very worried

[mehdave]

Hi all

Had a urine infection month odd back had antibiotics for a week to clear it up. About a week after my antibiotics course was done they taken another couple of urine samples and I think one was PCR test.

Fast forward to today and I get a worrying letter through. Basically it says They had urine tests back and it shows "persisting amounts of protein in your urine. I cant say at the moment whether this is related to your diabetes or not" They are asking one of there colleagues who specializes in kidney medicine to see me. In the meantime they think it would be advisable to see me and look at starting me on treatment particularly for this. It goes on to explain a particular group of blood pressue meds which are usually used in this situation. Made an appointment for 29th at earliest.

To say im worried is an understatement and upon looking up protein in the urine its from infections to kidney failure :shock: anyone else had this or similar I dont think I have ever been so scared from a letter

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi mehdave,
I can understand your panic after receiving this letter and would ask you not to worry too much as this will push your blood sugars way up.
The strategies you need to employ are.

...Keep your blood sugars at a reasonable level.
...Avoid NSAIDS
...Drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids, preferably water.
...You will be offered an ACE or ARB blood pressure lowering medication as high blood pressure
...affects the kidneys and these two meds protect the kidneys. Even if your BP is OK these tablets will be offered.
...Cut back on the amount of protein in your diet.

I personally haven't experienced this but a friend of mine did and following the above got back to normal.
High blood pressure and high blood sugars are possibly the culprits.
Above all, keep calm as this has been found and can be rectified.
If you need any help with blood sugar control then let us know and there will be help available here.

Someone who has been in a similar situation may post later.

Hope this helps,
Catherine.

 

[jopar]

Don't panic is the main thing..

Doctor letters more often than not, create more impact than not we just not used to the Doctor asking to see us so its normal to feel paniced over it all...

Your Doctor is as Chatherinechurub says, likely to put you on Blood Pressure Tablets, lowering your blood pressure helps to take pressure off the kidneys, this will help to prevent protien being pushed through the kidneys causing further damge if it has actually started to damaged the kidneys...

By maintaing very tight control of you blood glucose also helps in this area, so they may change your mediction to help you achieve tight control...

The Kidney specialist, is likely to ask you to provide a 24 hour urine speciman so they can check the filtration of the kidneys, to see if and how they have been effected by the protien, they will also check out whether to continued showing of protein is more to do with a underlying kidney infection/problem rather than diabetic related which needs different treatment to resolve the problem...

If the situation was scarey urgent your doctor would have phoned to get you into surgery as quick as possible, or the receptionist would have seen a flag on the computer screen to get you in ASAP, not based on the next available appointment...

 

[mehdave]

Thanks allot for the replys I certainly am going try the suggested about eating less protein and drinking more water. Will try not to worry about it to much they should word these letters so there less yikes.

I have managed somehow to get my bs down but they still flucuate all the time but even with constant readings above 11 I managed to my a1c down to 6.8. BP is a little high they said. hopefully the kidney specialist wont take long to get to the bottom of it.

Will certainly read up on those meds so thanks for that catherine. its great to hear it can be something that can be temporary or resolved with meds. I really should stop reading up about things scare myself silly.

Will keep you all updated.

 

[mehdave]

Just a little update for anyone intertested lol.

The doctor phoned me and said he has been instructed by the Renal unit to put me onto a drug called Ramiprill Titration pack asap . So 1 week at 2.5 then 3 weeks at 5 then 10 there on after. I have to go get blood pressure done and blood tests on the 10th may then see him on 25th may. meanwhile to expect a letter to go for a Kidney scan.

So im gettting there. Hope the kidney scan comes soon and doesnt hurt and praying it doesnt show anything.

Managed to get most of days bg down bellow 8 occasionally hitting 11. Have increased my water intake hardly any juice now. Eating less protein high foods.

Thanks again for all the advice folks much appreciated.

Just trying to stay positive.

 

[mehdave]

Hey folks had all my bloods etc taken. So waiting on them getting back to me about that, my docs appointment is on 25th so they might just wait till then.

Lost some wieght \0/ always good. BP down to 136/85 probably due to the ace inhibitor drugs. My sugers still spike all over the pace.

Anyone any idea how long kidney scans usally take they said it wouldnt be long at all so if i remember correctlly think gp said 4-6 weeks that seem right?


As always appreciate the help just trying to stay positive and not let it worry me. Start my college course after august so trying to focus on the future.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi mehdave,
The blood pressure meds will go a long way to protecting your kidneys so try not to worry.
Can we be of any help with diet as this is probably what is causing the unpredictable blood sugars.

I am not sure from your post whether you have had the scan or are waiting for the results? Either way, what type of scan are you having/have already had?

Take care and keep positive.

Catherine.

 

[mehdave]

Diet is still a hard one for me trying to be as low carb as possible but with the foods I like its difficult.

Still waiting to go for the scan, they havent said what it is specifically but I think someone said its the one with the dye to check the actual function.

 

[IanD]

Hi Dave, sorry to hear your concern.

Have you got your previous blood test results? My Dr pointed out the GFR (Glomerular filtration rate - a measure of kidney performance) figure & said they were watching it - in my case it is 64, & was 64 4 years ago so no change even though my diet changed to reduced carb 2 years ago.

This link will tell you more.

Its good that your Dr has informed you & is getting the tests done. Hope all goes well.

 

[mehdave]

Hi

He didnt tell me those numbers but after feeling my kidneys and me explaining the pains in my side coupled with lots of protein in my urine samples over the last 4 or 5 put my to the renal unit they wanted me on the tablets asap and to go in for the scan.

so just waiting on that. will ask about the gfr number when I next see the doctor.

Thanks

 

[jopar]

Ramipril is a blood presure loweing medication, lowering the blood presure will help ease the presure off the kidneys. as you know kidney's filters our blood a simplistic way of explaining things in protien terms and kidneys..

The kidneys are a kind of sieve, the sieve the protiens out (to keep for repairing the body, and muscle building) our blood presure helps push the blood through the kidneys/sieve but if it's too high it can force the protien through the sieve enlarging the holes causing damage to the kidneys, and can lead to damage beyond repair (renal failure) by lowering the blood presure you lower the force at which the blood passes through the kidneys helping to prevent further damage, caught quick enough the kidneys can heal...

The kidney scans they've arranging for you, will be able to tell them whether the infection you were treated remains within the kidney's so needs further treatmeant to resolve, as well if the infection you had damage the kidney and if it has to what extent the damage may be giving a clear picture to what steps may to be taken forward...

 

[mehdave]

Re: very worried - Update

Hi all

firstly thanks for that information Jopar just realised I hadnt replied doh. Today I had an appointment with a nephroligist he told me the kidney function was down a bit but not by allot. That the diebetes being sudden in december would not cause the large persisting amounts of protein in the urine allready. That it may be a few types of kidney issue that are rare or one type of heriditory condition and that I should of had that scan by now. Yup it still isnt done and hes chasing it up.

Now the big shock he dumped on me was he wants me to have a kidney biopsy quite quickly... :shock: :shock:

So they taken lots of blood again testing for everything as there a tad stumped. To go for a few scans that should of been done by now then a biopsy. I have to have ZERO salt from now on to the best of my ability. And cut back on the amount of protein im eating. ZERO Suger Aswell as adding a few more tablets to deal with my blood pressure. He wants me to press the diabetic clinic for Victoza to help me lose some wieght as these other ones are adding it.

Things just keep getting scarier

 

[cugila]

Both Sue and I hope that things all work out for you mehdave.
One thing that you and your Consultant need to discuss is this information regarding Victoza and Renal Impairment. I am sure he/she will know all about it, but it is something to consider.

(Source EMEA)

Renal impairment: No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤60-90 ml/min). There is very limited therapeutic experience in patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance of 30-59 ml/min) and no therapeutic experience in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min). Victoza can currently not be recommended for use in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment including patients with end-stage renal disease.

Ken / Sue
Forum Monitor's

 

[mehdave]

Thanks for the kind words from you both. I will certainly be checking up with them about victoza and its use.

Hopefully the biopsy wont hurt much

 

[sugarless sue]

Here's some info on what the biopsy entails,Mehdave. Best of luck.

http://www.edren.org/pages/edreninfo/renal-biopsy.php

 

[Gem]

Hi mehdave,

I have been reading your story and I just wanted to say I hope everything turns out for the best and thank you sharing your story. I just had one quick question. My test results show high amounts of protien and the test for my kidney is over the normal limit. My doctor keeps hinting at kidney disease and wants me to do an ultrasound on my kidneys. Lately I have also had pain on my side lasting for a few days (never had this before) but I have been drinking lots of water. My diet consists of alot of chicken...main type of meat is chicken and I asked the doctor if this was the cause and she said this does not affect the protien levels. I am afraid of this and I don't want kindney disease. What am I doing wrong? I just do not understand , could you give me some input please?

 

[badmedisin]

It might help to eat less chicken. At my diabetic clinic they always want to know if people are on the atkins diet as it makes protein show up in the urine. So maybe you're just eating too much protein?

 

[Gem]

I sure hope that it is. I plan on cutting down on the chicken pronto but at the moment my side feels quite sore (like I have just been punched) so I think its something more .

 

[mehdave]

Hi Jem

It sounds like you have the same initial symptoms I do, High protein levels and sore sides. The scan should be the first thing done from what I was told. I still havent had mine done and there wanting a biopsy.

They told me to go easy on high protein foods. I never eat chicken but I guess thats high protein. They did say one of the first things to do was get my blood pressure as low as possible so im on lots of drugs for that. Speak to your gp just to be on the safe side. But untill you have been for scans and to a nephroligist as the guys told me just try stay calm....its not easy tho :wink:

 

[Gem]

Hi mehdave,

Thanks for sharing your experience. My doctor wants me to do an ultrasound of my kidneys and she did say to try and lower my bp as well. I eat alot of chicken but she said that has no effect on my protein levels :roll: but I still plan to cut the amount I usually eat in half. I am the type of patient who goes to the doctor's office and gets frantic especially when I hear bad news. But, I do plan on being more positive about this and will take the test and go from there. Thanks! Oh, and the pain in my side seems to be easing a bit now but I still plan on taking the kidney test. All the best!

Gem