How to catch/diagnose kidney problems?

[paulc182]

Hi ya'll.

So a question regarding kidney involvement, how do I catch/diagnose it?
Been feeling a dull ache in my low right back and I was wondering if I had any involvement, maybe a stone.
I know the full metabolic panel is the most essential and basic thing. What about other things like Renal Tubular Acidosis? What do I ask to check that for instance? I know Potassium blood level and urine pH are indicators, but I recall there needs to be more to go on.

[Pete0211]

I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with a nephrologist or urologist and just asking them. They'd probably get an xray to look for stones, a urine culture for infection, and urine testing for kidney function. I recently did a 48 hour sample through my urologist and Litholink (which also includes a blood draw), and it turns out aside from stones left over from my hyperparathyroid issue, my kidneys are functioning optimally.

[paulc182]

I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with a nephrologist or urologist and just asking them. They'd probably get an xray to look for stones, a urine culture for infection, and urine testing for kidney function. I recently did a 48 hour sample through my urologist and Litholink (which also includes a blood draw), and it turns out aside from stones left over from my hyperparathyroid issue, my kidneys are functioning optimally.

Got it. Was it secondary hyperparathyroidism? Or adenomas?

[Pete0211]

It was adenoma - a single gland that grew to about 1 inch x 1/2 inch. I probably had the disease for 10-15 years before it was diagnosed in 2015, and had it removed about three weeks after diagnosis (had a 15.8 calcium level and a parathyroid hormone level of 2066).

[paulc182]

It was adenoma - a single gland that grew to about 1 inch x 1/2 inch. I probably had the disease for 10-15 years before it was diagnosed in 2015, and had it removed about three weeks after diagnosis (had a 15.8 calcium level and a parathyroid hormone level of 2066).

Wow thats crazy high. Most PTH levels are between 10-55 pg/mL, unless you're using a different measurement.

[Pete0211]

No, it's the same measure. That's what makes them think (along with other medical history) that I had the disease, undiagnosed) for almost 15 years.

Even the docs (at a parathyroid center that does about 70 surgeries a week) told me that they rarely see numbers that high, because it tends to kill before that.

[paulc182]

No, it's the same measure. That's what makes them think (along with other medical history) that I had the disease, undiagnosed) for almost 15 years.

Even the docs (at a parathyroid center that does about 70 surgeries a week) told me that they rarely see numbers that high, because it tends to kill before that.

Aren't the tumors usually benign?

[Pete0211]

The tumor themselves are, yes. The disease, and the elevated calcium levels are deadly over time.