Your kidneys are complex organs whose principle job is to remove wastes, unneeded electrolytes and excess fluid from your body. Any condition that interferes with your kidney function can lead to a potentially dangerous buildup of waste products in your bloodstream.
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease that hinders the function of your kidney to remove waste and excess fluids. Glomerulonephritis can be a part of a systemic disease like diabetes or lupus, or it can be a disease by itself. It is then referred to as primary glomerulonephritis.
Glomerulonephritis can be acute. This refers to a sudden attack of inflammation.
It can also be chronic. It comes on gradually when it is chronic.
Glomerulonephritis is also known by other names. It is also called glomerular disease and glomerular nephritis (GN).
The effects caused by glomerulonephritis may depend on whether you have the acute or chronic form of the disease. They can also depend on the cause of your glomerulonephritis.
Your first indication may come from the results of a routine urinalysis. Your effects may include:
- Foam in your toilet water due to protein in your urine (proteinuria)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Decrease in frequency of urination
- Weakness and fatigue from kidney failure or anemia
- Diluted iced-tea-colored urine resulting from hematuria (red blood cells in your urine)
- Edema (fluid retention) along with swelling in your feet, abdomen, hands and face
If you have the chronic form of glomerulonephritis you may gradually begin to experience some of these signs and symptoms:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Malaise (general sick feeling)
- Headache
- Unintentional weight loss
- Frequent hiccups
- Generalized itching
- Muscle cramps and muscle twitching
- Headache and seizures
- Decrease in alertness
- Bleeding or bruising easily.
You or a loved one may have glomerulonephritis. This disease and/or conditions resulting from or in conjunction with this disorder may be the reason you or your loved one is disabled and unable to work.
If this is the case, you or your loved one may need assistance. You may need financial aid.
Have you or your loved one applied for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by glomerulonephritis and/or related conditions? Were you or your loved one denied?
You or your loved one may decide to appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration. If you do this, there is something that you need to think about.
You or your loved one may need an disability lawyer like the one you will find at Social Security Home to counsel you in what can be a long and trying process. The reason why this is true is because people who have a disability attorney on their side are approved more often than those people who do not have a lawyer.
