Does anyone know...

i3ai3ydanny · #1 March 11th, 2011, 06:44 PM

Okay...here's the scoop. Danny had a ton of bloodwork done a few weeks back and we got the results a few days ago. Several things were outside the normal range but not too far outside, however, his BUN (blood urea and nitrogen) was 36. The allergist said that he may have just been dehydrated because it was a fasting test due to a few others that were fasting tests. From what I can find up to 30 is considered typical for dehydration but he wasn't dehydrated much if at all. His mouth was plenty wet, he peed that morning, etc. It was also only like 8am and he usually doesn't drink much if anything at breakfast anyway. My question is...does anyone know what a normal BUN level is with slight dehydration? If the normal level for children is 5-18 and his was 36 it doesn't seem like slight dehydration would cause that. I will call and ask the naturopath tomorrow as well as asking the allergist on Monday but I am still uncomfortable with that level. It just seems too high for such mild if any dehydration...

daysfancarlymanning · #2 March 11th, 2011, 07:02 PM

I don't know anything about these tests really but to me it does seem high. I wouldn't imagine being slightly dehyrated would cause that much of an increase either. Carly tested positive by 2 points higher then normal for the 17p hydroxyprogesterone test that they run on newborns and it turned out thankfully it was leftover from the shot I had received 2 days prior. That number was slightly higher. 36 seems WELL above what you're saying the normal range is. I'd ask for it repeated. I hope the next test or whatever comes back normal. Your poor boy seems like he's been through so much. He sounds like such a trooper

So unfair what these little kids have to go through just for a diagnosis.

i3ai3ydanny · #3 March 11th, 2011, 07:47 PM

No kidding. A want to correct myself though. It is the BUN to creatinine ratio...not just the BUN.. So the normal range is 7-25 and his is 39.6. It still seems way above normal but I can find no info on what these levels are compared to level of dehydration. I will just call the naturopath tomorrow to try and put my mind at ease...

daysfancarlymanning · #4 March 11th, 2011, 11:50 PM

I agree. The only thing I know about BUN levels are that my old cat had kidney issues and her bun levels were constantly high. They could be stabilized with meds and special foods but never normal. I've never heard about it with humans but it does sound high. I hope you get answers tomorrow from the other dr.

i3ai3ydanny · #5 March 12th, 2011, 07:36 AM

That is what I found also. It is high in humans normally with kidney issues. The naturopath isn't worried though because the ratio is a pretty poor tool normally. He said that it looks like both of Danny's levels (the BUN alone and the creatinine alone) are within normal limits and it is only off because of the "ratio" between them. So basically it is a stupid test that tells you nothing. He just wanted the creatinine alone and the BUN/creatinine because he could figure them both out based on the ratio if he knew one. So basically I shouldn't worry at all.

Sheesh the medical field is crazy these days....

daysfancarlymanning · #6 March 12th, 2011, 12:18 PM

ugh yes ita. they did this with testing carly's amonia level. said it was the higher end of normal but wouldn't tell me the number. Only said it's fine and they keep maintaining that, which leads to still no answers

I'm sorry it's so frustraing and your poor little boy has to take the brunt of all of this. I wish the drs knew what it felt like to be stuck and poked and prodded time and again and scream in pain. they just forge ahead like it's nothing. Makes me so angry.