Urinary Tract Question

[acesew]

I have a question for those of you with urinary tract problems.   I have had several UTIs and seem to be retaining urine.  Also, my bladder and kidneys hurt.  As many of you know, I do have Lupus.  The question I have is should I be going to a urologist?  I have talked to my GP about this and I have even mentioned being tested for Lupus Nephritis, but he just tells me that anytime he has checked my kidneys they have been fine.  I know there is something going on because of the pain and the reoccuring infections.  Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks
steph

[acesew]

No I have not been tested for vesiocoureteral reflux.  This guy won't test me for anything most of the time.  The last time I was in he even told me he was in over his head and didn't know how to help me. (He is my GP, but his specialty is internal medicine). You think he could at least help some.....I will look into this also.  Thanks for your suggestion.  It may be something like that if my kidneys are not showing the proteins for Lupus Nephritis.

[evo123]

I, like you, cannot understand why your doctor will not test for  Lupus Nephritis.  You do think this would be the next step here :( x

This said, have you been checked for vesicoureteral reflux.  My daughter has this (along with a duplex kidney system).  This causes urine to flow back up the ureters and kidneys. voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is commonly used to diagnose this.  If this is happening it causes repeat UTI's and gives pain as you describe.  We have to always remember that we can have other conditions to.  Sometimes dr's take the easy option of putting all our symptoms down to the same thing.  

I, like you, cannot understand why your doctor will not test for  Lupus Nephritis.  You do think this would be the next step here :( x

[acesew]

Thanks

[LivingInHope]

Since you have a history of UTIs then and are currently having pain, please go in and get tested.  If you let an infection go too long, kidney infections can be very dangerous.

[acesew]

The times that I have had UTIs, I went to the dr and he told me that that was what it was.  I could usually tell anyway because my urine gets so cloudy and dark.  They have not done any other tests, that is kind of why I was wondering what would be suggested as my next step.  I am currently hurting in my kidney and bladder area now, but don't think it is an infection right now.
Thanks for the response.

[LivingInHope]

Are you certain with UA and cultures that they have always been infection?  I have interstitial cystitis (IC) which can flare and feel like infection, and I can even feel what seems like pain in kidney area but the UAs and cultures come back negative.  Endometriosis in the bladder can also cause UTI like symptoms.  I have seen online there is also such a thing as interstitial nephritis as well, but looks like that can affect the kidneys ability to filter waste and your doc is saying your kidneys are fine.  

You could try urologist- at least he/she could do a cystoscopy as long as you didn't have an infection at the time they set it up & take a look inside your bladder.  But if they give you a prescripiton, beware, because I was told by a urologist pretty much all of the urological medications are in the drug category that has an affect on your heart (and would aggravate POTS symptoms).   Have you had an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan where they looked at your kidneys?  What about an IVP (intravenous pyelogram)?  

Have they tried doing a 24 hour urine test for protein?  Mine was flagged as high, but not extremely so and my blood numbers led my internist to not be concerned.  I was seeing online (though not tested specifically for this) that there is orthostatic proteinuria and I am wondering if this is what I have.