What would you do?

[Spanners_]

I’ve had an ache in my mid back, near the bottom of my ribs, for more than a year now, which (I think) was CT scanned by the gastro team because I have chronic acid reflux and unexpected low B12 too. I’ve recently had a ‘slightly abnormal ‘ eGFR result too, at 84, and a trace of leukocytes in my urine in a Vivoo urine test. But I don’t know if this any of this is significant. And I don’t want to go to the doctors again, unless I really should. I am starting to feel like a freeloader. What do you think?

[Hidden]

As you will only get an opinion here your Dr is the best place to get answers. Without knowing anything more than your GFR it is impossible to give you any meaningful advice. GFR is worked out from age, ethnicity and gender. So without that information all I can say is I'm jealous of that GFR. Go back to your Dr that's what they are there for. You might consider filing in your profile, that would give more information to go on.

[RickHow]

Hello. You did not give you age or sex so it is a little difficult to comment too well on your egfr. It is in the normal range. (over 60). Obviously you had all the tests you mentioned via the direction of a doctor(s). The doctor did not instruct you to do anything further, no provide medication, etc. But it seems you should discuss your concerns with a doctor. But lets look specifically at the things you mentioned. Back pain. Back pain is usually due to problems in the back, not necessarily the kidney. Again without age it is difficult but as we age the discs in our backs do degenerate, our bones "shift". This can cause pain. You had a CT, nothing was noted, so it is possible due to kidney, but again the CT showed nothing.Trace leukocytes in urine are almost always due to three causes. A urinary tract infection. Second, urinary tract inflammation. Third, kidney stones. By the way all three of these can cause back pain in lower area, especially infection. BUT again, you had a CT and it showed no infection nor stones. You mentioned low b12. Didn't the doctor talk to you about that? Or perhaps prescribe something? Or was it simply a matter of being just below normal and not worrisome. All in all I'd simply go back to my doctor with simple questions to ask him:

--what should we do about my low b12 level?

--should we check my urine again and be sure the leukocytes have returned to normal

--what do you think is causing my lower back pain?

[WYOAnne]

You have to be your own advocate. If this is something that really bothers you, you need to see your doctor until they figure out what is going on.I have had a kidney transplant and a few years ago I started having pain at about my waist line, right above where my transplant is. The team did a bunch of tests including an MRI. They said they didn't find anything. To make a long story short, it took almost 6 months of me telling them something is wrong before they sent me to the surgery clinic. Even though by now I had multiple MRI's, radiologist reports were all negative, it took the surgeon looking at the films to see I had an incisional hernia. A week later it was repaired.

- My point is, if it bothers you don't give up. It is your health and your body and you know when something is wrong.