Stage 2 chronic kidney disease

[Jojoteacher]

I’m new here, hello everyone. I’ve suffered from high blood pressure (150/90) for 30 years. A year ago my blood pressure suddenly spiked to 210/120 for no apparent reason. All blood/ kidney/ heart tests came back normal, so the docs concluded it’s hereditary from my mother. I exercise 5-6 days a week and eat well. Long story short, I’m now on 4-5 different meds that keep it down about 2/3 of the time. 2 days ago I was diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. It was probably caused by the blood pressure. I’m feeling a lot of despair. Has anyone experienced something similar? I really need some encouraging words right now

[springcross]

Hi Jojo. I can quite understand how worried you are. I'm sorry, I can't help you but I came on to say that someone will be along who probably will be able to, just hang on in there. xx

[Happyrosie]

Hello Jojo. I’m hypertensive - obviously otherwise i wouldn’t be on this forum, would I - and have been for the last 25 years or so. I don’t fully understand what you mean by ‘stage 2 kidney disease’ . There are many kidney diseases, so if you are more specific in your post you might find someone with your particular impairment, and that person isn’t me.

That said, I do sympathise with you as it could come to any of us. I expect that the treatment is lots of different tablets but in addition you’ll need to continue with the good diet, plenty of fresh water to drink, and exercise. Can you get out into the country for some walks? Being in Nature is known to be healing.

I wish you well.

[Hidden]

Oh dear. I do feel for you!

A few months ago I began worrying about my kidneys and I researching the topic on the Internet.

After visiting my NHS practice I was told my kidney function was normal. My GLA number in the UK was classed as normal but in the US it was classed as beginning stage chronic kidney disease.

The United States likes to lower the bar to unrealistic levels. They've done this with blood pressure criteria too. No doubt to worry people into getting pharmaceuticals in order to make more money.

A nurse told me that GLA numbers can fluctuate. Depending on your life and diet your kidneys can improve.

I'd use the Internet further to investigate. I've read on one forum that intermittent fasting can improve kidney function in some people. Also there's a video on YouTube somewhere that talks about reducing calories by around 10% to improve kidney function.

One of the reasons I'm depressed about being on antihypertensives is the harm some medications can do to the kidneys. After some research I found an article that mentioned impaired kidney function from a medication, but when the medication was ceased the kidney function improved again.

As for the sudden spike in blood pressure, it might be wise to ask about pheochromocytoma, even though it's rare.

I would take your time reading and researching. I think you'll be OK.

[lettingoffsteam]

My blood pressure spiked to 244/133 last year, even though it was normal two years before and I'd never had treatment.I now take ramipril, amlodipine (and propanolol for palpitations.)Now when I went to the hospital last year I was found to have a nasty urine infection which only showed up as a bit of incontinence.Like many women I've had infections before but it always burned...I thought it was just a bit of getting older and therefore I probably had the infection for months.Anyway I got treated and not had an infection since and my bp has gradually come down and my meds as well.I haven't been told about kidney disease though.My friend has developed kidney disease after being diagnosed with high bp but as her bp has been treated her kidney disease has stabilised.I think the key thing is to get that bp under control really.

[Jojoteacher in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thank you for the helpful info

[slphealth]

hi, What is your age and your kidney #'s? I am just like you I believe..

[Jojoteacher in reply to slphealth]

I’m 57 and GFR is 73.

[DASHER2020 in reply to Jojoteacher]

Isn't GFR less than 60 a sign of kidney disease?

[Charlie0603]

Hi Jojoteacher,

I'm also new to this forum.

I have a history going back about 10 years which is similar in part to yourself.

Having been taking NSAIDs on regular prescription for over 30 years for very early osteoarthritis of one hip (probably resulting from mild polio as a child), a new GP thought I needed a check up and found my bp to be 210/120 and both microscopic (could not see with naked eye) blood and protein in my urine on testing.

I was blissfully unaware of any of this and never experienced any symptoms - it was only the routine screen that discovered I also had CKD level 2.

My NSAIDs were discontinued immediately and I started taking amlodipine 0.5 mg daily.

My bp reduced over about 5 weeks and I continued to be monitored for both bp and renal function. BP became easily controlled and ranged from 105/65 to 115/75 from then.

I was also very lucky in that after about 3 years my renal function tests revealed my kidneys had returned almost to normal for my age (66) and the screening was discontinued.

More recently arising from the national vascular screening project, it was discovered I had developed a large abdominal aortic aneurysm - a balloon like swelling in the main abdominal aorta larger than 6cm. This required very urgent surgical intervention (endovascular insertion of stent graft). If it had ruptured, it is highly likely I would have died. Almost certainly this had developed and worsened consequent to my longstanding hypertension.

An object lesson perhaps in taking part in all and any health screening options available and not to always blindly rely on medical judgement, prescription or pharmaceuticals.

I think it likely that, like me, you will find your CKD will resolve and your kidneys recover once you have your bp is brought under good control.

Kind regards.

[Jojoteacher in reply to Charlie0603]

Thank you, that’s a very sound advice.

[Maxyz3]

As you age my Doc told me that the kidney are rated 1-4 as you age they go up in steps. Stage 4 is kidney failure. I am 70 yr. Old female my kidney function is at 2..on a certain bp med it went to a 3

Changing the med it went back to a 2. Kidneys do repair themselves. My Doc said for my age stage 2 is normal.

[Jojoteacher in reply to Maxyz3]

That’s very encouraging, thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Maxyz3]

That's good to know. The body can heal itself if given a chance.

[Happyrosie]

Hello and I am posting again. Other posters have answered my question about "stage 2 chronic kidney disease" - something with which I was not familiar. In my working days as a medical underwriter the problem was not expressed in that fashion, but called different names, hence my misunderstanding.

It looks like other posters have given you some good support and I hope it all goes well for you.