posted
7 YEARS WITH LYME DISEASE. STILL MANY POSITIVE BANDS 3 MONTHS AGO. BLOODWORK NOW SHOWING HIGH BETA 2 MICROGLOBULINS OF 2.46, EOSINOPHIL OF 7, BASEPHIL OF 3, MANY TESTS STILL PENDING.
LOTS OF YOU EXPERTS ANY IDEAS. MY LYME DOCTOR HAS REFERRED ME TO A HEMALTOLOGIST/ONCOLOGIST. SHE IS ALSO TESTING ME FOR M/S BECAUSE MY SYMPTOMS ARE SO SIMILAR AND SHE JUST WANTS TO COVER ALL BASES. RESULTS ARE NOT BACK YET.
I HAVE REALLY BEEN FEELING BAD FOR A LONG TIME. THANKS GUYS. APPRECIATE YUR INPUT. LO xx
Posts: 187 | From Sacramento, California | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
Lo, so sorry to hear this! I dont know you, but looks like we joined lymenet about the same time. I now also live close to where you are...in Turlock, Ca.
I have had strange eosinophelia (well into double digits---I forget how high exactly) and other super high blood counts out of the blue with this disease that never amounted to anything.
Also, there is confictling literature as to what the positive banding actually means. DOes it mean you are producing MORE antibodies and therefor are MORE able to fend off the symptoms, or does it mean you are "sicker"? My bandings have never changed much, so my LLMD does not use much testing...maybe once a year at most.
Who is your LLMD? Maybe private message me?
Hoping you are feeling okay today. Best, Trails Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i'm just sending my prayers. i just went thru a cancer scare-and was unable to get the info i wanted. i don't know anything about your testing or what it means. i just hope you get help and are ok
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Question
What are the possible causes of the presence of high levels of protein in urine?
Answer
Thank you for this question. In the absence of other symptoms I can only give a very general answer to this question. The kidneys' primary function is to maintain the fluid balance in the body and to excrete unwanted soluble chemicals. While doing this, the kidneys must conserve other important constituents circulating in the bloodstream.
Although healthy people do pass small amounts of protein in the urine normally, above a certain level suggests that there may be damage to the filter mechanism (the glomeruli) or inflammation. A second source of protein in urine is blood that may come from any part of the kidney or urinary pathway.
High levels of protein in the urine may therefore be due to diseases of the kidney such as glomerulonephritis. It may also be due to general illnesses that also affect the kidney as in high blood pressure or heart failure. Infections of the renal pathway such as cystitis or pyelonephritis may cause a high level of protein in the urine. This finding is an important part of investigations for several conditions and is extremely important when considered with other symptoms that together indicate the cause.
Something to remember is that lyme keeps attacking thus raising immune system attacks and everytime lyme cycles it picks up some of your immune systems parts which are made up of protiens that the immune system uses to attack Bb in turn Bb is using our protiens to go undetected.
then immune system recognizes Bb again only this time its Bb is wearing your protiens thats the inflamation and extra protiens in your blood urine etc. So say now Bb has done the same thing to other cells in your body thus replicating them then when they die by immune system attack more of the cancer or any cells protiens end up in your blood.
Thats my thought on it anyway. Sorry your going through all of this.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Heres one by vets:
BACTERIAL INVASION: Infections of the urinary tract of dogs and cats are, unfortunately, very common. Generally arising from gradual spread of external bacterial organisms near the external urinary orifices, the bacteria multiply and invade the urethra, then into the bladder (causing what is termed CYSTITIS), and occasionally further retrograde up the ureters and eventually into the kidneys. Another less common means of kidney infection arises from a blood borne dispersion of bacteria from a remote area such as an abscess or skin infection. Leptospirosis bacteria can have a severe effect on canine kidneys. The bite of a tick carrying the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme Disease is a good example of this kind of bacterial dispersion to the kidneys. In these situations, delicate membranes of the kidney tissue can be adversely... and permanently... damaged to the point that filtration of body waste products and transport of those waste products into the urine cannot be accomplished. Even after eliminating the bacteria with antibiotic therapy there may remain permanent structural damage to vital renal tissues... and kidney failure ensues.
Remember this is a veterinarians point of view but they know a lot of stuff about zoonosis diseases sometimes. This from here:
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
The Chemical Examination
The chemical examination of urine is most commonly carried out in the surgery or outpatient clinic, by a nurse, using commercially prepared test strips. These are narrow plastic strips that hold test pads, arranged in a row (see figure). The test pads have chemicals in them. When a strip is briefly, but completely, dipped into urine, the test pads absorb the urine and a chemical reaction changes the colour of the pad.
The nurse compares the colour change for each reaction pad to a colour chart (provided with the test strips) to determine the result for each test. Each reaction pad must be evaluated at the appropriate time. If too little time or too much time has passed since the reaction, the nurse may get incorrect results. To reduce these timing problems--and to eliminate variations in colour interpretation--instruments may be used to ``read'' the reaction colour on each test pad.
The most frequently performed chemical tests using reagent test strips are
specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, bilirubin, and urobilinogen. (Some reagent test strips also have a test pad for ascorbic acid [vitamin C].)
Specific Gravity (SG) The first test, specific gravity, is actually a physical characteristic of the urine--it is a measure of urine concentration. However, this physical characteristic can be determined using a chemical test.
There are no ``abnormal'' specific gravity values. This test simply indicates how concentrated the urine is. Specific gravity (SG) measurements are a comparison of the quantity of chemicals dissolved in urine water compared to pure water. If there were no solutes present, the SG of urine would be 1.000, the same as pure water. A urine SG of 1.000 is physically impossible; if a person drinks huge amounts of water or receives an intravenous (IV) infusion of large volumes of water, the urine SG can be as low as 1.002. An SG of 1.035 indicates concentrated urine, one a lot of dissolved chemicals in a limited amount of water.
Knowing the urine concentration helps health care providers decide if the urine specimen they are evaluating is the best one to detect a particular substance. For example, if they are looking for very small amounts of protein, a concentrated urine specimen would be the best sample. Therefore, your doctor will ask you to collect a first-morning urine specimen.
pH Is not a very useful test in would rarely play a significant part in diagnosis or treatment. As with specific gravity, there are no ``abnormal'' pH values. The kidneys play an important role in maintaining the acid-base balance of the body. Therefore, any condition that produces acids or bases in the body, or the ingestion of acids or bases, will directly affect urine pH.
Diet can modify urine pH. A high-protein diet or consuming cranberries will make the urine more acidic. In contrast, a vegetarian diet, a low-carbohydrate diet, or the ingestion of citrus fruits will make the urine more alkaline.
Some of the substances dissolved in urine will precipitate out to form crystals if the pH is appropriate. If this crystal forms while the urine is being produced in the kidneys, a kidney stone or ``calculus'' can develop. By modifying urine pH through diet or medications, the formation of these crystals can be reduced or eliminated.
Protein Normally, the amount of protein (specifically albumin) in urine is undetectable. When urine protein is high, you have a condition called proteinuria; this can be an early sign of kidney disease. Other conditions that can also produce proteinuria include
disorders that produce large amounts of proteins in the blood, such as multiple myeloma; conditions that destroy red blood cells; inflammation, malignancies, or injury of the urinary tract (for example, the bladder, prostate, or urethra); and vaginal secretions that get into urine. Glucose Glucose is normally not present in urine. When glucose is present, the condition is called glycosuria. It results from either
an excessively high glucose concentration in the blood (for example, when individuals with diabetes mellitus are not appropriately medicated with insulin) or a kidney problem where the ability to absorb glucose is diminished. Some other causes of glycosuria include hormonal disorders, liver disease, drugs, and pregnancy. If glycosuria occurs, your blood and urine will need to be tested further to identify the cause.
Ketones Ketones are intermediate products of fat metabolism. This happens when a person does not eat enough carbohydrates (for example, in cases of starvation or high-protein diets), or when a person eats enough carbohydrates but his/her body can't use them properly (for example, if s/he has diabetes mellitus). At this point the body metabolizes fat (instead of carbohydrates) to get the energy it needs to keep functioning.
Ketones in urine give an early indication of insufficient insulin in a person who has diabetes. Severe exercise, exposure to cold, and loss of carbohydrates (such as in frequent vomiting) can also increase fat metabolism, resulting in ketonuria.
Blood (Haemoglobin) This test is used to detect the haemoglobin from red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. The small number of RBCs normally present in urine (see microscopic examination) usually result in a ``negative'' test. However, when the number of RBCs increases, it creates a ``positive'' test result.
Even small increases in the amount of RBCs in urine are significant. Numerous diseases of the kidney and urinary tract, as well as trauma, medication, smoking, or strenuous exercise, can cause haematuria (RBCs in urine) or haemoglobinuria (haemoglobin in urine).
This test cannot determine the severity of disease (in other words, a high amount of blood in urine does not mean the disease is more advanced, nor does a low amount of blood in urine mean that disease is less advanced). This test also cannot identify where the blood is coming from. For instance, contamination of urine with blood from haemorrhoids or vaginal bleeding cannot be distinguished from a bleed in the urinary tract. This is why it is important to collect a urine specimen correctly, and for women to tell their doctor if they are menstruating at the time they asked to collect a urine specimen.
Sometimes a chemical test for blood in urine is negative, but the microscopic examination shows increased numbers of RBCs. When this happens, the laboratory tests the sample for ascorbic acid (vitamin C), because vitamin C can interfere with the accuracy of test results (they may be falsely low or falsely negative).
Leukocyte Esterase Leukocyte esterase is an enzyme present in most white blood cells (WBCs). Normally, a few white blood cells (see microscopic examination) are present in urine and this test is negative. When the number of WBCs in urine increases significantly, this screening test will become positive.
When the WBC count in urine is high, it means that there is inflammation somewhere in the urinary tract or kidneys. As with the blood test, it's important to collect urine specimens correctly to prevent contamination with vaginal secretions that can contain WBCs. The most common cause for WBCs in urine (leukocyturia) is a bacterial infection, for example, a bladder infection.
Nitrite This test can identify many urinary tract infections (UTIs). (Bacteria can convert nitrate in your system to nitrite.) However, you can have a urinary tract infection despite a negative nitrite test. This is because not all bacteria are capable of converting nitrate to nitrite. Normally, the urinary tract and urine are sterile.
Bilirubin Bilirubin is not present in the urine of normal, healthy individuals. Instead, bilirubin forms in the liver. The liver makes bilirubin using the haemoglobin of old RBCs that are removed from circulation, and the bilirubin is then processed by the intestine.
However, in certain liver diseases, such as biliary obstruction or hepatitis, conjugated bilirubin leaks back into the blood stream and is excreted in urine. The presence of bilirubin in urine is an early indicator of liver disease and can occur before any other clinical symptoms. It can be detected even before jaundice, the yellow discoloration of the skin, develops.
Urobilinogen Urobilinogen is normally present in urine in low concentrations. It is formed in the intestine from bilirubin, and a portion of it is absorbed back into the bloodstream. This test helps identify liver disease as well as conditions associated with increased RBC destruction. When urobilinogen is high in urine, it can mean you have a condition where the red blood cells are breaking down and releasing haemoglobin or a liver disease such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. When urine urobilinogen is low or absent, it can mean hepatic or biliary obstruction.
The Microscopic Examination
Part of the urinalysis is the examination of some urine with a microscope. Cells, crystals, and other substances are counted and reported either as the number observed ``per low power field'' (LPF) or ``per high power field'' (HPF). In addition, some entities are estimated as ``few,'' ``moderate,'' or ``many,'' such as epitheial cells, bacteria, and crystals.
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Normally, a few RBCs are present in urine sediment. Inflammation, injury, or disease in the kidneys or elsewhere in the urinary tract (for example, in the bladder or urethra) can cause RBCs to leak out of the blood vessels into the urine. Distinguishing these RBCs from those due to hemorrhoids or menstruation is impossible.
White Blood Cells (WBCs) The number of WBCs in urine sediment is normally low. When the number is high, it indicates an infection or inflammation somewhere in the urinary tract. Women especially must take care during specimen collection so that vaginal secretions (that can be high in WBCs) don't contaminate the urine.
Epithelial Cells Normally in men and women, a few epithelial cells from the bladder (transitional epithelial cells) or from the external urethra (squamous epithelial cells) can be found in the urine sediment. Cells from the kidney (kidney cells) are less common. In urinary tract conditions such as infections, inflammation, and malignancies, more epithelial cells are present. Identification of the type of cells helps the doctor pinpoint where the condition is located. For example, a bladder infection will leave large amounts of transitional epithelial cells in urine sediment. Epithelial cells are usually reported as ``few,'' ``moderate,'' or ``many'' present per low power field (LPF).
Microorganisms (bacteria, trichomonads, yeast) In health, the urinary tract is sterile: you can't find any microorganisms. Microorganisms are usually reported as ``few,'' ``moderate,'' or ``many'' present per high power field (HPF). There should be ``none'' present in the urine. However, particularly in women, bacteria from surrounding skin can enter the urinary tract at the urethra and move up to the bladder, causing a urinary tract infection (UTI). If the infection is not treated, it can eventually move up into the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis and inflammation of the kidney itself. Special care must be taken during specimen collection, particularly in women, to prevent bacteria that normally live on the skin or in vaginal secretions from contaminating the urine.
In women (and rarely in men), yeast can also be present in urine. They are most often present in women who have a vaginal yeast infection, because the urine has been contaminated with vaginal secretions during collection.
Trichomonads Trichomonads are parasites that may be found in the urine of men (rarely) or women. As with yeast, the trichomonads are actually infecting the vaginal canal and their presence in urine is due to contamination during urine collection.
Casts Casts are formed in the kidney's tubules. The kidney cells secrete a protein (like egg white) that can gel in the tubes, taking the shape of the tube it was formed in. This type of cast is called a ``hyaline'' cast.
When a disease process is occurring in the kidney, other things such as RBCs or WBCs can become trapped in the gel as the cast is being formed. When this happens, the cast is specifically identified as a red blood cell cast or white blood cell cast, for example. Different types of casts are associated with different kidney diseases.
Normally, healthy people have a few (0-5) hyaline casts per low power field (LPF). After strenuous exercise, however, more hyaline casts may occur. Cellular casts, such as RBC and WBC casts, indicate a kidney disorder.
Crystals Urine contains many solutes (chemicals dissolved in the urine water) that your body needs to eliminate. These solutes can form crystals if:
the urine pH; the solute concentration; and the urine temperature are ``just right.'' Crystals are identified by their shape, colour, and urine pH. Crystals are considered ``normal'' if they are from solutes that should be in urine. If they are from solutes that are not supposed to be in urine (such as cystine, an amino acid), they are considered ``abnormal.'' Abnormal crystals simply inform your doctor of an abnormal metabolic process.
Medications, drugs, and x-ray dye can also crystallize in urine. Therefore, the biomedical scientist must be familiar with and trained in the identification of urine crystals.
When crystals form as urine is being made in the kidney, they may group together to form kidney ``stones'' or calculi. These stones can become lodged in the kidney itself or in the ureters (tubes that pass the urine from kidney to the bladder) causing extreme pain.
Keep in mind also babsia or protozoan infections yeast too lyme theres tons of stuff that can cause proteins to be ellivated .
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
Thanks so very much for your help everyone. I am reading all your info treepatrol and trying to figure it out.
You are wonderful.
Lo XX
Posts: 187 | From Sacramento, California | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
LO, I looked back, if it matters, and my eosinophil count got as high as 54. The range goes only to 8.
I had not symptoms of anything at that time though. I mean, it was regular lyme stuff, nothing out of the ordinary.
Strange.
And that was in 2001. So it has been several years and nothing ever came of it.
Just in case it helps, Trails Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Lo, glad treepatrol & others came to your rescue.
protein in urine is also a sign of diabetes, which I learned the hard way 6 months before my correct dx of lyme ....
Lo, do you have LOW vision since you used all caps? On the internet, all caps used continuously are considered yelling at someone.
If you do have low vision, macular degeneration, etc., please say so. Otherwise, please use lower case in the future. It's so much easier on our lyme, sensitive eyes to read.
We're all looking for relief and finding good suggestions by others here on the board who've had the lyme longer than us.
IP: Logged |
healthgeneration
Unregistered
posted
Check out my posting on General Support under Old technology...new hope. This applies to you indeed. Please check it out also here is something about the health risks of mercury amalgam fillings. Sometimes MS, etc. can be caused by the presence of this poisonous metal in the body. Here is my post from a recent Web MD board: I have a question that may sound strange...How many mercury amalgam fillings do you have in your mouth? Have you heard about a link between MS and mercury poisoning? It is one of the most dangerous metals, besides radioactive ones. Mercury crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the brain, CNS, motor neurons, hormone glands and major organs. Mercury is cytotoxic (kills cells), neorotoxic and immunotoxic. It bonds with the hydroxyl radical in amino acids which disrupts the metabolic processes. It also inhibits production of insulin. Since it accumulates in the brain, nerve cells are damaged through free radical formation and oxidative damage. There are thousands of clinical cases of cure or significant improvement after proper mercury amalgam replacement. Check out www.amalgam.org. It is a patients support group for people suffering from DAMS (Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome). I learned much of this information from www.home.earthlink.net/~berniew1/indexa.html. Please look into this some more because it could be a contributing factor or even the cause of MS. amalgam.org has a list of dentists who specialize in mercury amalgam removal and detox. I have heard that some of them give IV chelation therapy to the patient as the fillings are being removed, to make sure that small particles are quickly removed from the bloodstream before depositing all over the body and brain. You may want to look into chelation therapy even now, to reduce the levels of toxicity in your body. You should be on a good-quality B-complex formula (liquid is best) to support nervous system function and help with stress management. Thank you for your time. God bless you. - Jonathan
IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you Jonathan for your message. I do have many metal fillings as I am 58 years old and that is of course what all the dentists used when we were kids and teens. I am reading the information you gave me and appreciate your help and time so much.
God Bless You. Lo XX
Posts: 187 | From Sacramento, California | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic