Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Kidney Disease

The kidneys are the most important organs in the human body, that filter out waste from human blood, to form urine. Disease that affects the kidneys is known as kidney disease.

Following are some of the common causes of kidney disease:

1. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Always control sugar levels in your body if you’re diabetic; if sugar levels get out of control it may result in kidney problems.
2. Another cause is high blood pressure, which can destroy the tiny blood vessels in kidneys; as a result of damage, blood filtration processes are affected.
3. It can be a genetic problem as well, if anybody in your family have experienced kidney disease, then you may also be at risk of suffering from it.


Sufferers do not experience any sort of sickness in the early stages of kidney disease, but if it becomes severe then sufferer might have to urinate more often than normal, or they might feel tired or irritated, experience swelling in various body parts, poor appetite, vomiting, drowsiness or difficulty in concentration. If you experience any of these signs, do not ignore them - seek medical attention to avoid the adverse affects of this disease.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Well...

I got the results back from the blood tests. My doctor (God love him) is concerned about a very low reading on my sodium, which could indicated kidney disease. Joy. The vitamin D deficiency is not an issue (mainly because my vitamin D is fine) and the investigations into my pain have halted for the time being.
More blood tests, and a wee test.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Bone Scan Results

Well I went to see my doctor with the results. He took some blood, and seemed to be quite interested in the 'low vitamin D' theory. Will have to see...

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious problems because vitamin D is important in the absorption of calcium. Calcium is needed for both the body’s structure and function. Calcium is important for healthy bones, nails and hair but many do not know that along with sodium, it helps regulate metabolic mechanisms and neurological responses. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of osteomalacia and other bone and muscle disorders. Although vitamin D deficiency is most often seen in elderly people who have been institutionalized, others are at risk as well. Menopausal women, people who do not get enough sun (yes, the sun can be good for you), the malnourished, or people with absorption problems, or certain kidney/liver problems are also at risk. Treatment depends on the cause and current lifestyle of the individual. Vitamin D supplements along with sun exposure (at least 15 minutes 3 days a week) may help most individuals. Additional medication may be required for other individuals.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Connective Tissue Disease

Connective tissue diseases (aka connective tissue disorders) are a collection of disorders based on what they affect. Tendons, ligaments, cartilage and fascia are all types of connective tissue found in the musculoskeletal system and important for mobility. Most types of connective tissue disease fall into another category, autoimmune disease. The immune system uses antibodies and other types of cells and mechanisms to combat disease. Most connective tissue diseases occur when part of the immune response starts attacking collagen or elastin (major components of connective tissue). Examples of a connective tissue disease include Scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, some forms of lupus, and polymyositis. Since connective tissue diseases have different causes, treatment varies based on etiology. Some diseases are genetic while others may occur for unknown or unrelated reasons. When breast implants first became popular, many women who had silicone gel leaked into their system experienced health problems including various connective tissue diseases.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Bone Scan

Went to have the bone scan. Got the same specialist who reviewed the one I had all that many years ago. She compared that scan with today's, and noted some differences. She said the pattern of uptake is not that of inflammatory arthritis, and suggested a vitamin D deficiency. Or, some kind of connective tissue disease. She didn't mention fibromyalgia, so I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.