why doesn't everyone get prescribed prednisone..?

[jaysoncraig11]

i got prescribed prednisone for something that has nothing to do with kidneys, but at the same time i found out i had this other issue (crohns) i found out my kidneys were not doing so well, my gfr in a few months dropped from 85-62, after stopping the anabolic steroids i thought that was causing my egfr to decrease, my doctor put me on prednisone, and in 2 months my egfr went from around 63- back up to 85-90ish, and i've been researching and see a lot of people say their gfr increased a lot while on prednisone, why isn't this used more for CKD?

although my pee is still dark and doesn't look normal, it's still pretty cool

[Amcor]

Prednisone is so bad for you as it can cause a lot of serious problems for your health . Substantial weight gain, high incidence of Diabetes, cancer, and many other illnesses are why many people want to avoid taking prednisone and I’m sure that is why it is not prescribed to CKD patients. In many cases you are trading one problem for another when you take prednisone, so you have to weigh the pros and cons when you decide to take it and really research information about this drug. In my case and with my other illness (not CKD) I decided against taking the recommendation of prednisone. I am already pre-diabetic so diabetes would likely follow for me which in turn can lead to further kidney problems. In my opinion, Everyone should research, be informed and make your own decision regarding this and all recommendation of drugs by your doctor.

[Lynndeb in reply to Amcor]

Fully agree with Amcor, and would like to add that it's extremely bad for your bone health too.

[Amcor in reply to Lynndeb]

Yes your absolutely right....it can cause osteoporosis!

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to Amcor]

All of which I rather have than ckd.. and needing dialysis lol

[madonbrew in reply to jaysoncraig11]

Not sure you'd really rather have osteoporosis...? You could break your hips,or anybone very easily&they wouldn't heal very well because they'd be too thin.Could even end up in a wheelchair&constant pain.

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to madonbrew]

Guess everyone has different mindsets seeing as I'm a bodybuilder by trade.. how I make my living so ckd ruins every aspect of fitness for me, a CHANCE of getting osteoporosis to save some kidney function would be worth it to me I guess.

[Amcor in reply to jaysoncraig11]

I in no way want to argue but I kinda find what you just said a contradiction. Your a body builder and would rather have take the chance of osteoporosis? You think CKD would ruin fitness for you but you somehow think being severely crippled by osteoporosis, slumped over with a humpback, unable to walk or in to be in a wheel chair would not interfere with your making a living of bodybuilding? Both illnesses are detrimental to your bodybuilding trade... but I think it is clear you do not know what osteoporosis is maybe? It can even result in death. Prednisone was by the way not prescribed to improve your kidney function in your case (or anyone with CKD) as it was, according to you- prescribed for your other illness completely unrelated to CKD. Prednisone has serious risks which can include death by a multitude of side effects. Yes it does have good benefits, especially for inflammatory conditions... but it is somewhat riskier than a lot of medications and any doctor will tell you that and this is why you have to carefully weigh the pros and cons with prednisone. Just weigh it against what you were prescribed it for...not your kidney function. If it were prescribed as a possible cure for CKD than I would like you consider taking the chance...but this is not the case at all. wishing you well in any case....

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to Amcor]

It's not like you take prednisone once and you have osteoporosis. But the moment you have ckd, you can't bodybuild. I'm saying, it buys you more years of bodybuilding altogether. I'd agree with you if osteoporosis was something you got after a month of prednisone, but from my research it's a long term side effect. Not something that comes on right away.. and most people are done bodybuilding at the age of 45, so I much rather have ten years of doing what I love even if it ended up with osteoporosis in the end, instead of having to give up right away with a ckd diagnosis, might sound stupid but it makes sense to me.

[Amcor in reply to jaysoncraig11]

No taking it once of course will not cause osteoporosis but it sounds like you plan on taking it long term maybe? Not sure where you got your research about the moment you get CKD you can’t body build and that prednisone can “buy you more years”. From what you said that your gfr was only as low as 62. You do realize that is pretty much normal? You are stage 4. You would not have any negative symptoms as far as having CKD for a long time to come, maybe even never! Exercise, Eating healthy and watching what drugs go into your body are the most important for you to slow or stop the progression. prednisone is by far NOT the answer for your kidney function longevity in fact it is more likely to increase damage to your kidneys. Your crohns disease is much more of a concern to your health and lifestyle right now and prednisone may very well help you manage that or be the answer for that illness but will more than likely hurt your kidney function. It is a trade off that is all I am saying.

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to Amcor]

Yeah true, I'm more concerned with my urine looking horrible, was protein in it and the moment I need to limit protein I can no longer build muscle, thanks for your help again. And in terms of steroids. Wouldn't be able to stay on anabolics.

[Amcor in reply to jaysoncraig11]

Your muscles are primarily made of protein. The antibodies that circulate in your system fighting infection are protein. protein is essential and you normally shouldn't be peeing it out into the urine. The kidney's filter, called the glomerulus is usually very selective. It lets the bad toxins out into the urine. But it holds back the good stuff (protein, blood cells, etc). However, damage to the kidneys filter (commonly from diseases like diabetes or hypertension) can make it lose this selectivity. Other factors that can cause this is damage to the kidney's drainage system or in rarer cases, an excess amount of protein in the blood where it just overflows into the urine. Protein in the Urine Is Not Just an Effect of CKD, It Could Be the Cause . So protein is not just another consequence of CKD, it actually directly makes kidney disease worse. Which leads to further kidney damage; and which leads to even more protein in the urine! By the way...Restricting your intake of protein is not your solution and will not Solve the problem of protein leaking into your urine.

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to Amcor]

oh, well.. even at my current gfr, there is protein leaking into my urine, and from researching proteinura, i'm guessing a diet of low protein is going to be my treatment option, i still have to wait to see a nephrologist, takes time, even after my gfr went up i apparently still have 0.3mg < protein in my urine, which has a HI label beside it which i'm guessing isn't good

plus i'm guessing it's even worse now, seeing as i wake up to pee, and pee over 20 times a day, unless it's the prednisone causing that, i have to pee ten times i even get to sleep,

and the sediment in my urine after i go is disgusting, it's there 20 minutes later if i don't flush

also had leukocytes in my urine the last time, not sure really what those are but my regular docotr didn't even mention it, unless he didn't see it, since i go for so many bloodtests.

[Bet117 in reply to jaysoncraig11]

I would have a long, serious talk with your doctor. Print out your labs and bring them to the appointment with a notebook with questions and note the answers.

Discuss where you are with the CKD, diet which will help eliminate its progression as well as why you were given the prednisone and what alternative medications can be prescribed for you.

What is your creatinine level? GFR? How much if any protein are you spilling? What are your electrolyte levels such as sodium, potassium, phosphorous, just to start.

Bear in mind that things change and you will have to make some lifestyle adjustments.

Also, that you are the patient and are paying your doctor for his services. Rather than accepting that you would rather have osteoporosis, look to put together a healthier lifestyle which woukd include your workouts.

Additionally, you have the right to seek a second opinion, remember that.

Knowledge is power.

Keep an open mind and advocate for yourself.

It will all work out.

[Bet117 in reply to madonbrew]

Neither are easy. The key is to stay on top of things and do all you can to prevent progression.

As far as the prednisone, no thank you. There are other alternatives which can be explored with your doctor.

Stay positive!

[RonaldoResuelto]

That was a rather dramatic increase in GFR, but how much was caused by stopping the anabolic steroids and how much by the prednisone? My sister has been taking prednisone for twenty years. It can have some pretty bad side effects long term. What dosage are you taking?

[jaysoncraig11 in reply to RonaldoResuelto]

Fair enough, I just read that gfr couldn't be raised, so I didn't think stopping anabolics could help, the prednisone is for crohns, I tapered up to 40mg, and now I'm at 20, tapering down before going on a medication long term for it

[jojokarak]

I don't think it has anything to do with the steroids, I am on them for life as a I had a liver transplant and I have been on them 2 and a half years and my kidneys have been declining rapidly last 18 months to the point I was told a few months ago I would need a kidney transplant at some stage...

Glad yours are improving though 😊

[Bet117 in reply to jojokarak]

Hang in there! Thoughts are with you!

[Redear]

The eGFR can fluctuate in patients and this is common. It is not uncommon for these fluctuations to be large and require movement of stages, either up or down. The reasons for this differ.