all things kidney and urine

[ingemlb]

Ok I have lost track of the posts but it was suggested I see a Urologist because of flaring up UTI's. So first of all I invested in some Urine Testing Strips. The quickest result I think is telling me no infection at the moment. I will test again first thing in the morning.

But ... my goodness.... all those values :confused1: I see to have elevated protein. That as far as I can tell indicates a potential issue with kidneys. I had many urine tests in the hospital and today I received all the pathology results done in the hospital in the mail. WOW quite a bundle. Anyway anything to do with Urine came back clear. But they didn't list any values at all as per test strip that I bought. Does this mean they ONLY tested for infection? Or that all the other values were normal.

I am getting a headache :rolleyes1: :confused1: understanding all the tests. And trying to read the strip quickly enough to record the values! So have created another spreadsheet and my take this to the new GP I see for the first time on Friday. Don't want to overburden him with stuff as I will also take copies of the other test results :) and give him a history of what has been wrong and an A4 page full of contact numbers for all the specialists I am involved with. I did book a double appointment. This GP was recommended by a good friend who is himself a specialist (infectious diseases) so I am hoping he won't get fed up with me with the first visit :(

Now I was wondering with so many of you suffering from Kidney disorders I am assuming that many of you are experts at understanding these test strips?:unsure: If I posted the result here would someone be able to look at them and let me know if at first glance it appears there is anything to worry about?

Keeping in mind I did this just before dinner but after eating a snack and that I am diabetic on insulin but not sure if that will impact the results.

Anyway here goes. I guess I can also ask the GP if a) he can get the full tests done rather than just the Urine Infection one and b) he can recommend a Urologist. Or maybe I should wait until I see my Rheumatologist on the 25th this month. OK here are the test results as close as I could match them to the colours shown on the strip.:biggrin1:



Marker
Description
NORMAL
7PM 5/3


SG
specific Gravity
1.000
1.025


pH
Acid/Alkaline
4.5-8
6.5


LEU
LEUKOCYTES
NEG
CA 75


ERY/HB
BLOOD / HEMOGLOBIN
NEG
CA 50


NIT
NITRITE
NEG
NEG


KET
KETONE
NEG
15


BIL
BILIRUBIN
NEG
+


UBG
UROBILINOGEN
NORM
NORM


PRO
PROTEIN
NEG
30


GLU
GLUCOSE
NORM
100

[mishb]

Gosh I think you will need two double appointments for the new doc on Friday :flapper:

I love the sound of all your spreadsheets - you have learnt so much in such a little time.

I have never tried one of those testing strips, therefore I'm sorry I can't comment on that - I should get some for myself and try one out for a bit of fun/education.

I am certainly looking forward to hear how Friday goes :thumbsup:

[ingemlb]

I have never tried one of those testing strips, therefore I'm sorry I can't comment on that - I should get some for myself and try one out for a bit of fun/education.

:thumbsup:
Michelle I got them via an online supplier in Australia within 2 days. Quite reasonable price. I bought the one with 10 values but you can get even more values. Check out the strips available here:

URINE TEST STRIPS (http://store.independenceaustralia.com/urine-test-strips.html)

[windchime]

Good Morning (at least for me) Inge

I found this about the leukocytes Leukocytes in Urine | MD-Health.com (http://www.md-health.com/Leukocytes.html) The article says it could indicate an infection. It looks as if you have a little blood in the urine. This combined with the leukocytes and protein could indicate another infection. Ask the doc to do a culture with the urine test. They will then see what antibiotic the infection is susceptible to and be able to give you the correct antibiotic to knock it out.

Re the hospital urine tests. The probably did a full urinalysis when you were admitted. Then only tested for the infection after. Another thing to watch is your ketones levels. You don't want this to get too high. Checking for Ketones: American Diabetes Association® (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/checking-for-ketones.html)

As always this is just my take on it and I hope it helps you. I would definitely discuss with your new GP.

[ingemlb]

Thanks Cindy. I will study in morning. The original urine test was done by a different lab so I may ring them tomorrow and get tbose results as a baseline. I had that done prior to hospital admission.
Here its 10.30 pm. So saying good night:)

[Rose]

I have been using the test strips for about 4 years now. They indicate a POSSIBLE problem and should anything show positive it should be reported to your doctor who will order more accurate testing. I use them to monitor UTI . I am also reassured should protein be neg as a positive result could indicate a POSSIBLE deterioration in my kidney function and if I found this I would contact the doctor immediately. I find them helpful to use between blood tests.

Leucoytes indicate infection. This could be the only positive in the strip for infection but blood, nitrates and protein could also be positive with infection. Positive for blood alone or protein alone or together would be a red flag for those of us who have kidney involvement or even for those who do not have kidney involvement who would like to monitor their kidneys so as to pick up a possible problem early. If an infection is showing positive in the strips and is also positive for protein(which can happen during an infection) this test should be performed again once the infection has cleared and if still positive for protein further test should be done

Rose

[ingemlb]

Thanks Rose :) I remember you put me onto the Test strips! They got here very fast but I should have read up more on what I am to be nervous about. The information I found so far has been a bit confusing. I can't find anywhere exactly when something is not normal apart from the infection marker and that one happens to be normal in mine. However they do suggest you test first thing on getting up so will try that again. Also took me too long to record the values. I need magnifying glasses to read the bottle and no glasses to type or write so by the time I keep taking glasses on and off probably too much time has gone by. Tomorrow I will take the sample to a table and have pen and paper ready before I dip lol as I will be up alone and won't be embarrassing anyone else. I seem to have taken over our family / dining room it is looking like a clinic with all the meds and paraphernalia. I told my husband I may as well convert my study into a little clinic so in case we have the energy for visitors I don't frighten them with all that stuff standing around.
Tomorrow i will create a list of things to discuss with the GP and hopefully he can figure out what tests to do and also send the results to the Rheumatologist. I also have to find out when I call the GP when I call the Rheumatologist who will be the main treating doctor. I am used to just working via a GP and he would send me to whoever I need to see but now it's all under the Rheumatologist so I am not exactly sure how the two will communicate and what I tell one or the other :) The good thing with the GP is that he will get all the results from everyone plus all the letters so at least he will have all the notes in case I need copies.
Thats if I don't frighten him with my first visit.
The reason for getting a new GP is a) my normal GP is too far away from home for me to travel to in my current state and has VERY long waiting times no matter when you get there b) he is not happy with steroid treatments and I don't have the confidence he will simply take orders from the Rheumatologist as he has his own ideas as to what causes what and how to treat it. c) I am too exhausted to argue with him even though I love him to bits and we have become very good friends and that brings me to d) I was told don't have your doctor become your good friend it changes the professional relationship.
The issue I have is how much to tell this new GP without frightening him off on the first visit :( Unfortunately I need a few "indefinite" referrals from him so I don't have to keep tab on when these 3 monthly referrals to all my specialists run out. Guess I will start with the urgent ones. Rheumatologist, Ophthalmologist, Psychiatrist, ENT specialist to re-examine the sinus' and potentially a Urologist. The rest will have to wait a few months.

[Rose]

Our medical urine test strips (urine dip sticks) will analyze and check your urine for 10 different parameters - from glucose, ketones to leucocytes , pH, specific gravity etc. (http://www.anytestkits.com/urine-tests.htm)

Some infor for you. Hope it is a bit more clear

Rose

[ingemlb]

Good Morning those who have just awoken, Good evening to those in Europe/UK and G'day to the rest of you :)

Thanks Rose I will read that link. Most appreciated. :)

[mishb]

Was up at 5.00am this morning but didn't log on until I got to work at 7.00am
I did enjoy your little morning call out this morning - gave me a laugh - Thank you :thumbsup:

[ingemlb]

Did another test today and from the results I need to really get some further test done. Too much blood and a few other markers pointing to either infection like UTI or Kidney lung or heart troubles. Of course that's only my interpretation after reading Rose's link but I guess I better show all this to the doctor today and see what he thinks should be tested for. Blood went up from 50 to 250 and the Bilirubin is now ++ others are also elevated.

Quite a rigmarole getting the values written down fast before the strip gets darker :) Funny thing the one test for UTI is negative.

[ingemlb]

GP is doing another Urine test and feels that the blood could be a little present from the Methotrexate but if he finds anything irregular he will send me to a Urologist. He said unfortunately the Steroids and Immunosuppressive drugs can change the results either increasing or hiding values. Well we'll see :)

[drz]

My Weg specialist has warned me about the possible silent kidney flare that could destroy my kidneys before i noticed any symptoms or problems. He suggested I use the dipstick tests weekly and to get regular lab work done (blood and urine samples) immediately if I got any suggestion of a possible problem. I think that would be excellent advice for you too. Then have a doctor review the results with you to see if additional tests are warranted. One time i had something abnormal in my urine so the nephrologist ordered another test to evaluate it further and then concluded the suggestive finding was nothing to worry about. Most do it yourself dipstick tests are meant to be suggestive, not definitive, so they should be double checked and confirmed by regular medical tests and doctors interpretation skilled in that field.

Our dear departed Jack often stated he had lost his kidney function in the matter of a few days when Wegs attacked them. His warnings are still valid.

[ingemlb]

Thank you so much drz. I intend to do them weekly and then take the results to my Rheumatologist and suggest a referral to a Kidney specialist. I have had copious blood tests and nothing has shown up anything wrong with the kidneys also had many urine tests but I am not sure exactly what they tested the urine for as they tests just came back saying no bacterial infection. Anyway will see what this one shows that was done yesterday. I have a blood test script to do in a week and then see the Rheumatologist on the 25th. So hopefully that will be soon enough.
My kidneys were scanned apparently and came back ok so whatever tests they did at the hospital seems to indicate perfectly healthy kidneys. Only issue being the UTI had returned on arrival at hospital and so far appears not to have come back again. I certainly don't have any symptoms but as you say .... we may not get symptoms. Didn't have any symptoms on arrival at hospital either :(
Guess this is the tricky bit being on steroids.