Arthritis & Kidneys

[Eve]

I've read arthritis can have an effect on the kidneys but what kind of problems could it cause? Curious as GP rang earlier after getting my latest blood test results back and is referring me for a renal ultrasound and more bloods and urine test. Said its been since before I started on methotrexate so not that :)

Wondering if the stupid arthritis might be causing something as it seems to be playing merry hell with other bits at the moment and has inflamed my eyes.

[Sqad]

It is very difficult to know at what level to aim answers to questions on AB, some ABers being more "savvy" on medical matters than others.

However.......rheumatoid arthritis can affect the kidneys, the incidence is not known, but probably around 20% of R.A sufferers, but it is treatable and rarely fatal. There are many causes for this, some known, some to do with R.A drug therapy and some due to the effect of R.A on the kidney directly.

The effects of kidney involvement would be swelling of the feet in the initial phase and then if not identified and treated would go on to show the signs of renal failure.

Do not get "bogged down" on the minutiae of this very complicated complication of R.A.

[Eve]

Thanks sqad, think I'll stay well out of the complicated stuff :) I'm not too bad with general medical stuff which isn't too sciency but when it gets all scientific and complicated I get lost.

My feet are usually swollen and painful though with the arthrits it might be hard to tell which is which.

It has been going up on the last three tests which I thought was a good thing as it was showing mild impairment (?) but GP seems concerned it keeps changing, especially with some results I've had previously to do with creatinine and urine tests with blood and protein and such coming up.

[bednobs]

personally i think it's very very rude that arthritis can give problems with kidneys, heart, eyes, blood vessels etc AS WELL as joints. Why can't these other maladies be shared around a bit - perhaps to other people who aren't already coping with pain and disability? :)

[Eve]

It's dam rude isn't it bednobs! :) How have you been doing and how is that gorgeous little one of yours?

I'm finding the increasing stiffness difficult at the moment. It's weird as I still feel really tired a lot but not quite as exhausted as before which I figure is the methotrexate kicking in. Dose 5 tonight and 2nd one up to 15mg. So far so good with no side effects :D

My hips have been evil and shoulders really stiff and knees painful and giving way and wrists painful too though been helping wearing tubigrips on them at work. Had a day off today to rest. Am loathe to but almost tempted to ask my physio if there is anything which can help me if I need to walk more than a short distance to help when my hips go properly evil.

[bednobs]

i have to say although it was a sad day, it was quite liberating when i accepted that i needed to use shopmobility/wheelchair when going round town and stuff - me and mr bednobs had not really realised how long it was since we had just wandered round the shops together. I had used sticks on and off for a few years before then and in one particularly horrible period, i had to use a 3 wheeled frame at work

[bednobs]

sorry didn't answer your questions!
i am doing ok - blood results have been super fantastic since i started toci, although i don't seem to feel much better (probably because i've been concurrently reducing steroids which ive been on for 8 years now)
i think i would rather have good bloods and feel pants than have terrible bloods but feel good i think. Phoebe is fab thanks

[Eve]

That sounds great :) I'm beginning to get to grips with the different bloods stuff and got my methotrexate bloods book which will help. My bloods nurse at my GP is fantastic too as she tends to do most of the methotrexate bloods I think. She's so lovely.

Been out trying to find myself a good eyeliner which is me proof too (I have my little mini control zone where I get off the bus where I have two mini supermarkets, a discount shop, my coffee haunt, Boots and Superdrug - and Primark if I'm feeling brave! all in 5 mins walk) while I was trying to make myself walk a bit earlier so as not to get too stiff but can keep stop starting. Have found 2 hourly eye drops are not great for eye make up (which won't stay on me anyway at the best of times) so tried a Rimmel one they said was waterproof (and bigged up as so)...they lied!!!

Am hoping to find simpler ways of making myself feel less frumpy, especially after the faff of getting myself up and out and to work in the morning. I went in in a load of light goth gear on Children in Need, even had on my old Doc Martens I got when I was 14, and it seemed to be a big hit so might dye my hair darker again (had a black wig on, think Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction) and get my nose repierced and such, give me a bit of a boost :) A few people thought I was new...think I might need to try to make more of an effort!

I have to say though, I found the long skirt and tights a lot comfier and have gone for non-underwired bras as they are also so much comfier, not irritating my ribs :)

[bednobs]

how the hell do you get tights on jenna? i haven't worn tights for about 10 years cause i cant even get them on with those tights putter-onners, Luckily i can do leggings, so use those in place of tights.

[Eve]

Perseverence (and lots of laddered rejects!). I got really big ones so they didn't need as much stretching/pulling up and prop my leg up on the side of the bed so it's a bit bent. I found thicker black ones, I guess more light legging like, easier (and it meant less faff in trying to shave my legs).

I don't tend to wear them nowadays though (ages since I last did), I tend to get too hot in them too unless it's really cold but I was determined to make an effort for charity.

The boots were another challenge.