Should i trust this doctor?

Question

Recently have had two blood tests showing i have high potassium, high bun test, and high bun to creatinine ratio, and the doctor says "oh when blood tests are left out too long they can show high potassium and high bun" (BUN relates to kidney function.) I dont know what to do, but i plan to see another doctor, is what this one saying true though?

Answer 1

Not sure but I would recommend a  2nd opinion.

Answer 2

Yes, what he's saying is true.

Also, you should think about what "normal" and "abnormal" tests results are.

"Normal" values were developed by taking a group of health people, let's say 100 for example, and checking their values. You get a bell curve (one that's big in the middle and skinny on the ends--like a bell.) Then for statistics sake they take the middle 95% and call that "normal." So the top 2.5% and the bottom 2.5% of healthy people have "abnormal" results without having any disease.

So if 5% of healthy results are outside the "normal" range, then if you do 20 random blood tests on a healthy person, one of them should alawys be "abnormal."

How abnormal were your results? If your BUN was 27 and the normal range goes to 25, then I wouldn't worry. Eating protein will cause your BUN to go up also. Are you on any kind of diet? Were you fasting for the tests?

High potassium can also be from drawing the blood through a small needle. The increased turbulence pops the cells releasing potassium into the serum.

By all means seek another opinion if you don't have confidence in this doctor.  Without more evaluation--which you will only get from a face to face conversation with a doctor--it's hard to tell if your test results mean anything.

Answer 3

If you have a bad feeling about this doctor go get a second opinion

Answer 4

you should get another opinion.  

as to the "oh when blood tests are left out too long they can show high K+ and high BUN"... sorry, but the answer is NO.

if the blood is hemolyzed it will have a high K+ but the lab will reject it for just that reason.  serum and plasma specimens sit at room temp all day long at both facilities where I work.  If it was an issue the specimens would be stored in the refrigerator immediately after processing.  we repeat tests all the time and see very little variance in results due to sitting at ambient temperature.  the plasma/ serum is separated immediately upon receipt in the lab.  if the plasma/ serum is allowed to sit on the red cells for too long it can affect many of tests... that is why the lab processes the specimens quickly.

you have good reason to be concerned considering the fact that you have had elevated results on 2 separate occasions.

Answer 5

A lab test can show a high K+ (potassium) level if the sample sits for too long, because red blood cells contain K+ and they can lyse (break) and spill K+ into the sample.

I don't know if that could also cause the high apparent BUN (blood urea nitrogen), but I do know that if you were dehydrated at the time the blood was drawn, that could cause it to read high (even though it wouldn't have been if you were properly hydrated).

In any case, your doctor may be completely correct, but it never hurts to get a second opinion or to recheck the results anyway.

Answer 6

Yes, I have heard from the people at the lab at my hospital that leaving a tube out too long can really mess with the potassium results!

Answer 7

hello angleluv! i see you added me to your contacts! well, email me sometime at [e-mail] ok? i have 2 doctors and i think its always a good idea to have two because doctors are people too and they make mistakes.(rarly though) go ahead and let out that deep breath!!