EXPERT
Dr. Laura Rankin, MD
Nephrology
Dr. Laura Rankin is a nephrologist practicing in Oklahoma City, OK. Dr. Rankin specializes in the care and treatment of the kidneys. As a nephrologist, Dr. Rankin most typically treats conditions like kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure, polycystuc kidney disease, high blood pressure and more. Nephrologists are also experts on kidney transplantation and dialysis. They are usually referred to by primary care physicians for problems related to the kidneys, and while they can perform tests to diagnose kidney disorders, they do not perform surgeries.
51 years
Experience
Dr. Laura Rankin, MD
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Accepting new patients
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My kidney function is worsening. Can it be stopped?
Supplements, herbals, and dietary changes won't make a difference. I'm glad to hear that your doctors are getting you ready to be on the transplant waiting list!
Can donating a kidney shorten your life?
We really evaluate a possible kidney donor in great detail, so that we can be as sure as humanly possible that there will be no effect on the donor. As I teach about this, I state READ MORE
We really evaluate a possible kidney donor in great detail, so that we can be as sure as humanly possible that there will be no effect on the donor. As I teach about this, I state that the job of the doctor evaluating the donor is to say NO if there are ANY problems.
I hope this helps as you consider what to do.
I hope this helps as you consider what to do.
Could the pain in my back be a kidney infection?
The fever makes me think that a kidney infection may well be happening. You should see your doctor
My daughter is not passing enough urine. Is this an emergency?
She should be evaluated to be sure that there are no problems
How can I flush out kidney stones?
The problem is that the only way to "flush out" kidney stones is to get enough push from urine to get them out. And it is the pressure from the build up of urine on top of the READ MORE
The problem is that the only way to "flush out" kidney stones is to get enough push from urine to get them out. And it is the pressure from the build up of urine on top of the stone that is what hurts. Sounds like a vicious circle doesn't it! To some extent, the more you drink, the more likely you are to have the pain for a shorter period of time.
Remember too for the future--the most important thing to prevent kidney stones or at least to decrease their frequency is to drink enough water that your urine is never concentrated and therefore more likely for crystals to start forming. If it is clear or a very light yellow, that's okay. Never a darker yellow or really yellow
Remember too for the future--the most important thing to prevent kidney stones or at least to decrease their frequency is to drink enough water that your urine is never concentrated and therefore more likely for crystals to start forming. If it is clear or a very light yellow, that's okay. Never a darker yellow or really yellow
Why is there sugar in my urine?
Sugar in the urine usually means that the person has a high blood sugar, and therefore diabetes mellitus. And that is pretty important!! Very infrequently, sugar in the urine READ MORE
Sugar in the urine usually means that the person has a high blood sugar, and therefore diabetes mellitus. And that is pretty important!!
Very infrequently, sugar in the urine with a normal glucose is seen, as part of a kidney problem.
Very infrequently, sugar in the urine with a normal glucose is seen, as part of a kidney problem.
What are the best drinks to help flush out toxins from the kidney?
None will make your kidneys better or flush out the toxins. No diet changes will make a difference either.
How long does kidney transplant surgery last?
Generally about 3 hours, but it depends -- maybe 4-5 hours.
How does a renal ultrasound work?
An ultrasound involves using special equipment to bounce sound waves off things in the body, in this case the kidneys. It takes less than 30 minutes, uses a special grease (they READ MORE
An ultrasound involves using special equipment to bounce sound waves off things in the body, in this case the kidneys. It takes less than 30 minutes, uses a special grease (they call it a jelly) to be able to have the sound waves to go from the part of the machine on the skin into the body, and it has no side effects. One could call this a radar exam, just like the naval destroyer looking for submarines!
Is kidney transplant surgery safe?
Generally this is a pretty safe surgery, and if you are the one receiving the kidney, you will likely feel better than now even before leaving the hospital.
My 8 year old child has a UTI?
He needs antibiotics and evaluation by his pediatrician and very possibly by a urologist to find out why he has a UTI. Boys and girls under the age of 10 don't get UTIs without READ MORE
He needs antibiotics and evaluation by his pediatrician and very possibly by a urologist to find out why he has a UTI. Boys and girls under the age of 10 don't get UTIs without a reason, and often a serious reason.
What are the signs of kidney infections in kids?
She should be evaluated, and if it is a kidney infection, she should be seen by a urologist to find out why she is getting a urine infection
My son has juvenile diabetes. Can this lead to kidney problems?
Juvenile diabetes can lead to kidney disease, but it is much less likely to do so if the blood sugars are well controlled. Thankfully, he has developed this disease when he can READ MORE
Juvenile diabetes can lead to kidney disease, but it is much less likely to do so if the blood sugars are well controlled. Thankfully, he has developed this disease when he can test blood sugars, even have a glucose sensor that can interact with an insulin pump.
Technology has gotten so much better than 40-50 years ago, when the urine was tested, not the blood, and kidney damage was more common.
Technology has gotten so much better than 40-50 years ago, when the urine was tested, not the blood, and kidney damage was more common.
Could kidney issues be the cause of my lower back pain?
It is possibly a kidney infection, but it could be muscular or arthritic. A urine test for infection will given the answer to your question.
Will I have diet restrictions post my kidney transplant?
The great thing about the transplant is that most of your diet restrictions will go away. You may be restricting the amount of phosphate or potassium now. That will stop. If READ MORE
The great thing about the transplant is that most of your diet restrictions will go away. You may be restricting the amount of phosphate or potassium now. That will stop. If fact the transplant often leaks extra phosphate into the urine, and so we may ask you to eat foods that are high in phosphate!! There won't be any protein restriction.
For some people with a transplant, they still need to follow a sodium (salt) restricted diet, but others don't.
So life is much better and easier with the transplant!
For some people with a transplant, they still need to follow a sodium (salt) restricted diet, but others don't.
So life is much better and easier with the transplant!
Can antibiotics cause a rise in creatinine levels?
It could be due to the antibiotics-depends on what one she is taking--or it could be the infection. Please ask her doctor.
How can I prevent kidney stones from recurring?
The first thing for any kidney stones is to drink more fluid. A dark concentrated urine is more likely to have things crystallize out--that is the start of a stone, and the continuation READ MORE
The first thing for any kidney stones is to drink more fluid. A dark concentrated urine is more likely to have things crystallize out--that is the start of a stone, and the continuation of a stone buildup. If your urine is dark yellow, you are making crystals!! Next is to talk to your doctor to find out what kind of kidney stone you had, to decrease the chances of having others. It is worth investigating, as we have specific things to do with the various kinds of stones.
Can kidney infections go away on their own?
It is possible for a kidney infection to go away on its own. I am more concerned about why a 14 year old boy should get a kidney infection, so he should be evaluated for what READ MORE
It is possible for a kidney infection to go away on its own. I am more concerned about why a 14 year old boy should get a kidney infection, so he should be evaluated for what might be wrong with the bladder, ureters and kidneys.
Is fistula necessary for a CKD patient?
The reason that we prefer to have a vein or artificial vein for hemodialysis is that the chances of infection are very much better. The catheter being used for dialysis now has READ MORE
The reason that we prefer to have a vein or artificial vein for hemodialysis is that the chances of infection are very much better. The catheter being used for dialysis now has a tip that is right at the edge of going into the heart. If it gets infected, the heart is possibly infected, which may mean that she would have an infected heart valve. The infected end of the catheter may send bacteria off to distant places, like the disks in the back, causing the bones (vertebrae) to be infected and collapse. The bacteria may go to the brain or to muscles. Or the bacteria may cause a condition called septic shock, where the person is very ill, in the ICU, blood pressure is low, and death may be near. Yes, if she is committed to stay alive with dialysis, it should be done.
Is a kidney transplant better than dialysis?
No matter what the disease that put him on dialysis, the survival is better with a transplant, and the "way of life" is better (by a long shot--who wants to be on dialysis?) Good READ MORE
No matter what the disease that put him on dialysis, the survival is better with a transplant, and the "way of life" is better (by a long shot--who wants to be on dialysis?) Good luck to him, and hope that he gets a kidney soon!
