can cause false results, like a high potassium result. Are you on Yaz, that also can cause a high potassium level in some people. Anyway, I hope that helps, if your doctor isn't worried and calling you himself(or herself), then I would just talk to them at your appointment, and be aware of your foods till then. Lisa

Lisa - Thank you so much; that puts my mind much more at ease. I am on no medication of any kind (I've never been big on taking medicine... I guess I figure that that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger. Unless it hurts a lot... like wisdom teeth :P), and have never had any hospitalize-able sickness or injury. I'll definitely cut back on a lot of the salt, and see if the doctor thinks that a second test or any other measure of action might be a good idea.

Laur - I don't know, honestly. I was having some upper abdominal pains that were just horrible after every time I'd eat. They thought it was my gall bladder, but after all of the tests came up clear (with the exception of this potassium bit), I realized I would only get it within 24 hrs of exercising (which I was doing every 2 days). I was just vastly overdoing it when I was going to work out (which was a new thing at the time). Anyway, I never would have had one if not for that. I'd say maybe 20? 24? You have to have them when you get pregnant to have children, which for most people is 25-32ish.

I'm 28, and this is the first time my doctor has recommended that i get routine bloodwork at my next physical. I had bloodwork, of course when I had appendicitis and when I had my baby, but other then that, I just had drug tests pre emplyment. Good luck everyone!

Tyson meat in incredibly processed, highly manipulated food... I would not be surprised if that's where your abnormalities are coming from, and I would expect it if you eat ot that often.

First, it is important for adults to have there routine lab checked, if its normal it doesn't need to be yearly. There are instances when normal healthy young people get diagnosed with something from these routine screenings. I am a nurse and I worked in a pedicatric/internal medicine office for the last 2 years. The doctors I worked for did screen regularly young patients. In fact about a year ago we did a screen on a young thin healthy girl about 21 and found that she had severly high cholesterol levels, just because you eat healthy doesn't mean you are immune to this, it can also be heriditary.

Second, many things can cause certain things in your blood test to be abnormal. Not just medications but also illness. I eat  a diet very rich in potassium and take a daily vitamin, I also take a medication that can increase potassium levels and I still have a low potassium.

Third, the salt that was reffered to previously was the salt substitues. They are mainly potassium.

You may be running slightly higher and that could be normal for you, it could have been a false reading as well. I gather that someone from the doctors office gave you these results? I am guessing that the doctor would have given that person instructions to review this with you if he was concerned.

If you are still uneasy call on Monday and ask to speak with his nurse. She can give you a little more information and if there are any concerns on her part she will speak to the doctor for you.

Good Luck, hope everything turns out well for you.

Or you could have a kidney problem.