Yesterday, was not a fun day. I had to have some blood drawn for a thyroid test my doctor ordered. I also had to leave a urine sample for something called a micro albumin test. Originally, the urine sample was going to have to be sent to a lab to be analyzed, because the machine that the clinic has to perform that particular test was not working. However, today it was working properly.

The lady who took had to stick me for the blood sample had only graduated from school two weeks ago. My veins scared her. She made me wait until there was no one else needing blood drawn, so she could spend a great deal of time on me. It worked. She took her time and was able to hit a vein, on the first try, in the back of one of my hands. While I was waiting for her to get through everyone else, I went over to where I needed to pee in a cup.

I had a special urine test done called a microalbumin test. Webmd explains what microalbumin is, as well as the test much better than I could.

A microalbumin test checks urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. Albumin is normally found in the blood and filtered by the kidneys. When the kidneys  are working properly, albumin is not present in the urine. But when the kidneys are damaged, small amounts of albumin leak into the urine. This condition is called microalbuminuria.

My microalbummin level was significantly higher than it was the last time I had this test done. That means the kidney damage has progressed.

I am not sure what happens from here. I go to a free clinic and it looks like they have no appointments available until at least the beginning of August, but it is hard to tell because the appointment desk did not have their August calendar quite yet.

I am trying to not be worried. So far the results have been mixed. I know worrying will not do me any good, so when I do start I try to redirect my thinking.