I'd Like To Welcome This Group By Kvetching

[REP]

For those who have managed to escpe my navel-gazing, I have several chronic diseases, including early (pre-dialysis) kidney failure from primary idiopathic FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis). I'm also diabetic (type 2), have very early diabetic nephropathy and so many other things wrong it's hard to believe I'm not making them up. The most serious, of course, is the kidney failure. In addition to the FSGS and DN, my biopsy showed signs of a third disease as well, and last year, after years of repeated kidney infections, a CT found scarring on both lobes of my kidneys, which is bad as this adds to crappy renal function. My prognosis is poor, and my prognosis on dialysis is very poor.

So more kidney infection are Bad. I was put on a prophylactic course of antibiotics in August and was fine until December ... when I got another kidney infection, which finally cleared in February. My urologist said another prophylactic antibiotic should be considered if I developed another infection.

After the course of antibiotics in February, I started having symptoms of a kidney infection but without a positive dipstick. I had the lab do a test, which found white blood cell present as well as a bacteria load of 3+ (0 is normal) but my doctor decided it wasn't worth treating.

So, this week the stick turned pink and purple (that's postive for nitrites and white blood cells) meaning yes, another kidney infection. Actually, I don't know how long it had been positive; I'd felt like living hell for a week before it occured to me to collect and dip. I got a real lab to confirm what I already knew, and waited for the culture to make sure I got the right antibiotic (I get a lot of resistant infections) and started treatment yesterday. So yay that.

I called the urologist to make an appointment to discuss another CT to check for further damage and changing my daily antibiotic only to find out that he retired last week! Argh!

My primary care doctor is great - he knows I get a lot of kidney infections and a lot of kidney stones (every 30-45 days) and just calls in stuff for me without making me come in. He is, however, one of the most popular doctors so he has a heavy caseload, and sometimes forgets things about me ... like I just got over a kidney infection a few weeks ago and they're getting closer and closer together. I may actually have to go in and have him look at me.

Another pain in the ass is dealing with the Call Center of the HMO. Yes, I have a kidney infection. My symptoms are positive leukocytes, positive nitrite, positive WBC and no I don't have burning or frequency you stupid fuck this is a KIDNEY infection, not a bladder infection. You see I have have a history of FSGS and CRF and now you're asking me if I'm being treated for any kidney problems? AARGH!

Did I mention kidney infections hurt far, far more than kidney stones and make me a little cranky?

[ProfessorGAC]

1. My Mom Has A Kidney Dysfunction

But, i don't know that it's as bad as what you describe. She just had surgery to correct some duct collapse problems and they are optimistic she'll be good for a while. (However long a while is, i don't know, but she's 71.)

Don't worry about the rant! That's what this group is for. We can all rant and know there are empathetic eyes reading.
The Professor

[blondeatlast]

2. Are you at all a candidate for a transplant?

I've had insulin dependent diabetes for 38 years so I know the kidney anxiety. So far I've managed to escape any kidney damage.

Keep us posted and feel free to kvetch all you want. That's why we're here!

We are pulling for you.

[REP]

3. I Have FSGS and I am B-

You do the math.