What's up with my kidneys?

Two weeks ago when I was in the hospital for 3 liters of IV fluids, they eventually had to catheterize me to get a urine sample. I was told that I had proteinuria. On vacation I was 99% sure I had a UTI (pain upon urinating, etc.) so went to the urgent care by my in-laws' house and asked for a urinalysis. Turns out I did not have a UTI - no blood, no leukocytes - but again I was told I have significant proteinuria (3+). The doctor told me I need to see a nephrologist and get a 24-hour urine test and a renal sonogram. I am clueless about how this might be related to my bowel issues. Has anyone else experienced proteinuria that lasted longer than a few weeks?

Thank you, Kitt.  I know there's a lot of things that can cause this.

I saw my PCP this morning and he did another urinalysis, and again I'm spilling lots of protein (third time in a month).  Plus I dropped 11 pounds since I saw him in early December.  So he gave me a stat referral to a nephrologist.  I don't know.  Trying not to freak out but jeez louise I don't know how much more of this I can take!  I have 10 exams this month.  First one is on Monday morning. 

Sometimes I wonder what the breaking point will be?  I'm sitting here at the library trying to get ready for a physiology workshop and the absolute last thing I want to do is hang around with a bunch of gunners and talk about EKGs.

Okay, I'm done whining.  You guys are awesome for listening.

Hey guys, my PCP got my records from the GI and turns out I've been spilling protein for a few months now, according to all the urinalyses that have been done. Sometimes people just randomly spill protein in their urine, so I guess that's why my doc didn't follow up on it. But four separate occasions with this much protein is crazy. And, being the dipstick med student I am (pun definitely intended), I didn't put two-and-two together that the fact that my urine looks like a white CLOUD most of the time could be an indication of a problem. Oh, and all that weight loss...this might be the culprit. The diarrhea? Who knows. Maybe this stunning new nephrologist will have a clue. I see him on the 24th.

In the meantime, my PCP told me he thinks I should see a psychologist because "this is a lot to handle as a med student" and he wants me to be able to talk about it with someone. At times I just feel like I'm on the brink of a meltdown here. The feeling comes and goes. It's worse if I'm unmotivated and don't study enough and bomb an exam (like I imagine occurred today). It's like running on a treadmill that keeps picking up speed and you feel like you might burst.

Thanks for listening.

Hang in there,I know how hard that is,trust me. I hope you get some "good news" soon.

Lynn:)

Hi,
Spilling urine protien can be cause by nutritional deficits such as increased protien catabolism. You may have low protien levels. Are you eating ok? It could be UTI as well that is subclinical(they just are not diagnosing it correctly) Also, could be from dehydration as well as kidney issues as you stated. Good luck.

Thanks for the replies Sharann and Marie-Claire. They don't think a UTI is present since I don't have leukocytes or blood in the urine, just protein, and no culture growth that I know of...but I'll do a little research into that! Nutritionally...I've lost a lot of weight since September (25 pounds) but the last time they checked my pre-albumin, which is the best test to check your nutritional status, it was within normal limits. That was a few weeks ago. But I will look into that as well!

There is a kidney disease called renal amyloidosis that can occur in conjunction with Crohn's disease (generally in under 3% of cases of Crohn's). You might discuss this possibility with the nephrologist, because protein loss in urine is one of the main signs of renal amyloidosis.

I have to wait two weeks to get into see the nephrologist. Right in the middle of mid-terms, ahh. Can't wait to haul a pee-jug around campus.

Matthew, how were you diagnosed with glomerulonephritis? Did they do a kidney biopsy? Did your 2004 protein spillage just resolve on its own? This could be glomerulonephritis. I hope not. It could about 23978 other things too.

Hey Skibum (love the name - wish I could ski - too bad I live in the desert now)...
I just got some records from my GI today - I am weird. My blood tests are all over the place. High prealbumin, low carotene. Prealbumin is a good measure of your nutritional status, so the fact that it was not low is encouraging, although the low carotene seems to contradict that. Urinalysis was off - showed proteinuria (duh), slight ketosis, and elevated urobilinogen. Ketones are produced when your body starts using ketone bodies as an energy source, often seen in diabetics. But my glucose ranges have always been normal, so I'm not diabetic. Weirder yet, my BUN/creatinine ratio was low. If you have kidney disease it tends to be high. Low BUN/creatinine can indicate rhabdomyelosis, low protein diet, malnutrition, liver disease, or a range of cancers. My BUN/creatinine has been low for the majority of all the blood work I've ever had done.

Thank goodness I'm not a doctor yet because I'm way too confused by these results.

I have no medical answers, but wanted to send you good wishes and I am sorry! of course you are overwhelmed and a bit crazy...we all are or have been. this is a lot to deal with, without medical school. keep breathing and every once in a while just assume it will be ok and do something fun. you won't fix it with your head, and sometimes it just takes time. hugs, B