My 88-year-old Mom (one month post-partial hip replacement) saw her PCP last week and he did bloodwork to check a few things like low hemoglobin level. His office called and said all was within normal range. When I was finally able to check the results online through the patient portal, I was shocked! Most of the red blood cell numbers were out of whack including hemoglobin which was 10 and her potassium level was a sky-high 5.9! At the hospital her potassium was not even that high and they made her drink that stuff that binds to the potassium and is excreted in stool. I know from past experience with my Dad, a high potassium level is dangerous and could lead to a heart attack. I called the PCP's office but, of course, he left early since it was Friday. His nurse ASSURED me that someone would get back to me TODAY. Right. Didn't happen. Supposedly the doctor on call would review the numbers and let me know what should be done. I am mad enough right now to spit fire and certainly angry enough to change to a different primary care doctor. Did her PCP not even look at the test results? How could he say a 5.9 potassium level is normal??! Not sure what to do about this. Mom has been lethargic and has no appetite to speak of. I'm trying to encourage her to drink water but am at a loss as to what to do now. Any suggestions?
Why is her potassium elevated? Does she have kidney disease or taking an ace inhibitor? Some people get a high potassium from an ace inhibitor as well.
Ask them to repeat the potassium level. Sometimes the way the specimen is drawn and if not spun or refrigerated soon enough a process called hemolysis occurs causing the red blood cells to burst & increase the potassium level and the result would be a false (can’t remember if it would make the potassium result higher or lower). Often the lab will note this on the result sheet as “incomplete separation of serum and cells”.
A HGB at 10 post op is not too low meaning they won’t transfuse her. What was it before surgery? Red blood cells are made in large bone marrow (especially the femur) and the femur is manipulated during hip surgery as well.
Make sure too that she avoids high potassium foods like tomatoes, OJ, oranges, potatoes and bananas.
Keep us posted.
But I can fully understand why you would want to speak with the doctor to help clarify that chart readings.
There's an excellent source for interpreting lab results, of any nature. I'll see if I can find it. I used it to check out my results whenever blood work was done.
Another thing - do you have the lab report, and if so does it indicate which results are not within the normal parameters?
The PCP's office called this morning (Monday) and said he wanted her to come in to check the level again. Wait a minute......he was NOT concerned when he "supposedly" reviewed the results but now wants a re-draw?? I told the person who called that I was still waiting for a callback from their office that I was promised would come last Friday afternoon! Crickets chirping on the other end of the line. I will take her back today to get another blood draw. Bless her heart! She must be feeling like a pin cushion by now.
Good work checking out the mg of potassium in her Centrum. Also avoid salt substitutes as they often are high in potassium as well.
I immediately thought she had chronic kidney disease (CKD), curious to know what her eGfr is? Glad you got them to recheck.