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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.
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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 :)
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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.
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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.