CML and Kidneys

[Guest guest]

I just got home from seeing my Urologist. I don't have an infection in

the kidneys (a small stone), bladder or anywhere else, but I do have

blood in my urine. He is sending me to see a Nephrologist. What does

a Nephrologist do, and could the leukemia be affecting my kidneys? If

I take a water pill, which lowers the potassium my kidneys work fine,

without it and I can't go more then 50 cc's all day. He's telling me

to not get too much protein in my system and yet with the gastric

bypass we are to get plenty of protein in our system. I am so

confussed these days, I don't know what to do. Kathy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

A Nephrologist is a kidney specialist so it's good to see one if you

have blood in your urine (hematuria).

I would think that it's your stone that's causing the blood but it

could also be a side effect of the Gleevec. Although it's listed as a

rare side effect, it does exist.

Gleevec has been known to increase the incidence of kidney cancer in

the rats who took it for several years but so far, an increase in

human cases hasn't been noticed. The experts recommend however, that

we get a urinalysis done every 6 months just to be sure.

Take care,

Tracey

>

> I just got home from seeing my Urologist. I don't have an infection

in

> the kidneys (a small stone), bladder or anywhere else, but I do have

> blood in my urine. He is sending me to see a Nephrologist. What

does

> a Nephrologist do, and could the leukemia be affecting my kidneys?

If

> I take a water pill, which lowers the potassium my kidneys work

fine,

> without it and I can't go more then 50 cc's all day. He's telling

me

> to not get too much protein in my system and yet with the gastric

> bypass we are to get plenty of protein in our system. I am so

> confussed these days, I don't know what to do. Kathy

>