Abdominal CT scan showed a fatty liver due to high blood pressure/ borderline diabetes as well as scarred kidneys. (Fatty liver can also be caused by excessive drinking but I've been a teetotaller for several years now and was only an occassional drinker before that.) As far as I can tell the scarred kidneys can be a result of diabetes or lupus. So, since my doctor isn't telling me anything, I can only assume that I have fullblown diabetes. (The nurse called with the results but gave no explanation of what they meant.)
I hope this information helps someone who has similar symptoms.
As for me, I'll be waiting for my next doctor or urologist appointment to be scheduled so I can get more information on my condition.

So kind of that nurse to call and not elaborate on what it all means. Nothing like leaving you hanging, huh?

Do you not have a follow up already scheduled to go over your results? If not, I would call that office back and request that the doctor call you back with explanation to which you can understand (some docs will not do this over the phone) or speak to a nurse who has the heart of teacher to explain what all this exactly means and what you need to do if anything.


Here is some info that I found by goggling Fatty Liver:

The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is found high in the right upper abdomen, behind the ribs. It is a very complex organ and has many functions. They include:

Storing energy in the form of sugar (glucose)
Storing vitamins, iron, and other minerals
Making proteins, including blood clotting factors, to keep the body healthy and help it grow
Processing worn out red blood cells
Making bile which is needed for food digestion
Metabolizing or breaking down many medications and alcohol
Killing germs that enter the body through the intestine


Fatty liver is just what its name suggests: the build-up of fat in the liver cells. Although this is not a normal condition, fat in the liver usually causes no damage by itself. However, on some occasions it can be a sign that other more harmful conditions are at work. Fatty liver may be associated with or may lead to inflammation of the liver. This can cause scarring and hardening of the liver. When scarring becomes extensive, it is called cirrhosis, and this is a very serious condition. Therefore, it is important that a physician thoroughly examine a patient with fat in the liver.

Cause
It would seem logical that eating fatty foods would cause a fatty liver, but this is not the case. The liver does play an important role in the metabolism or breakdown of fats. Something goes wrong in this process of metabolism, but it is still not known what does cause fat to build-up in the liver. It is known that fat accumulates in the liver with a number of conditions. The most common is obesity. Fatty liver is also associated with diabetes mellitus, high blood triglycerides, and the heavy use of alcohol. It may occur with certain illnesses such as tuberculosis and malnutrition, intestinal bypass surgery for obesity, excess vitamin A in the body, or the use of certain drugs such as valproic acid (trade names: Depakene/Depakote) and corticosteroids (cortisone, prednisone). Sometimes fatty liver occurs as a complication of pregnancy.

There are a number of things that can cause kidney scarring and the list is really to great to list.

You are still young and it is not too late to take charge of YOUR health. You do not want to end up with any of these things and by losing weight can actually reverse your diabetes, may also reduce your blood pressure (lots of salt, even hidden ones can cause havoc on your bp), have more energy, etc...

Hematuria is presence of red blood cells in the urine.

~Zig

Fatty liver is reversible. If it is to a mild degree, improvement can be seen in up to 6 days. It can be due to alcohol, diabetes, but a lot has to do with diet and metabolism as well (the build up of triglycerides) i think it's the bad cholesterol that causes the fattiness, but i'm not sure.

Hematuria has many differential dignoses depending on whether it is micro (not visible, found in a urine test) or macro (seen in the urine or tissue). I'm assuming yours is micro? Visible blood is cause by something that is usually larger such as stones. Micro on the other hand is a little more difficult. It is caused by microscopic damage to the kidney's cells, which can be caused by many things.
Because you have scarring in your kidneys you are probably prone to, and have had many bladder and kidney infections. High blood pressure can also take it's toll on the kidneys as well.

Since the receptionist (not nurse, my mistake) gave me the results toward the end of the day I figured I should wait to speak to the doctor or a nurse first thing tomorrow morning. The hematuria is microscopic. To my knowledge I have only had one agonizing bout with a urinary tract infection and have never had a bladder or kidney infection. I've been on blood pressure medication for about two years.

Thanks so much for your input zigemyster and x0x011.

Right now I think I need to give the computer a rest. I've been on a gazillion medical websites and have self- diagnosed myself with everything from lupus to kidney cancer. I'll try to be a little more patient and allow the doctor to do her thing and stop scaring myself to death! And, of course, work on losing some of this weight. Thanks again.

Good news. Seems that the membrane in my kidney is too thin and allows blood cells to pass through. My doctor plans to keep an eye on it but tells me that it is not a serious problem. So for anyone out there who is experiencing the same thing please get checked out thoroughly but don't freak out. It could be something as simple and harmless as my condition.

I'm glad you got an answer. I was going to say that blood in the urine and scarring of the kidney can also be because of reflux. I'm also glad that you have a Dr. that is monitoring it. Good luck and take it easy.

HI I HAVE PROBS WITH MY KIDNEYS,AND I HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST 5 YRS,I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A MUSCLE PULL TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,I'M VERY VERY TIRED AND HAVE NO ENERGY ATM,I WORK AS A CLEANER TOO PART TIME.
I'VE BEEN TO MY GP TODAY HE HE HAS ROLD ME I STILL HAVE PROTEIN IN MY URINE TOO.

Is your doctor scheduling you for any further testing? 24 hour urine and blood test, any scans, biopsy?

HI YEHA I HAVE HAD BLOOD TESTS,DONE A 24 HR URINE TEST AND THE HAEMATURIA IS COMING AND GOING ALL TH ETIME,I FEEL SOMEONE IS STTABBING ME IN MY SIDE.