In your situation, I would ask my endo for the printed lab reports from "this" visit as well as the history of reports that he has. Bring those with you to a nephrologist.
If I were feeling as emotional as you are, I would avoid making all important and potentially irreversible decisions. Having a tubal is a decision that should be evaluated when you & your hubby are in a position to think thru the whole issue. In the short term, since you have conflicting info on the current risks to you & your potential baby, it is reasonable to avoid getting pregnant.
For those of us with no children "of our own," it may be easier to see the treasure you already have. I can certainly relate to the yearning for a child and yet I have come to understand that my stepdaughter is *my* treasure ... and that others would yearn for the relationship that we have, too.
I can hear your pain and can't say anything to diminish it. If you find that you're really stuck in this dark, scared, depressing mood, however, you might consider finding a good counselor to help you sort out the many emotions & issues. Keep in touch, okay?
Thanks for your posts. I am on HCTZ for fluid and Altace (ACE inhibitor) for BP. I did a 24 hour urine catch and that is where he found the "protein." One thing i did not understand is that...I have been spilling protein since i was still seeing my pediatric endo, when i was 15...23 now. And the endo acted as if it was a new occurance? I wanted to ask him had it gotten worse, or is it the same for that reason. He has given me questionable advice before. My OB said i did not need to have another baby, but he works with my mom(mammographer), so i think that was more to cover his head than to help me in the long run. My husband and I did see a high risk OB that specializes in diabetes, and he said I should be fine to have another pregnancy, but that was b4 the "discovery" of the protein. i dont know if he knew about it or not at the time? I had not had the most recent urine test at that time, that was right after i had my son. I have been crying and crying and i am one of those that was raised not to cry for any reason. In your opinion, should i wait til i see the nephrologist before i do anything like having a tubal ligation?
Do take heart with WAK's advice. I'm also not a physician, but a long time diabetic. I've had Type 1 for over 35 years and am healthy; it is likely taht you can be, too.
Was your lab work evaluated by an endocrinologist or a "general physician"? An endo specializes in diabetes and sees a lot of kidney damage or kidney disease issues and can distinguish between them. Kidney damage could be serious; OTOH it can also be similar to "knee damage" when we fall & scrape our knees. We might be sore for a while & we might get a bruise or a scab, but the knee still does its intended function.
Are you taking any blood pressure medicine? A diabetes specialist almost always encourages us DMers to consider taking an ACE inhibitor even with normal BP, because this class of BP meds has been shown to offer kidney protection. You didn't mention this in your msg, and that got methinking that perhaps you're not (yet)being followed by a specialist.
Considering another pregnancy is something to discuss with your endo and a team of high-risk pregnancy specialists. They can discuss your unique situation and options. I hope you can also consider adoption as a way to expand your family.
Finally, if you have serious kidney disease, dialysis may be one course of action and kidney/pancreas transplant may be another. As WAK suggests, as you move thru the scary first days & weeks of hearing your doc's initial words, begin to become an expert on all these matters -- visit bookstores, reputable websites, and -- importantly -- seek 2nd or 3rd medical opinions from practitioners at the best facilities you can get to.
Here's a good website on kidney issues... who knows? There may be clinical trials going on for some new treatments in your area. Good luck ... and may youhave many thousands of days to help your daughter grow up.
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
I am not a physician but the mom of a type 1 and the daughter of a type 2 diabetic. I have been in a similar situation that looked grim when I was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks after my daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. She was 5