#Low creatinine

[kidneytreatment01]

Recognising Creatinine Levels: An All-Inclusive Guide to Renal Health

Recognising Creatinine Levels: An All-Inclusive Guide to Renal Health

Kidneys are the vital organ that is responsible for removing extra fluids and waste from our blood, controlling blood pressure, and ensuring the balance of electrolytes. If kidney function is impaired, it causes kidney disease, which affects millions of people across the globe. Kidney diseases can be caused by a range of reasons, and diagnosis usually involves analyzing levels of creatinine in blood. The presence of high levels of creatinine may indicate kidney issues, and if not treated, kidney diseases can cause serious health problems.

Kidney Diagnosis and High Creatinine

The kidney disease diagnosis usually requires a series of tests, among which is assessing the level of creatinine in blood. Creatinine is a waste product created by muscles and then removed by kidneys. If the kidneys function optimally, they can maintain constant levels of creatinine. But, when kidney function is affected, and creatinine levels rise, it can be a sign of a decline. The presence of high levels of creatinine in the blood may indicate decreased kidney function, which could indicate an underlying kidney problem. The most common tests to determine levels of creatinine include urine and blood tests, with the estimated glomerular filter rate (eGFR) as an important indicator of kidney function.

High Creatinine Side Effects

The presence of high levels of creatinine is often an indication of kidney disease and may cause a wide range of uncomfortable and even life-threatening symptoms. Common side effects of high creatinine include:

The kidneys try to eliminate waste and keep electrolytes in balance; it could result in exhaustion and loss of energy.

Swelling: Kidneys play a vital role in maintaining our body's fluid equilibrium. If they're not functioning properly, extra fluid may build up and cause swelling, especially around the ankles, feet, and face.

Kidneys are a major factor in controlling blood pressure. If they're not functioning properly and their blood pressure rises, it can lead to and lead to hypertension.

Anemia: The kidney's function is impaired. It can affect the red blood cell production. This can result in anemia. This may cause weakness and fatigue.

Nausea and vomiting creatinine levels can cause the accumulation of waste materials in the bloodstream, which can cause sickness and nausea.

Itching: Kidney issues can cause the accumulation of substances that are not needed in the bloodstream, causing itching, skin itching, and rashes.

Natural Remedies for Kidney

Many people are looking into alternative treatments for kidney especially natural remedies for kidney disease. It's important to talk with a medical professional prior to commencing any kidney treatment. Natural remedies for kidney problems are:

Dietary changes: A diet containing less processed foods, salt, and saturated fats may help reduce the strain on kidneys. In addition, consuming more fresh vegetables and fruits can supply essential minerals and vitamins as well as support kidney health.

Hydration: Keeping hydrated is vital for good kidney health. A proper hydration regimen helps your kidneys eliminate waste and toxins. It is vital to regulate the amount of hydration you consume and to avoid excessive hydration since this can stress the kidneys.

Regular exercise: Keeping the right weight and completing regular physical exercise can aid in reducing blood pressure as well as improve kidney function in general.

Homeopathic Kidney Treatment

Kidney Treatment by homeopathy is a complete method of treatment that concentrates on enhancing the body's inherent healing capabilities. Homeopathic remedies are made by diluting natural substances. They are believed to work by stimulating the body's vital energy to restore equilibrium. Certain homeopathic remedies are utilized to help support kidney health and relieve symptoms of kidney disease. The remedies are tailored depending on the individual's symptoms and the constitution.

[mariaofdoranelle]

Maria plz bring back the booty call i need it to continue

Your wish is my command, Nonnie! <33

The Booty-Call Dare - part 3

Written for @throneofglassmicrofics, July prompt “Healing”

Part 1 | Part 2

Warnings: idiots idioting

Words: 1064 (sorry!!!!)

The decision to put Rowan’s key in separate keychains from her car and apartment was much more emotional than logistical, Aelin thought as she searched the bottom of her big work purse at his apartment door.

Having Rowan’s key was okay, a rational decision, but having it along with her own felt like too much. Looking after him while he healed from two broken ribs was inevitable—Aelin had work most of the day, but she was still the person he was closest with in town—this wasn’t what she was confused about.

She knocked on the door before opening it to make her presence known, just to be sure.

“Over here,” he called from the kitchen.

Aelin thought she loved that pre-hookup anticipation, but that hour of wait became a whole week, two more to come—the situation brought a queasy feeling in her stomach, always skipping between overjoyed and terrified.

In the kitchen, Aelin found her friend in a clumsy attempt to clean a white powder off the floor with a broom, an open jar of creatinine on the counter before him.

“Rowan Whitethorn,” Aelin said slowly, in a low but chastising tone. “You’re not allowed anywhere near a broom… or the gym!”

“I’m not! I—“ Rowan paused under her pointed look, busted between a broom and gym supplements. He sighed. “Have I told you how much I hate this?”

Aelin came closer to hug him, and decided to give him a leap of faith—he’d mentioned before taking creatinine even on his days off the gym, and he wouldn’t be stupid enough to exercise with two broken ribs. These days of rest were taking a toll on him, she knew for a fact that Rowan hated feeling useless.

She pecked his lips. “My poor baby.” A few strokes on his cheek as Aelin struggled not to laugh. “Is all this rest stressing you out?”

“Not funny,” Rowan grumbled. Still, he leaned in to give her a warm kiss, biting her lips. “But I like this.”

“You like what?”

“When you call me ‘baby.’”

Shit. Those butterflies again.

Pesticides. Fly swatters. Nets. She needed to kill those butterflies because being with Rowan romantically, much like their friendship, felt too easy, too safe—too dangerous, risking the fall when their booty-call was fulfilled and she was left with nothing.

It was supposed to be a no-strings-attached hookup, and now they’ve been chastely canoodling for a week. It was the longest she’s ever waited before having sex with someone—this was an okay time, but they’ve been seeing each other daily, and Aelin never waited seven dates to sleep with a guy.

Does it count as a date if you’re dining together and kissing while waiting to fulfill a no-strings-attached booty-call?

“I’ll call you that again…” Aelin slid her hands from his head to his shoulders. “If you let me clean this mess. And wash your hair.”

Aelin didn’t miss the slightly greasy aspect of it, or the reason for it—his arm movements being limited due to the fracture.

Rowan ducked his head, his cheeks gained an adorable reddish color. When she looked at him, all thoughts and doubts that were floating around her like dust settled back down, and she only had half a mind to worry—Rowan was either kissing her thoughts away or driving her insane with his stubbornness.

Rowan opened his mouth to argue, but experience stopped him.

He doesn’t want to “take advantage” of her help.

She’s doing it whether he likes it or not.

They’ve had this conversation many times, in many ways this week.

To soften the blow to his feeling worthless, Aelin pressed their foreheads together and said in a sultry tone, “Wait for me in the tub, will ya?”

Rowan looked down at his torso and let out a pained breath. “Just so you know, this is not how I pictured you and me in the tub for the first time.”

Aelin chuckled and kissed his cheek before shipping him off to the bathroom. The creatinine mess was quick to clean, but she stayed a bit longer to assess things. His house was suspiciously clean. Too clean for someone who wasn’t supposed to do most house chores.

At the bathroom, she found him already dunked in water, patiently waiting. Aelin sat at the head of the tub and grabbed the bottle he’d strategically placed close to her: 2 in 1: shampoo & conditioner, the bottle said, before a huge picture of a pine tree. A huge upgrade from his ‘one soap for everything’ system.

“Very high-end stuff. Are you opening a hair salon, Buzzard?”

“I’ve got this little tuft now.” Rowan pointed at the short strands on the top of his head. “Gotta take care of it.”

Aelin had barely begun to massage his scalp when his eyes fell blissful closed, a serene, close-lipped smile on his lips.

“You’re no better than a house cat,” she said, massaging his head. He let out a low noise in his throat that might very well have been a purr.

It happens in moments like this, when Aelin looks at him and his mere existence sends her dangerous thoughts like Oh my God, I think I like you. It wouldn’t be a problem, as long as she found metaphorical pesticides to kill the butterflies soon.

Fingers in his hair, she leaned down to peer at his face. “Is this when you assume you’re better off telling me if you can’t do something?”

However, Rowan took advantage of their proximity to tug her face closer for a messy kiss. The position was a little awkward at first, but it got better when Aelin moved to his side, sitting on the edge of the tub.

Rowan’s kiss was slow, he hungrily explored her mouth with a rough touch on her hips. The fire he ignited under her skin made her melt into a needy puddle under his touch. Aelin kissed and nipped the skin of his neck, then went back to his mouth, pressing herself against him. It was only when they broke the kiss that she realized his wet body dampened her white shirt, making it near transparent—

“Fuck,” Rowan muttered under his breath, eyes on her torso before he sneaked his hands under Aelin’s shirt, one hand holding her waist and the other teasing her breast through the lace bra.

She moaned into the kiss and leaned closer to Rowan, but that single movement made her lose her balance; in the next moment, Aelin had fallen into the bathtub.

If she and Rowan couldn’t keep it together, the cold water did the trick and tampered the mood, Aelin realized as she laughed it off.

Rowan tugged her closer for a cuddle and kissed the top of her head, knowing they’d just found themselves on the verge of a forbidden strenuous activity.

One week down, two more to go. Aelin would never admit that the wait wasn’t so bad.

You can get notified when I update by either turning notifications on for @mariaofdoranelle-fics or entering my (sometimes glitchy) tag list!!

TAG LIST

@aelinchocolatelover

@autumnbabylon

@bookcide

@booksandteaonarainydayislife

@cookiemonsterwholovesbooks

@courtofjurdan

@dreamer-133

@elentiyawhitethorn

@elizarikaallen

@emily-gsh

@empress-ofbloodshed

@fangirlprincess09

@goddess-aelin

@gracie-rosee

@leiawritesstories

@lululululululuop

@nayaniasworld

@renxzs

@rowanaelinn

@s-uppertime

@sarahjswift

@staghorn-mountains

@superspiritfestival

@swankii-art-teacher

@thegreyj

@throneofus7

@violet-mermaid7

@wishfulimaginings

[opabiniawillreturn]

here's a perfect example of how medical misogyny kills women

for anyone who can't watch the video, he's basically saying that high levels of creatinine can indicate kidney problems, which is why it's key feature for determining who needs a liver transplant first. the issue with this is that it doesn't account for creatinine-to-muscle ratios, meaning that men typically have artificially higher numbers because they typically have more muscle mass. while women's numbers may look low, they're actually high in relation to their muscle mass. basically, the system was designed based on male bodies

[flyonthewallmedstudent]

Psittacosis

Let's open with a case report, like we're on an episode of house.

Case Report

35 yo otherwise well, suddenly presents with 2/52 of high fevers and a headache (usually this means > 39)

a/w chills and rigours, responsive to medication/presumably panadol and intermittent (would resolve then come back)

no respiratory symptoms

She had neutrophilia and intrestingly, a CRP of merely 30.

CXR revealed nonspecific consolidation in 2 lobes, they followed this up with a CT revealing pretty impressive ground glass opacities (or GGOs)

She was empirically treated on IV tazocin only (I'm used to atypical coverage empirically started if there's even a whiff of resp, which she may not have had symptoms but her CXR confirms this)

eventually she was on referred to the authors, who felt her CT findings with consistent with psittacosis and treated her with doxycycline which resolved her symptoms in 48 hrs

on further history, it was revealed that she had parrots at home, one had died 2 days preceding her symptoms and she was sleeping next to its body at night (crazy)

What is it:

psittacosis is a zoonoses (transmitted by animals, animals = reservoirs), in this case, transmitted by birds. Orthinoses if birds in general, but psittacosis if referred to macaws, parrots etc. YOu can also catch it from chickens and turkeys.

Some what related is Bird fancier's lungs. Which just sounds fancy.. I'm sure it's just an old term.

Bird fancier's lung refers to a hypersensitivty pneumonitis (ILD) caused by bird exposure. DIfferent disease process, but birds is the come denominator. INhaled bird particles

Psittacosis specifically refers to the infective disease process caused by a bacteria. It was 'identified" or reported in the 1870s, when a cluster of 7 swiss patients developed the same symptoms and found to have possessed tropical birds.

Similarly, in the 1930s there was an outbreak in the US with a mortality of up to 20% (80% in pregnant women), also attributed to parrots from South America.

Eventually, with further scientific development, the causative pathogen was identified as chlamydia psittaci, an atypical intracellular organism.

Psittacosis is a significant differential to consider in community acquired pneumonia as it has a high mortality if left untreated. But it is rare, and causes about 1% of cases in the US. Part of this is due to improved hygiene practices and strict importation guidelines of tropical birds.

It's spread through the inhalation of dust with either dried faeces or respiratory secretions from infected birds.

Clinical features

Variable! but the key thing on history is birds

incubation time can be anywhere from 2 days to 20

Flu-like (fevers/chills/myalgias/arthralgias/malaise/headache)

high fevers is key

respiratory symptoms - does not always present as per the case report, and can be mild on spectrum (dry cough) to more severe

if systemic, can also get photophobia, deafness and epistaxis

Rare (particularly where doxycycline or azith are prescribed at a low threshold): hepatosplenomegaly (look out for LFTs), GI symptoms (remember CAP can present with diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting --> always do a CXR)

even rarer: endocarditis or myocarditis, encephalitis or hepatitis (usually the complications of untreated disease)

Increased risk groups:

pet shop owners

bird owners

farmers

zoo, lab workers where birds are kept, vets, avian quarantine station workers

poultry handlers/workers

So ask if they live or work with birds, or had recent exposure.

INvestigations

serology is gold standard - so looking for antibodies in blood tests

it's intracellular - so hard to culture if even possible on standard blood cultures

elevated ESR/CRP may see LFT derangement and creatinine rise in systemic illness

CXR- usually lower lobe changes, if CT is done, you can get pulmonary infiltrates with GGOs

Treatment:

usual culprits for atypical coverage: azithromycin 3 days or doxycycline 100 mg BD for 14/7

Differentials

always broad if systemic features only (also consider IE and other causes of sepsis)

with resp symptoms - legionella, Q fever, mycoplasma, tularaemia (except for tularaemia, the rest are also covered by doxycycline)

In clinical practice, I'm so used to just having atypicals on board for any cases of atypical pneumonia. I really take it for granted. But will consider this differential more myself in cases of PUO - but I feel like there should be at least CXR findings regardless.

Anyway, prognosis is very good so long as it is treated.

Sources:

CDC guidelines

Case Report: Importance of Clinical history in Psittacosis

StatPearls

Wiki

[mcatmemoranda]

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Refer to rheumatologist.

●Nonpharmacologic measures – Nonpharmacologic measures, such as patient education, psychosocial interventions, and physical and occupational therapy, should be used in addition to drug therapy. Other medical interventions that are important in the comprehensive management of RA in all stages of disease include cardiovascular risk reduction and immunizations to decrease the risk of complications of drug therapies.

●Initiation of DMARD therapy soon after RA diagnosis – We suggest that all patients diagnosed with RA be started on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy as soon as possible following diagnosis, rather than using antiinflammatory drugs alone, such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids (Grade 2C). Better outcomes are achieved by early compared with delayed intervention with DMARDs.

●Tight control of disease activity – Tight control treatment strategies to "treat to target" are associated with improved radiographic and functional outcomes compared with less aggressive approaches. Such strategies involve reassessment of disease activity on a regularly planned basis with the use of quantitative composite measures and adjustment of treatment regimens to quickly achieve and maintain control of disease activity if targeted treatment goals (remission or low disease activity) have not been achieved. (

●Pretreatment evaluation – Laboratory testing prior to therapy should include a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), aminotransferases, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine. Patients receiving hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) should have a baseline ophthalmologic examination, and most patients who will receive a biologic agent or Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor should be tested for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Screening for hepatitis B and C should be performed in all patients. Some patients may require antiviral treatment prior to initiating DMARD or immunosuppressive therapy, depending upon their level of risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation.

●Adjunctive use of antiinflammatory agents – We use antiinflammatory drugs, including NSAIDs and glucocorticoids, as bridging therapies to rapidly achieve control of inflammation until DMARDs are sufficiently effective. Some patients may benefit from longer-term therapy with low doses of glucocorticoids.

●Drug therapy for flares – RA has natural exacerbations (also known as flares) and reductions of continuing disease activity. The severity of the flare and background drug therapy influence the choice of therapies. Patients who require multiple treatment courses with glucocorticoids for recurrent disease flares and whose medication doses have been increased to the maximally tolerated or acceptable level should be treated as patients with sustained disease activity. Such patients require modifications of their baseline drug therapies.

●Monitoring – The monitoring that we perform on a regular basis includes testing that is specific to evaluation of the safety of the drugs being; periodic assessments of disease activity with composite measures; monitoring for extraarticular manifestations of RA, other disease complications, and joint injury; and functional assessment.

●Other factors affecting target and choice of therapy – Other factors in RA management that may influence the target or choice of therapy include the disabilities or functional limitations important to a given patient, progressive joint injury, comorbidities, and the presence of adverse prognostic factors.

Osteoarthritis

General principles – General principles of osteoarthritis (OA) management include providing continuous care that is tailored to the patient according to individual needs, goals, and values and should be patient-centered. Treatment can be optimized by OA and self-management education, establishing treatment goals, and periodic monitoring.

●Monitoring and assessment – The management of OA should include a holistic assessment which considers the global needs of the patient. Patient preferences for certain types of therapies should also be assessed, as compliance and outcomes can be compromised if the care plan does not meet the patient's preferences and beliefs.

●Overview of management – The goals of OA management are to minimize pain, optimize function, and beneficially modify the process of joint damage. The primary aim of clinicians should include targeting modifiable risk factors. Due to the modest effects of the individual treatment options, a combination of therapeutic approaches is commonly used in practice and should prioritize therapies that are safer.

●Nonpharmacologic therapy – Nonpharmacologic interventions are the mainstay of OA management and should be tried first, followed by or in concert with medications to relieve pain when necessary. Nonpharmacologic therapies including weight management and exercises, braces and foot orthoses for patients suitable to these interventions, education, and use of assistive devices when required.

●Pharmacologic therapy – The main medications used in the pharmacologic management of OA include oral and topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other options include topical capsaicin, duloxetine, and intraarticular glucocorticoids. Our general approach to pharmacotherapy is described below.

•In patients with one or a few joints affected, especially knee and/or hand OA, we initiate pharmacotherapy with topical NSAIDs due to their similar efficacy compared with oral NSAIDs and their better safety profile.

•We use oral NSAIDs in patients with inadequate symptom relief with topical NSAIDs, patients with symptomatic OA in multiple joints, and/or patients with hip OA. We use the lowest dose required to control the patient's symptoms on an as-needed basis.

•We use duloxetine for patients with OA in multiple joints and concomitant comorbidities that may contraindicate oral NSAIDs and for patients with knee OA who have not responded satisfactorily to other interventions.

•Topical capsaicin is an option when one or a few joints are involved and other interventions are ineffective or contraindicated; however, its use may be limited by common local side effects.

•We do not routinely use intraarticular glucocorticoid injections due to the short duration of its effects (ie, approximately four weeks).

•We avoid prescribing opioids due to their overall small effects on pain over placebo and potential side effects (eg, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness), especially for long-term use and in the older adult population.

•We do not routinely recommend nutritional supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamin D, diacerein, avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), and fish oil due to a lack of clear evidence demonstrating a clinically important benefit from these supplements. Other nutritional supplements of interest that may have small effects on symptoms include curcumin (active ingredient of turmeric) and/or Boswellia serrata, but the data are limited.

●Role of surgery – Surgical treatment is dominated by total joint replacement, which is highly effective in patients with advanced knee and hip OA when conservative therapies have failed to provide adequate pain relief.

●Factors affecting response to therapy – The discordance of radiographic findings to pain supports the notion that the mechanisms of pain are complex and likely multifactorial. The placebo effect is also known to impact response to therapy.

●Prognosis – Although there is great variability among individuals and among different phenotypes of OA, courses of pain and physical functioning have been found to be predominantly stable, without substantial improvement or deterioration of symptoms over time.

[demiesworld]

hi guys! so i wanted to give you all this update as to why i have not been posting as much. for the past month i have been working at my job diligently, and at the same time ultimately concerned with my health and wellbeing. i know i made a post a while ago, saying that i was worried about my health and my kidney function, because i am a type 2 diabetic and kidney disease is common in my family. i have visited my new primary care doctor (for those who do not live in the US a primary care doctor is a healthcare provider that practices in general medicine and they are the individual i can go to to get check ups, vaccinations, referrals to specialists etc.) and a blood test as well as a urine test was done just last week.

the results of the blood test, my primary care doctor told me were fine. my urine test, to me told a different story, i noticed that my creatinine in my urine was low. it was at 17 when the reference range is 20 to 275 according to the lab test. anyways, i didn't ask them about my creatinine levels yet because i will be doing another visit with them at the end of this month to discuss over my results and what we will be doing as patient and doctor to make sure that i will be ok.

my blood sugar levels have been excellent. my respiratory is fine. my heart beat is normal. however i just have a really huge concern for my kidney function. until i get to see a kidney doctor who will do a test and the test informs me that i am well then i won't be worrying anymore. right now i am constantly stressing about my kidney function, i have been trying to distract myself with trying to finish writing requests, watching new anime shows, and going to the gym to put my mind off of it, but at the end of the night when my head hits my pillow it is all that i am thinking about.

i am writing this post to you guys, my followers and new followers, because i want for you all to know that i am still here. im still around, and i am trying my hardest to fulfill requests in my inbox and drafts. i am suffering right now from a really bad case of writer's block and stress. i think that is better to be transparent with you guys, and to let you all know what is going on with me.

i feel really bad that im not writing as often as i should be. i just hope, pray, and wish that this writer's block will go away and i will start writing again.

[dreadfutures]

right as I was writing a post about getting my health taken care of, Lu's new vet emailed me with his latest test results.

I've known about his liver disease for years, and we treat it with a low copper diet and supplements, but I always suspected his kidneys weren't right, either.

The tests confirm that he's in early stages of kidney disease too. :( My vet also shared my *previous* vet's medical records and shows that he's probably had it since at LEAST 2019, but it was never discussed with me.

SO that sucks.

Unfortunately renal disease is primarily treated with dietary changes, but Lu's already on a special low-copper liver disease diet so it's not just a "change to low protein" case. as far as I can find there's no liver care/kidney care diet that would work for him (he's also allergic to chicken, which is what a lot of kidney care diets are)

and on top of all of that--or because of it, since the REASON i suspected his kidneys had issues were his frequent UTIs--he has a UTI and I have to get it cultured to figure out what antibiotic to give him.

I just spent so much money on these blood tests for my poor old man and can't afford the urine culture yet so of course I feel bad letting it sit for another month until my next paycheck.

hoping I get a tax refund???? i guess???

i'm really annoyed about the previous vets never telling me about his heightened creatinine levels/etc that were indicative of renal disease. Like as far back as 2019, soon after I got him from the rescue, had heightened numbers and they were writing in their notes "suspected renal disease" but never told me. if i thought it meant anything, I would write 'em up for it. :(

[thechronicpaingame]

Ask for kidney function tests. Even if they did them. This sounds like my mom's end stage kidney disease & eventual cancer. *hugs* ♡

They keep repeating them and the only things coming up high are my MCH & MCHC levels (which are related to haemoglobin but I'm not anaemic (yet) as in my folate and b12 are fine) so I'm so confused myself haha.

My urea is verging on low and creatinine verging on high but nothing outside the "normal" limits (yet).

I'm so tired of arguing with them 😔 you guys advocate for me more than any doctor has! ♥️ I'll make sure they repeat everything soon tho x

[petfurri]

Captopril for Dogs: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, and More

Captopril for Dogs

Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor commonly used in veterinary medicine to manage heart conditions in dogs, particularly congestive heart failure (CHF) and systemic hypertension (high blood pressure). Initially developed for human use, captopril has found its place in treating canine patients with cardiovascular issues, offering numerous benefits but also requiring careful administration and monitoring due to potential side effects.

Understanding Captopril and Its Mechanism of Action

Captopril works by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which is responsible for converting angiotensin I into angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor. Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to narrow, leading to increased blood pressure and making the heart work harder. By blocking this conversion, captopril allows blood vessels to relax and widen, reducing the workload on the heart and lowering blood pressure. This action is particularly beneficial for dogs suffering from CHF, as it helps to improve blood flow and reduce fluid buildup in the lungs and other tissues.

Benefits of Captopril for Dogs

Managing Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): CHF is a common condition in dogs, especially in older or certain breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Captopril helps manage CHF by reducing the resistance the heart faces when pumping blood, thus improving cardiac output and reducing symptoms like coughing, difficulty breathing, and lethargy.

Lowering Blood Pressure: For dogs diagnosed with systemic hypertension, captopril can effectively lower blood pressure, preventing damage to organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and brain, which can result from prolonged high blood pressure.

Improving Quality of Life: By easing the burden on the heart and lowering blood pressure, captopril can significantly improve a dog's overall quality of life. Dogs may exhibit increased energy levels, better appetite, and greater overall comfort as a result of treatment.

Potential Renal Protection: In some cases, captopril may offer renal protection by reducing the progression of kidney disease, particularly in dogs with proteinuria (protein in the urine), which is often associated with high blood pressure.

Dosage and Administration

The dosage of captopril for dogs must be carefully determined by a veterinarian, as it varies depending on the dog's weight, the severity of the condition being treated, and the presence of any other health issues. Captopril is usually administered orally, with or without food, typically two to three times a day.

Typical Dosage: The usual starting dose is around 0.5 to 2 mg per kg of body weight, given every 8 to 12 hours. The dosage may be adjusted based on the dog’s response to the medication and any side effects observed.

Monitoring: Regular monitoring is crucial when a dog is on captopril. Blood pressure, kidney function (via blood tests for creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels), and electrolyte levels should be checked periodically to ensure the medication is working effectively without causing harm.

Potential Side Effects of Captopril

While captopril can be highly beneficial, it also carries the risk of side effects, particularly if not used correctly. Some of the potential side effects include:

Gastrointestinal Issues: Dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. These symptoms are usually mild but should be reported to the veterinarian if they persist.

Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure): As captopril lowers blood pressure, there is a risk that it may cause blood pressure to drop too low, leading to weakness, dizziness, or fainting. This is more likely to occur in dogs that are dehydrated or have other underlying health conditions.

Kidney Dysfunction: Captopril can affect kidney function, particularly in dogs with pre-existing kidney issues. It’s important to monitor kidney parameters closely during treatment to avoid exacerbating any renal problems.

Hyperkalemia (High Potassium Levels): Captopril can cause an increase in potassium levels, which can lead to dangerous heart rhythms if not managed properly. Regular blood tests are essential to monitor electrolyte levels.

Coughing: A persistent dry cough is a less common side effect but can occur due to the buildup of bradykinin, a substance that captopril can increase in the body.

Allergic Reactions: Though rare, some dogs may have an allergic reaction to captopril, manifesting as itching, rash, or swelling. Immediate veterinary attention is required in such cases.

Precautions and Considerations

Captopril should be used with caution in dogs with pre-existing kidney disease, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalances. It should not be used in dogs that are pregnant, as it can cause harm to the developing fetus. Additionally, it’s important to inform the veterinarian of any other medications the dog is taking, as captopril can interact with other drugs, including diuretics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), potentially leading to adverse effects.

[renee-mariposa]

Nothing in my day-to-day job shows me the limits of modern medicine like vancomycin does. And it makes me insane.

(extremely long, somewhat incoherent nerd rant below the cut)

See, vanc is really good at, like, three things: treating MRSA (when given IV), treating ampicillin-resistant enterococcus (when given IV), and treating c diff (when administered orally ONLY). Most every use outside of that, like when it’s used to treat methicillin-susceptible staph aureus for “penicillin allergic patients” (don’t get me started on PCN allergies), actually has data that it increases risk of morbidity and mortality (i.e. harm and DEATH).

Unfortunately, due to the prevalence of multi-drug resistant organisms, vancomycin is empiric therapy for a lot of presumed infections. And it's a lot more difficult to actually tell if someone has an infection than you'd think. A lot of medical conditions imitate each other and when time is of the essence to identify what's going on, the most ethical thing is to start an antibiotic and rule out infection as the hospitalization continues. Lab techniques have gotten a lot quicker: I can remember 8 years ago, it would take 3 days just to identify what microbe the patient had in their presumed infection. These days, anno domini 2023, PCR comes back in a matter of hours, identifying gram positive/gram negative staph/strep/bacilli/etc, and it's the sensitivities that take 2-3 days. (Don't get me started on contaminated cultures.) But even with improvements in lab technique, we might not culture any microbe at all or the provider might keep vancomycin on "just in case" because we don't know IF the patient is infected, WHAT they're infected with, or if the infection will get better with a different drug.

And vancomycin is terrible on kidneys. Extremely nephrotoxic. It isn’t as bad as the 80s when the drug first came out and was called Mississippi Mud colloquially, but it will fuck the patient up if not monitored closely.

But finding the correct dose for each patient in a timely manner is nigh impossible. This is because vancomycin is renally eliminated. We have to mathematically estimate how well the kidneys are working. Unfortunately, our mathematic equation is next to useless if you are:

-Less than 50 kg

-Shorter than 5 foot tall

-Have a BMI of more than 40

-Are an adult younger than 45 (twenty-year-olds get astronomical doses that would be destructive in an older patient)

-Are older than 65 (the official definition of 'geriatric', i'm relatively sure)

-Are female (this is really only applicable if the patient is less than 50 kg or older than 65 - think: little old frail lady - we have absolutely no fucking idea how their kidneys are doing until we order the serum drug level. It is next to impossible to accurately dose vancomycin in little old ladies on the first try.)

-Are missing limbs (lots of leg amputations in the older and impoverished diabetic population!!)

-Have a lot of muscle mass (think bodybuilder or really tall guys)

Fun fact: we estimate renal function by looking at height, weight, age, birth gender (few, if any, studies on trans patients taking HRT), and a lab value called serum creatinine. Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism, I don't know the fine details, but we can generally estimate how well kidneys are working by seeing how much creatinine is in the blood: low creatinine usually means kidneys are excreting it as they 'should' be. High creatinine means there's something wrong, the kidneys aren't able to excrete it as efficiently as they 'should' be. But the effect of low muscle mass and high muscle mass haven't been studied enough to be able to adjust our mathematical equation to compensate for them. And with high BMI: we often overestimate their renal function because we don't know how to estimate their muscle mass vs their body fat.

(I work out in the boonies. ~70% of our patients have diabetes. ~80% of our patients have a BMI of greater than 35. So what I'm trying to say here is: we are shooting in the fucking dark when we're estimating the renal function of the vast majority of our patients.)

Complicating this: vancomycin is useless until it reaches steady-state concentration in therapeutic range. On one side of this problem: a lot, if not most, medical providers assume that vancomycin starts working its magic from the first dose. So we sometimes get orders for "vancomycin 1 gram now and see how the patient is doing in the morning". That isn't going to solve jack shit! That's just going to increase the incidence of microbial resistance!!

OR, like in the multiple situations I dealt with this afternoon, you make an educated guess on what regimen is going to work for the patient. You get a level 48 hours after the dose starts. And you find out that you fucking guessed wrong and the patient is subtherapeutic. It has been two fucking days and the patient hasn't started being treated for their (presumed) infection yet!! And we've increased the possibility of microbial resistance! *muffled screaming in frustration*

So what I'm trying to say here is: on almost every presumed infection that comes into the hospital (which we're guessing like 30%? 50%? of the time), we're starting an extremely toxic drug, oftentimes 100% guessing what regimen will be therapeutic, only finding out in 2 days that it is not therapeutic, and it can sometimes take days and days to titrate the dose sufficiently to find a therapeutic regimen. And sometimes we're really fucking unlucky and we destroy the patient's kidneys temporarily (or permanently! but kidneys can be very resilient so that's thankfully rare) because we guessed a regimen that's too high!! This is a fucking nightmare!!!!!!!!

And if all of this wasn't bad enough, we don't really have any drugs that do what vancomycin does therapeutically. We have things that can be used to cover some of what vancomycin does, but nothing that's equivalent AND less toxic.

Like, to fix this situation, we need:

-Better education to providers on what drugs are appropriate empiric therapy for different presumed infections (we're working on it, we are working on it)

-Better ways to estimate kidney function (there needs to be more research on kidney function in patients with BMI greater than 35!! And little old ladies!! And patients with low body weight and high body weight and amputations and...)

-Better prognostic tools to tell 1. when the patient is infected (looking at you, sepsis!!!) 2. what they're infected with

-Less-toxic antibiotics AND/OR better ways to treat infection (this would be the evolution of medicine as we know it)

And I want to be clear: vancomycin isn't bad. It's an extremely effective tool when used correctly but we often either don't have enough data to use it correctly or the provider doesn't understand that this tool is fucking useless for the job they're trying to perform.

[kidneytreatment01]

Comprehending Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

The kidneys are vital organs for filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood. Kidney problems, whether acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), can lead to a range of health issues, including swelling due to kidney failure. While conventional treatments are commonly prescribed, more individuals are exploring alternative approaches to kidney health, including homeopathy kidney treatment. 

Understanding Kidney Function and Kidney Conditions

Before discussing homeopathic remedies, it is essential to understand the role of the kidneys and the distinction between acute and chronic kidney conditions.

Kidney Function:

The kidneys perform several crucial functions in the body, including the filtration of waste products, maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of electrolytes, and secretion of hormones that control blood pressure. When the kidneys are impaired, these functions can be compromised, leading to a buildup of waste in the body and other health complications.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI):

AKI is a sudden loss of kidney function that typically occurs as a result of an injury, infection, or certain medications. It is characterized by a rapid decline in kidney function, leading to an accumulation of waste products in the bloodstream. Acute kidney injury

requires immediate medical attention and can sometimes be reversible with timely intervention.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):

CKD, on the other hand, is a long-term condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to function over time. It progresses through stages, and in advanced cases, it can lead to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Chronic kidney disease 

often requires lifelong management and may ultimately necessitate dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Swelling Due to Kidney Failure

One common and distressing symptom of kidney failure is swelling, medically referred to as edema. Edema occurs when excess fluid accumulates in the body, leading to swelling in various areas, including the hands, legs, face, and abdomen. This swelling due to kidney failure can be uncomfortable and impact a person's quality of life. Homeopathic remedies may offer a gentle approach to alleviate edema associated with kidney failure.

Homeopathy for Kidney Health

Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine that focuses on treating the individual and addressing the underlying causes of health issues. Homeopathic medicine for kidney disease are made from highly diluted natural substances and aim to stimulate the body's innate healing abilities. 

When it comes to kidney health, homeopathy can offer several potential benefits:-

Symptom Management:

Homeopathic remedies can help manage the symptoms associated with kidney conditions, including high creatinine levels, swelling, high blood pressure, and urinary issues. By addressing these symptoms, individuals may experience improved comfort and well-being.

Individualized Treatment:

Homeopathic treatment is highly individualized, with remedies chosen based on the specific symptoms, constitution, and emotional state of the patient. This personalized approach takes into account the unique aspects of each person's condition.

Minimal Side Effects:

Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted and generally well-tolerated, making them a gentle and safe option for individuals with kidney conditions. They can be used alongside conventional treatments if necessary.

Homeopathic Remedies for Kidney Conditions

Several homeopathic remedies may be recommended for individuals dealing with kidney issues, including those with swelling due to kidney failure. These remedies are chosen based on the patient's specific symptoms like creatinine and constitution. 

It's important to consult a qualified homeopathic practitioner to assess your specific condition and prescribe the most suitable remedy.

Conclusion

Homeopathy offers a natural and holistic approach to managing kidney conditions, including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and the associated swelling due to kidney failure. While it may not replace conventional medical kidney treatments in all cases, it can be a valuable complementary therapy or an alternative for those seeking a gentler and less invasive approach to kidney care. If you or a loved one are dealing with kidney-related issues, consider consulting a qualified homeopath to explore the potential benefits of kidney treatment by homeopathy in your journey to better kidney health. Effective treatment requires individualized assessment and guidance from a healthcare professional experienced in homeopathy.

If you want to know for kidney treatment homeopathy, then you can visit my original blog. The link has been provided below: 

https://bharathomeopathy.com/disease/kidney-failure-treatment

[drdessertfox]

This is a PSA-

Just because one of your lab values is outside of a normal range does not actually indicate something is wrong. Nearly every human on the planet, including healthy ones, will have a couple of labs outside of “normal” limits. Just because your physician didn’t explain to you why your creatinine was low doesn’t mean they missed something.

[wildestdreamsblog]

Hey, I'm so sorry I don't mean to push but each morning I check to see if there's any update on This love is bad. Your writing is terrific, I fear the day you'll post part 5 of This love is bad because I know it'll be the end of this amazing serie but I can't wait to know how it is going to go! xx

HI MY LOVEE! First of, tysm for appreciating my work! 🥹🥹🥹 AND U CALLED MY WRITING TERRIFIC I AM SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR AT THE MOMENT!

Okie so I’m gonna use this ask as a sort of update about why I’m writing slow. also I’m gonna talk about body dysmorphia so if this triggers u, you can just skip 🤍

So life update, I’m slowly working on the remaining 2 or 3 chapters of the series but as I said, it’s slow bcos of the workload of graduate school aaaaaand my how do I call this hmm inflammation(???) in my knees. I went to the ortho doctor today and finally had them check since they’ve been hurting for weeks now during my workout. Then I had my blood chem tested etc etc.

So even when I stand or sit or drive or walk or even lie down, they hurt but not constantly. The doc said I am lucky to not have that part or the knee completely destroyed bcos we don’t have transplant for that now. And so I have to rest for 4-8 weeks. I’m taking meds now. Also the blood chem thingy, my sugar is a bit low and my creatinine is a bit low. SO I NEED TO EAT MORE PROTEIN PER THE DOCTOR SKSKSK

so moving on to the body dysmorphia talk, I grew up thin. Like borderline malnourished thin bcos I didn’t like eating. But then my parents brought me to the doctor etc etc and I was prescribed back then a vitamins for me to eat more. Then I was borderline obese. Then puberty came and I slimmed down a bit but was still a chubby girl. Then only when I graduated college did I start loving my body bcos I was constantly working out. To the point that I run everyday, and did jumping rope 1000 times a day. Soooo my knees kind of took the hit. I didn’t like the feeling I get when I go on a long time without working out. I feel like i was gaining weight when in reality, i wasn’t. So long story short, I have to learn to love me and not the image i see in the mirror. It’s kind of taking a toll on my health.

Here’s me, still standing despite the pain mwahahahaha

Im not on a hiatus! I’m just taking this time to rest and love myself more. But rest assured I’m still writing and even have new series coming! I love u all and let’s all love ourself as hard as we love other people.

[bharathomeopathy2]

Treatment For Kidney Failure: Guide for Alternative Medication to Avoid Dialysis For Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney disease

Our kidneys are constantly working to ensure that we are healthy. Despite their tiny dimensions, they perform a crucial role in the removal of waste, controlling the balance of fluids and maintaining our wellbeing. Conditions like acute kidney injuries (AKI), as well as chronic kidney diseases (CKD), could cause health risks for us. Along with abdominal pain, the sufferer might be faced with a variety of issues. Kidney diseases should be recognised and evaluated immediately. When it is the first stage of the illness, Treatment for kidney failure needs to be initiated to ensure that it is avoided from getting worse.

DIET for kidney health?

If you suffer from kidney disease, you need to get an effective chronic kidney disease treatment immediately. This means that you require a suitable cure for chronic kidney disease; however, it is crucial to pay attention to the diet you eat because eating habits for patients with kidney disease have significant effects on the patient. Moreover, diet plays a significant role in ensuring that medications are efficient. Therefore, you must alter the way you eat. The next step is to change your diet to be different from that of an ordinary person, but rather from the standpoint of taking care of the illness and gaining freedom from this deadly disease.

We'll tell our readers that there are plenty of things that kidney patients can do which, in addition to diets for healthy kidneys, are extremely beneficial to those suffering from kidney issues. There are many foods like poha, upma, porridge, sago, and plain oats.

Include foods with low sodium, such as carrots, ginger and gourds that are bottled. Low potassium foods: parwal, tinda, capsicum, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage. Protein-rich foods such as watermelon seeds and melon seeds, along with makhana and tur moong dal, should be part of your diet. However, you must stay clear of cucumber meat, potatoes, rice, avocados, tomatoes, and whole wheat bread.

Fruits and food items for healthy kidneys

Kidneys assist in eliminating the body of toxins and keep the levels of a variety of minerals, like potassium, sodium and acids. Numerous fruits are great to eat, and some are extremely beneficial to patients. If you want to cure for chronic kidney disease, Keeping all these things in mind, we will tell you some of the best fruits for patients with this condition.  

Strawberries, blueberries and cranberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. They can help improve overall health of the kidneys.

Apples are rich in fibre and are anti-inflammatory substances. They aid in maintaining renal health.

Fish: High in Omega-3-rich fatty acids, fish such as mackerel or salmon help reduce inflammation and improve the health of your cardiovascular system.

Melons and watermelons have large amounts of water. This helps in the formation of urine.

Do not eat pomegranate seeds, and consume only the red portion because it increases the high risk for developing stone.

Guava also has high levels of phosphorus and potassium. It is also recommended not to consume seeds from guava.

Peaches can be included in your daily diet. However, diabetics must be careful about it.

We've discussed a variety of foods and fruits that are beneficial to people suffering from kidney disease. We can look into the role that dried fruit plays in the lives of patients.

The best solution for healthy kidneys

Are you suffering from kidney issues and looking for a more effective kidney failure treatment without dialysis? We have the solution for you. Bharat homeopathic treatment for kidney problems is the best choice for you. Homeopathy treatment offers many advantages, one of which is that it is a completely non-toxic high creatinine treatment that is made entirely using herbal extracts. Additionally, during the course of treatment, the Bharat Homeopathy physicians will know your complete medical history before the treatment begins, keeping in mind the root cause of your condition. If you're looking to have a strong kidney and a healthy body, it is imperative to follow a better treatment regimen.

[mcatmemoranda]

If you miss three or more days of Lamictal, you have to restart it at the low dose and titrate up. If the patient gets any sort of rash whatsoever, they should stop Lamictal and never receive it again. It can cause Steven Johnson syndrome. Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Seroquel (quetiapine) are both okay for treatment of bipolar disorder in pregnancy. Lamictal is not as safe for breast-feeding a seroquel is. Lamictal can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills. Although Lamictal can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills, the likelihood of getting pregnant by accident is low. You start with 25 mg QD for two weeks and then increase to 50 mg QD for two weeks and then increase to 100 mg x1 week, and then increase by 50 mg every week if needing higher doses. You can go up to 200 mg a day if necessary. If you need more than that, then you can divide the dose b.i.d. You should use the lowest dose with the best effect.

Depakote and lithium should not be used in women of childbearing age.

So I asked her about lithium for bipolar disorder as well. Before starting you can check some baseline labs. At least check calcium, TSH, creatinine; monitor these as well as the serum lithium level. The therapeutic lithium level range is between 0.5 and 0.8. If the patient is acutely manic, 1.2 is a therapeutic level. When the patient is manic, serum levels of lithium are lower. When the patient is not manic anymore, he can have toxicity from increased doses that you needed during the manic episode. So you need to increase carefully and decrease it after they’re out of the manic episode. Monitor the patient two times a week with labs until they’re stable.

You can use mood stabilizers that are antipsychotics or mood stabilizers that are not antipsychotics. The mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder that are non-antipsychotics and therefore have no risk of causing tardive dyskinesia include lithium, Lamictal, Depakote, Trileptal, Tegretol. Lamictal is a moderate mood stabilizer and is not strong enough for patients with bipolar 1, who you have episodes of mania. It may be better for patients with bipolar 2, who have hypomania or not really any real manic episodes. Lamictal works for irritability as well in patients with borderline personality disorder. The antipsychotics that can be used as mood stabilizers include olanzapine, seroquel, Abilify, Latuda, vraylar, caplyta. The antipsychotics cause tardive dyskinesia because they occupy the D2 receptors. She doesn’t use Latuda as monotherapy. Vraylar has no sexual side effects. She said to stick with the lower dose, which is 1.5 mg, unless the patient is really manic. It takes 2 to 3 weeks for Vraylar to work. You can stay at the 1.5 mg dose for four weeks and then see the patient again and evaluate whether or not you want to increase the dose. Caplyta is sedating and you should tell patients to take it two hours before bedtime. Don’t start at the 42 mg dose. Use the 10.5 mg dose for elderly patients or the 21 mg dose for younger patients.

Ingrezza can treat tardive dyskinesia (send to Genoa pharmacy). Austedo is an older med for TD. Amantadine can also help.

Elderly patients should not receive benzodiazepines. You can use melatonin or trazodone for sleep problems in elderly patients. If they come to you and they are on benzos, she said you can slowly convert them to Valium (but Valium is a benzo so I’m confused by that🤷🏽‍♀️). There’s something called the UK benzo taper which is done over eight weeks.

Medication for schizophrenia include olanzapine and vraylar. Thorazine increases the risk of QT prolongation. Vraylar and caplyta do not increase weight gain. Injectable meds are also effective and are good for patients with poor compliance. If someone is of Asian descent you do gene screening before starting Lamictal. You can use Wellbutrin to treat ADHD but it’s not as effective. For children you can give them strattera, qelbree, or guanfacine, which are not stimulants. There are two classes of stimulants that can be used for ADHD which are the amphetamines and the methylphenidates. Some people have better success with one drug class or the other. So if they don’t do well on the amphetamines you can try the methylphenidates.

[ahopkins1965]

How are you feeling right now? I am still exhausted and tired right now.   I was hospitalized on Sunday morning because of an injury to my kidneys.   I will admit that I was drinking a lot of coffee during the past few months.   I also will admit to eating too many processed foods.   I know that my Creatinine levels were very high this month alone.   I realized that Creatinine pertains to body waste.  I really didn't know about it when I was discharged from the hospital on Monday evening of this week.   I also have low Testosterone Levels and it really makes me very tired all of the time.  I know that my coffee drinking days are over.  I am very grateful to be alive each day.   I noticed that my clothes and body smelled like saliva and urine that came from my apartment vents system.   To be honest with all of you, I have been going through this problem since last year on April of 2023.  I know that I was not bothering anyone.   It's just that I have enemies inside of the wrong places.   As I am writing this essay, I am being sprinkled with urine and saliva that is coming from my ventilation system.   God is really on my side right now.   I like for my apartment to be extremely cool inside of it.  I have reported this matter to the Maintenance Department at Wentworth HI Rise Apartments and the Greater Dayton Premier Management located in Dayton, Ohio.   Otherwise, I am still here on Planet Earth for a specified reason.   I am very happy to be at home resting and enjoying myself.  I am feeling much better now than a few days ago.  I have been clean and sober for 34 years, 3 months, and 27 days now.   I really know that I am going through withdrawals from coffee and taking my medication Ativan.   I told the Psychiatrist to take me off of the medicine itself.  I really appreciate Jesus Christ's Love that He has for me right now.  Thank you for reading my essay and praying for me during my time of need.  I need to eat more fruits and vegetables in my diet. Finally, I want to inform all of you that I really love you very much.  I have to consult with my Property Manager about this problem with my Heating and Air Conditioner System.   I have to talk with him about my water problem.