Kidneys

[soootired]

Another question!

At each appointment urine is tested for kidney involvement, does this mean that if the urine text is ok there can be no kidney involvement?

[bexxy]

After 4 courses of antibiotics over december-January, which covered about 6 weeks of protein in urine I decided to order my own test strips, I monitor myself and last week it all started again..so yet more antibiotics! which is amusing as my rheumatology appt with urine sample was just done before it all went downhill again, so it's a bit hit and miss as to whether they will detect at scheduled appts....

[soootired in reply to bexxy]

Did your gp prescribe them?

I used to have kidney problems as a young child - recurrent kidney infections - that I had to be tested for. I remember some sort of stuff (maybe contrast) Being injected into my urethra which hurt like mad! And I'm not sure what they did next - it was nearly 40 years ago!

I have constant righthand flank discomfort going as far back as I can remember, I've always assumed is normal? For me anyway?

My urine is always fine.

[bexxy in reply to soootired]

The test strips I purchased from amazon( as used by doctors), the antibiotics are prescribed and I always take the sample to the surgery for them to send off to labs, they also want one at the end of the course of antibiotics just to check if I need a second course... I can tell without the need for test strips now as you can see the cloudiness and white precipitate of the proteins in the sample by just looking at it.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi soootired ,

Blood (haematuria) or protein (proteinuria) in the urine are signs of kidney damage. These are the earlier and most important signs of lupus nephritis and therefore urine should be routinely tested when people with lupus are seen in clinic.

You can read more about how lupus nephritis is diagnosed in our booklet, 'Lupus and the Kidneys' at lupusuk.org.uk/wp-content/u...

[soootired in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thanks Paul.

[1sam in reply to soootired]

Good for your Dr on checking your urine as of routine I'm glad that your tests come back normal.

I do have some kidney damage caused by lupus as Paul described... and it is something to pay attention to. But don't panic, just because your Dr tests you it does not mean that you will have organ involvement.