Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 How do you know if you are having a flare-up? I have had episodes in the past, during or following illnesses, where my urine becomes dark and I know my kidney function is affected and more blood is passing through the urine. I have never seen bubbles or foam, or experienced flank pain. Lately, though, I have had some very mild pain in/around my center stomach area and I've noticed that my first morning urine produces some bubbles. This is only in the am when it is more concentrated. I have not been sick or feeling bad, just tired like always. Could I have a bladder infection that I'm unaware of that may be causing the kidneys to work less efficiently? Are the bubbles, alone, symptoms of a flare-up? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 In the case of IgAN, flare-up is just general, unscientific term we use for when visible blood starts appearing in the urine, making it tea or cola-coloured. IgAN is characterized by having mostly always microscopic blood in the urine, and some mild-to-moderate proteinuria. In many, it tends to " flare-up " into these episodes of visible blood during or after an upper respiratory infection (and some some a gastrointestinal infection. I guess other infections might also cause a flare-up, but the two I've already mentioned are the most common. Sometimes, that's also accompanied by an elevation in the amount of proteinuria, but not always. I don't know how a bladder infection fits into that, but I imagine if you happened to have one bad enough to cause reflux of urine and infection back into the kidneys, it might cause some problems. There's even a term for that: " reflux nephropathy " . But that is most likely something that is independent of the IgAN. Except for when you have the tea-coloured urine, there is nothing you can really tell about kidney function from looking at urine at home. Even during a " flare-up " , most times, actual kidney function may not be affected much, if at all. Proteinuria does tend to cause foaming on top that persists (not just bubbling), but it doesn't tell you anything, really, about how much proteinuria you have. It takes at the very least a dipstik test in a spot urine sample. Keep in mind though, that, while proteinuria is a known risk factor for progression of IgAN and most other kidney diseases too, it does not equate with kidney function. Pierre Mild Flare-up? > How do you know if you are having a flare-up? I have had episodes in the past, during or following illnesses, where my urine becomes > dark and I know my kidney function is affected and more blood is passing through the urine. I have never seen bubbles or foam, or > experienced flank pain. > > Lately, though, I have had some very mild pain in/around my center stomach area and I've noticed that my first morning urine > produces some bubbles. This is only in the am when it is more concentrated. I have not been sick or feeling bad, just tired like > always. Could I have a bladder infection that I'm unaware of that may be causing the kidneys to work less efficiently? Are the > bubbles, alone, symptoms of a flare-up? > > Thanks, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 HI , That is a flare up when your urine becomes dark, but it is also possible to have a flare up without macroscopic hematuria. Anytime anything causes your lab results to worsen temporarily, that is a flare up. Normally they are in conjunction with a viral illness, or with a very stressful time of life. Pain in the center of your stomach is not a typical symptom of IgAN, but if it is consistent, you may want to have it checked out with your general physician instead of by your neph. When there is an increase in foam, that is normally an indication of spilling protein, which is not necessarily only in a period of flare up. Most of us with IgAN spill protein on a regular basis. Hope this helps clear things up for you. In a message dated 3/25/2004 12:15:08 PM Pacific Standard Time, harvey_karen@... writes: > I have had episodes in the past, during or following illnesses, where my > urine becomes > dark and I know my kidney function is affected and more blood is passing > through the urine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 HI , That is a flare up when your urine becomes dark, but it is also possible to have a flare up without macroscopic hematuria. Anytime anything causes your lab results to worsen temporarily, that is a flare up. Normally they are in conjunction with a viral illness, or with a very stressful time of life. Pain in the center of your stomach is not a typical symptom of IgAN, but if it is consistent, you may want to have it checked out with your general physician instead of by your neph. When there is an increase in foam, that is normally an indication of spilling protein, which is not necessarily only in a period of flare up. Most of us with IgAN spill protein on a regular basis. Hope this helps clear things up for you. In a message dated 3/25/2004 12:15:08 PM Pacific Standard Time, harvey_karen@... writes: > I have had episodes in the past, during or following illnesses, where my > urine becomes > dark and I know my kidney function is affected and more blood is passing > through the urine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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