So for years I have been told I have a lot of protein in my urine. Yet no one really seemed concerned. I went to a new primary dr last thursday for a poss UTI. Well I didn't actually see the dr, they were kind enough that because they couldn't get me in for 3 weeks to run a urine and give me antibiotics.
I have been getting up at least 5 times a night to urinate. I had no sign of a UTI but they were extremely concerned about the protein in my urine. I said no big deal I always have protein in my urine.
This whole time I was thinking it was ok that i had protein in my urine because all of my other drs kept blowing it off. Most of the time it is either 2+ or 30mg/? depending on which lab runs the test. The nurse on the phone said, "ok, well, you do know that it isn't normal to have protein in your urine?" I said no I had no idea. She asked if I had a eGFR test. I have had 2 which were normal, as well as my kidney values are normal.
My question is: does anyone else have protein in their urine all of the time and not have any problem? The nurse said it could be a sign of a kidney problem. I know when I was 17 I had an ultrasound I had a cyst in one of my kidneys. I do occasionally get kidney area pain but none of my drs think it is because of my kidneys. I go back to the rheumy on the 4th and my primary on the 6th.
A friend of mine went to a conference recently and the speaker talked specifically about kidney problems. He said that you can have all normal bloodtests and still have kidney problems. If you have symptoms, get it checked out and possibly get a biopsy. I don't think a biopsy is necessary at this point but I am starting to get concerned about the protein and the fact I have to get up in the middle of the night at least 5 times to pee and I don't have an infection.
What to do, what to do?
Jess
My Dad has had abnormal kidney values (creatinine) and his primary doctor referred him to a nephrologist. This type of doctor deals specifically with kidney function.
I don't know if creatinine and BUN levels are proteins, but I do know that they are specific markers for kidney function.
Good luck, I hope that they can figure it all out for you!
I would say yes it could be cause for concern as proteinuria is a sign of kidney disease so good your rheumy appt is right around the corner, unless of course your rheumy is one of your doctors saying it is not a cause for concern. Here and there over the years I will be tested for it and it has always been negative, I for many years had UTI's and also hematuria (blood in urine) without infection and during that time I had been referred to a nephrologist who said no need to see him unless there was protein in my urine. Is it possible for you to make an appt with a nephrologist or obtain a referral, not that you want to see yet another doctor for yet more tests.
Might be some info for you here:
http://www.renal.org/whatwedo/InformationResources/CKDeGUIDE/Stage1-2CKD.aspx
Take good care
Dee
Jessiblah kidney disease will quietly sneak up on you and because Sjogren's can affect your kidneys you need to be vigilant and follow up on the protein spillage.
Keep in mind that some meds and diet will cause small amounts of protein spillage but it sounds like you have more than trace amounts. Follow up with a 24 hr urine which will tell you about your level of function. As we age we lose some function but protein is not normal. I recommend that you don't allow your md to brush it off.
I have had my kidney values tested and they have always been normal. I can tell from my blood work that I always seem to be dehydrated because my albumin is always at the highest end of normal.
Thanks for the website Dee. It scares me a bit because according to my symptoms and issues I could be stage 1 aaaggh! But I remain positive and think there is no way I have kidney disease.
My friend told me that someone she knows that has lupus nephritis had similar problems as myself but all of a sudden her kidney values also shot up. She had a biopsy and found out she had lupus nephritis. She has since gotten other issues as well.
I am going to see what both drs say about the protein in the urine. None of my rheumys seemed concerned about the protein. My last gp mentioned that we were going to watch the protein in my urine but wasn't overly concerned. I only had three urinalysis with him though.
When all of my AI symptoms started, the first urine i gave only had a trace amount, the amount gradually increased as the years went by. Although I looked back 3 years before symptoms and noticed that I on occasion had protein in my urine but I was 12-13 at the time. I have had only 1 UA in the past 6 years that had no protein and that was 4 years ago.
I had this when I was first diagnosed & was having so many other symptoms & issues. Now that I am being treated it is normal again.
Definitely keep checking on it & don't brush it off.
Good luck
I agree; make sure your rheumy knows. It may not mean you are developing any sort of kidney disease and class 1 kidney disease (at least for lupus) isn't really significant, so you may just need to have your labs monitored carefully. I have protein in my urine and low C3 which can be associated with lupus nephritis but my creatinine levels have been good so far so no referral to a nephrologist. We are just following it closely.
Good luck :-)