Does this sound like a potential kidney issue?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello all 
I'm asking this question on behalf of my mum, who is 62 and no particular health problems. I'll keep it brief.
Over the past several months she has developed the following symptoms;
Urinating less often with a lack of urge to need to pee and only urinating in small amounts.
An aversion to eating meat
Slight weight gain around stomach
Slight intermittent puffiness to face and fingers.
For about the past 18 months she has been treated for Rosacea.
She was chatting with someone who is a district nurse about diets and mentioned this sudden aversion to meat which she is finding really weird. The nurse said that could actually indicate a kidney issue.
As I am diabetic, I had someone protein testing sticks and gave them to her to test her pee. The indicated a moderate level of protein.
She saw her GP today. He tested a sample and said there was quite a significant amount of protein. He said this could be an infection and also randomly mentioned the menopause, even though she is well past that. But he's sending the sample off and she is getting blood tests tomorrow for;
HbA1C, B12 & Folate, Lipid, U&E, Vit D, Iron, FBC, Liver Function, Calcium, Thyroid.
So, questions is, do these generally sound like symptoms that could be associated with kidney issues? She is a bit concerned about being fobbed. Also, are there any blood other blood tests that would be helpful. I know when I go to my diabetic reviews they do my ACR and eGFR, etc. Does anyone know if these will be included in my mum's tests what she is being sent for?
Any help much appreciated.
0 likes, 37 replies
sarah77498
Posted
Hello there, sorry for the delay in your further responses. Mum went on holiday for a week and I was also slightly concerned she was getting a bit resistant to wanted to get this issue sorted.
But anyway, she was back from holiday on Saturday. In the meantime I had purchased a BP monitor (as I want to keep a check on my own BP being diabetic, etc). Now, mum has always had very normal BP, even going into the low range. Her old GP used to comment at how surprisingly low it was for a long-term smoker.
Two years ago she quit smoking. When she had her BP done at a check up, it was slightly increased. Mum was surprised at this but doc said it was because she had recently stopped smoking. A year later it had increased again and was told it would get monitored. It was blamed for being high because she'd put on some weight. It never did get monitored and she has not had it done in over a year (not even at her most recent appt).
So, I checked her on my monitor and was shocked to see she was 169/104. I re-did the test the following day when she was more relaxed but it was still in the high range at 139/87.
Now she had the appt with the nurse this morning and I told her to ask to get her BP done, as well as obviously finding out further info re:kidneys.
Firstly, she took another urine sample along and the nurse dipped it but it was negative for protein.
Blood Glucose (HbA1c) - 43 - which has just edged into the borderline Type 2 diabetic range.
Cholesterol - 6.7 - It was 6.6 last year.
eGFR - 53 - it was apparently 56 last year.
BP - 140/90
Creatinine was in normal range.
Nurse seemed pretty unconcerned about everything and just gave her a form to get kidneys checked again in another 3 months.
The BP she blamed on a combination of hot weather an putting on weight. My mum is not massively overweight she comes in at a couple of stone heavier than she probably should be. But I was concerned over this BP as it was my understanding that this really impacts on kidney health. As well as high cholesterol and blood sugar, but it appears a link was not made between these three. I thought for certain that some type of BP medication would be looked at. I know BP fluctuations are normal, but for a person who's BP was always perfect, it has been a pretty massive increase. Can age/weight simply be the factor?
Any educated opinions are more than welcome on these results. Should my mum go and see another GP in the surgery who might be more helpful or is it reasonable to leave things for another three months?
Guest sarah77498
Posted
Hi Sarah
Your mums tests all sound good, I really think her weight is her problem.
Get a few pounds of and a bit of exercise and that would probably settle things nicely! Easier said than done unfortunately but it doesnt look like there is anything to concerning 😁
sarah77498 Guest
Posted
Yes, she holds weight at her stomach but is very average everywhere else (very skinny legs for example). She also does quite a lot of walking and has done for years.
Thank you for your response. I will let her know this
MrsO-UK_Surrey sarah77498
Posted
I don’t think you should feel too concerned about your Mum’s BP. The systolic pressure of 140 is fine (I would be chuffed to monkeys to ever see a reading of 140!). The diastolic could do
with being lowered by just a few
points and that would more than likely be achieved from losing some of the excess weight you say she is carrying. Not the easiest thing to do, I know, but I have managed to lose half a stone just recently simply by cutting out bread - for instance, no sandwiches at lunchtime, just a good salad daily. As I said, not easy but better than taking medication if weight loss does the trick.