Dr. Rajeev Raghavan, MD

That is a fantastic question! Our goal is to slow the progression of kidney disease, preventing patients from needing dialysis or kidney transplantation. We do this through diet and lifestyle changes, medications, and controlling other diseases that can worsen kidney disease if left unchecked. Examples include weight loss, restriction of sodium intake, utilizing more plant-based proteins, maximizing use of Ace-inhibitors or ARBs, and ensuring diabetes mellitus and hypertension are controlled. Despite these interventions, kidney disease may progress and patients will experience symptoms such as anemia (low blood count), edema (swelling), fatigue, and more. Your Nephrologist will manage these complications with additional treatments or interventions that may include iron supplementation or diuretics ('water pills').

There are so many causes of blood in the urine. If there is blood and protein, we worry about a kidney disorder. This is called glomerulonephritis. But if you have risk factors such as smoking history, male, older age, then it is best to see a urologist to examine for blood coming from the bladder or urinary system.

It is uncommon to require non-obstructive kidney stones removed. One rare case is when a patient has a solitary transplanted kidney. There are other potential indications, such as an infection, so please discuss with your nephrologist or urologist.

It requires a longer duration of antibiotic than a simpler urinary tract infection, often 7 days.

This could be cortical necrosis or atheroembolic disease, both of which unfortunately do not recover. Her kidney doctor should monitor labs and urine output for recovery

Yes, you should see another nephrologist. Tacrolimus can cause kidney injury.

There is not a lot of data on marijuana and causing kidney disease. I think it is reasonable to try for the back pain. Some strains are more potent, this is a reason to purchase from a reputable source.

Greetings, Typically an infection that has spread to the kidney, whether by blood from somewhere else in the body or by urine (ascending from the bladder), does require prompt treatment. Often these are bacterial infections that require antibiotics.

Thank you for that question... there are no studies to suggest that cannabis affects the kidney, and particularly those with kidney disease such as IgA. There are reports of Cannabis being laced with additives that have damaged the kidney. Hence, I would advise to buy from a licensed seller.

End Stage Kidney Disease [or Failure] is a condition in which the kidneys are unable to filter the blood adequately and the patient requires either dialysis or transplant. A patient may have advanced kidney disease (stage 5; < 15% function), but this is not 'end-stage.' The condition of End Stage Kidney Disease is permanent. Transplant is typically the preferred treatment modality, however, many patients are unable to receive a transplant due to age or other critical illness (such as heart disease).

First of all, that sounds awful. So sorry to hear. The nitrate in the urine in the absence of leukocytes makes a urine infection less likely. The bilirubin in urine may be a sign of liver disease. With the other symptoms that you are having, a disease affecting the liver or gallbladder is concerning. I would also recommend being evaluated for Celiac Disease or Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome. I do not think you need a kidney doctor (nephrologist) at this time. I think your primary care physician should be able to order blood tests to evaluate these conditions and/or imaging such as an ultrasound of the right upper quadrant.