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Urine tests and 2 blood tests indicate CKD - so confused

Posted by swbwnwsictis1 @swbwnwsictis1, Feb 7 4:38pm

Hey everyone - I've been reading the threads and all of you are SO supportive and have a complete wealth of valuable real life knowledge. It's refreshing.

Im 56 F and I got my 1st UTI last week. It was scary and literally when I did the urine to be tested all I could see was blood. I have anxiety already so you could imagine my flip out!
I've been at 61/60 egfr for years. It's part of my normal bloodwork. Foc doesn't flinch - my creatinine and BUN always normal. I am always aware because I lost my brother 6 years ago at age 60 - Diabetic - lots of bloackage in the heart - no excercise - ate like crap - lost 1 leg below the knee and eventually was on dialysis for 4 years. Then he got something called calciphylaxis which basically according to Dr Google is a rare and severe skin condition that occurs when calcium deposits build up in the small blood vessels in the skin. This buildup blocks blood flow, leading to skin damage and ulcers. Usually happens with patients on dialysis. So I have ALWAYS stayed at PRE-DIABETIC , sugars good , A1C good etc -- Cholesterol good except for elevated tris. I have been on Zepbound for a year and dropped 50lbs so I am almost under 200lbs - 5'6". So I do all this - eat well - low fat - low sugar - I get a UTI for the 1st time and went to a doc in the box ( urgent care) - they did the Urine test and a million blood tests my reg doc does.

LONG and the short - my Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio came back sickly crazy at 1096 and supposedly it should be no more than 29 ! So that's from the Urine - then the metabolic panel came back - all normal except my eGFR is 44! and my blood creatinine is 1.41 - BUN is normal - plus the CBC came back with all the elevated tests you would expect from a UTI

So send my doc the results - says come in and chat Monday - it's NOT an emergency - OK but hello? Egfr is 44 the ratio is 1096 and I have a slightly elevated Creatinine.

OK so firing off questions -

I don't drink a lot of water - the night before I got 4 charlie horses in my legs - totally dehydrated I'm certain AND I got this UTI - are these results accurate? Wouldn't blood suggest it was slightly affecting my kidneys so the tests would be skewed?

eGFR
Ratio
Creatinine

No mention of kidney issues last year when I had all my reg blood work done. I'm freaking out for obvious reasons with losing my brother but I'm also a little angry that this doc in the box didn't tell me that the eGFR could be messed up due to this UTI???

Any experiences you've had with a UTI and these numbers or dehydration - please toss them over! I am flipping out!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Support Group.

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chancesr | @chancesr | Sep 6 9:36am

My Microalbumin/Creatinine is at 289, with bubbles & foam in urine. tell me about food

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mamab5 | @mamab5 | Sep 7 9:05pm

To Swbwnwsictis1:
For thirty years, I had no UTI's then suddenly when I turned 69, I'd get one UTI, clear it and then got another 2 times in a row. I used Macrobid bc I didn't want a stronger antibiotic to ruin my microbiome but I think the UTI never really cleared in the first place. (There's a lot of antibiotic resistance with Macrobid.)

My NP urology specialist told me frequency of UTI's is bc estrogen drops dramatically in older women and estrogen is protective against UTI's. So Igot on an estradiol vaginal suppository. The other thing she recommended was to get on a good probiotic bc that's also protective against UTI's.

I finally cleared the UTI by using an OTC supplement my functional dr recommended for another purpose, diverticulitis. The dosage level was pretty high on day 1 and then tapered for days 2-6.. I would recommend talking with a functional dr. about taking this approach but it worked for me, however I did not have any underlying conditions.

For prevention , get d-mannose powder. The d-mannose pills don't work as well. Take one scoop at night (usually a 2 g dose) on an empty stomach. But don't take if you've had any acidic food or drink bc that will destroy the protective effect. I mentioned to my NP that this protocol worked for me and she agreed that it works. So then I was mad that she didn't tell me in the first place. I shouldn't have to do searches on pub med for clinical data to see what prevents UTI's!!!

It is absolutely essential to get enough water. I drink at least 8 oz of water a day and more if I eat more fiber or am out in the hot sun. You will be amazed when you start hydrating properly at how much better you feel. I even drink it at night. I don't mind running to the bathroom, just go and go back to sleep. Your body needs water to flush the toxins out. Good luck.

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gently | @gently | Sep 10 10:10am
In reply to @mamab5 "To Swbwnwsictis1: For thirty years, I had no UTI's then suddenly when I turned 69, I'd..." + (show)
Profile picture for mamab5 @mamab5

To Swbwnwsictis1:
For thirty years, I had no UTI's then suddenly when I turned 69, I'd get one UTI, clear it and then got another 2 times in a row. I used Macrobid bc I didn't want a stronger antibiotic to ruin my microbiome but I think the UTI never really cleared in the first place. (There's a lot of antibiotic resistance with Macrobid.)

My NP urology specialist told me frequency of UTI's is bc estrogen drops dramatically in older women and estrogen is protective against UTI's. So Igot on an estradiol vaginal suppository. The other thing she recommended was to get on a good probiotic bc that's also protective against UTI's.

I finally cleared the UTI by using an OTC supplement my functional dr recommended for another purpose, diverticulitis. The dosage level was pretty high on day 1 and then tapered for days 2-6.. I would recommend talking with a functional dr. about taking this approach but it worked for me, however I did not have any underlying conditions.

For prevention , get d-mannose powder. The d-mannose pills don't work as well. Take one scoop at night (usually a 2 g dose) on an empty stomach. But don't take if you've had any acidic food or drink bc that will destroy the protective effect. I mentioned to my NP that this protocol worked for me and she agreed that it works. So then I was mad that she didn't tell me in the first place. I shouldn't have to do searches on pub med for clinical data to see what prevents UTI's!!!

It is absolutely essential to get enough water. I drink at least 8 oz of water a day and more if I eat more fiber or am out in the hot sun. You will be amazed when you start hydrating properly at how much better you feel. I even drink it at night. I don't mind running to the bathroom, just go and go back to sleep. Your body needs water to flush the toxins out. Good luck.

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Nice post, thanks. I didn't understand the connection between estrogen loss and UTI's until your post.

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