Nephrotic syndrome

[maltloaf]

Hi all,

You may (or may not) have noticed that I haven't been around much recently.

I have recently been diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome.

It's a condition where the filters in my kidneys have become damaged or inflamed and allow protein to leak into my urine.

The first I knew about it was an uncontrollable and very sudden weight increase, I was still exercising regularly, eating ok (without being too obsessive about food) and I gained 2 stone in 2 weeks. I am now up to almost 4 stone gained in 4 weeks.

I also started to get swelling in my ankles and lower legs and this has now gone all the way up to mid way up my back. My calves were always fairly chunky but muscly and toned and now they are just bags of water and measure 53cm around !

Apparently the protein leaking out causes an imbalance in your body which causes it to store massive amounts of water, hence the swelling and weight gain.

I have gone from fit, active and happy to unfit, immobile and miserable in just 4 weeks.

I have had water tablets (furusemide) prescribed to try and drain the water but despite increasing my dose twice, it isn't working so I have shifted none of the weight.

My specialist promises me that my kidneys are still actually functioning perfectly, just that they aren't filtering protein properly, and I have a biopsy booked for this Thursday to try and find the cause. They have ruled out heart problems and diabetes.

Anyway, thought I'd just make a quick post to explain what was going on and ask if anyone else has experience with nephrotic syndrome and it's treatment.

Many thanks,

malty