High Protein in Urine & Ibuprofen?

JohnnyBGood

Hi all,

In earlier posts I mentioned that I had been recently hospitilized due to chest pains...(diagnosis was blood clots in the lung) and that I had been having all sorts of body pains for the longest while (more than 1 year).

After my hospitilization I went to my rheumotologist for a follow up... He ordered a 24-urine test (since I complained that my urine was foamy).... The results say I have too much protein in my urine and have to see a specialist (>5 g/dl)

I just did some limited research on the net and found that Ibuprofen is among some of the drugs that may cause high protein in the urine. Now I had been taking Motrin 2x daily for a good while because I was having much joint pains.

Does anyone have any opinions on this?

Also, would you know if I stop taking the Motrin (which I did) would the protein levels be reversible or did i cause kidney damage?

Thanks.

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:48 am Post subject:

Hugs JohnnyBGood

So sorry to hear you are going through this!

I've read several members that have talked about having high protein in their urin.

I remember mention of bubbles in their urin as well. I think it was oluwa.

Those all sound like great questions to get your doctor to answer, and important ones that should be addressed asap.

Hope you are feeling better soon. Flag oluwa down and ask her about this.

I would try to find the post she made on it, but it would be like looking for a needle in a HUGE hay stack. Laughing

_________________
Oh look ... a cookie

Saysusie · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

Yes, Ibuprofen can cause protein leakage in the urine. In low single doses (200 to 400 mg) and daily doses of up to 1,200 mg, the incidence of adverse side effects is low. However, if you use Ibuprofen on a long-term basis with more than 1,200 mg daily, the chances are greater that you will suffer adverse side effects. Toxic effects are unlikely at doses below 100 mg, but can be severe at doses above 400 mg.

Are you diagnosed with Lupus? If so, the disease can affect the functioning of the kidneys which is detected by protein leakage in the urine. If this is the case, discontinuation of Ibuprofen will be of no avail. It might be wise for your to discuss this with your doctor so that the exact cause can be determined and appropriate treatment can be initiated.

Peace and Blessings
Saysusie
_________________
Look For The Good and Praise It!

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:24 am Post subject:

Hi and thanks to you both for your replies and comments.

I do intend to talk to my doctor about this. I didn't already mention it to him because I only discovered this Ibuprofen thing on the internet after I saw him last. So by the time I see him again it will be December and I just wanted to get some opinions from you guys.

I was taking about 800mg a day for at least 6 months.

Yes Saysusie, I have been diagnosed with Lupus in 1999 and I know that it can affect the kidneys... but I never had the issue before and now that it has come up I realized that it could be the NSAIDs I was taking.

By the way, a while ago I did mention to both my Fanily Doctor and my Rheumotologist that I was taking the Motrins, and they both said that it was okay. They never mentioned anything about the protein.

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:52 am Post subject:

Glad you are taking this up with your doctors. If your appointment isn't untill december, would it be worth it to call in now, or perhaps go in to see your family doctor?
_________________
Oh look ... a cookie

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:59 am Post subject:

Yes, I will mention it to my family doctor... but he might not know for sure if it's the Motrin or the Lupus...

The rheumotologist would be better at that... also, I am waiting for an appointment to see a kidney specialist.. so hopefully that doctor will know better with some tests and such.

Saysusie · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

Please keep us posted!

Peace and Blessings
Saysusie
_________________
Look For The Good and Praise It!

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject:

Well my family doctor doesn't really think that the ibuprofen caused my increase protein levels.

My rheumotologist is referring me to a nephrologist, but I am still waiting for that appointment. In the meantime, he says I can't reduce my prednisone as was originally intended.

But wait...there's more problems now...

This morning I woke up and got out of bed, and my wife notices giant purple patches on the back of both legs... I, of course, got pretty scared. Luckily, my family doctor is open on Saturday and I went straight over there. He says my blood is now too thin (I am on warfarin) and that I somehow bruised myself and caused internal bleeding under the skin. He took soom blood for INR and Liver function tests.. I won't know the results until probably monday... In the meantime, he stopped the warfarin.

He says I shouldn't worry. Should I? This is getting rediculous. I don't know what I will wake up with tomorrow... It seems everyday brings a new surprise.

Saysusie · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

I'm sorry that you are having so many symptoms and that new ones seem to keep developing. I know it will not make you feel any better, but the truth is that this phenomenon is pretty standard with Lupus Crying or Very sad

I'm not sure what your doctor was referring to when he told you not to worry: Was it the cessation of Wafarin? Was it the continuation of Prednisone? Was it the bruises on your legs?

Perhaps he meant that, whatever symptom you woke up with, there is a treatment and/or medication to deal with it. Or perhaps that, whatever they find, it is in the early stages so damage might be minimal and could possibly be reversed.

I would say to you that you should try not to worry too much because STRESS is the #1 culprit in making our symptoms worsen and creating a situation in our bodies that opens itself to new & more serious symptoms. It is imperative that we do all that we can to reduce our stress.

Please let us know the results of your new tests, and please try to find a way to minimize your worry and stress. We are here to help you if you need us!

Peace and Blessings
Saysusie
_________________
Look For The Good and Praise It!

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:11 am Post subject:

Gentle hugs JohnnyBGood

My husband was on warfarin for almost a year after his heart attack and would bruise something awful at the slightest touch.

Stay away from sharp spinny things for a while till that warfarin gets out of your system.

The sever bruising is normal with the warfarin. I'm not sure what happens when it's paired with other medications.

Hubby had to give himself daily injections and would bleed from the needle site all day.

It can take a bit for it to get out of your system so please be careful. By the way hubby is doing really well now.

Glad you are getting some tests and hope you will have some answers soon.
_________________
Oh look ... a cookie

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

Hi Saysusie,

Thank you so much for being there for me and allowing me to feel that is somewhat "normal" for us.

The doctor was referring to the bruising on my legs in this case.. that I shouldn't worry about it being a major problem.. he says it is my blood being too thin and that I am now prone to easy bruising.

This morning he called me (yes, on a Sunday...wow!) and said my INR was at 3.2... so he reduced my warfarin to 2.0 mg from 4.0 that I was on.

He won't have the liver function results until Tuesday. I am a little worried about that one because I was reading on the internet (again, probably I shouldn't do so much quick research because I tend to let it worry me when I see things)... but anyways, I saw that this kind of bruising could be causes by Cirrhosis which is a whole new game. I asked my doctor about that this morning and he said it wasn't that... but I am not really sure how he knows that 100%.

My wife says the same thing about the stress (but it is quite hard not to worry about it and not know what surprise tomorrow will bring) Sad

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

Saysusie · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

I tend to agree with your doctor about the bruising not being related to Cirrhosis. Many of the causes of Cirrhosis do not fit you. The one that you might remotely be concerned with does not fit your symptomology either. That is autoimmune hepatitis which can cause Cirrhosis...but you do not have autoimmune hepatitis. So, continue to let your doctor regulate the wafarin which is most likely the cause of your bruising and do not overstress yourself with other remote possibilities! At least, try not to overstress yourself. I can't stress (another use of the word lol) how important it is to keep eliminate and/or reduce your stress!!
Almost all of us have to deal with the fact that we never know what we are going to wake up with. The best thing that we can do for ourselves is to take every precaution to hopefully keep flare-ups at bay. So, continue to take good care of yourself and remember, we are here to help you as much as we can Very Happy

Peace and Blessings
Saysusie
_________________
Look For The Good and Praise It!

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

JohnnyBGood

Hopefully they will get you down to a dose that your system can manage better.

If you don't use one already...you might want to switch to an electric razor. Hubby did while he was the Warfarin.

Keep us posted.
_________________
Oh look ... a cookie

JohnnyBGood · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks to both of you for your continuing support.

I know I shouldn't stress, but this is all happening very quickly and it is concerning me... I do want to live to see my little boy grow up.

I have been using the electric razor for a while anyways..so that should be okay.

Also, I didn't mention it before, but I also discovered about a year ago that I have Hep B too... I don't know where I got that. So that is also where the liver issues concern me too.