I want to tell something very important and need suggestions from all.
I was able to maintain my gfr around 30-35 from last 4 years but suddenly on 15th April, my routine blood tests indicated that gfr has suddenly declined to 24 . Also first time anaemia related to ckd was diagnosed for which now I am taking iron supplements in the form of pill
Prior to this sudden decline,I was under lot of stress due to many personal and professional reasons . May be that had severely affected my gfr. Because stress badly affected my blood pressure which is one of the main reason of my kidney disease
I am very stressed and tensed right now while writing this post.
My question is once the gfr starts declining, it is downhill from there to dialysis or end stage.?
Or there is still some possibility to stabilize my gfr and remaining kidney function for few more years?
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Drakula
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Were the eGFR tests done by different labs, which could cause a different result? Has your Doctor requested another eGFR test to monitor and see if the decline was an anomaly? Hopefully by diet and keeping a good blood pressure will slow down progression.
Hopefully so.... Fingers crossed for my next blood test which is scheduled after 2 weeks from now.
Anaemia was never as issue but when my gfr declined to 24 , then anaemia was also diagnosed. I feel exhausted and have shortness of breath even after little effort.
And I hope that my concerns don't come true at least in near future.
But anaemia and declining gfr has stressed me a lot and I hope that it doesn't get further bad in next reports.
So sorry to hear all that you are going through, Dracula.
Even the healthiest of people can be affected mentally and physically by stress, so anyone with chronic conditions is at even higher risk. It is impossible to avoid all stress in our lives, but if you can take steps to try and reduce all stress around you, that can only help you both physically and mentally. Perhaps taking up something calming like Tai Chi or Yoga would at least help to reduce your stress levels or find stressful situations easier to face which could, in turn, have a positive effect on your test results. Walking is an excellent exercise that helps to relax us by producing feel-good endorphins although depending where you are that might be difficult in these difficult times.
Among ways of improving kidney function is to reduce protein intake as reduced functioning kidneys find it difficult to deal with protein. Salt is another baddie,
Another thought is to look at your blood pressure medication to ensure that it is one that is friendly to kidneys.
You haven’t had any scans with contrast in the last few months have you? The dye can be harmful to kidneys. Likewise certain other medications such as antiinflammatories including Ibuprofen and antibiotics such as Trimethoprim which is prescribed for urine infections.
I do hope that your next eGFR test will show an improvement or at least a stabilised situation. Meanwhile, lots of deep breaths.
Nobody can answer the question you have raised with any reliability as everyone's kidney journey is different. But what I would say are two things. Firstly don't worry too much about one reading in isolation as there could be all sorts of reasons for this apparent drop in your egfr so it may well pick up again by next test. Secondly, stress is very bad for you in general not just your kidneys. I know it is easier said than done but try to avoid getting into stressful situations.
I had an extremely stressful job working long hours with a two hour commute. All of this I have no doubt contributed to my kidney failure. At the time my job seemed so important and it felt like I had the world on my shoulders.
Now after becoming ill and losing my job I am sitting at home on dialysis and realise that there was more to life than work. Do take care of yourself because ultimately you are the only one that can.
Hello Drakula. I know that GFR levels can be impacted by dehydration also. Speak to your doctor with regard to how much water you need to be taking in each day (it can differ for everyone). Drinking a sufficient amount of water daily is very important. It can flush impurities out of your system and aid the kidneys. This can improve your GFR levels.
Also, if your potassium level is okay, try to consume some fruits and veggies that contain low to medium amounts of potassium as that can be beneficial for high blood pressure. And if you are a regular coffee drinker, try to cut down, or just drink decaf. This might also help your BP issues. (I should talk). Lol!
And with regard to the iron supplements, try to take them with a beverage that contains vitamin C (cranberry juice, orange juice, tomato juice). This will help your body absorb the iron better and will work more efficiently. Without the vitamin C, iron supplements will have very little effect, and could take longer to improve your levels. Believe me, I’ve been down that road myself, and that was my doctor’s advice also. You could also try consuming some veggies that contain high iron levels like, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, beans and legumes, etc. Check out some websites that list high-iron foods (like DaVita.com). It may be useful.
I hope you find this helpful, dear. I wish you all my best! Please keep us posted on your progress! Take good care. God bless. 🙏😊👍
Stress makes everything worse. If I were you I would re-assess everything, medications you are taking, diet you are following, fluid intake, stress relief, support system, etc. You may need to work with your Nephrologist to make adjustments that are more suitable.
Hi persnally, i d say think positive! Thats half of the success! Try not to stress to match or even think about it, i know its easy to say but believe me it helps!
With eGFR function, its hard to predict! Mine was 31 when i was diagnosed 4 years ago, then it was on slow decline. Last year in may, it dropped to 17 from 22 then my doctors started panicking and i was getting ready for a transplant. At the moment, year from now on, all tests are done, but surprisingly, my kidney function stabilised itself at 16! (very stubborn kidney!). So please dont worry too much, eat healthy, exercise continue what you re doing! All the best ❤️
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persnally, i d say think positive! Thats half of the success! Try not to stress to match or even think about it, i know its easy to say but believe me it helps! 
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