Kidney problems
Kidneys usually stay quiet until damage is advanced, which is why diabetes and high blood pressure need kidney checks even when you feel well. Early changes found on a blood or urine test can still be slowed or protected.
Who should see an internist about this
- A blood or urine test showed abnormal kidney values or protein in urine.
- You have diabetes or high blood pressure and have not had a kidney check in a year.
- Swelling in the legs or around the eyes, foamy urine, or urination changes.
- Repeated kidney stones or repeated urine infections.
- A family history of kidney disease, or you take long-term painkillers.
What happens at your visit
Dr. James asks about urine changes, swelling, infections, stones, medicines and your diabetes and pressure control. He checks your blood pressure and looks for fluid retention.
Kidney function is assessed with creatinine and eGFR blood tests and a urine test for protein, sometimes an ultrasound of the kidneys. He then explains where your kidney health stands: normal, early change, or needs a kidney specialist, and which medicines need dose care.
How to prepare
- Bring all medicines and supplements, including painkillers and herbal products.
- Bring old kidney function reports and urine tests for comparison.
- If an ultrasound may be needed, ask at booking about bladder preparation.
After your visit
You leave knowing your kidney numbers and what affects them. If diabetes or pressure is the driver, protecting the kidneys becomes part of that control. Repeat testing is scheduled at the right interval, and referrals to a kidney specialist happen promptly when needed.
When to get help straight away
Severe loin pain with fever or vomiting can mean an infected kidney stone and needs same-day care. Suddenly passing little or no urine, visible blood in urine with pain, or severe swelling with breathlessness are urgent. Go to the nearest emergency department if breathlessness is severe.
Common questions
What is creatinine and eGFR on my report?
Creatinine is a waste product the kidneys filter out. eGFR is a calculated estimate of how well they are filtering, worked out from creatinine, age and sex. An eGFR persistently below 60 suggests reduced kidney function worth monitoring.
Can damaged kidneys recover?
It depends on the cause and how early it is found. Sudden injuries from dehydration, infection or certain medicines often improve when the cause is treated. Long-standing damage from diabetes or pressure usually cannot be undone, but its progression can be slowed a great deal.
How do diabetes and pressure harm the kidneys?
The kidneys are made of tiny filters. High sugar and high pressure scar those filters slowly over years, first leaking protein into the urine, then reducing filtration. A yearly urine protein test catches the leak early, long before you feel anything.
Which medicines can hurt the kidneys?
Common painkillers like ibuprofen and diclofenac, some herbal remedies, and long courses of certain other medicines can strain kidneys, especially with dehydration or existing kidney problems. Never stop a prescribed medicine yourself, but do mention all tablets and supplements at your visit.
How much water should I drink for my kidneys?
For most adults, enough to keep urine pale yellow, which in Muscat's heat means drinking regularly through the day rather than large amounts at once. Very high water intake is not needed unless a doctor advises it for stones.
