Well. here is my post from back in July: http://healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=408640

I finally saw a Neph (different one from last year, other one had left, but this one was in same office, so had my records).
He was actually a bit rude with me, and basically accused me of taking a lot of things in the past like Goody's Headache powders! I have never taken one in my life! I have also have not taken a large amount of NSAIDS either.

He also questioned me about past urinary tract infections, past antibotics, penicillin, etc.

He told me that looking at my chart from last year, he saw that I had a small amount of protein showing in my urine at one time, and that my ultrasound then showed my kidneys to be a bit small for my body size. I was not told either one of those things then.

He told me he felt I had Chronic Interstitial Nephritis, but not to worry too much about it. :eek: and not to eat a lot of potassium, as it had been running a little high. And, since I had not done any research on CIN before seeing him, I wasn't really prepared to ask many questions. Then of course after reading up on it, I did freak out somewhat.

He said come back in a year. :confused:

I told my Neuro what he had said, and she advised me to go somewhere else and see another Dr. for another opinion. and hopefully one with a better bedside manner! :rolleyes:

Luckily, with my insurance, I have access to some of the top Drs. in the south's largest teaching hospital, so I am getting an appointment with one of them, and asking LOTS of questions when I get there!

Anyone here with any experience with this disease? Any advice for me?

I too was DX'ed with Interstistial Nephritis in April05. My Creatinine and B.U.N went from LOWEST levels to over normal in 8 months. I too was told NSAIDS could be the cause, but I never abused them. My Nephrologist also said to come beck in 1 yr for more tests, and when Creatinine hit 2.0 he would do biopsy. I was monitored by reg Dr every 3 months for 1 yr. I changed eating habits, gave up caffine, and drink TONS of water a day. I am happy to say that my numbers are back within normal range, and I am doing much better.

Try and eat healthy, DRINK DRINK, and then DRINK more water everyday. I also excersice too which Neph. recommended.

Take care,

Sid

Thanks for the reply. I drink almost no caffeine as it is, and try to drink plenty of water, which I will keep up. I am normal weight, etc. but really do need to exercise more. :)
Were you given the GFR calculation showing your kidney function?

In Jan 05 I was really hurting (I have Fibromyalgia) so my Reg Dr decided to send me to a Rhuemy to see if Arthritis was involved also. He did blood work and 3 days later I got a call from my reg Dr saying that I my blood tests were not good. In March of 04 B.U.N was 7 and Creatinine was 0.9 The test that Rhuemy did shower Bun was 19 and Creatinine was 1.3 GFR was 46. Creatinine went up to 1.5 within a month, Saw a Nephrologist in April 05 he DX'ed me. Took months to get my numbers down, but I am considered within normal range now. I am tested every 6 months. What were your numbers like???

Sid

My BUN was 19, range being 7-18 and Creatinine was 1.2 range being 0 - 1.1 So, not really elevated a lot at that time.

This time, lab sheet showed my Creatinine was 1.1, ( range being 0.6 - 1.1 ) and my BUN 11 ( range being 7-18) Now, those numbers sound about normal, right? Even lower than last year! BUT, the lab sheet does a BUN/CREA Ratio which is 10. Which translates into a GFR of 55. Sometimes it's pretty confusing.

You can go online and find an online GFR calculator and put your numbers in, and it will tell you your calculated number.
It takes into account your age.

Well at least your numbers (like mine) are going down..... I have been told by many Dr's that the B.U.N. is the number that they really get worried about. The thing that gets me is the fact that labs are SO DIFFERENT with their ranges for what's NORMAL, and what isn't.

Your lab considers a normal Creatinine between 0-1.1
Mine.................................... .....................0.7-1.2

Your lab considers a normal B.U.N 7-18
Mine.................................... .....6-21

So in reallity if you had my lab you wouldn't be to bad off, actually within normal range. Me on the other hand would be worse off. Weird, and I really think that ALL labs for the medical industry should have the same range for ALL tests. It would save alot of confussion, and WORRY for alot of people.

Just continue to eat healthy, DRINK tons of water, and try to excersice.(even if it's just walking) Also, I stopped getting all upset over my test results because it wasn't going to change the results, and I saved myself alot of stress. Hang in there!!!! I will keep checking to see if you post a reply.

Sid:wave:

I will also keep doing as many things as I can to keep as healthy as possible. Not much else we can do at this point, right?;)

Doesn't really matter about all the numbers we've both posted, I suppose, because, unfortunately, what it boils down to is, our kidneys are functioning at about 50% of normal. We do the best we can from this point forward to keep them in the best shape possible.


I am still going for a second opinion with a better Nephrologist and ask all the proper questions to do the best things for myself in the future.

I will also post back with what I find out from him/her. :)

Well, just to follow up, in case anyone is still interested. I did go see the 2nd Neph. I liked him a lot. He said he did NOT feel I had Interstitial Nephritis. He said that he thought that it was a "wastebasket diagnosis" that Drs. made when they couldn't come up with any other name!

He said I had nothing else remarkable on my history. The only other thing was elevated Potassium, and he said to watch that. And to have lab work every 6 months. He did have me get some blood work done to check the function of my adrenal glands, which play a part in kidney function. No other Dr. has done that before. I have not heard back from that yet.

So.....I have 2 opinions from 2 Drs. I can take one or the other. Or I can take neither. Or I can take pieces of both. But, when I do follow up with a Neph, it will be this last one.

I think I will just "chill" and take care of myself, and have regular lab work, watch out for anything unusual. I feel good right now. I am pretty healthy otherwise, other than thyroid disease and a seizure disorder. And the myserious positive ANA.

Anyway, as they say, that's the rest of the story..:D

HI again!

Glad that you have a second opinion, even though you really don't have a DX. Frustrating, and confussing! I have recently been sick again. Started with Carple tunnel, pain moved in shoulders, then upper arms, and now in neck. I have enlarged lymph nodes in neck. Dr found a mass in my neck, and my throat is RAW. Did tons of blood test Creatinine is 0.9 YEA!!!! BUN is 24:mad: Had CT scan of neck, and ultra sound of thyroid. Find out tomorrow what's going on. Can't wait this has been going on for several months now, and I am tired of the pain.

Take care,

Sid

Did your Dr. say why he thought your BUN was elevated like that?

Hopefully tomorrow you will get some answers to what is going on! Come back and let us know what he says. Good luck to you. :)

P.S. The Neph did call back today and said the adrenal blood work did not show anything. :)