Lupus Support Group

Hello everyone, let me start off by saying, "i feel good". HOWEVER, my Rheumy called last night and said he was reviewing my blood work and he is still alarmed. Let me secondly say, I was alarmed he was looking at my blood work on Sunday (LOL, but thankful). He started off so uninterested, or atleast it seemed. Anywho....He is still seeing protein and he is really pushing more towards the biopsy of my kidney. I have scary feeling regarding this. He said it isn't alarming numbers but there are traces of protien and while they are not raising they are not going away. He wants me to go to a kidney doc and see if between the two of them, they can come up with what the next treatment would be for me.

I am scared of the biopsy. If my kidney is fine or is filter why mess with it? Will this be better for me in the long run, or cause issues for me? Does it hurt (the procedure)? What is the recoup time? What is the test testing for? Can they not determine the same thing with a 24 hour urine analysis? I know a lot of questions, but I don't know what to expect. He thinks it is early signes, so if it is early, does this mean I have a better chance of fixing it or does it mean it will happen anyway and we just know now? Any help is appreciated. I'm sure I will come up with more questions.

Much Luv

PK

Hey PK, I was recently seeing a Urologist and they found protein and blood in my urine. Did your doctor tell you how much protein was in your urine by any chance? Well I have protein in my urine, but he said it wasn't anything too high. I was told that I might need a biopsy, but the Urologist doesn't think it's anything serious. I'm over here having a heart attack because I know something is wrong, but he doesn't listen to me. The reason they do a kidney biopsy is to take tissue from you kidney to see if you have or what type of renal disease you have. I think my doc told me there are 3 or 4 different types of renal disease. They treat you based on what type you have. A biopsy give the doctors way more information than a 24 hour urine. I was asking everyone in one of my posts how a kidney biopsy works and everyone said it wasn't bad. I think you lay down on your stomach and they numb your back where they insert a needle and get the kidney samples. I believe one person told me that they had to stay 14 hours in the hospital after the biopsy just to make sure there was no bleeding. I think a biopsy would be good just to make sure it's nothing that can really damage your kidneys. Kidney involvement can be very serious if you don't take care of it. Well hope this helps a little. Keep us informed..

Wow, see I think I need to be put to sleep, can't take the thought of the needle thing. He didn't say, I have some papers at home, I will look tonight. He did say not alarming or high, just had protien that wouldn't leave. I have numbing before but it was for child birth, didn't work the first time but did the second, so I am SCARED.

Thank you for that info, it was help. I am waiting for the doc to call me so I will defin. keep you all posted.

I'm in awhh that your doctor called you on a Sunday. I guess though- good for him!

I've not experienced what you're going through- but I really think you should have the biopsy done. If it's a matter of getting on top of something quickly, so that you can have a longer life-span... it'll be worth any pain that's caused. And if you have it done and they don't find anything...well, at least you won't have to worry anymore.

Just think... could the pain of that needle and/or biopsy be as bad as some of the pain you go through anyway? That's what I always ask myself when I don't want to have something done (like a mammo). It could save my life, and it does hurt but surely I've hurt worse.

I know, I will do it. Just scared I guess. Plus don't know the ins and outs....

I haven't had to have a mammogram but I heard they were painful. The thing I am curious to see is them trying to put my breast anywhere, I am so flat chested. Little ant hills.

Yes Fibroforever, I too was SHOCKED!!! I thought I read the caller id wrong.

I recently had a kidney biopsy and I didnt feel much pain more pressure because of the local anesthesia. I was on 24 hours bed rest after that and the site of the biopsy was sore for about a week, nothing extremely painful. It is scary the unknown, however with me it confirmed my lupus diagnosis and now I am getting the proper treatments I need. Good luck with yours and hopefully it comes back with good results. Take care.

Did it leave a scar? Will they put you to sleep? or is it something you have to be awake for?

I was awake during the procedure, they did give me a light sedative and numbed the area. I have a little scar, just a small dot. There was some bruising, but its all clear now.

PrincessK, I feel for you I haven't had to have this procedure done but I know it is scary to have something done and you have no control over and don't know what to expect. But I do agree with everyone else it is best to try to catch things early than to let it go before it gets out of hand. I will keep you in my prayers.

oh am going to have it done if I have to. Doc didn't call me yesterday. If I don't hear from him by lunch I am going to call the celly. My girlfriend, who is a nurse explained to me the step by step procedure. I have bad panic attacks in the past. I was giving valume but it didn't work very well. I can do blood work (no problem) and I can do surgury (no problem) but when a bid needle is inserted in my back (PROBLEM!!). I'll just have to pray about it and ask for a stronger nerve pill or something.