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So I have my first appointment tomorrow with my Rhumatologists since I got the Gout crystals confirmation by post recently.
I think apart from Gout I seem to be in good health but to have a marker for future years and tests I want to get my kidney, liver functions along with blood sugar properly tested.
My question is would all the three be tested via blood test only or something else is done to test them?
Btw my urine pH level is in 6-8 range apart from the first leak that I take in the morning when it is around 5/5.5 level. What does it mean exactly?
Thanks as always.
VG- On the last point- It's quite usual to have [very] acid urine readings first thing, am.
If you get any over 7 later on in the day, that's good [due to your diet].
I find it impossible to get anywhere near 7 anytime- but a slow lift from acid is usual, through the day.
On the kidneys, a recent check over I had came up with a good GFR, or filtration capability which I didn't even realise I'd been tested for- but the specialist looked pleased- and me a little blank!
Good luck with the testing..
Your post is interesting, and maybe someone with a little medical background can chime in as I just got back from a chiropractic presentation today and they claimed that organ damage cannot be detected until it has been at least 60% damaged. Any truth to this?
cjeezy said:
Post edited 8:08 pm – May 25, 2010 by cjeezy
Your post is interesting, and maybe someone with a little medical background can chime in as I just got back from a chiropractic presentation today and they claimed that organ damage cannot be detected until it has been at least 60% damaged. Any truth to this?
Wiki mentions 60% too…..
Don't understand the text clearly but here it is-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renal_function
Unfortunately, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine will not be raised above the normal range until 60% of total kidney function is lost. Hence, the more accurate Glomerular filtration rate or its approximation of the creatinine clearance are measured whenever renal disease is suspected or careful dosing of nephrotoxic drugs is required.
Liver is easily tested with a simple blood test: about 5 components are tested.
Blood sugar is readily tested with a simple blood glucose measurement but an A1c test is better becausse it measure the glucose that has been tied in to the red blood cells' hemoglobin…and this reflects the blood glucose for the previous couple months…an excellent test that can be taken from the same blood draw. If it's good you do not have diabetes.
Kidney should be tested both by the same simple blood draw and also a urine test which can show cell casts, or blood…both can be indicative of kidney damage.
Make sure to ask for the A1c or you might not get it routinely.
Have your thyroid values measured too…same blood test.
And of course URIC ACID. Don't want to forget that bugger.
And since your a guy…prostate specific antigen. And HIV if you;ve never had it done. And Lyme antibodies if they've never been done.
And HepA, HepB, and HepC… amazing how many things can bedevil us.
Might as well go for H.pylorii antibodies if you've ever had stomach problems.
So except for the urinalysis, all can be learned through a single needle jab.
@Link: …careful dosing of nephrotoxic drugs is required.
Aaah- That explains the medics' relief on GFR result after trying about 12 different BP meds last year- most of which seem to knock the stuffing out of kidneys…
For all the warnings on the labels, this seems a neglected follow up on meds for BP unless pushed for, fairly relentlessly, by the patient.
VegG, you needn't be too concerned about gout causing serious kidney damage, as it is almost always the other way round and the result of other more serious conditions e.g diabetes, malignant hypertension, leukaemia, and the drugs used to combat them: chemo, thiazides etc. This is considered to occur 'very rarely' – usually from obstruction by urate crystals in the ureters or renal tubules and can usually be flushed out using a catheter (bit like unblocking the sink).
So, relax because if you were in any danger of renal failure you would already know about it and gout would be the least of your worries. As Zip says, all will be revealed by the blood tests.
odo said:
VegG, you needn't be too concerned about gout causing serious kidney damage, as it is almost always the other way round and the result of other more serious conditions e.g diabetes, malignant hypertension, leukaemia, and the drugs used to combat them: chemo, thiazides etc. This is considered to occur 'very rarely' – usually from obstruction by urate crystals in the ureters or renal tubules and can usually be flushed out using a catheter (bit like unblocking the sink).
So, relax because if you were in any danger of renal failure you would already know about it and gout would be the least of your worries. As Zip says, all will be revealed by the blood tests.
Thanks Odo. I am worried mainly because my dad who is in his late 70s has Type II diabetes and Gout (for most of his life his diet was not good).
I had such a good and healthy diet and am only in my 30s but already have Gout so I wonder and fear that maybe diabetes is coming next?
Hi Veg,
You’re doing the same thing I did initially and that’s worry about things waaaay to far in the future. There are many many other things out there that can end us a lot faster than diabetes and gout. You seem to have a good grasp on your diet so that should definitely help you.In terms of kidneys, I would think that keeping SUA at a low would help preserve kidney function since urate is not building up in them over years. The only gray area I have in regards to the kidneys (and liver) is how AP will affect them over decades….especially if damage cannot be detected until its 60%+. But again there’s nothing we can do so we need to focus on the present and be greatful that it’s only gout we have.
I got my blood tests done recently as my father has Gout + Type II Diabetes.
My fasting readings were-
Glucose 3.7 (3.9-6.1)
HbA1c 5.6% (4.8-6.0)
Should I worry about my A1c numbers?
Am I walking toward Diabetes too? 
vegetarianGuy said:
Post edited 9:14 am – June 17, 2010 by vegetarianGuy
I got my blood tests done recently as my father has Gout + Type II Diabetes.
My fasting readings were-
Glucose 3.7 (3.9-6.1)
HbA1c 5.6% (4.8-6.0)
Should I worry about my A1c numbers?
Am I walking toward Diabetes too?
No, no worry at all greater than the man on the street; not unless you decide to gain 50 pounds that is.
vegetarianGuy said:
Post edited 9:14 am ? June 17, 2010 by vegetarianGuy
I got my blood tests done recently as my father has Gout + Type II Diabetes.
My fasting readings were-
Glucose 3.7 (3.9-6.1)
HbA1c 5.6% (4.8-6.0)
Should I worry about my A1c numbers?
Am I walking toward Diabetes too?
No need to worry unless you see the trend going up….you are within normal range( I hope it is not like useless SUA range for gouties)….What I find surprising is that your Glucose is below the lower range while A1C is a bit above average ( 5.6 v/s 5.4)….
Interestingly, I get Glucose number near higher end while my A1C was at the lower end of range…sounds funny and fuzzy to see the co-relation between Glucose and A1C. My doctor said that by seeing Glucose numbers, I should control my sweet intake while seeing my A1C numbers, I can eat sweets as much as I want…what a confusion?It's like blood pressure:
A marginally useful measure is a single reading in a doctor's office. An EXTREMELY valuable measure is a daily average taken at home over a 3 month period.
zip2play said:
Post edited 1:38 pm ? June 18, 2010 by zip2play
It’s like blood pressure:
A marginally useful measure is a single reading in a doctor’s office. An EXTREMELY valuable measure is a daily average taken at home over a 3 month period.
I know this is off the Gout track to discuss the A1C but is not A1C supposed to provide the average of glucose in blood serum over a 2-3 months period? My understanding was that it provides a better and more realistic reading than just glucose reading taken at home or lab.
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