Hi everyone My urine test results have just come back and show protein in the urine. The sample is now being sent off to the lab. I am a little concerned that my kidneys may not be working properly, I am on Betaferon injections every other day and am due a blood test very soon.(Last test was over 6 months ago).I realise that this ispretty normal but wonder if I should ask for a blood test soon, just to be on the safe side. Thank you for any help you can give me. Wendy x
Corkie wrote:
Hi everyone My urine test results have just come back and show protein in the urine. The sample is now being sent off to the lab. I am a little concerned that my kidneys may not be working properly, I am on Betaferon injections every other day and am due a blood test very soon.(Last test was over 6 months ago).I realise that this ispretty normal but wonder if I should ask for a blood test soon, just to be on the safe side. Thank you for any help you can give me. Wendy x
Evening Wendy, the blood tests they generally do to monitor you while on DMDs are a liver function test and full blood count. The regular checks you have therefore would not be testing bloods for renal function. Were you having kidney infection like symptoms or why did they dip the urine? As Wobbly has said protein in the urine can be a result of a infection which is why it is sent of for testing to the lab. When it is sent in this way it goes to the Microbiology lab where it is checked for O&S (organisms and sensitivity) which basically means the lab will check it under microscope to see if any organisms are present and if so will culture it to find out what antibiotics is best to treat it. Results generally back in 3-5days. If other indicators of infection present at time of initial consultation some GPs will go ahead and prescribe one of the broad spectrum antibiotics anyway without waiting on the lab results. Urines sent of in this way for analysis are not tested for any other biochemical markers as that is totally different testing criteria and a different department. Its possible to have a slight rise in protein excretion in urine which will show up in dipstick analysis but has no pathological cause of concern. A few yrs back I had several occasions where i had protein on dip stick test but no infection, GP said it was nothing to worry about but may have been caused by having some courses of steroids within a shortish time frame. Remedied itself over time. If you really wanted to you could ask your GP to send of a blood sample to check renal function if its not been done before more of a baseline than a concern or if you are having other problems that the GP thinks would warrant checking renal function. Most GPs wont as it is of no signifiance if you are otherwise fine. Hope this helps Roisin xo
Thank you very much for your reply Roisen, I’m drinking loads of water at present trying to flush it through but it could be an infection as it’s sometimes a bit painful to go. Otherwise I feel ok, so I’ll wait and see what results come back from the lab. Wendy x
Thank you W for your helpful reply too. Wendy x
Your welcome, hope your feeling better soon xo