Need help understanding my symptoms

[Isipingo]

Hi I'm new to the community, I have 1 kidney and its failing. I removed my other kidney 2 years ago from injury. My function dropped from 70%to 35% in 1 year. Is it normal? I am experiencing sever head aches, nausea and runny tummy. Sometimes dark urine with foam but it disappears after a minute. Is this normal and can anyone help me?

[Jayhawker]

If you currently see a nephrologist I’d definitely contact him or her and share the symptoms. If you aren’t seeing a nephrologist, I think you should ask your primary care physician to get you referred to one as soon as possible...

We don’t attempt to diagnose on this website so I’m not meaning to infer that you’ve got something serious going on; rather, I’m just suggesting that you should seek out medical care to evaluate your symptoms.

This sort of situation is certainly stressful. Nothing but positive thoughts for you🐶

Jayhawker

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Isipingo...what Jayhawker said is right on. Go see a doctor. A drop like that is significant, but was that after your surgery? It COULD be your new normal, but we can't tell that. so get a good work up and come back and tell us what you find out.

Dark urine can be a sign of not being hydrated enough. Do you have a water restriction? There is a lot going on so I would schedule a Doc visit asap.

[HealthBuddyMelissa]

It may or may not be normal. Foamy urine can mean you have protein in your urine. Dark urine can mean you are dehydrated. Headaches and nausea may indicate metabolic acidosis. After your other kidney was removed did you get education on taking care of the one kidney you have left by modified diet and other things. I agree with the others that getting into a Nephrologist asap should be your highest priority.

[Chris1974]

Keep in mind dark urine doesn’t always mean dehydrated. For a lot of folks it absolutely does NOT mean you’re dehydrated.

Mine is clear to a little yellow all the time, yet my nephrologists and urologist and primary care doctors say I am still dehydrated (I drink 80-90 fluid ounces of water a day) and I need a lot more fiber in my diet. So changed that and am getting a lot better. GFR was just checked after a month. It was 84 (10 days ago)and I am 45 years old. Since I was floxed with Cipro and after taking Bactrim my GFR ranged from 71-88 since 2016. Bactrim puts a strain on your kidneys as an FYI. Every nephrologist will tell you that.

Like the other folks said you need to see a nephrologist . The lower GFR may be from losing a kidney but see what the nephrologist says.

[sts_tech1189 in reply to Chris1974]

Hi Chris,

I was too my PD said I'm dehydrated (I think I workout too much plus stress in life), however my urine is clear yellow. My nephrologist said I'm stage 2 - GFR at 78. He said wait and see next six month because the ultrasound and the egfr with cystatin c came out fine. No high blood or diabetes.

Do you have another checkup coming? I'm wondering after those meds does your kidney goes back to Normal range?

[Chris1974 in reply to sts_tech1189]

Yes it’s a temporary strain on your kidneys or a 25% decrease in function. This is what both my nephrologists said regarding Bactrim. It typically goes back up 25%, including your creatinine. When I was on Bactrim mine was 1.52 after 4 weeks it’s 1.12. My gfr was 56 and went back to 80+. What I didn’t know was all the 4 years of being floxed from ciprofloxin they were checking my kidneys. I do have right flank pain from time to time and it hasn’t gone 100% away since 2016. All 10+ doctors and specialists don’t know why that is. All CT, MRI, ultrasound and constant blood work shows nothing. I blame the Cipro. I know something is wrong but the nephrologists and urologists at UCSD say it will go away. I just did a follow up with my primary care doctor this week. I do have another follow up in 30 days.

They said I don’t have CKD even with the flank pain I am having.

The only abnormal lab that came back was my blood sugar was 101. I had an apple juice while they drew my blood because I was feeling ill that day. The time before that it was at the end of the day and I wasn’t fasting and it was 115 after my late lunch. So they claimed that insignificant. Before that all tests were under 100 which is considered normal levels.

So at this point I have the on and off right flank pain and a diagnosis of extreme dehydration.

So changed my diet, added fiber and cut back on protein. I do that anyway. I am on a very strong probiotic for the Cipro damage to my gut. I have to take that for life as per my gastro doctor. Fiber makes stools normal after Cipro damage for me anyway. Never had that issue before. They started me on lisinopril 10 mg daily for borderline high bp due to dehydration. Thats normal now but even being dehydrated it was barely out of range but never had high bp before.

My heart rate has been abnormal and all over the place at times and eKGs all have been normal. So they gave me an anxiety test and I failed miserably. So they just started me on anxiety medication and they say it’s CNS and other damage caused by the Cipro antibiotic.

[Sammi_n_Munk]

Hi there Isipingo. I can certainly understand your concern. I’ve been reading the other posts and I agree, also. The only true way to know for certain what is actually going on is to see either your PCP, or a nephrologist. There are so many factors to consider when you notice symptoms like these. If you were recently on any medications, or still are on any maintenance medications, even that could be a contributing element to the way you’re feeling. Dehydration, medication (especially NSAIDs, even over-the-counter stuff), your current diet, a UTI and bladder infection, all of these could be creating the symptoms you’re feeling. Truthfully, as the others have said, visit with your doctor, get some bloodwork done and I’m sure that they will be able to get to the bottom of this. I wish you all the best! And remember, we’re here for you. Please do keep us posted. God bless. 😊👍

[daxielovinglady]

Please see a medic asap, if only to share your anxiety. Blessings.

[frank690]

Hi Isipingo, are u perhaps Durban, South african based?? i'm finding that kidney specialists from differen countries look at illnesses very differently. & i thought i could compare with your type of treatment to mine. Best of luck