Kidney issues - questions and concerns...

Terry Davis40 said:Thanks for getting back to me. 🙂

I had my urine tested and did a culture—it came back sterile.
So, I guess I don't really get why she made such a huge deal out of it. 🤷
As for the cervical swab, the doctor concluded I have ureaplasma, so she prescribed antibiotics for both me and my partner. I finished a 10-day course of erythromycin along with Clindamycin cream.

I'm peeing regularly—a bit more often than usual since the placenta is low—but other than that, I honestly don't have any issues at all. 🤷

If kidney function is normal and the urine is sterile, we could be looking at something like polycystic kidney disease—just my two cents—or perhaps there’s a tiny stone that the doctor couldn't spot because of the pregnancy, which might be partially blocking a duct and causing urine buildup and kidney swelling. But if that were the case, you'd likely see an infection or feel some pain.🤷I’d look into those possibilities first.
As long as your urine is sterile and your kidneys are functioning properly, nothing is going to happen to the baby; it's physically impossible.
Kidney issues can be incredibly sneaky. I suffer from glomerulonephritis myself, and I don't feel a thing, yet my lab results tell a different story—that's the tricky part with them. Pain usually shows up when there's an actual infection, stones, or grit, whereas serious underlying diseases often fly under the radar without any symptoms. I'm not saying that's what you're dealing with, just a heads-up.
The only real headache here is that you're pregnant, which limits what kind of tests they can run to nail down a diagnosis.
Don't panic. Honestly, I don't think this is anything catastrophic or something that will wreck your health.
It would be a much bigger issue if your kidney function was actually impaired, which would show up in your urine and blood work—and that would be bad news for both you and the baby. If your blood pressure stays normal, try to stay calm and just keep monitoring it constantly. If you start noticing swelling in your legs or a spike in blood pressure, you need to call your doctor immediately.
Maybe start by doing a 24-hour urine collection? Did your doctor suggest anything specific after the exam?

She sent me over to the Bates Clinic to see either Dr. Chikara or Dr. Brkljacić for a color Doppler—she claims they’re the top experts. From what I can gather, she’s mostly checking to see if I have a horseshoe kidney. Maybe I'm just overthinking things, but that's the vibe I got. They'll decide later if I actually need to be referred to a Urologist.
I'll let you know once I hear back from them. Thanks so much for listening and for all the advice. 🙂

I'm not panicking—I have a feeling I'm perfectly healthy, anyway, who knows? 🙂

Hi Terry Davis40 (and hi Sarah Johnson11 😉)!

My doctors also caught kidney issues during my pregnancy. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, there were constantly elevated red blood cells in my urine. My OB-GYN put me on antibiotics because she was convinced it was just some kind of infection. I even had swabs done, which came back fine. But then my blood pressure started climbing, and around my fifth month, they did a quick dipstick test for protein in my urine—it immediately came back as +++. My nurse told me right then that something was going wrong with my kidneys.
To make a long story short (not to drone on too much), a 24-hour urine collection confirmed proteinuria, which led to me being rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of EPH gestosis (edema, proteinuria, hypertension), even though I didn't actually have any swelling. After giving birth, further testing revealed that I actually have an autoimmune disease called IgA nephropathy, which falls under the category of glomerulonephritis (similar to what Sarah Johnson11 is dealing with, though her situation is a bit different). On top of that, one of my kidneys is smaller than the other and is mobile, which causes those little tubes leading from the kidney to the bladder to kink. I didn't have any symptoms or pain at all; honestly, if I hadn't gotten pregnant, I probably wouldn't have even known I had this condition.
By the way, did they check your protein levels? How is your blood pressure holding up? I’d really suggest (and I know Sarah Johnson11 already mentioned this) getting that 24-hour urine test done so you can see exactly where your protein levels stand. Proteinuria—having excess protein in your urine—can affect fetal development (my doctor mentioned it could lead to certain malformations), though I had proteinuria throughout my entire pregnancy and, thank God, my little girl is perfectly healthy. That said, proteinuria isn't good for you either, as it can cause kidney damage.
It seems very likely that if your doctor is this concerned, she'll refer you to a nephrologist, and they'll be able to give you some real answers...
Anyway, that's just my experience, and it doesn't necessarily mean you're facing the same thing.
Let me know when you hear anything new...

Hey there, Robert Nelson12 🙂

My blood pressure has always been low—usually sitting around 100/60 or maybe 90/60 depending on the weather—and I don't deal with any swelling in my legs or protein in my urine.
Honestly, I'm just completely thrown by all this.
How are you all managing with your diagnoses?
Do you follow specific diets or treatments? Any symptoms at all?

Here are my urinalysis results:

URINALYSIS RESULTS
Leukocytes: negative

Nitrites: negative

Urobilinogen: normal

Protein: negative

pH: 6.0

Erythrocytes: 10 /µl; +

Specific gravity: 1.020

Ketones: negative

Bilirubin: negative

Glucose: normal

URINE SEDIMENT
Erythrocytes: 4-6

Leukocytes: 1-2

Cylinders
/
Crystals
/
Cells
Significant epithelial cells
Significant bacteria
Significant mucus
/

I went for a urine culture after this, and everything came back sterile.

I’ll give my gynecologist a call Monday morning to get her take on things. I have a color Doppler scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, too. I might ask about doing a 24-hour urine collection—can't hurt, I guess.
The more I read up on this, the more anxious I get. This Polycystic Kidney Disease stuff... it's probably not nothing.

p.s. my urine test from the physical was basically the same—except the sediment part mentions B.O., whatever that's supposed to mean.

Terry Davis40 said:p.s. my urine test from the physical was basically the same—except the sediment part mentions B.O., whatever that's supposed to mean.

Look, based on what you've shared, your urine tests look perfectly fine—which was actually backed up by the culture too.
If we were looking at some major kidney disease, I doubt your numbers would be sitting right there on the edge of the normal range.
As for why your kidney looks so enlarged and has that weird shape... honestly, nothing here gives us a clear answer yet.
Once you get that color Doppler done, please reach out and let us know the results. Maybe then we'll all have a better idea of what's actually going on.
Sending you good vibes—hope everything turns out okay.👍

Terry Davis40 your blood pressure numbers look great! Mine won't even drop below 120/80 right now, even though I'm on two different types of medication. It rarely hits 110/70.
Your test results seem solid too. The only thing I noticed is a slightly elevated red blood cell count in your urine sediment (if I recall correctly, the normal range is 0-2). My levels were up at 14 or 15 when my gynecologist put me on antibiotics. But in your case, that might just be—and it probably is—a result of the ureaplasma.
My own diagnosis isn't quite as severe. Of course, it’s nothing to take lightly, but thank God the condition is in full remission now. 🙏
That said, I have to stick to a specific diet and avoid strenuous physical activity. As for the diet, it means:
Eating completely salt-free food, cutting back on protein—like meat—avoiding deli meats, salami, or pâté, and skipping carbonated drinks (including sparkling water)... it’s nothing extreme, just something that requires discipline. Now that I've adjusted to it, it isn't much of a struggle.
You can find more details about this in the glomerulonephritis thread, which covers both the nature of these conditions and how we manage daily life with them.
Whatever you do, don't start worrying prematurely; there's certainly no need for that while you're pregnant. I remember how stressful it was for me when doctors kept panicking and abruptly left me in the hospital...🙄
But you should definitely get all the necessary tests done, even if they are somewhat limited because of your pregnancy.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask us. 🙂

Sarah Johnson11, thanks for the breakdown 🙂

Robert Nelson12, glad to hear you're feeling better 🙂

thanks everyone—it helps a bit, I guess, having people actually listen and offer advice 🙂 🙂

Terry Davis40 said:Sarah Johnson11, thanks for the breakdown 🙂

Robert Nelson12, glad to hear you're feeling better 🙂

thanks everyone—it helps a bit, I guess, having people actually listen and offer advice 🙂 🙂

Look, we're right here with you, so please, just ask anything that crosses your mind.
Our collective experience with kidney issues has been... well, extensive, to say the least, and frankly, I truly hope you never have to join our club.

It might turn out to be perfectly fine—maybe it’s just pregnancy-related and there's absolutely nothing to worry about.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your results come back clean and that you can check back in with some good news.🙂👍

🙂 I mean, I guess I also have this feeling that everything's going to turn out okay—anyway, we're just waiting on that Tuesday now 🙂

Can someone help me make sense of this dynamic renal scintigraphy?
Hey everyone,
I was wondering if anyone here who knows their stuff could help me interpret these scan results. We have a follow-up appointment scheduled in about a month, but our doctor isn't in the office this week, so we can't really get a hold of them over the phone right now.

Total GFR = 26.5 ml/MIN
Right kidney = 28%
Left kidney = 72%

Tsr (min) = right = 4.8
left = 4.0

On the summation scintigram, both kidneys are visible. The right kidney shows up much paler with a patchy distribution of activity, and it looks significantly smaller than the left one.
The left kidney shows a relatively uniform distribution of activity, and its shape and size look totally normal for a patient of this age.
The computer-generated renogram curve for the left kidney is normal, whereas the right side sits at a much lower level—though secretion is still there, showing only mild issues with how it clears the radiotracer.
The total GFR value falls within the normal range, even though the individual clearance values for the right kidney are notably lower.
The average transit times for the DTP through both kidneys are within the normal limits.
Further evaluation and monitoring are recommended, with follow-ups at our facility as needed.

Obviously, I get the parts that are spelled out clearly, but what I’m really trying to figure out is: is this situation serious? Should I be rushing to call a specialist right away, or is it okay to just wait the month until our scheduled check-up?
We're talking about a little one, only about eighteen months old.
Best,

Bradley Young,
First off, I have to ask—has the little one seen a nephrologist yet?
I actually had a scintigraphy done myself once, and it showed that my right kidney is smaller than the left. Naturally, that means its function is a bit lower, but it wasn't enough to be genuinely concerning.
What might be a bit unsettling is when they report significantly lower separate clearance values for that smaller kidney, but since it’s notably smaller than the other side, I suspect that's actually quite normal—or at least acceptable—in these kinds of cases.
From what I can see here, the renal blood flow seems to be within the normal range, which suggests they are functioning reasonably well despite the size difference.
Look, I don't think there's any reason to panic, especially since most of this falls within the normal limits. That said, I'm certainly no doctor, and having a toddler of my own, I completely understand how stressful this must feel for you.
Do whatever you feel is best. If it will give you some peace of mind, maybe take them in for an earlier follow-up or just get a second opinion from your pediatrician first. Even if they aren't a specialist, they should be able to offer some guidance.
I'm wishing you guys the very best, and I truly hope the little one is doing okay! I'll be rooting for you, and if you don't mind, please let me know how the follow-up goes.
Hang in there, and good luck!!😘😘😘

Terry Davis40 said:Sarah Johnson11, thanks for the breakdown 🙂

Robert Nelson12, glad to hear you're feeling better 🙂

thanks everyone—it helps a bit, I guess, having people actually listen and offer advice 🙂 🙂

Thanks! 😍

Terry Davis40 said:Sarah Johnson11, thanks for the breakdown 🙂

Robert Nelson12, glad to hear you're feeling better 🙂

thanks everyone—it helps a bit, I guess, having people actually listen and offer advice 🙂 🙂

No need to thank me! If you ever just need to vent—or if you have some good news to share—please feel free to do so. Honestly, talking through this whole ordeal helped me quite a bit, too. I think if it weren't for the wonderful people who were willing to patiently listen and share their own experiences and advice, I probably would have had a much harder time getting through all of this.
I’m sending them a massive middle finger.😍😍
For the most part, just ask whatever is on your mind. We'll try to help you out if we can and if we actually know the answer.

Robert Nelson12 said:Bradley Young,
First off, I have to ask—has the little one seen a nephrologist yet?
I actually had a scintigraphy done myself once, and it showed that my right kidney is smaller than the left. Naturally, that means its function is a bit lower, but it wasn't enough to be genuinely concerning.
What might be a bit unsettling is when they report significantly lower separate clearance values for that smaller kidney, but since it’s notably smaller than the other side, I suspect that's actually quite normal—or at least acceptable—in these kinds of cases.
From what I can see here, the renal blood flow seems to be within the normal range, which suggests they are functioning reasonably well despite the size difference.
Look, I don't think there's any reason to panic, especially since most of this falls within the normal limits. That said, I'm certainly no doctor, and having a toddler of my own, I completely understand how stressful this must feel for you.
Do whatever you feel is best. If it will give you some peace of mind, maybe take them in for an earlier follow-up or just get a second opinion from your pediatrician first. Even if they aren't a specialist, they should be able to offer some guidance.
I'm wishing you guys the very best, and I truly hope the little one is doing okay! I'll be rooting for you, and if you don't mind, please let me know how the follow-up goes.
Hang in there, and good luck!!😘😘😘

Thanks for getting back to me. My little guy had a UTI, and we've been seeing a nephrologist regularly ever since. They noticed the right kidney was smaller from the start, which we figured might just be part of growing up, but on the last ultrasound, the difference was 1.2 cm. We were sent for a dynamic scintigraphy thinking—and hoping!—that it would just be another routine checkup in our long list of appointments and that the results would come back fine... but man, what a shock. Our doctor is back on Tuesday, so I'm calling her immediately. Everything I've managed to dig up online hasn't exactly inspired confidence either, because everywhere I look, it says that if the separate clearance value is under 30%, you need monitoring, extra testing, and you basically have to take it seriously. Honestly, I'm losing my mind just scrolling through the internet. Our pediatrician gave us a very "diplomatic" answer, which I totally understand, but still. I'm just praying it isn't something chronic and that there's a way to treat it.
Anyway, I'll let you know what our doctor says.
Best,

Terry Davis40, I’m really hoping tomorrow's checkup and those results turn out great for you and the little one. Please, please keep me posted.
Fingers crossed—sending nothing but good vibes to both of you!!!!!👍

You definitely went for that checkup, right? Because you've gone totally silent on us. Come on, give us an update so we aren't just sitting here wondering how you're holding up... we're actually interested, you know!

Sorry, I didn't even notice you guys had messaged me—apologies for the delay 😘

I was at my appointment until about 7:00 and just walked through the door.
First off, I have to give a shout-out to Dr. Chikara—he’s phenomenal. He’s incredibly easy to talk to, and we covered everything; I asked him every single thing on my mind, so it actually turned out to be a pretty decent experience.

So, regarding my kidneys—they are honestly massive 😁. You could say I've got actual chunks of kidney in there. Apparently, each one has two renal arteries (from what I gather, they usually only have one), and they're somewhat split—so when I twist (my waist, I mean), they twist too. That might suggest they're connected, but since the baby has made her own space in my abdomen and pushed my intestines up toward my diaphragm, that connection isn't visible. No signs of stones, though.
The doctor says my kidneys are certainly unique, but since the function is good and pregnancy prevents any other deep testing, he suggested we touch base again in a year.
So, yeah... here I am, the woman with the powerhouse kidneys. 🤣
The baby might eventually press against the ducts and cause some trouble, but if that happens, I can come back in for another checkup—though even then, they won't be able to do much since that's usually only resolved by delivery.
After everything, it looks like it's just a congenital anomaly. Since it isn't causing any issues right now, we'll figure out further scans or any potential "radiation" next year.

I guess I really am a freak of nature. 😁

Thanks for the support, ladies; it really meant a lot that you reached out because I was honestly pretty terrified. 🙂

Terry Davis40 said:Sorry, I didn't even notice you guys had messaged me—apologies for the delay 😘

I was at my appointment until about 7:00 and just walked through the door.
First off, I have to give a shout-out to Dr. Chikara—he’s phenomenal. He’s incredibly easy to talk to, and we covered everything; I asked him every single thing on my mind, so it actually turned out to be a pretty decent experience.

So, regarding my kidneys—they are honestly massive 😁. You could say I've got actual chunks of kidney in there. Apparently, each one has two renal arteries (from what I gather, they usually only have one), and they're somewhat split—so when I twist (my waist, I mean), they twist too. That might suggest they're connected, but since the baby has made her own space in my abdomen and pushed my intestines up toward my diaphragm, that connection isn't visible. No signs of stones, though.
The doctor says my kidneys are certainly unique, but since the function is good and pregnancy prevents any other deep testing, he suggested we touch base again in a year.
So, yeah... here I am, the woman with the powerhouse kidneys. 🤣
The baby might eventually press against the ducts and cause some trouble, but if that happens, I can come back in for another checkup—though even then, they won't be able to do much since that's usually only resolved by delivery.
After everything, it looks like it's just a congenital anomaly. Since it isn't causing any issues right now, we'll figure out further scans or any potential "radiation" next year.

I guess I really am a freak of nature. 😁

Thanks for the support, ladies; it really meant a lot that you reached out because I was honestly pretty terrified. 🙂

If it's something you were born with, it means you've lived your whole life functioning totally normally. Plus, the fact that they're happy to wait a year for a follow-up proves it's nothing serious or dangerous.
That's wonderful news, and like I told you before, as long as their function is intact, it's a win for both you and the baby.
I'm so relieved it's nothing more serious.
Wishing you all the best—just enjoy these days of pregnancy.

So, here’s the situation...
My old man is 50, and about two or three years back, his blood pressure just spiked out of nowhere. I remember one Easter when he checked it, and it hit 200/100—that was pretty much the peak, it didn't go any higher than that...

After running a ton of tests, they couldn't pin down an exact cause, so they basically told him it was most likely just his diet...
He tried adjusting what he eats, cutting out the greasy stuff and scaling back on how much meat he has at meals...
He also started taking blood pressure medication, though I'm not really sure what kind he's on, because even with them, his pressure is still sitting around 150/80 today...

A few months ago, right before summer hit, he went in for some detailed labs. Everything looked fine except for his creatinine levels, which are closely tied to kidney function...
Then he had a kidney ultrasound, and they told him everything looked okay there. As for those elevated creatinine numbers? They suggested it might just be a glitch, maybe even that the machine was acting up, so they said it would be best to just retest in a few months...

The labs were done maybe 15 days ago, and the creatinine levels were actually even higher than the first time! If I remember correctly, the value was somewhere around 190, while the normal range tops out at 150...

He got a referral to an internist, who examined him and suggested he be hospitalized for a kidney biopsy, but he turned that down... The internist told him that the reason the creatinine is up is because his kidneys are essentially drying up, and another doctor mentioned that in a worst-case scenario, he could end up needing dialysis...

I'm wondering if anyone here has dealt with something similar. How dangerous are these creatinine levels, really? And what does it actually mean when they say the kidneys are "drying up"...? Is there even a way to treat it, or is it just something you live with...?!?!?!

Thanks in advance, and sorry for hijacking the thread with such a heavy topic...

Here is a brief summary of what I've gathered so far. Your father is dealing with high blood pressure that isn't being managed effectively enough.
The rise in creatinine levels suggests his kidneys are starting to struggle, and I believe the suggested biopsy is necessary to pinpoint exactly why they are failing and to identify the specific underlying disease.
We can't really move forward with a targeted treatment plan until we understand the root cause of this renal decline. It is entirely possible that everything stems from uncontrolled blood pressure, but it’s just as likely that a kidney condition is actually driving the hypertension. There are numerous diseases that impact the kidneys and lead to failure; some of these are manageable, which could potentially halt further deterioration of kidney function.
It is also a possibility that, over time, he could face total kidney failure and eventually require dialysis.
In my opinion, your father made a mistake by turning down the biopsy.