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Creatine Kinase - Not a clue what to do!

J

joelcam

Well-Known Member
Messages
167
Hi all,

Had my latest HbA1c today and result was 5.8, last one was 5.7 so pleased to be about the same.

The nurse has referred me to a 'specialist' though because my creatine kinase levels are very high at 664 iu/l and normal is below 200 iu/l.

I've googled and this is apparently a sign of heart problems but I have never had heart problems and I am very fit and healthy, so not sure what to make of it. Also read that muscle breakdown / damage can cause it to rise and I have recently had key-hole knee surgery where my leg went up like a balloon so perhaps this caused it.

Anyone had any issues with this?

JC
 
Joel, I'm no expert but as far as I know a rise in CK levels is a marker of muscle damage, not any specific muscle . People with lots of muscle and people into weight training or endurance activities can have raised levels A letter to the BMJ notes that the author had a 41 times increase after running a marathon(from 83 iu before the race to 3410 iu the next day), Higher levels (don't know how high) are also associated with hypothyroid
Other forms of muscle damage, such as from a fall, a car accident, surgery, or after an injection, can also increase CK.
Click to expand...
see:
http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/ck/test.html

Obviously as yours is raised then they have to look into any possible causes. Your nurse can't diagnose so she needs to refer you to a doctor (didn't she say which sort?)


The trouble with googling is we always think the worst! when we're looking for ourselves.
I've just checked out a post I made in a runners forum some years ago. My CK had risen from 99 in October to 273 in Dec, some of the liver enzymes also seemed to have risen a bit, though were still within norms.I was concerned that the statins I was taking at the time might have caused this increase ...then, as now statin phobia was rife on the internet.
However, I had also run 7 miles the day before testing (and that was the furthest I'd run at the time). I was told by one of the forum's friendly doctors not too worry unless I had any unexplained pain, that the run could be a cause. My doc repeated the test and it was lower.

Try not to worry, it's best that they check things out.
 
Phoenix, thanks for your reply.

The only reply I have had (probably because no-one else has experienced it) but a really useul reply thats put my mind at rest...

In terms of the boxes, I tick them all! I work out with heavy weights 3 times a week, do exstensive cardio twice a week, I do have a lot of muscle and I have recently had a knee operation where my muscles swelled to the extent where I could not get trousers on!

So, feel a bit more relaxed now, will wait and see what happens now..

Thanks

JC
 
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