Nephrology

[Guest]

I have a very complex medical history, having had breast cancer in 1995 (ca free as of today!) and "suspected" autoimmune disease since 1984 with symptoms of MCTD, yet test negatively for all. I also have Raynaud's and probable Sjogren's. I also have hypocalcemia, chronic dehydration, my white count is slightly elevated, edema, no reflexes in my feet . . . I could go on and on with these. I also have chronic hematuria and when this illness first struck me, my urine was very bloody. Urology found phleboliths on 3 separate occasions over the years but deemed me free of kidney disease.

Two years ago my GP decided to just stop my 10 mg of prednisone without a taper. My "old" and quite disabling symptoms came back and he finally worked with me on a taper and it was discontinued. Since that time my health has steadily deteriorated. Some days I am so weak and out of breath I am barely able to walk from the living room to the bathroom. My symptoms are so complex that I have been shuffled from one specialty clinic to another in a large teaching hospital. Each clinic has found an inconsistency, yet I am never told much of anything - I just move on to the next specialist.

I have a very recent onset of high blood pressure (it used to be too low), and a resting heart rate of 129+. I was at a follow up appointment with my ENT and my blood pressure was so high that he insisted I go to the ER immediately. I resisted as my husband and I had reservations for a bed and breakfast following the appointment. The end result was that the doctor handed me a slip of paper stating that he uniquivocally recommended that I go to the ER immediately. Basically an against medical advice. . . . I spent 7 hrs. at the hospital and was then released. Nobody followed up on the high BP so I asked my GP if it needed to be dealt with. He said he would get an appt. at the hypertension clinic for me. I just received an appointment letter in the mail and I am scheduled to see a nephrologist in the hypertension clinic.

Now for my "burning" question. Since I will be seeing a nephrologist in the hypertension clinic, does that mean my doctors suspect kidney involvement? You would think I would be able to get this information from my doctors, but it's next to impossible. I just sit and . . . wait.