Bloodwork Results - Slightly Elevated BUN

[PennyPanic 276]

So I went for my normal 6 month check up which includes routine bloodwork. One of the values BUN and consequently, the Creatinine/BUN ratio are out of the normal range. The BUN is one point out of the normal range at 26 but 6-8 points out of what I've had for the past few years

I don't look at my results ever...but my doc is now with a new conglomerate, that has a patient portal that sent me a link with a notice and, of course, I had to look.

I spoke with my doctor and he said that he was not worried. That the results indicated to him that I need to drink more water and that there's nothing indicating kidney disease. 

I should feel better, but I don't.

I'm spiraling.

Please help me.

[Iugrad91 501]

Think about it this way. You see one set of bloodwork results every 6 months, your doctor sees dozens of results every day of the week. Who would know better whether one off result would mean something bad? They know how to interpret results in the big picture. All we can do is look to see whether our number is within the range. 

[Holls 1505]

Penny!!! Oh wow. I had something similar a few years ago. I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with diverticulitis.. well a few months later I saw the report and looked at the blood work they did and my bun was noted and it freaked me out Bec no one said anything to me about my blood work. I went to my primary and we went over past blood results and she said nope not concerned. She said it changes so much with different factors.. like hydration and even if you took Tylenol recently before the test. I also never look at my results I despise portals lol. I ask my Dr my results and I never ever look at any patient portals. 

[PennyPanic 276]

Thanks @Holls I did see your post on that when I was searching the board. I also have another related worry because ...you know..

The eGFR is considered "normal" if it's over 60.

Well, in 2013, mine was 72, then in July of 2019 it was 64 (yikes), then in Jan of 2020 it was 73 and now it's 70. All in the "normal" range but some places on line consider those values at Stage II Kidney disease. What the what?

I didn't ask my doc about those yesterday because I was worried about the BUN and these are all in line. My creatinine has all also always been normal but "high" normal.

So is this "normal for me?" Is this a harbinger of things to come? Have I lost my damn mind? How do I live my life with an eGFR that's not "over 90?" These are the words swirling through my mind all night.

I saw in some of your prior posts that your eGFR was once under 60 and then over 60 later. Did your docs ever comment on that?
 

[Iugrad91 501]

There really is no “high normal” if it’s within range it is normal. Different labs have different ranges so it’s hard to look online and compare your numbers to others. If you took blood every day at different times you would get different results. Again your doctor knows what they are looking for and when to be concerned. Stay off Google and listen to the doc.

[PennyPanic 276]

55 minutes ago, Iugrad91 said:

There really is no “high normal” if it’s within range it is normal. Different labs have different ranges so it’s hard to look online and compare your numbers to others. If you took blood every day at different times you would get different results. Again your doctor knows what they are looking for and when to be concerned. Stay off Google and listen to the doc.

Indeed...I have to get a hold of myself.

[Holls 1505]

30 minutes ago, PennyPanic said:

Indeed...I have to get a hold of myself.

I agree with iugrad91 I researched (googled) like a mad woman over my numbers and when I asked my regular primary Dr she casually said I'm not concerned your numbers are fine. I love and trust my Dr so I let that worry go and I've never looked back or at blood results again lol. Trust your Dr and drop the worry.