Protein in child's urine...

[Booklover]

DS10 has been getting unexplained fevers, extreme weakness, and dehydration for a few years now. Twice it has gotten so bad that we have carried him into the clinic as he was too weak to walk, and then he was given IV's for dehydration.

I have changed drs. trying to find out why he is so weak, lethargic, etc. Last week it happened again. Fevers were so high and sustained. This dr. thinks he has a kidney problem, as she has tested him 3 times and found high protein in his urine, and it is getting progressively higher. She performed some sort of ratio test, and then decided to send him to a pediatric kidney specialist.

We are fortunate that he can get in to one in the next city tomorrow afternoon.

Originally, his white blood count was high a few times in a row, and the dr. said she wanted to rule out leukemia. Thank goodness, his count went back down to normal a few days ago, so we can rule that out. That was a frightening few days. Everything I've read about kidney disease is scary, too.

I feel so helpless. It's so hard when it's one of your children. We are just praying that it is a common condition where some people just spill protein into their urine during the day, and they are perfectly normal.

It's all those other unknowns that keep us awake at night.

[Samigirl]

I hope and pray you will find some answers. What a scary situation. It's absolutely heart wrenching to see a child so sick. Hopefully, he will get a diagnosis soon, and start on the road to recovery. Keep us posted.

[MaryCarney]

Usually protein appears in the urine in two forms - bacteria (which are the germs that cause infections, and they are, of course, protein based) and free protein molecules. It's the free protein you have to worry about, it basically means that the kidneys little filtration (called a glomerulus) units are damaged and allowing the protein to 'spill' into the finished urine.
The fevers over the years sound a lot like pyelonephritis, a kidney infection that started out as a UTI and was not treated quickly enough, or treated improperly.
Keep us posted!

[Booklover]

Thanks, Mary. I looked it up just now, and it makes me even more fearful. I'm just glad his appointment is tomorrow. The not knowing is killing us. I'm scared that the damage has been done.

[hollyhill]

(((HUGS)))

Oh dear I hope the news is good. The wait will be so long even if it is tomorrow, I am glad this Doctor was persistant.

[NewLeaf]

It is so scary to have a sick child. I hope your doctor appt. goes well. I'm praying for you.

[YankeeMom]

Praying for a "simple fix" (((HUGS)))

[ladytoysdream]

Fingers crossed for a simple fix for your child.
Glad you changed doctors.

[Booklover]

Update: After more tests, my son's results all came back normal! We are so relieved! We still don't know why he physically gets down so low, but they will retest in a few months to make sure his levels still are normal.

Thank you for all the kind thoughts and prayers.