**Trigger warning** Sex and the kidneys

[Fluuux]

Hi everyone,

Maybe a few of you will find this inappropriate etc. and Im really sorry if Im going to offend anyone with this. But I really dont know who else to ask (too shy to ask my doctor). If you dont want to read a question that has to do with sex then stop reading now.

The thing is that everytime Ive had sex I get more symptoms from my kidneys (pain, more protein in the urine).

Could it be that the bending and pounding motions (sorry again) is affecting the kidneys? Im starting to not want to engage in sex now because of the damage it seems to be doing.

I understand that this is a personal question and I understand if I dont get any responses but I wanted to give it a go anyway!

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Fluuux,

Yes people can have difficulties with sex and CKD. Here are some links for more information:

NHS Choices - Chronic Kidney Disease: nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-di...

National Kidney Foundation: kidney.org.uk/help-and-info...

I suggest you (as I did this morning re. back pain) to discuss this with your GP and consultant nephrologist. They are your medical professionals and are best placed to advise you. I can understand you being shy about talking about this subject, but they will be used to discussing sensitive topics and won't be fazed by them.

I am going to put a *Trigger warning* edit to your post title. We typically use this to warn other away from reading a post which might upset them. Do bear in mind that we have strict Community Guidelines about what is appropriate to write in posts. If we feel that forum members breach these, then posts may well be deleted, and the member reported to HU Admin and contacted privately. I appreciate this seems a genuine question and concern for you, but do be aware that we need to respect each other. It is easy often to say things in an anonymous chat room/forum, which we may not say in public, but that does not give us a license to say anything we like.

Best wishes,

MAS Nurse and Moderator

[Fluuux in reply to MAS_Nurse]

Hi MAS_nurse,

Thank you for your links. I didn't find anything about this particular question there but I'm sure there are other useful tips.

I did read the community guidelines before and I tried to write this as delicate as possible. I really don't feel that I was disrespectful nor did I take advantage of my anonymity to "say anything I like". But I'm sorry again if I was being inappropriate in some way but I also think this is an important topic to discuss.

[MAS_Nurse in reply to Fluuux]

Hi again,

I do understand, there's no need to apologise. I just needed to remind folks about the need to be careful. The links I've given you do answer a lot about your questions. But as I have said, ultimately, you need to speak to your healthcare professionals about these concerns, as they are the experts and best placed to answer them.

BW

MAS Nurse

[Bluejean2]

How do you know you are getting more protein in the urine? Are you testing it?

[Fluuux in reply to Bluejean2]

Hi Bluejean2,

I can visibly see that there's more bubbles in the urine and then when I test with albustix I can see that they're darker than normal.

[Bluejean2 in reply to Fluuux]

You can’t tell by bubbles if you have more protein in the urine, both of the nephrologist that I have had say the the bubbles are not a good indicator.

[Fluuux in reply to Bluejean2]

Ah okey that's interesting. I've read in several places that it indeed is an indicator of protein. But I'm not a doctor so I don't know. Did they explain in any more detail?

[Jonquiljo in reply to Fluuux]

Bubbles in urine are definitely not always an indicator of protein, and are certainly not quantitative.

[Fluuux in reply to Jonquiljo]

Very interesting, thank you!

[newdiagrice in reply to Fluuux]

I have bubbles sometimes but just tested negative (again) for protein in my urine.

[Bubreg in reply to newdiagrice]

I wish I can say that foamy urine is not sign of proteins in my case. If I notice that and check my dipstick it always shows proteins, less foamy less proteins, more foamy more proteins. Right now I am on Prednisone 5mg (last 3 months started on 30mg) for 2 weeks and last week I started noticing foamy urine and when I went on check up my urine shows trace of proteins and my nephrologist told me to go back on 10mg which I will start on Wednesday if I still have trace. So who knows why I leak proteins since all of the other things are normal in blood and urine. I was diagnosed with Minimal Change Decease in December after the biopsy so who knows. I am a female and 44years old. best wishes to all of you!

[Bluejean2]

I have bubbles left in the toilet after urinating but all tests are negative for protein. The doctors say this is very common. If the urine is frothy that can be something to check out.

[Fluuux in reply to Bluejean2]

Thank you for the info! I think I did notice this with my albustix, sometimes the bubbles and the color on the stick doesn't match

[Marvin8]

It makes me sad to see that we have to tiptoe around such a subject and that a "trigger warning" was necessitated. As if this is pornography.

[Fluuux in reply to Marvin8]

I agree with you Marvin8 but I also offcourse respect MAS_nurse judgment. I guess it can be a difficult to read about something like this for some people depending on who you are, what stage of ckd you have and your overall affective state. I think it can also be seen as a small issue since many people here have much more serious problems and can't even begin to think about being able to have sex at all

[ReddBuffalo]

I too wonder about this. I was diagnosed 2 years ago but the nephrologist at my first appointment gave me only the most basic info (salt, nsaids) and told me he didn’t think I would die of ckd. Recently at my second appointment, the PA seemed more gravely concerned, but in the end said my numbers hadn’t changed so “keep doing what you’re doing”. I assumed that included, well, everything. But now I wonder, would my numbers be better if I didnt continue doing certain things? Not just subject of your post, but working 12 hour shifts at my desk job, etc.?

[Mgt8]

It also makes me sad that intimate relations between two people who love each other can ever be seen as upsetting to others. I do understand that there needs to be guidelines to this site. However, having ckd can affect a relationship in this way and can be upsetting to both partners.

Especially at a time when we need to feel like a normal human being and not just a kidney patient.

Mgt