1. Can I test for protein in my urine at home?
Potentially yes. There are dipsticks available that allow patients to monitor the protein in their urine. This is usually not necessary, though, unless your doctor is monitoring a known kidney condition. (For more, see the article on
Home Testing.)
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2. Does kidney damage go away?
In general, it does not. The goal is to detect
kidney disease and damage early to minimize the damage and prolong kidney function. If the
proteinuria detected is due to a kidney infection or
urinary tract infection, the kidneys frequently will return to normal function as the infection resolves. If it is due to a medication, then in most cases the kidneys are likely to return to normal or near normal function when the medication is stopped.
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3. Should I eat more protein to make up for lost protein?
This is something to discuss with your doctor. If you have severe protein shortages, that will need to be addressed, but ingesting additional protein also puts additional stress on your kidneys.
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