Perplexed at GFR decrease after month of changes????

[Ednamode]

I’m a controlled hypertensive, prediabetic 50-yr old female. No known specific kidney disease. I had GFR 13 for 3 years & the past month GFR was 7 and creatinine 6.6. After 4 weeks of gluten-free, dairy-free vegan diet, exercise, lemon apple cider vinegar nettle tea everyday, I lost 19 pounds BUT my GFR decreased to 6 and creatinine 7.9. I’m perplexed at why GFR did not improve. Am I not drinking enough water, is diet bad, or is kidney just bad?

[CoolBeaner]

At this advanced stage I hope you have a good Nephrology doc - at that advanced stage changes will be very slow to effect things - but stick with it - no crap - only pure organic low carb stuff - you need a dietician to guide you on how much fluids is safe and how much protein is safe and all that - stick with it tho -🤗 it can make a big difference but can take a long time

[Keiraandharry in reply to CoolBeaner]

I can't understand this as my gfr is 16 and I'm classed as stage 5 ckd and am on a transplant list!!

[rabbit01 in reply to Keiraandharry]

Me as well. Egfr 14%.

[rabbit01]

I would assume you mean that they have not determined the cause of your ckd rather than you don't have it. I hope you are seeing a good nephrolgist who can advise on the next steps for you and treatment options.

[Ednamode in reply to rabbit01]

It was too late to figure out the cause of kidney failure so I was stuck at 13% for awhile. I see my family doctor today and nephrologist in mid-April after a colonoscopy. I don’t know why the weight loss/diet change worsened my kidney but I do feel better. I’m giving up the lemon apple cider vinegar tea and will instead drink 8 cups of water/lemon water everyday. Hoping to improve numbers just a little bit to delay dialysis.

[Betsysue2002 in reply to Ednamode]

I am NOT a doctor but as i understand it ... with a gfr that low and creatinine that high you should NOT be drinking that much water. Ask your kidney doctor asap !

[CoolBeaner in reply to Betsysue2002]

Everyone is different and yes advanced ckd needs a specific fluid budget - best way to steady is get good guidance

[rabbit01 in reply to Ednamode]

Yes, me as well. I keep hydrated as best I can and have lemon and water too. I gave up drinking alcohol completely and avoid colas. I spread my drinks out over the course of the day as I find if I drink too much (a pint or so) of anything in one go then I get breathless. I have checked with my doctor about water intake and she is fine with what I am doing. I don't have swollen ankles despite my late stage in CKD so the water processing part of my kidneys is holding up pretty well thankfully. I hope you can keep your numbers up.

[Rkgaither1954 in reply to rabbit01]

Hello rabbit01. I was reading your post. You said if you drink a lot at one time, you get breathless. I was surprised when I saw this because that has been happening to me recently. I brought it up to my husband. I am at stage 3 CKD with a GFR if 44. So is this something that’s related to CKD?

[rabbit01 in reply to Rkgaither1954]

Yes. It is because the kidneys can't get the water out of the blood at the same efficiency once damaged. So you can get a build up of fluid on your lungs and sometimes ankles. I have to go carefully when drinking and little and often trends to work for me.

[rabbit01]

I am the same. I was diagnosed at 18% before that i had no idea i had kidney problems. They suspect I have IGAN but could only prove it through biopsy which was too risky. I hope your numbers pick up. My doc has just told me that the blood pressure tablets I am on may be making mine worse.

[rabbit01]

I have done all this and like you my eGFR constantly falls. Now down to 13%. You did very well to keep at 13% for so long.