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Hello, I am 29 (30 in may) years old and diabetic, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol I have had such conditions since I was 15. I lived up in NY for a while and my HbA1c Levels were normal for quite sometime so my dr took me off ALL medications dealing with diabetes. I recently moved to PA and see my dr. here I went in for my usual round of blood tests and my dr called me and said that there was a severe amount of protein in my urine and my HbA1c level is back up to 8.7% For the last few months I have been getting pains in my lower abdomen and lower back. I also at times find it very hard to urinate even when I feel like I "Really have to go". I have tried cranberry juice and pills and they do not work. I have asked her what this could mean and she "refuses to answer" and said she would much rather have me see a kidney dr. I have an appointment on May 18th but I'm scared to wait that long. I have also looked up on webmd what this could possibly mean and what is said was either Acute Kidney disease, or Kidney failure. Which I have all the symptoms for... is there anyone that can give me any kind of answer... something to ease my mind. I'm going nuts and my dr won't tell me anything... that worries me.. oh and she also stated that my kidney functions were "off" meaning... I don't know... either too high or two low..? :confused: :confused: :mad: :eek:

The thing is your doctor is not a specialist and she does not want to speculate on what it could be. You need to see that specialist and they will be able to tell you more. I know it is scary but there could be signs of what you said, kidney function is limited but worrying about it does not change it. As a doctor I am sure your doctor feels it is better not to say either way, until further study is made. Does not want to give you doom and gloom, or does not want to give you too much optimism.

It might not seem fair but believe me the doctor did the right thing by sending you to a specialist and there you will definitely probably get more tests done.

There are many possibilities, good and not so good, but just remember that it is good that this is caught now and just to be on the safe side, seeing a specialist is a good positive step.

I am guessing that taking all those medications and all the medical problems combined can have this effect on your kidneys. Or it could just be a kidney infection. They will find all the possibilities out when you see the specialist.

Best wishes for everything and it sounds like your in good care.

Joe

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Originally Posted by Jesushelper76

The thing is your doctor is not a specialist and she does not want to speculate on what it could be. You need to see that specialist and they will be able to tell you more. I know it is scary but there could be signs of what you said, kidney function is limited but worrying about it does not change it. As a doctor I am sure your doctor feels it is better not to say either way, until further study is made. Does not want to give you doom and gloom, or does not want to give you too much optimism.

It might not seem fair but believe me the doctor did the right thing by sending you to a specialist and there you will definatly probably get more tests done.

There are many possibilities, good and not so good, but just remember that it is good that this is caught now and just to be on the safe side, seeing a specialist is a good positive step.

I am guessing that taking all those medications and all the medical problems combined can have this effect on your kidneys. Or it could just be a kidney infection. They will find all the possibilities out when you see the specialist.

Best wishes for everything and it sounds like your in good care.

Joe

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I suppose you are right, its just that the blood test was taken on Feb 3rd, she waited until march 1st to contact me and the appt. isn't until may... I'm just worried that the time between is going to mess with me even more... But I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see and pray that I don't have bad news for a birthday present.. ugh.. :rolleyes: :(

Protein in the urine can be caused by a number of illnesses.

Given that you have longstanding diabetes [ now uncontrolled since your A1C is greater than 7% ] and high blood pressure; statistically speaking, you may have early kidney disease.

Kidney disease (nephropathy), and diabetes facts and information - Complications - American Diabetes Association

You need to have a your blood creatine level checked asap. Higher than 1.2 would indicate trouble.

In the meantime it is important to keep your fasting blood sugars less than 110 if posible, your systolic blood pressure less than 130, your diastolic blood pressure less than 80 if possible.

If you feel so weak and nauseated - go to the ER this may indicate a high potassium or increasing acid in your blood or a low blood count. The kidney is involved in maintaining acid base balance in the blood, getting rid of excess potassium, sending signals to the bone marrow to produce red cells - among its many important functions.












G&P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by inthebox

Protein in the urine can be caused by a number of illnesses.

Given that you have longstanding diabetes [ now uncontrolled since your A1C is greater than 7% ] and high blood pressure; statistically speaking, you may have early kidney disease.

Kidney disease (nephropathy), and diabetes facts and information - Complications - American Diabetes Association

You need to have a your blood creatine level checked asap. Higher than 1.2 would indicate trouble.

In the meantime it is important to keep your fasting blood sugars less than 110 if posible, your systolic blood pressure less than 130, your diastolic blood pressure less than 80 if possible.

If you feel so weak and nauseated - go to the ER this may indicate a high potassium or increasing acid in your blood or a low blood count. The kidney is involved in maintaining acid base balance in the blood, getting rid of excess potassium, sending signals to the bone marrow to produce red cells - among its many important functions.










G&P

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If they weren't suspecting anything would they not test for that or does your blood creatine levels come up in your usual CBCs? And after reading that I'm wondering if that's what she meant by "Your kidney functions were off." What gets me is webmd stated that the "early signs of kidney failure and kidney disease often go un-noticed because there are no real symptoms" And that that's why a lot of people get so bad so quick cause you can go for years without any symptoms. I can't even remember the last time I had a urine test done before this last one where we found out that there was a lot of protein in my urine. I'm wondering if this has been going on for a while and no one's caught it.. and the whole fact that webmd also said that your blood sugars will often go back down to normal if your kidneys are failing because they can't filter the way they are supposed to. And they can jack back up and go back down. Its also been doing this for quite some time. It was 2 years ago that my dr told me that "My diabetes went away and I feel you don't need to take your medication anymore." Being that she's a dr. I listened and I guess I shouldn't have. People are telling me to sue her because things have been going wrong since then.. IDK... I'm in a mess and have no idea where to start... this is all so frustrating and I feel so sick all the time but my doctors just don't get it I guess... I've never felt so alone in my life... :(

A creatine level usually is in a basic or general chemistry panel. It includes potasium, sodium, chloride, sodium bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen, and blood sugar.

A cbc, or complete blood count has your count of red cells, white cells, and platelets among other things.

You need to get copies of your medical records from the doctor - legally they are yours - and go to another doctor knowledgeable in diabetes. At the very least, you amy be able to get some basic blood and urine tests at your local health department .

Also remember that although diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease in the US, there are plenty of other causes.

You are not alone, there are lots of great folks here at AMHD. Keep us updated.


G&P

I have too had a similar experience and high protein level in urine and creatine level elevated, I do see a specialist and yet no one has an idea of why. I am not diabetic nor in the past had high blood pressure. I have had ultra sound done on kidneys and no blockages or cysts.

I have started the ACE inhibitor that I am sure your doctor will soon recommend, and recently had my numbers redone my creatine is back to 1.0 which is border line still but with in range but still have moderate amounts of protein at this point, but still no one still knows why.

I would not worry as much and I know easier said then done, I was the same way. They will also calculate your GFR which is how your kidneys are filtering, below 60 is not good that is stage 3 Kidney Disease, stage 5 is the worse. I am still in stage 2 at this time.

Hope all went well with the specialists, I return to mine in June.

Good Luck

I just wanted to mention a few things. 15 years ago, my father had all these symptoms being mentioned and was not a diabetic. He did have high blood pressure and gout. The pills he was taking for the gout MAY have had a posssibilty in damaging his kidneys but no one can say for sure. He had back pain, stomach pain, high protein in urine, trouble urinating and foamy urine. It wasn't till he had a kidney biopsy done that they found out he had a kidney disease(forgive me... I can never remember the tech term) and he was in renal failure. This particular disease affects 1 in a thousand.
Last year , 2008, my husband gave my father a kidney as this disease affected both kidneys and his creatnine level was almost a 6... I am very happy to say he went through it all well and is doing fine now. But please continue to have more testing done... dont give up. Because no one knows if his disease is hereditary, I always have my creat. Level checked to be safe. I hope all works out . Best of luck to you...