Kidney update and possible gallstones

[MusicalFurbaby]

Hi everyone, it’s been a hot minute since I posted about my kidneys! A few weeks ago I found out I had leaky protein, but I saw the specialist (who was pretty thorough) and he’s not worried about it. And if he’s not worried, I’m not worried! We’re gonna review in 3 months’ time. I’m so glad it turned out to be nothing to freak out about!

In other news, it appears I may have gallstones. First time ever. Two weeks ago I woke up with constant nausea that hasn’t gone away, with intermittent pain in my upper abdomen that radiates to my back. I’m tender all over my belly but especially in the pancreas area. Pain gets worse during and after eating. It hasn’t gone away, and a week ago I presented to hospital due to the pain. CT and ultrasound were normal, but bloods showed a mild elevation in pancreas markers. Even though scans are yet to find any gallstones, it’s our working theory that gallstones have passed through the pancreas and somehow irritated it. I’m seeing a surgeon tomorrow. I’m off work until this is resolved.

Does anyone have experience with gallstones or pancreatitis? Can gallstones be so small that scans can’t pick them up? Even though lupus doesn’t cause gallstones, is it possible lupus could be contributing to inflammation, or perhaps attacking the pancreas directly? Any words of wisdom welcome!

[Poshcards]

hi, I have had Lupus for over 31 years and about 25 years ago, I had gallstones, they were excruciating, ending up in a and e a few times, eventually had them removed, they thought it could be down to my Lupus x

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to Poshcards]

Thanks Poshcards for your response. Did they ever work out how lupus could have caused the gallstones? I know gallstones are not peculiar to lupus—anyone can get them—but I just wondered if there was a particular inflammation or similar caused by lupus that could have led to the stones.

Otherwise, if we can’t find gallstones, we’re looking at a random inflammation of the pancreas—which lupus could certainly trigger.

[Poshcards in reply to MusicalFurbaby]

No, nothing ever said xx