Hi I have just been told I have CKD stag... - Early CKD Support
Hi I have just been told I have CKD stage 3, I am a 50 year old female and don't know where to get advice and/or help. thanks Deb
Hi Deb I would suggest giving the NKF a call, speak to Pauline on the Helpline tell her your situation and I am sure she will be able to help with advice and support. Helpline is free from a land line on 0845 601 0209, they also have a good website at kidney.org.uk. There should also be a local kidney patient association who could maybe put you in touch with other patients in the same boat. The NKF also have advocacy officers all around the Country who can help with many problems you may face.
Hi I was diagnosed with ckd 3a nearly 3 years ago..Ive had no help from drs as they seem to think theres no symptoms with it ..but there is... my gfr was 60 when first diagnosed now it ranges 53 to 56 I have blood tests done to check my level I ask for them usually..I now have pericious anemia as my body doesn't absorb any vitamins..I have got most info online and looked at foods to avoid etc...there is a good site for ckd which is DaVita.com. they have some good recipes...I also have odema and arthritis ..I hope you can find some sort of help here online...all the best to you lillyrae....
Hi, I will be 82 in May, have a binary renal system which was discovered nearly 60 years ago when chronic infections were being investigated, so i have been aware of the condition a long time. in Lancs where I was then living i had regular specialist attention but when i moved to wales this was almost discontinued unless I had symptoms like blood in the urine which were then investigated...the statement made was that if my serum creatinine went much higher we were looking at kidney failure. I have 'waited' for just over 30 years for this to happen, which alarmed my sister, my husband and my friends. I'm now only at Stage 3, GFR is 53, creatinine is 88, with 6 monthly blood and urine checks, and I would say live as healthily as you can, veg and fruit, wholefoods, avoid all the obvious poor foods, additives etc, no anti-inflammatories except I take paracetamol for spondilitis, was put on clopidogril for ischaemic heart disease and very high blood pressure but this caused unacceptable side effects so i stopped it and have been much better since doing that. I do feel that information about CKD is poor and as someone else has commented, many people have ckd which is only diagnosed incidentally during other investigations.
Cheers, and al the best.
I was told about 7 years ago that I was stage 3b CKD. Through my experience the first advice I can give is don't worry.It seems that you get told then all that happens from then on is 3-6 monthly blood tests, any other advice is found out along the way.i do not eat red meat, try to keep all proteins low,never take anti inflammatory drugs such as Ibruprofen.keep hydrated.Also my GFR seems to vary so last time it had improved by 15.I believe many people have weak kidneys it just does not get discovered.We just need to keep ourselves as healthy as possible,like everyone else really!
I know how you feel as I was diagnosed exactly the same a couple of years back. The doctors say there's not much you can do about it, but I believe you can help yourself - Try to eat as healthy a diet as you can, with lots of fruit and veg. Cut out red meat if you can, and try to get more exercise. Every little thing you can do to make your lifestyle healthier will help a bit. Don't take painkillers like Aspirin and ibuprofen if you can help it (paracetamol probably OK if you must).
Remember that your GFR can fluctuate a lot, so don't panic if you get a lower level than the previous test - it doesn't mean it's on a downward trend. Could just be a blip!
My GFR has actually improved quite a bit, since my first series of readings over 2 years, which were in the low 50's. My last test was in the 70's!! I know it won't be the case for everyone, but it's simply not true that once you have Stage 3 kidney disease it only gets worse - it can just as easily get better!
Hi, the docs don't give you much advise until you are at the end stages, which is terrible, I was at 30% at age 32 and was told I was loosing around 2-5% each year, so every 3 months had blood and urine tests, when I was down to 20% I was sent to Kings Hosp. London a bit early usually you have to be around 15% I was a good candidate for Kidney replacement. Anyway the advise was great, what foods were good, how much water to drink cut out salt, potassium fatty foods, I was given iron infusions, and most important my blood pressure was reduced even more by extra tablets. Low blood pressure is VERY important & No Salt helps a lot with that. I gained Kidney function 3%. Exercise was also stressed I even got to see a physical trainer with gym tips. I have always been fit but I do more cardio training now ( treadmill jogging, cycling rowing & some light weight training) theses things keep you're weight down, and of course blood pressure. I've been kicked out of Kings now 1 Year later as I'm seen as less off a risk of renel failure at the moment, I'm back to the local hospital, back to the no advice at all centre!,, but at least I know what to do now. Keep your food healthy I've noticed the other members have given you website advise, drink plenty of water cut out fatty and salty food. Exercise as much as you can for your age. Enjoy life while you can, don't think oh this is hard to do I'm ill, carry on as normal. I'm 44 now my kidneys are still at around 23% I've Just come back from 2 weeks of skiing and feel great. Oh don't take anti inflammatory drugs they damage the kidney. Take care
Hi there, if you have CKD stage 3 then you need to start focusing on how you can reserve the kidney function you have left. This will include a low sodium diet, be careful on what medications you're taking, always check with a doctor first. When I was CKD stage 3 I didn't really have a lot of symptoms but some people do. Heart palpitations can be one of them and also monitor your blood pressure. If you're blood pressure starts going high, you should tell the doctor and they will help keep it under control.
Some people reach stage 3 CKD and never go any further so it's not all doom and gloom. 
Hope that helps somewhat.
Im so pleased your going to step up walking, if you have an MP3 player you can play your favorite music, or of course bring a friend. I read that all forms of movement can count as exercise too like house cleaning and gardening. Some doctors say that fish oils are a good thing to take, & tonic water is goos for a non potassium fizzy drink.
Hi Deb, have you been referred to a Nephrologist yet? I was also diagnosed with stage 3 CKD just over a year ago and my numbers can fluctuate from 55 to 43gfr, so far all other labs normal but I was also referred to a nephrologist last year, who will come to the bottom of things, and will possibly order scans etc, so they know how to help you. By the way I am now 45 years old and was also informed that once we hit our 40's onwards, our numbers can drop by a point or so a year. Try not to worry, but if your not yet referred to a nephrolgist, speak to your GP about a referral. They are very good these nephs and are there to help you x
