15th January 2007
Hello and welcome.
While a creatinine of 5 is high it is not horrible. I was at 9 before I went on dialysis but everybody is different. At the Cr. level that she has, she should be seen by a nephrologist, not a GP. You said she has :
"I have so many questions. Her symptoms are frequent urination, Lethargic, Tiredness, Anemic (last 2 months so reduced red cell count), Increased white cell count (GP said due to chest infection 2 weeks ago), Sometimes frothy urine (no infection here.....test neg for this) and feeling sick daily. She seems picky with her food as well and has been for about 4 weeks. Not to mention the severe kidney pains and lower back pains she's been having. "
The lethargy and tiredness are from the anemia which is due to the kidney failure. Don't panic with that term. It means her kidneys are failing, not gone entirely yet. Anyway, the anemia is treatable with drugs like Epo, Aranesp or Procrit. I'm not sure what they're called in the UK, but they are similar drugs that force the production of new red blood cells. She might also get an iron infusion if her iron stores are low.
She is feeling sick and not eating well because of the toxins left in her system due to the kidneys not working properly. There is a good chance if her kidneys stabilize she will begin to feel better. The urine is frothy because she is spilling protein in the urine. Don't worry about that too much, it is just a marker.
As I said earlier, she should be seen by a nephrologist and also a renal dietitian who can tell her what she can and can't eat based on her blood work.
Good luck to you both, and keep us posted.
Cora
While a creatinine of 5 is high it is not horrible. I was at 9 before I went on dialysis but everybody is different. At the Cr. level that she has, she should be seen by a nephrologist, not a GP. You said she has :
"I have so many questions. Her symptoms are frequent urination, Lethargic, Tiredness, Anemic (last 2 months so reduced red cell count), Increased white cell count (GP said due to chest infection 2 weeks ago), Sometimes frothy urine (no infection here.....test neg for this) and feeling sick daily. She seems picky with her food as well and has been for about 4 weeks. Not to mention the severe kidney pains and lower back pains she's been having. "
The lethargy and tiredness are from the anemia which is due to the kidney failure. Don't panic with that term. It means her kidneys are failing, not gone entirely yet. Anyway, the anemia is treatable with drugs like Epo, Aranesp or Procrit. I'm not sure what they're called in the UK, but they are similar drugs that force the production of new red blood cells. She might also get an iron infusion if her iron stores are low.
She is feeling sick and not eating well because of the toxins left in her system due to the kidneys not working properly. There is a good chance if her kidneys stabilize she will begin to feel better. The urine is frothy because she is spilling protein in the urine. Don't worry about that too much, it is just a marker.
As I said earlier, she should be seen by a nephrologist and also a renal dietitian who can tell her what she can and can't eat based on her blood work.
Good luck to you both, and keep us posted.
Cora