So I have a lot going on this week. My husband had to go to the other side of the planet for business for 3 weeks and I don't do well on my own overnight. So I take Ativan to help me sleep. Only thing is, every morning I wake up feeling like I'm hung over. So I drag my sorry @ss into work feeling like all kinds of crap.

It seemed like him being gone would be the perfect time to start IP - which was yesteray.

Last week I got this weirdo abdominal pain and went to the doc. She did a bunch of tests and I got a call today that I have protein in my urine and now she wants to retest me - but they need a JUG of urine. I told her I just started this diet and that it could mess up the results so she's going to get back to me.

What a PITA. Thank you for letting me share.

I think you should take your doctor's advice, have the test done, see what is going on .Just be sure it is something temporary and not the symptom of something serious.

Do you take Ativan frequently? You do know it has addictive qualities right?

Nope - very infrequently - when I fly (which is no more than 1-2 times a year if I can help it) and when I am alone overnight (also very rare - DH usually has to go to Asia on business once a year for 2-3 weeks).

Yes I am aware of becoming dependent on it, and my doctor never gives me refills. She gives me enough for the time I need to be on it and that it is. She thinks it's a better choice than an actual sleeping pill but I'm beginning to question that since I feel like crap. I'm not even going to take it tonight, I think lack of sleep has to feel better than this.

Okay good cuz I know sometimes doctors don't explain that if you take it every day for weeks or months at a time, you can become really dependant on it. I use it for flying to (the only way I've ever been able to get back on a plane) and I'll pop one now and then for sleep. I find if I take them a 2-3 days in a row, they give me a headache and I get that gross feeling too.

Don't worry about the doctor's reaction just yet - this diet causes ketones in your urine, but if the doc didn't know you were on it, she might be afraid you're spilling proteins in your urine due to ketoacidosis (which would need to be treated). Hopefully she comes back with good news and you don't need to do the 24 hour test!

If it were me, I would go off IP and do the 24 urine collection to verify the results of the first protein test. I did have protein in my urine when I was pregnant, because I had preeclampsia and my BP was dangerously high.

Protein in your urine is not something to be taken lightly. Much more important to tend to that and start IP a day or two later, if your doctor agrees.

Agree 100%.

I wound just follow the direction of my dr. No one here knows your medical background. I know when I was being diagnosed with a serious illness my doctor forbid me from going online to look into it. He preferred I get all my information from a medical professional as a lot of data out on the internet isn't quite accurate (I do prefer webmd.com though) . So, don't overdo the info and f/u with more test.

I hear ya. The only thing that we thought about is that I've already been on kinda a high protein diet for me, plus strenuous workouts can cause higher protein levels in urine - and I've been doing tons of those, plus stress (lots of that with my DH gone), so there are lots of reasons it could be there, and she is taking that into consideration. The only thing she is a bit concerned about is that I had some pain last week, which is what prompted me to see her. I also had an ultrasound yesterday and she is going to wait for the results of that to see if there are any issues.

Don't diagnose yourself I don't think anyone here wants to alarm you it is just the old "rather be safe than sorry". Let us know what the doctor says.

Several times I've had protein in my urine - I can usually tell on my own now because it's cloudy. This isn't unusual but you SHOULD keep an eye on it. I find I'm not drinking enough water when it happens. That wouldn't concern me as much as the Ativan - my doctor put me on that once (I have sleep anxiety) and WOW - hated it! Since the issue is more anxiety for me, and I'm assuming you also, they put me on a small dosage of Klonopin. Right now I only take 1/8 mg at bedtime, which is ridiculously small but my system is very sensitive. No morning hang overs, no dependencies, etc. Just throwing it out there for you ... I also take 2 mg melatonin at night and have a Valerian root/Chamomile tea mix. Other thoughts that might help.

I would be concerned about the protein in your urine, but not freaking out.

I'm studying to be a medical assistant, and just finished reading about the urinary system. There is a thing called nephrotic syndrome (nephrosis) which is a group of clinical signs and symptoms caused by excessive protein loss in urine. It may follow glomerulonehpritis, exposure to toxins or certain drugs (the sleep aid?) and other pathologic conditions such as diabetes and malignant disease. Two important signs are edema (swelling caused by excess fluid) and hypoalbuminemia (deficient albumin).

So, it could be bad or it could be easily fixable. I don't know what the side effects of the sleep aid are, but that might be causing it.

All the medical info I got from one of my textbooks, so its not from a questionable source.

However, in this case it the test has nothing to do with the diet if I am reading correctly. It happened last week and she just began IP yesterday.

I would just go with the doctor's advice.

Ah...missed that, that's what I get for trying to read the forum while my 3 year old is using me as a jungle gym