Bloodwork shows elevated potassium

[lunarloom2500]

I'm currently on Test E (225mg per week), Tren E (300mg per week), Clen (80mcg per day) and T4 (200mcg per day). I've also used 240mg Mast E per week until a few weeks ago.

Potassium: 5.8 (3.5 - 5.5nmol/l is normal)

Everything else (besides cholesterol) looks fine, other minerals are in range, GOT/GPT is 34/46, Cystatin C is 0.82 (0.61 - 0.95mg/l is normal) and creatinine is normal as well. Should I be concerned?

 

[Grey Spartan]

Anytime my levels of anything are slightly above range, I don't stress it. However, I do try and find the root cause and act accordingly.

 

[BamaCrazy]

Are you taking Telmisartan, Losartan or some other ARB for BP? Those medications can cause hyperkalemia. I doubt it’s common though. My potassium runs high but is usually still in range on Telmisartan.

 

[MyNameIsJeff]

HCT? CPK? Was bloodwork fasted? How long before blood draw did you work out? Are you on BP meds, if so which, and what dosage? Did you take NSAIDs in days prior to blood draw?

 

[monsterolympia]

My Grandma says that is because you are eating too many bananas.

 

[Ghoul]

You should always be concerned. Potassium is fine though.

 

[lunarloom2500]

HCT: 0.45 (0.4 - 0.52)
CK: 744 (<190), but I think that's elevated from training the day before?

Fasted bloodwork. Last workout was ~20 hours before. No BP meds.

 

[MyNameIsJeff]

HCT: 0.45 (0.4 - 0.52)
CK: 744 (<190), but I think that's elevated from training the day before?

Fasted bloodwork. Last workout was ~20 hours before. No BP meds.

In that case, it is most likely

pseudohyperkalemia

Pseudohyperkalemia is most often caused by hemolysis of red blood cells in a blood sample. Pseudohyperkalemia can also occur as a result of prolonged application of a tourniquet or excessive fist clenching when venous blood is drawn. Thrombocytosis can cause pseudohyperkalemia in serum (platelet potassium is released during clotting), as can extreme leukocytosis.

or exercise-associated hyperkalemia.

Extreme or unaccustomed exercise, however, may induce skeletal muscle cell rupture (rhabdomyolysis). Because skeletal muscle represents ∼40% of total body mass 38, 40, even a 1% liberation of intramuscular K+ into the ECF may induce significant hyperkalemia 6, 14. This hyperkalemia is often exacerbated by myoglobin-induced acute renal injury, which is also a consequence of exertional rhabdomyolysis [43].
However, hyperkalemia is often asymptomatic but may be associated with muscle weakness, paresthesia, and cardiac arrhythmias [5]. Peaked T waves on an electrocardiogram are characteristic of hyperkalemia owing to rapid repolarization of cardiac myocytes from increased cardiac K+ conductance [6]. As such, peaked T waves contributed to the diagnosis of hyperkalemia in a 58-year-old male with a history of hypertension (on ramipril 5 mg/day) who suddenly began a vigorous exercise program including use of a commercial supplement [7]. Thus, the prevention and treatment of exercise-associated hyperkalemia involves proper training and supplement use.

I would retest in a couple of week and take 2 days off from exercise before. And make sure the PA does not apply the tourniquet for too long.