Anyone with CKD can give me answers or advise?

Posted by sallylynn @sallylynn, Aug 23, 2023

Hello. End of second week of July I got a yeast infection. OTC Montistat 1 day oval. 2 days later felt improvement. Several days later, symptoms of UTI. Waited few days. Called Clinic. Went in for labs. Confirmed. Recommend do another round of OTC treatment. I did. RX prescribed Cefpodoxime 5 days, 2 pills a day. However, before I started RX, suddenly I got these skin sensations: prickly, pins& needles, itchy skin random. Even my eye lids & inside my ears. Last night my breasts were tingling.Comes and goes. I have NO rash. This is been going on for near a month. July 27 started feeling Kidney pain through the night until July 28. Called clinic. Concerned my UTI spread into Kidneys. Advised to go to ER. At ER July 28 all blood/urine tests done.My eGFR was 68. Creatinine 0.95 BUN 13. All in normal range. I asked ER doctor why I was having this skin sensation & he did not know why. Sent home. Went to my clinic for follow up on 07/31blood work & urine. My creatinine rose to 1.05 my BUN rose to 18 & my eGFR lowered to 60. Can I assume this was from the Cefpodoxime? I went back to clinic 08/07 for urinalysis labs ( I asked for another Basic Metabolic Panel, doctor refused. My urine looked good except Hemoglobin. This time, on Aug.7 the word TRACE was there. This is the first time ever this has happened. With my trends all were negative prior. Of course I My Chart my Doctor with concerns. My Doctor's response was this: "As for your urine lab results, trace hemoglobin is not concerning as the microscopy findings did not show any RBCs". As of current, I do not know what my eGFR is, my creatinine or my BUN. I had to remind my doctor since I trend in the 50's for my eGFR we both should "Be concerned" of my trends. She then put in a lab order for a BMP. I guess because my eGFR was "60" I was "Stabilized" but not considering 80% of my eGFR's are in the 50 range. I should point out on June 3rd I had a CT/Contrast at ER. I will regret that for the rest of my life. So here are my questions if anyone wishes to answer, is my skin sensations related to my kidneys? Could I possibly be having adverse affects a little over a month AFTER my CT/Contrast scan? And what could cause my Hemoglobin Urine test to say TRACE. I go in on 09/11 for a BMP after I had to ask for one. Anyone who has thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

@sallylynn The antibiotic cefpodoxime can cause side effects such as you described, but you said you had not started it yet when the itches appeared. It could be a delayed reaction to the CT scan dye material. It could be due to a change in other medications [even going to a different brand with different carrying agents, but same named medicine]. Other possible causes include anxiety, change in laundry soap, difference in room temperatures or environment. For those of us who are sensitive, it seems like almost any little thing can set off an episode!

Seeing that you have been on antibiotics and dealing with a UTI, your entire system can get "thrown off". That could include your labwork since you were on medications not normally in your daily life.

How does this resonate with you?
Ginger

REPLY
@gingerw

@sallylynn The antibiotic cefpodoxime can cause side effects such as you described, but you said you had not started it yet when the itches appeared. It could be a delayed reaction to the CT scan dye material. It could be due to a change in other medications [even going to a different brand with different carrying agents, but same named medicine]. Other possible causes include anxiety, change in laundry soap, difference in room temperatures or environment. For those of us who are sensitive, it seems like almost any little thing can set off an episode!

Seeing that you have been on antibiotics and dealing with a UTI, your entire system can get "thrown off". That could include your labwork since you were on medications not normally in your daily life.

How does this resonate with you?
Ginger

Jump to this post

Hello Ginger, thank you for responding, much appreciated. Yes, that is correct, I was not as of yet on the antibiotic. I remember the day it happened. That particular morning, I decided to take 1 cranberry supplement. I was as well on day 2 of the 3 day yeast infection suppository. I was just sitting at my computer and it started out of no where. I was perplexed why this was happening. As I mentioned, because my kidneys were hurting, and still having a UTI I went to Hospital as directed by the nurse. I felt a sense of gratitude my urine & blood work looked good there. I am very well aware with late stage Kidney failure is intense itching, so of course, that is what first came to mind. So it is possible to get late adverse effects from CT/Contrast a month and a half later? I had that done on June 3. I think you wrote to me in June about this because I was terrified and angry at myself for ever having that done. Still am. Can't let that go. The only medication I take is Lisinopril , which about a month ago my doctor instructed me to take a 1/2 dose which is 10mg a day. I do not take any Ibuprofen, which I was told to stop taking that. Fyi, for many years Ginger I was taking sometimes 4 a day. 2 in morning and 2 in afternoon for years. I was sadly unaware how bad Ibuprofen was. May I ask you Ginger if I should be concerned with a TRACE of hemoglobin in my urine? What I have researched that is highly abnormal. I want to believe my Doctor, but I an having a hard time with that. As you read, my eGFR went down from the Cefpodoxime from 68 to 60 in 3 days. I hope it's not lower when I go back in for my BMP. I have been observing my urine today. It is normal light yellow but I think a slight cloudy look. I drink 5 bottles of water per day @ 16.9 ounces per bottle. Do you think in any shape or form this stinging, prickly, tingly sensation is related to my kidneys? This is brand new, I never had this before. I am getting sort of down about this and sad. I have GERD, as well as esophagus, and not so great kidneys. :(. Oh yes, have you known of anyone to get delayed adverse reactions over a month after they had the Contrast and does it go away? Thank you Ginger. I am sorry to be a bother. 🙁

REPLY
@sallylynn

Hello Ginger, thank you for responding, much appreciated. Yes, that is correct, I was not as of yet on the antibiotic. I remember the day it happened. That particular morning, I decided to take 1 cranberry supplement. I was as well on day 2 of the 3 day yeast infection suppository. I was just sitting at my computer and it started out of no where. I was perplexed why this was happening. As I mentioned, because my kidneys were hurting, and still having a UTI I went to Hospital as directed by the nurse. I felt a sense of gratitude my urine & blood work looked good there. I am very well aware with late stage Kidney failure is intense itching, so of course, that is what first came to mind. So it is possible to get late adverse effects from CT/Contrast a month and a half later? I had that done on June 3. I think you wrote to me in June about this because I was terrified and angry at myself for ever having that done. Still am. Can't let that go. The only medication I take is Lisinopril , which about a month ago my doctor instructed me to take a 1/2 dose which is 10mg a day. I do not take any Ibuprofen, which I was told to stop taking that. Fyi, for many years Ginger I was taking sometimes 4 a day. 2 in morning and 2 in afternoon for years. I was sadly unaware how bad Ibuprofen was. May I ask you Ginger if I should be concerned with a TRACE of hemoglobin in my urine? What I have researched that is highly abnormal. I want to believe my Doctor, but I an having a hard time with that. As you read, my eGFR went down from the Cefpodoxime from 68 to 60 in 3 days. I hope it's not lower when I go back in for my BMP. I have been observing my urine today. It is normal light yellow but I think a slight cloudy look. I drink 5 bottles of water per day @ 16.9 ounces per bottle. Do you think in any shape or form this stinging, prickly, tingly sensation is related to my kidneys? This is brand new, I never had this before. I am getting sort of down about this and sad. I have GERD, as well as esophagus, and not so great kidneys. :(. Oh yes, have you known of anyone to get delayed adverse reactions over a month after they had the Contrast and does it go away? Thank you Ginger. I am sorry to be a bother. 🙁

Jump to this post

I forgot to say my glucose was 108 yesterday, (I have a meter at home) a bit over the normal range. It was normal on July 31 at 75. My BP is good, I have a cuff at home.

REPLY

I had eGFR in the 50's for years and never worried about it. Not dismissing your concerns in light of your symptoms, but trying to reassure. "Trace" is pretty meaningless, I have learned. Glucose of 108 is fine.

I woke up one day in 2001 with tingling numbness. I have never gotten an answer. I will say that oral contrast for a CT two weeks ago made it worse. I also regret that but I believe our kidney recover.

With your GFR's you are nowhere near late stage kidney disease so the symptoms don't seem to be from kidney disease, but maybe from the infection or the antibiotics or, yeah, the CT contrast.

REPLY
@windyshores

I had eGFR in the 50's for years and never worried about it. Not dismissing your concerns in light of your symptoms, but trying to reassure. "Trace" is pretty meaningless, I have learned. Glucose of 108 is fine.

I woke up one day in 2001 with tingling numbness. I have never gotten an answer. I will say that oral contrast for a CT two weeks ago made it worse. I also regret that but I believe our kidney recover.

With your GFR's you are nowhere near late stage kidney disease so the symptoms don't seem to be from kidney disease, but maybe from the infection or the antibiotics or, yeah, the CT contrast.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your response. I do appreciate you are trying to ease my worries. After my CT/contrast at the ER on June 3, my eGFR went from 58 to 46 in 24 hours. My contrast was intravenous. I almost backed out in the room lying on the bed ready to go in the machine. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to go back to my patient room, but they were telling me it should be fine. The sick part is, I knew about contrast. I wish I would have listened to my gut. I wonder IF this is from the contrast, does it go away? I have an appt. on Sept.5 with my Doctor for this bizarre skin sensations. Last night, I was ready to go to bed for the night, feeling somewhat peaceful, ready to watch my movie, and both my breasts were tingling so strangely, it happened a couple times. This is new territory for me because this never happened before. I wish they would have given you an answer for your tingling, It sounds like it is still happening with you. I am sorry you are dealing with it. I feel a bit better your opinion is this is not related to my kidneys. It was very kind of you to respond, thank you.

REPLY

It could be related to contrast. My GFR dropped the same as yours with oral contrast! Everyone told me oral would be fine. Mine was 36 ugh. Others have told me that you can retest in 3-4 weeks and kidneys will recover.

I have increased tingling numbness on my left cheek and some vertigo which I think is from the contrast, honestly.

REPLY

Hi Windyshores. The more I am researching the more nervous I am getting about Gadolinium Side Effects. One article says:In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new warnings that gadolinium can stay in the body for months or years after an MRI scan. A condition known as gadolinium retention happens when gadolinium builds up in bone, brain and kidney tissue.
I think you symptoms are possibly from it too but I hope not. Frankly, I am scared. More scared if I have this if it ever goes away. I know if I went up to the ER and I brought this up too them, they would think I am nuts. Have you researched delayed Gadolinium Side Effects? Only if you knew how much I regret getting the contrast. I feel I sealed my own fate. 🙁

REPLY
@sallylynn

Hi Windyshores. The more I am researching the more nervous I am getting about Gadolinium Side Effects. One article says:In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new warnings that gadolinium can stay in the body for months or years after an MRI scan. A condition known as gadolinium retention happens when gadolinium builds up in bone, brain and kidney tissue.
I think you symptoms are possibly from it too but I hope not. Frankly, I am scared. More scared if I have this if it ever goes away. I know if I went up to the ER and I brought this up too them, they would think I am nuts. Have you researched delayed Gadolinium Side Effects? Only if you knew how much I regret getting the contrast. I feel I sealed my own fate. 🙁

Jump to this post

I am sorry your eGFR dropped too. That is scary. 🙁

REPLY
@sallylynn

Hello Ginger, thank you for responding, much appreciated. Yes, that is correct, I was not as of yet on the antibiotic. I remember the day it happened. That particular morning, I decided to take 1 cranberry supplement. I was as well on day 2 of the 3 day yeast infection suppository. I was just sitting at my computer and it started out of no where. I was perplexed why this was happening. As I mentioned, because my kidneys were hurting, and still having a UTI I went to Hospital as directed by the nurse. I felt a sense of gratitude my urine & blood work looked good there. I am very well aware with late stage Kidney failure is intense itching, so of course, that is what first came to mind. So it is possible to get late adverse effects from CT/Contrast a month and a half later? I had that done on June 3. I think you wrote to me in June about this because I was terrified and angry at myself for ever having that done. Still am. Can't let that go. The only medication I take is Lisinopril , which about a month ago my doctor instructed me to take a 1/2 dose which is 10mg a day. I do not take any Ibuprofen, which I was told to stop taking that. Fyi, for many years Ginger I was taking sometimes 4 a day. 2 in morning and 2 in afternoon for years. I was sadly unaware how bad Ibuprofen was. May I ask you Ginger if I should be concerned with a TRACE of hemoglobin in my urine? What I have researched that is highly abnormal. I want to believe my Doctor, but I an having a hard time with that. As you read, my eGFR went down from the Cefpodoxime from 68 to 60 in 3 days. I hope it's not lower when I go back in for my BMP. I have been observing my urine today. It is normal light yellow but I think a slight cloudy look. I drink 5 bottles of water per day @ 16.9 ounces per bottle. Do you think in any shape or form this stinging, prickly, tingly sensation is related to my kidneys? This is brand new, I never had this before. I am getting sort of down about this and sad. I have GERD, as well as esophagus, and not so great kidneys. :(. Oh yes, have you known of anyone to get delayed adverse reactions over a month after they had the Contrast and does it go away? Thank you Ginger. I am sorry to be a bother. 🙁

Jump to this post

@sallylynn Definitely not a bother! You are concerned and reaching out for answers.

Here is a link to what Mayo Clinic says about lisinopril. I was surprised to see that a rash might be a side effect, albeit unusual but not life-threatening: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lisinopril-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20069129?p=1#:~:text=Side%20Effects,-Along%20with%20its%20needed%20effects
Another thing to think about is niacin - is this something you take in a vitamin or supplement? I know it caused "itchies" for me in the past.

Perhaps with the things you are taking, your system being compromised with the UTI, and the worry you are experiencing all together, there is a bit of a "rebellion" going on internally, and manifesting externally too. Afterall, it seems like there are several things going on at once. Do you think this might be something to consider?

As to hemoglobin in your urine, it is not a surprise if you have had an infection to see a trace.
Ginger

REPLY
@gingerw

@sallylynn Definitely not a bother! You are concerned and reaching out for answers.

Here is a link to what Mayo Clinic says about lisinopril. I was surprised to see that a rash might be a side effect, albeit unusual but not life-threatening: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lisinopril-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20069129?p=1#:~:text=Side%20Effects,-Along%20with%20its%20needed%20effects
Another thing to think about is niacin - is this something you take in a vitamin or supplement? I know it caused "itchies" for me in the past.

Perhaps with the things you are taking, your system being compromised with the UTI, and the worry you are experiencing all together, there is a bit of a "rebellion" going on internally, and manifesting externally too. Afterall, it seems like there are several things going on at once. Do you think this might be something to consider?

As to hemoglobin in your urine, it is not a surprise if you have had an infection to see a trace.
Ginger

Jump to this post

Hi Ginger. It is 3 in the morning. I am in pain. My bones in my legs hurt. Yesterday my ankle bones were hurting and the front of my calves. As well feeling pain in hips and down my buttocks. The tingle burning sensation comes and goes. When I was settling in for the night both my legs were tingling bad. I am scared and I for the last few months I am dying slowly. I think I am going to have my son take me to the ER. In a few hours . I have 2 hours of sleep can't sleep. Either I am experiencing delayed iodine reactions, or my kidneys are in trouble or I don't know what else. I know something is terribly wrong. I forgot to mention my legs do feel weak. As I type my face is tingling all over.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.