Creatinine Levels and Kidney Function
I was finishing up a test only 750mg 12-week cycle when I had to go to the doctor for a check up and he wanted to run bloods as part of the physical while I was there.
I gave bloods 8 days after my last test injection. The bloods came back and my thyroid and liver functions were normal but creatinine level was 1.4, he said this is alarming because the reference range is 0.7 - 1.3. He also said I was dehydrated. I let him know I had been taking creatine and haven’t been drinking the amount of water I should be. I did not mention my history of testosterone use. I dropped the creatine and drank a near a gallon of water a day for the next few weeks then gave bloods again which was 22 days since last injection.
Results came, he said I was hydrated this time, but creatinine was still 1.4. He said there was no change in creatinine and that 1.4 just may be my baseline numbers as I have never ran kidney tests prior to this, but now wants to do a kidney ultrasound and also a kidney urinalysis to check other functions.
I am now 32 days since last injection. Just wondering how long after steroid cessation is your kidney function supposed to normalize? I know for many on cycle the numbers may raise, also working out and taking in a lot of protein may raise creatinine as well. I believe my high creatinine is from AAS use, such as elevated red blood cell count is a side effect.
Anything I can do in the next few weeks to help lower my creatinine levels and helping my overall kidney health before next test? I have searched and read dozens of posts from from this site for keyword “creatinine” and some have suggested drinking cranberry juice — they just didn’t specify an amount.
Have you ever noticed your creatinine levels higher on cycle and then stabilize after being off for a while? Any input is appreciated!
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I know its old post but popped in my hot topics. Creatinine levels always rise for me on AAS. When i had to do bloodwork years ago for DPH my creatinine came back high and first thing she asked was i on steroids. I always kept creatine on hand to show her because she thinks its the same thing and it fooled her and she left me alone. They are different, Creatine is a molecule that provides energy to muscles, while creatinine is a waste product that results from the breakdown of creatine.
I was just searching about this, this am. Got my Bloods back and my creatinine is elevated "1.39" .Doesn't appear to be a large issue, but something i will keep an eye on when it comes to monthly blood tests.
Did you ever get to the bottom of this as to why your creatinine levels were high? Test by itself doesn't normally affect kidneys so had you been using any orals for a while or trenbolone?
Whenever someone that runs gear posts their bloods online, its a red flag when you don't see an elevated creatinine level. It means they are not lifting hard and have no business running gear. Creatinine elevates if you are lifting hard. I went through this with several doctors, until I went to a kidney doc that understood bodybuilding raises it due to muscle tearing down.
Creatinine level for eGFR measurement just seems stupid full stop considering it can be affected by so many variables such as the amount of muscle you carry, how much protein you consume, recent meat you have eaten, if you lift weights or exercise frequently, hydration, OTC medications etc.
For sure buddy - I realise creatinine levels rise as its basically muscle breakdown from training but his were at 1.4 which in the states for kidney eGFR readings is danger territory. Everyone has elevated levels but not to that amount. Think his recent ones were 1.34 too. Best way to know for sure is get the cystatin c test but it can be harder to come by and is also more costly.
Mine were like 1.6. I was told by kidney doc that the range listed for humans is generic, and individuals have their own baseline. Bodybuilders are not in the normal range. She said if I were an 80 year old woman, then she would be concerned. But seeing I was a 230 lb bodybuilder, she shrugged it off. Mine has been elevated for at least 14 years...
I've never not been elevated on creatinine.
Sent you an FR mate :-)
Update to original post to whoever digs this up in the future with a similar problem:
After being off testosterone for four months, my creatinine level returned to a normal range and is now 1.17. All other kidney functions such as BUN and eGFR were normal as well.
Interesting side affect of testosterone use that I never knew about. I am relieved.
Yeah that is strange about the Test by itself!. Guess you would also get a normal reading by just being on TRT level.
I am amazed that Doctors and nurses dont realize people that weight train will have slightly elevated creatinine levels. Which is perfectly fine. But they flag it not realizing this.
AnonSports medicine doctors do know and understand. It's general practitioners/family doctors that usually don't know.
I use a GP (general practitioner) as my PCP (primary care physician) and can schedule blood work through him and see him for various things same day to 3 days of making an appointment. When dealing with sports related injuries that require cortisone shots guided in with ultrasound, draining contusions (my GP will do this too and it's the route I take because I get them done asap), surgeries and physical therapy... I go to an orthopedic sports medicine doctor because dealing with athletes and bodybuilders is what they do. They schedule MRI's, schedule surgery and physical therapy post surgery, chiropractors, give out resistant bands and a sheet of exercises to do at home... sports medicine doctors are on another level. You could have bicep tendinitis and a GP wont really know what it is or what to do and just prescribe anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxers and tell you to rest. A sports medicine doctor will know massage techniques that benefit the tendon and tell you how to train to avoid exacerbating the issue. It's good to have more than one type of doctor.
Had the same problem a few years ago.
To much protein, for me I was cheating the life and using to much powders.
Dropped just protein powders, supplemented cranberry extract, and since drank no less then a gallon a day water.
Now focus on foods w powders used minimumly and times right.
values all in range.
Not to minimize this but the life style of constantly tearing down the body and rebuilding it plus the amount of protien we eat will throw a stick in the blood work area.
I had to prove to my doc that was the case. He was trying to blame a med I was taking. And wouldn't listen. I backed off both food and gym and my levels went back to normal.
The thing about kidneys is they dont heal them selves. If you are actually in stage 3 kidney failure it doesn't go back to normal.
Tweek the diet HYDRATE and see if there is a change
I miss you A LOT mate :-(
AnonMy BUN & creatinine are always a little high. Every time I do bloods. I could be off cycle for months and it's still high. My primary care physician has never said it's a problem.
X2 if not both it’s pretty much always at least one of them. My doc says it’s from lifting and eating a shit ton of protein like Bill’s saying above. Says make sure I’m drinking lots of water.
The last time I went to the hospital they ran bloodwork and at 275g protein and 5g creatine a day both my creatinine and BUN were slightly elevated. The nurse was also a bodybuilder and recommended dropping the creatine as a precautionary measure. He also said that’s too much protein and only eat 1g/lb. which seems low to me. He warned about gear and kidney stress and even admitted to using them but I’ve never used it so he didn’t give me any more info about it.
Just an example of how everyone’s body responds differently to protein, supplements, and training. I had a bout of kidney trouble from a medication and in my experience you will absolutely know if there’s something wrong from the pain.
Molinin302Great experience and great post. Yes our bodies are different and we need to pay attention to the warning signs. Out of curiosity and general good, I'd like to ask what your BP was at the same time. Creatine acts very similar to basic table salt as far as assisting absorbition, and will affect BP as well. Which stresses the kidneys which are a very soft organ. We're you in range? (A guy to ask if you want someone with more knowledge is manateeswimmer, guy is highly educated). Best wishes bro.
My blood pressure? Terrible lol. I had lithium toxicity that led to acute kidney failure and a small lesion on one of my kidneys. Resting heart rate was 145 and BP was around 160/120. I still have to take low dose BP medicine to get it down to normal. The kidneys are so much more interconnected with the cardiovascular system than we thought. The nephrologist said we maybe understand about 5% of it. Based on that I’d say if the creatinine is a little out of range monitor it but if BP is a problem there’s something else going on.
Also check about glucourea. I was actually considered prediabetic from the damage and could be a potential for the OP but hopefully not. Just an extra precaution with high carbs on cycle.
Yeah, I have also read a lot about the correlation between blood pressure and kidney function. My BP has always been 120/60-70.
Molinin302Quick info, I'm sure you probably know but I like to share. High BP is bad, if any of your vessels are weak they risk rupture. We all had the aunt or grandma with varicose veins in legs and feet that eventually had a stroke. Or embolism. This isn't the true danger, the greatest risk of untreated high BP/hypertension, is it basically stretches out your blood vessels. Pushing blood hard and fast, when the hypertension subsides, the vessels become flaccid. Poor diet and certain medications can make the blood thick, visualize big fat red blood cells. Now these stretched out saggy vessels are there for these blood cells to gather. More and more, until... Stroke, myocardial infarction, clot behind the knee. Just be smart guys, see the Doc. (I'm not a Doc)
See above I forgot fasting urine glucose if you haven’t already done that test.
NotNatural23Get a GFR test and BUN also. But your levels are .1 over those could be just normal for you.
NotNatural23See comment above
Molinin302I wish I had something to add, but you're covered well here. And the elevation you have is so close to borderline it's negligible. The numbers are based on a very broad range of ages, races, etc... Very few individuals that do what we do (take the drugs out of it) find their way into these numbers. You're fine bro, but I've never seen much benefit from creatine. It's a great OTC supplement, some swear by it, but was never for me. And it's been proven to be a little tough on the kidneys.
Living4ThePumpTest e-Gfr instead. Creatinine will be elevated in almost all cases of bodybuilders with high protein intakes and chronic muscle damage due to training.
Yeah, that’s kind of what I was thinking. I mean, I don’t feel like my kidneys are going to shit. I kind of assume after using AAS, for some individuals the numbers may be a little off until you’ve recovered.
Guess I will find out whenever I have this ultrasound and additional tests done.
RustyhookerAll atheletes pushing hard have higher levels as sam noted. Protein intake raises it as well.
I was pushing it hard up until the time of the first test. But for those two weeks between first and second test I did not lift a single weight or do any cardio at all. How long do I have to be lazy for it to drop if working out = higher numbers.
Do you have any observations of your own personal creatinine range during all your years in the game?
RustyhookerYiure taking higher levels of protein and a jock. Its natural bro. Relax. Hydrate and enjoy life
There’s a couple tips I can give you.
Hydration can affect that number.
Most importantly. Do not lift 3 days before the test. Muscle breakdown from workouts can cause this.
No prescription meds. I am a fit athletic build, but not someone that you would consider huge. And I didn’t lift at all during the two weeks between the first two tests. I guess I will continue to hydrate in the meantime.
Also I’d like to add that I haven’t ever had any kidney pains or cloudy/discolored urine.
Thanks for the response.