Protein in my Urine

I am willing and able to travel to Jacksonville to see a nephrologist.

How do I find one who is right for my stage 4CKD

@katherine65 Physicians are generally myopic - they treat their speciality and don't look at the whole patient.

I went to an ENT for an ear infection. He treated it with antibiotics that seemed OK and ordered a Cat Scan with Contrast. I looked it up and the contrast is contradicted for patients with CKD. When I got to the imaging lab, I asked the test be reviewed by the radiologist - he ordered additional blood fork and told me I was not a candidate for this contrast.

Take a bit and read Art Buckwald's book, The physician gave him contast and he ended up in hospice.

Maybe when AI is in widespread use, it will detect prescriptions that are inappropriate for the whole patient. In the meantime, we are on our own.

@rayshular10 and @stuartbell welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I’d like to start with the topic of this discussion which is “Protein in my Urine.” The 2 most common causes of kidney conditions are diabetes and hypertension. I am diabetic. Part of being diabetic is monitoring carbohydrate intake. Ok, but I overreacted. While I was busy limiting carbohydrate I consumed an excessive amount of protein. (Protein is relatively low in carbs). Early on when I found out that I had mild to moderate kidney disease and I’d gotten established with a nephrologist I found out that I had albuminurea (high protein in the urine). Around that time I was referred to a renal dietician. I learned how much protein was appropriate for my size, gender, activity level … and also about what kinds of protein are best for kidney disease. Red meat is particularly hard on kidneys. So I stick to poultry, fish, some pork, eggs and dairy.
Your kidney function labs include measures of albumin (protein), BUN, calcium, creatinine, oxalates, phosphorus, potassium….. Some are urine tests, some are blood tests. If you find out that any of these are high (low) a renal dietician can provide lists of foods and beverages that show the quantities of these substances. That can provide guidelines of things that need to be limited (or increased) depending on your labs.
A good nephrologist will order and monitor these labs and make recommendations of changes that need to be made. A PCP may not be as thorough about this sort of thing as some of you noted above.
@stuartbell you mentioned being interested in in finding a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. I think if you go to Mayo.org there are links to the 3 main campuses and to finding a clinic/ Dr. I’m sorry I am not very good with technology. Perhaps another member could join in and post a link to help you in your search?

thank you for your comments!

I’ve been the three nephrologist in the past 10 or 12 years and all they talked about was dialysis

No one had anything like a real diet other than one that suggested don’t eat potato chips.

I’m still looking for nephrologist that will work along with me and manage medication’s.

I tried the insurance company, I’ve written to a promising nephrologist that mayo and I’ve applied for several clinical trials

No luck on any of these so far

@cehunt57 @stuartbell
Here is a link to the nephrologists at Mayo CLinic Jacksonville
https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments/find-a-doctor/search-results
Ginger

Thank you for your reply. So much internet information helps us to know
more about our CKD and treatment options. I agree someday great strides in
A1 may have hope for all.

Does anyone out there have hemmoriod Prolapse. I am having pelvic Floor PT for it trying to shrink it.

@gingerw I appreciate your experience and views that kidneys are complex. Five years ago 57 gfr. Stage 3 my Pa told me. My last lab in Dec 2025 44gfr it's slowly gone down
I've earnestly begin drinking more water, teas as of Dec. March just last week, renal kidney ultrasound came back within normal limits. Either the scan couldn't pickup undetected micro damage or my kidneys are normal. In 2 months I will see a nephrologist and discuss the results and ask why the lower gfrs? What else could cause it to drop? I am thinking dehydration...until then I'll keep eating healthy fruits veggies low sodium and less lean proteins and hydrate
Have you ever heard of a normal kidney ultrasound and a stage 3b CKD? I'm a little baffled, thanks!

@ddon Yes, I have heard of an ultrasound showing normal, and the patient being Stage 3.

Here is what Cleveland Clinic has to say about renal ultrasound: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/15764-kidney-ultrasound

We want to look at trends in our tests, not a simple one lab result. Dehydration, or a recent illness, medications, fatigue, recent exercise can all have a say in eGFR kidney function. Hydration is so critical! Myself, yesterday I realized I was very dehydrated. It was after a total of four hours driving to medical appointments and back, plus two lab draws at two different medical facilities. Although I was drinking water, it wasn't enough, and my body let me know. Even today I am being very watchful!

It's good to read you are watching your numbers, and figuring out what is best for you!
Ginger

@gingerw I can say with all honesty in my past I have had a dry mouth and thirsty a lot. My trend, also lowering gfr, a trend. I've earnestly been consciously hydrating the last 3-4 mo. I too notice when I am busy like you going to appointments, or doing a project I forget to drink enough water. There's also a book I read years ago, "You aren't sick, you're thirsty" about not drinking enough water. I wished my doctor's has just said the words "hydrating is critical" and explained a bit more why, rather than a.casual, "drink more water." Thanks Ginger!