Results: Urine Osmolality, High Cholesterol, Low Sodium

[blinkofani]

Lab results always confuse the heck out of me! I recently got some results back that show very high urine osmolality, very high cholesterol, low urine sodium, and low vitamin d. It's weird because I read about people who pee a lot which means their osmolality/concentration would be low. I really have no idea how much I actually pee throughout the day but I'm guessing it's not enough. I drink oodles of water so I know I can't technically be dehydrated.

Here are my numbers:

Serum Osmolality: 289 (290-300)

Urine Osmolality: 991 mOSM/KG

Cholesterol: 276 (0-199)

LDL: 194

Urine Sodium Random: 62 meQ/L

Vitamin D: 19.9 (30-100 ng/ml)

These numbers lead my doctor to refer me to a nephrologist so I'll be seeing him on the 19th. Does anyone else have numbers like these? Or anyone have diagnosed kidney issues?

[firewatcher]

Howdy! Glad you found us, but sorry you are here!

Your serum and urine osmolality (concentration of particles in relation to fluid) look good. The normal serum Osm range that I've seen is 285-295, so you are almost in the middle. When taken with the urine Osm., urine should be three times higher than serum, unless you are really over-hydrated.

Your cholesterol is high, join the club! That is greatly considered genetic, though any MD will give you meds to lower it. The utility or futility of lowering cholesterol is debated in some medical circles.

What would make me question the referral to the nephrologist is possibly the urine sodium or your serum Creatinine (which you did not mention.) I have high serum Creatinine which indicates that I have kidney damage (CKD stage 3---my SCr is 1.19-1.34 mg/dL.)

Nephrologists are excellent problem solvers, so take all your previous labs and don't be afraid to ask questions!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[blinkofani]

Thank you!! My doctor told me that my urine was too highly concentrated (and I'm pretty sure concentration and osmolality are the same, right?) I read that the "average" level should be between 300-900. Maybe there was another test that came back off that she's referring to, who knows.

High cholesterol certainly runs in my family. It's been high for about 9 years, but certainly never this high. I have a family history of heart disease so my doctor started me on a low dose of simvistatin. I'll be retesting my levels at the end of May. I'll also be seeing a nutritionist in a few weeks to help me find a happy medium between getting lots of sodium but low fat foods (I am an EXTREMELY picky eater so this person will have their work cut out for them! lol)

My serum creatinine was 1.0 and urine creatinine was 297 the first time and 364 the second time it was tested (not sure what the normal level for that is). Unfortunately, my doctor didn't specify which lab results lead her to refer me to the kidney doctor, all she said was my sodium was low and had highly concentrated urine. Oh well, can't hurt to see yet another specialist

[RichGotsPots]

do you have a pots specialist?

[blinkofani]

I wouldn't say I have a pots specialist but I do have an electrophysiologist that is familiar with pots and I have a neurologist that I've seen once who is also familiar with it.

[RichGotsPots]

How far are from Boston or Conn? If your currest docs are only running these type of test I think you should try out a real autonomic lab..

[blinkofani]

I am about 1 1/2hrs away from boston, my neuro is at boston medical center. I actually just got off the phone with my kidney specialist that I saw for the first time a couple weeks ago and he says I have SIADH (syndrome of innapropriate antidiuretic hormone hypersecretion). He said my urine osmolallity was extremely high for the 3rd time and my sodium mildly low. I see him again in a few weeks to discuss some other testing, potentially a catscan.

[Monstrosity]

I'm not trying to thread jack but I had bad cholesterol levels the last time they were checked and had them prior to any serious POTS issues. Is this a trend with us?

[blinkofani]

you're not thread jacking! i haven't read or heard anything about pots patients having cholesterol issues. i think mine is partly genetic however i do think there must be something else going on for it to be so high at my age. i'm only 25 and have had high cholesterol since my teens although it is at its highest now. i have been a dancer my whole life and prior to pots (about 4 years ago) was in the best shape ever. i don't have the best diet although it certainly could be worse. i'm seeing a nutritionist next week although i am so beyond picky when it comes to food so i doubt it'll help. i'm on simvistatin for the cholesterol now because my doctor worries since heart disease runs in my family.