kidney infection and low eGFR result

[girlwithcurls]

Hi all, I am currently trying to recover from a suspected kidney infection (protein in urine but not sent to lab), taking a course of antibiotics.

I have had various tests done as well as I have had a pain in my left kidney area for a long while now, I thought it was a muscle strain. All came back normal except for the eGFR creat test, which is says abnormal, 66mL. What does this mean? The doctor hasn't called about it. It was 80 mL a year ago.

For context, I am a 50 year old female with controlled high blood pressure. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

[horsie63]

Is this the first test that shows eGFR 66? Could you have been dehydrated when you took the test? You say "suspected" has a doctor definitely said it's a kidney infection? The NKF has tons of information on it's web site. If this is the first time it's been low it's possible it's just due to the infection. If you have pain you might want to have a ultrasound of the area.

[girlwithcurls in reply to horsie63]

Thank you, I have now spoken to my gp, whi has asked me to bring in a new urine sample to be sent to the lab and she has booked me for an ultrasound.

[orangecity41]

Here is a link to information on eGFR that might be helpful in talking to your Doctor. kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr

[RickHow]

You have a lot of unanswered "conditions" that you should call your doctor (don't wait for them to call you, call and make an appointment. Now a drop that "significant" in egfr can be caused by a lot of the possible conditions you talk about. But is seems your doctor has not (based upon what you say) diagnosed your health but simply put you on antibiotics. You say a suspected kidney infection, protein in urine but not sent to a lab (so I assume you mean it was just a test with a dip stick), that you are on antibiotics, pain in left kidney area. Yet your doctor has not done any scan, any lab protein analysis, but just put you on antibiotics but yet only suspects a kidney infection. It seems the doctor must have more information. From what you describe, including the drop in egfr (but not down to any alarming level) you could have a UTI (some protein in urine, kidney stone (causing he discomfort in the left kidney), a kidney infection, etc. Signs of a kidney infection are fever, chills, pain with urination, urinating more often, nausea, etc. You did not mention having any of these.

You need to sit down with the doctor and get a better understanding of what is going on. At this point in time I personally would NOT be even thinking about that egfr level and change from a year ago. A year ago when you had your test you were not on antibiotics, did not have pain, did not have protein in urine, etc. You need to fix those problems, then get an egfr test.

A couple of side points. It would be unusual to have pain due to CKD with an egfr of 66. Not impossible but generally reduced kidney function, at a level still considered normal (above 60) would not be painful nor be treated with antibiotics. As far as protein in urine, we all have protein in our urine. What are considered normal (some say trace) amounts. A dip stick test will sometimes indicate protein in urine, (higher than normal) but then you take the test the next day there is none. This is why a lab test is far better measurement. You say the doctor knows you have protein in urine but did nothing about it (no further testing) so I am guessing he/she thinks it was just trace amounts or only slightly above normal (again we all have some protein in urine).

You need a visit with your doctor and get some answers.

ps. I test my urine every 2 weeks at home, per request of my doctor, via dip sticks. It is NOT unusual to test it and find the color change on the dip stick to be above normal. Then I test it again much later that day and I get normal. Doesn't happen a lot, but it has happened. Dip sticks are not the most reliable method of urine testing, they are a quick snapshot.

[girlwithcurls]

Thank you Rick, I have got a bit further with my gp now, but you have made some good observations 👍