Is it CKD

[Kimhibberd]

It was discovered that my GFR was at 12 in the summer. Still no one knows why it plummeted. It has now plateaued at 29. Not sure if this is CKD or not. Am I more at risk if I contract COVID 19?

[HealthBuddyMelissa]

CKD simply means that you have had low GFR with or without increased creatinine for more than 3 consecutive months. Your doctor would need to advise you of an actual diagnosis. As for covid 19 all of us are at risk of getting it but anyone with underlying health issues are at risk of getting it worse.

[Kimhibberd in reply to HealthBuddyMelissa]

Thank you. For your reply. It’s been this way since May. I was due to have a biopsy to find the cause on 1/10 but sadly fainted and broke my leg on 31/9 so that didn’t happen. I feel well and am following the guide lines so all should be well. ☺️

[RickHow]

I understand your question but I'm alarmed in a way. Clearly if you have an egfr of 12 or 29 or anything similar you should be under a doctors care. And this doctor should have made it very clear to you that you absolutely are in the range of stage 4 CKD. He/she should have provided you with clear steps to take (diet, exercise, medications to avoid, etc., etc.) and referral to a kidney doctor. As far as getting the virus, we are all at equal risk of getting it. Having CKD or kidney problems, does not INCREASE your chances of getting it. However the effects, after having the virus, are at a much HIGHER risk.

[Rene23 in reply to RickHow]

Absolutely agree with you, my plummeted to 11 GFR as I was transferred to a Renal unit in Notts City hospital and almost had to go on dialysis. However the only reason I ended up there was because I went to A&E from work as had not been feeling well for a week or so and had simply put it down to feeling a bit under the weather. I spent a couple of weeks in hospital and had a biopsy and then recovery time at home a couple of months but during this time I was placed on prednisolone to recover with weekly then monthly visits to the renal unit as an outpatient. My CKD was autoimmune so they don't know what caused it but my GFR recovered and has been stable at around 46 since with 6month bloods taken to monitor. So you definately should be under the care of your renal unit if your GFR is 29 and also under the care of your GP for regular bloods. I hope you get some answers but a renal specialist will definately be able to diagnose you.

[Kimhibberd in reply to RickHow]

Oh sorry. I maybe wasn’t clear. I am under the renal consultant at the hospital. I’ve had so many investigations to find out the cause. We know that my GFR and creat. levels were normal in 2016. They’re trying to establish when and why. I see them every eight weeks when there’s no virus 🦠 about. Just never been given a stage !!

Stage 4. That sounds scary. 😬

[RickHow in reply to Kimhibberd]

Here are the gfr levels by stage:

Stage 1 with normal or high GFR (GFR > 90 mL/min)

Stage 2 Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min)

Stage 3A Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min)

Stage 3B Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min)

Stage 4 Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)

Stage 5 End Stage CKD (GFR <15 mL/min)

[medway-lady]

It October 2018 my function fell to 8% and is now 24% and its unlikely to go up anymore. But I'm fine no meds as have no illness but half dead kidneys and mine is due to an Acute Kidney Injury caused by a medication prescribed and that was monitored by blood test. But a test got lost , and the following ones results were delayed. It's subject now to legal action as was a serious incident reported on, not a doctors mistake which I could understand but a computer glitch that only my complaint sometime after my injury bought to light. I would ask did you have any medication prescribed that could have done this as in my case they said "once you've eliminated the likely, you look for the improbable, but in your case we've gone into the its nigh on impossible and that all it can be" And so the nigh on impossible happened ! x