AskDocDoc
/
/
/
How to control high creatinine levels in an 81-year-old heart patient with leg swelling?
FREE!Ask Doctors — 24/7
Connect with Doctors 24/7. Ask anything, get expert help today.
500 doctors ONLINE
#1 Medical Platform
Ask question for free
00H : 39M : 25S
background image
Click Here
background image
Kidney & Urinary Health
Question #29310
140 days ago
354

How to control high creatinine levels in an 81-year-old heart patient with leg swelling?

Client_23fc4d

My father aged 81 years is a heart patient. His creatinine is increasing and now it is 7. He is admitted in the hospital. There is swelling on the legs. There is no shortness of breath. He is doing find overall. We need to understand the course of action to control the creatinine level please.

How long has your father had high creatinine levels?:

- More than 6 months

Has your father experienced any changes in his urine output?:

- Decreased urination

What other symptoms has he experienced besides leg swelling?:

- Fatigue

Has he had any recent changes in medications or treatments?:

- No changes

What is his current diet like?:

- Low in protein

Does he have any other medical conditions besides heart disease?:

- Diabetes

How is his fluid intake managed in the hospital?:

- Restricted fluid intake
FREE
Question is closed
FREE! Ask a Doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential.
No sign-up needed.
CTA image asteriksCTA image

Doctors' responses

Hello Thank you for sharing these details. I understand how worrying this must be for your family.

### What Does a Creatinine of 7 Mean? A creatinine level of 7 is quite high, especially for an elderly person with a heart condition. This usually means the kidneys are not working well (advanced chronic kidney disease or possibly acute-on-chronic kidney injury). The swelling in his legs (edema) and decreased urination are signs that his kidneys are struggling to remove excess fluid and waste from his body.

### What Happens Next in the Hospital? Here’s what doctors typically focus on in this situation: 1. Identify and Treat the Cause: They’ll look for any reversible causes (like dehydration, medication side effects, infections, or heart issues) and treat those. 2. Manage Fluid Balance: Since he has swelling but no shortness of breath, they’ll carefully monitor his fluids to avoid overload, which can affect the heart and lungs. 3. Adjust Medications: Some medicines can worsen kidney function, so doctors may stop or adjust these. 4. Monitor Electrolytes: High creatinine can cause dangerous changes in potassium, sodium, and acid levels, so these are checked and managed closely. 5. Consider Dialysis: If his kidney function doesn’t improve, or if he develops symptoms like severe swelling, breathing difficulty, confusion, or very high potassium, dialysis may be needed to remove waste and fluid.

### What Can Be Done to Lower Creatinine? - Treat underlying causes (infections, heart failure, dehydration, medication side effects) - Control blood pressure and blood sugar (if diabetic) - Dietary changes (low salt, low potassium, low protein—guided by a dietitian) - Dialysis (if kidneys can’t recover or symptoms worsen)

### What Should You Ask the Doctors? - What do they think is causing the kidney problem? - Are there any reversible factors? - Is dialysis being considered, and if so, when? - What is the plan for fluid and medication management? - What dietary changes should be followed?

### Key Points - At this stage, close hospital monitoring is essential. - The main goal is to support his kidneys, manage symptoms, and prevent complications. - Recovery depends on whether the cause is reversible and his overall health.

Thank you

1361 answered questions
45% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies

Hello dear See definitely creatinine levels are high But this itself doesn’t is a concern only You need to have urine analysis and kidney function test to see Urine output Filtering Urea level Sugar Potassium level Please share the below tests for confirmation with urologist Cbc Esr Serum ferritin Serum tsh Serum hb Rft Lft Gfr Serum creatinine Serum bilirubin Hemogram Kidney USG Hopefully you recover soon Regards

3585 answered questions
70% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies

When dealing with elevated creatinine levels, especially at a level of 7, it’s important to consider the underlying causes and the need for immediate medical management. Given your father’s age, heart condition, and hospitalization, it’s likely that his kidney function is significantly impaired. This could be due to acute kidney injury (AKI), which is sometimes reversible depending on the cause, or chronic kidney disease (CKD) which tends to be progressive. The leg swelling suggests fluid retention, possibly linked to heart failure exacerbations or renal impairment. The immediate focus should be on ensuring proper fluid management and avoiding further damage to the kidneys.

In the hospital setting, the medical team will likely address potential reversible factors: optimizing heart function, ensuring appropriate blood pressure control, reviewing medications that might harm the kidneys, and looking for any signs of dehydration or infection. Diuretics may help with the swelling, but careful monitoring is necessary, given their potential impact on kidney function. If creatinine continues to rise or if there’s significant fluid overload, hemodialysis might become necessary to take over the kidney’s filtering role.

Monitoring electrolytes, acid-base balance, and adjusting the diet to lower protein intake could also help in stabilizing kidney function, along with any necessary, heart-specific treatments. It’s crucial to have regular discussions with the treating cardiologist and nephrologist to be updated on his treatment plan, potential interventions, and further steps including outpatient follow-up once stabilized.

21363 answered questions
91% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies
FREE! Ask a Doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymously

Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.

About our doctors

Only qualified doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.


Urinary healthI'm feeling Like I want to pee but there's nothing coming out of it I've no pain but there's constant urge to pee
Burning in urethra from last 7 days
Recuurence chances of High bladder neck
Concerns About Bladder Leaks and Urgency
What to do if I feel the urge to pee but can't urinate properly?
Urine instabilities after water intake
Cystitis infection found in Ultrasoundtest
What to do if my UTI symptoms persist after taking Biofloxx 500 antibiotics?
Urination more than avrage tried few counter meds and also consulted few doctors
What to do for urinary incontinence after childbirth that worsened despite Kegel exercises?
What to do for itching and crawling sensation around the anal area at night — could it be intestinal worms?
Can a micropenis cause urinary tract infections and burning during urination?
Urine not coming properway? Forthy
Itching and Discharge from Private Part
What is the remedy for excessive urination every two and a half hours?
What to do if I see blood in my stool and have anal pain?
What is the next course of action for my 81-year-old father with increasing creatinine levels and swelling?
What to do for ear popping and ringing after fundoplication for GERD?
kidney stone medical term
What Are the 5 Warning Signs of UTI?
urine oily
how long does a uti last
what is urinary retention
swap kidney transplant
how long can a person live with one kidney
Does beer prevent kidney stones?
can a uti go away on its own
how much is a kidney transplant
How Do I Stop My Pee From Burning?
which doctor to consult for urine infection