A question

[Anythingavailable]

I've seen this phrase several times now - "you probably won't even reach the next phase". Can a particular phase of CKD last almost indefinitely providing a management plan is followed? Or - is this another way of saying most people die of "co-morbidity" before the kidney gives out?

[orangecity41]

I guess it depends on many factors. Your age and stage and other medical conditions could be indicators.

[orangecity41]

After some thought, maybe this is not something one with CKD should dwell on.

[Julesboz]

I agree with orangecity41. I've been at stage 3 for over 10 years and things have actually improved. It does depend on multiple factors and I think dwelling on that and overthinking it isn't good for anyone. It's best to follow doctors' advice, relax and live your life

[Anythingavailable]

Thanks. Learning to live my life with this hanging over my head is going to be difficult, but worth it.

[Marvin8 in reply to Anythingavailable]

You asked an awesome question that most on this board wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. I suspect the answer is probably co-morbidity issues, but you'll drive yourself crazy with worry like I do. Tough to turn it off, but we should continue to try. Live a healthy lifestyle and the semblance...er...sense of control might give you some peace.

[rebeccalloyd]

It probably is an unanswerable question, although a good one, because each of us will be having a different experience with CKD. Apart from eating properly and getting some exercise, I tend to follow up on any side issues such as my recent slightly raised cholesterol, and I think, like the others do, that if you do the very best you know how to for the health of your body and therefore theoretically for the length of your life... then that is the job done!

[lowraind]

Knowing you have ckd is way better than not knowing. You are in a position to help yourself from getting worse.

[Tla282008]

My advice is dont think about death period. God is good rememver that. I live my life to the fullest and pray for healing everyday in my mind body and soul. Just take care of yourself stay prayed up and dont worry. The way I look at it is that you know what you have and you can bite it in the bud by doing what you are told to do and plus dont worry because you can die from anything other than ckd related like in a car accident. So dont worry and live life to the fullest.

[Sdtagoo in reply to Tla282008]

Love your answer. God IS good and everyone has a time to live & a time to die. My advice? Be ready for both.

[WYOAnne]

Ithink that once you manage your disease, don't think about it constantly. Live your life and enjoy.

Whether you progress with ckd to next phase really depends on what type of kidney disease you have, and whether you are under good control as far as diet, medications, fluids, etc. Make sure too if you develop any new symptoms that you report to your doctor asap.

[Cruze44]

"If you looked at patients with stage 2 kidney disease (about a 1.5-mg/dL creatinine level), maybe you wouldn't expect them to reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD) over the next 5 years. In fact, only 1% of those patients reached ESRD, whereas 19% died of some cause. Thus, with early kidney disease, death is a much greater risk than reaching end-stage renal disease. In stage 3 patients (and these may be people with creatinines of 1.8, 2.5 mg/dL), only 1% will ever reach end-stage renal disease, and 24% will have died over the 5-year period. This is a dramatic change in the way we think about this disease."

Unfortunately it appears as if death typically comes from other causes related to ckd and not end stage disease according to this article. Looks like someone with stage 3 disease has a 1 in 4 chance of dying over a period of 5 years. I imagine that percentage at least doubles at 10 years. The article goes on to state that no other known condition can dramatically increase the chance of heart disease more then ckd. Discouraging to say the least. Oh well, it is what it is. We just gotta enjoy the time we have left and not dwell I guess!