Re: Does a Uro. do kidney biopsy exams

In article <e5deg602hjo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Pete" <pete@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article <e5cl7f02rot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Pete" <pete@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article <e5a9k802hrq@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Pete" <pete@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
In article <e58d69028ne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Pete"
<pete@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jason Johnson wrote:
As a result of having red blood cells in my urine, my doctor
referred me to a urologist. I have edema and some other
symptoms of kidney disease. It's my "guess" that the blood
in the urine is the result of a kidney disease.
Is it possible for a uro. to do a kidney biopsy to rule
in or out kidney disease as a cause for the blood in the
urine? I already know that the uro. will conduct various
tests and exams to rule in or out the various causes of
blood in the urine.

I should note that I asked my doctor to refer me to
a kidney specialist but he refused to do so because
of the rules of my insur. company.

Jason

Jason...please tell us what the rules were that prohibited your
primary care physician from referring you to a nephrologist. I am
interested. Sounds like more HMO bull*** to me :-) .

It's HMO bull***. The rules state that my doctor needs a medical
reason
to refer me to a kidney specialist. I have edema but it's not a
serious case of edema. There are several causes of edema. Perhaps if
kidney
disease was the only cause of edema, my doctor could refer me to a
kidney specialist. Almost every item on my kidney function blood
tests and urine tests are within normal limits mainly because I am
now a vegetarian. Therefore, the insur. company would hassle him if
he referred me to a kidney specialist. I don't know what sort of
punishement they use on doctors to keep them from referring
patients. I know that I have kidney problems since I read a book
that was written by a kidney specialist. I have many of the
symptoms that he mentioned in his book.
In another newsgroup, some of the posters tried to convince me that
I don't have a kidney disease. They may be correct but how could I
know for sure unless I have the proper tests such as a kidney
biopsy? I hate HMOs. Jason

Jason...That's why I stay with my Blue Cross (every open season),
even though the doc's are dropping it because they don't pay enough.
I don't need a referral, but certain specialists may require one
anyway.

I would think that your doctor would be able to short circuit the
bull*** (especially if you were close to him). In other words ("he
needs a medical reason") should be general enough just for him to go
ahead with the referral, unless he has no doubt whatsoever that you
do not have a kidney ailment (and he has no way knowing that
categorically - I do not believe).

This is total bull*** IMO, if you have a strong concern about your
kidneys. Are you able to switch to a non HMO provider, or are you
locked in with what you have.

Having said all that, you do have to be cautious about self
diagnosing yourself, and "playing doctor" (as was discussed in the
sci.med ng). However, if you are truly concerned about your edema
(which you have the right to be), I think your doctor should refer
you to a nephrologist, if you request him to.

Pete

Pete,
I am hoping that the urologist will refer me to a kidney specialist
if he determines the source of the blood in the urine is not related
to the
the urethra or prostate cancer. One of the other posters indicated
that
one specialist can refer patients to other specialists or at the very
least tell the GP to make the referral. It's a mess.
I would like to know whether or not I the edema is caused by kidney
disease. One person in another newsgroup implied that means I was
obsessed about having kidney disease. If a biopsy indicated that I
did not have kidney disease, the obsession would come to an end. I
should note that I call it a "concern" instead of an obsession. If
you had edema, would you ignore it or do everything in your power to
find the exact medical reason that you had edema?
Jason

Jason...I would try to find out what was causing it, up until a point
where you were beating your head up against the wall. I have
urological problems that I can not get answers to, and it really
pisses me off (no pun intended). I do think you should see a
nephrologist (by asking the uro to refer you - and hopefully he
will), so that you can at least get more of a "piece of mind", which
is important.

Pete

Pete,
I will follow your advice. I am glad that at least one poster
understands the importance of "piece of mind". I had to laugh when
the poster told me that I should see a psychologist related to my
"obsession" related to my medical problems. It makes more sense to
you and me to find a cure for our medical
problems or at least to find the cause of our symptoms.
Jason

I agree Jason. I am a certified expert on "piece of mind" after getting
screwed over, and abused and insulted, by many doctors in my life - lol . I
hate shrinks worse than doctors, and do not consider them legitimate medical
professionals except for severe psychotic syndromes. You don't want to get
me going on shrinks :-) .

Keep pursuing the nephrologist referral with the uro, and keep us posted.
But I doubt you will be able to make him (the nephrologist) do a biopsy, if
he doesn't feel it is necessary. At least you will get his viewpoints and
opinions...Pete

Pete,
I agree with you. However, I would hope to convince him to do non-invasive
tests such as ultrasounds. I would also request tests to determine the
cause of my metabolic acidosis and edema. One of the problems is that the
many changes I have made in my diet--eating low acid foods--and taking
various vit., minerals and herbs--causes standard blood tests and urine
tests to show that I have none of the common symptoms of kidney problems
and metabolic acidosis. Only special tests could detect those problems.
For example, if I went to Mexico and purchased blood pressure medication
at a pharmacy and took it--when my doctor in
America took my blood pressure--he would believe that I did NOT have a
blood pressure problems. I am masking the metabolic acidosis and kidney
problems as a result of the special diet and taking supplements. It's a
"catch 22" situation and I can win. The insurance issue is making it worse
since I can't see specialists unless I am referred. What should I do? I
should note that I will not know for sure whether I have a kidney disease
unless I have a biopy.
Jason
.

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