What the heck is CREATININE anyway?

What the heck is CREATININE anyway?



When Scott gets his blood drawn to check the different markers, the one they talk about the most is creatinine.  It is the most commonly used indicator of kidney function.



What is it made of?

Creatinine is a waste product created when our muscles break down through normal wear & tear.  We all have creatinine.  Healthy kidneys filter it out of the blood, put it into our urine, and it leaves our bodies.  When our kidneys aren’t working well, it builds up in our blood.



What is a normal creatinine level?

Creatinine levels can vary based on age, race, and gender.  But there is a “normal” range.  In adult men, normal is 0.6 to 1.2 mg/deciliter.  A person with one kidney might have a level around 1.8-1.9.  A level around 5.0 in adults indicates severe kidney impairment.



Scott is between 6 and 7.



What are the symptoms of a high creatinine level?

Every person is different, but Scott is consistent with what the examples I have read in my research. 

• Feeling dehydrated (drinking a gallon of water a day, but still feeling thirsty)
• Fatigue (needing a 2 hour nap after simply taking a shower)
• Swelling (ankles twice their natural size) 
• Shortness of breath (after walking the length of our house)

Scott’s doctor says he doesn’t know how he was able to continue teaching through the first semester based on his creatinine level.