Right kidney not visible on ultrasound

[Alexie90]

Just had a renal artery ultrasound this morning, one where you fast beforehand. was expecting the kidney ultrasound when you have to be full of water first. but the tech said she couldnt really find my right kidney on the ultrasound. I know last year a CT showed atrophy. has anyone else had this happen?

[RitLa]

Hi Alexie90! I have the same problem, only with my left kidney. The technician could not find it. The reason is because the left renal artery closed up and because the kidney wasn’t getting enough blood, it dried up and shrank into a raisin. It’s called Renal Artery Stenosis. Unfortunately it has left me with only one working kidney. I am in stage 3 kidney disease. I am trying so hard to keep my right kidney healthy. Take care.

[Alexie90 in reply to RitLa]

Hello. did your doctors do anything for the kidney that wasnt functional? from what I was previously told my right kidney does look like a bean shaped raisin, with a staghorn calculi in it, taking up almost the room. but not sure if its due to renal stenosis or possibly an injury or damage (I have multiple medical conditions but only on the right side that no one can explain). I'm trying to keep my one kidney healthy too. so many meds right now. I think my last lab tests still showing too much protein in my blood/urine, A1C was still higher than they wanted too

[RitLa in reply to Alexie90]

Nothing can be done for my shriveled up kidney. The other kidney is doing double duty. I’m not eating much animal protein because the kidneys have a hard time processing animal protein. My nephrologist did say that I could eat small amounts of chicken and salmon. Because my CKD is caused by vascular problems, he told me to eat a heart healthy diet. The toughest problem for me is figuring out what I can and cannot eat.