Hi I am 65 yoa. Went to the Dr for yearly tests. I went in the morning and had nothing but coffee. My gfr came back 40. She said come back and run again. I could have been dehydrated. Took it afternoon and it was 39. I had a gastric sleeve 6 years ago and and if I don’t enough water I will be dehydrated. She said my numbers had dropped over years. But we’re usually 57 60. Now I am in a panicked. No history of kidney disease in family
I did start blood pressure Med just 5 months ago with a diuretic in it. So I guess is the blood test the end all. Regardless. Thank you.
Stressed in Alabama
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Butchga62
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Be careful of blood pressure medications especially with diuretics. My GFR went from 65 to 44. BP meds can cause acute kidney episode. My GFR is now 58/59. Never went up to 65. So basically the meds put me in CKD.
The blood pressure Med is triamterene 37.5. I took the blood test only having coffee that morning and it came back that day at 40. It was the next day I went back at about 100 PM I drank two bottles of water had breakfast and it came back 39. I was pretty dehydrated I think the day before because I had visited the dentist and he said my mouth was unusually dry. I have an appointment on April14th. The only thing I can see that might be a concern is I have had some back back pain and seeing a chiropractor and itchy skin. I have been under a lot of stress at work which prompted my blood pressure and going on meds in Dec. I am trying not to worry.
If I understand your message properly you dropped from a usual of 57, suddenly had a 40 (and a 39 the same afternoon). You are taking a bp med and a diuretic. Honestly I have never heard of taking a blood test in the morning (you got a 40) and then later the same day taking it again (you got a 39). There is relatively no difference between a 39 and 40. Egfr in anyone, even a totally healthy individual, can EASILY vary between a blood test, especially on the same day, by far more than even just 1 point. In general a physician will wait 2 weeks to a month between a test.
A diuretic removes fluid from the body. There are 2 types. Thiazides and Loop. Loop are preferred for patients with an egfr below 50. WHAT Diuretics are you on?? A lot of doctors will jump to diuretics as the first drug to try for bp. But unless you showed some signs of fluid retention (legs, ankles, feet), weight gain, it seems your doctor would forget the diuretic and just go to different bp medications (there are so many). Generally (but each of us are different) drugs such as losartan, lisinopril, amlodipine, are the first to try with people with lower egfr and high bp. Ask your doctor about them.
DO NOT ASSUME you have CKD based upon one day of blood testing.
Yes a persons egfr goes down with age, but here too you show a rather sizeable drop so might suspect diuretic, dehydration, bp med.
What diuretic do you take, what bp med.? Didn't your doctor make any changes (remove diuretic, remove or change one of your meds, anything??)?? don't assume ckd until you find out if your numbers are induced by medication or something else.
The blood pressure Med is triamterene 37.5. I took the blood test only having coffee that morning and it came back that day at 40. It was the next day I went back at about 100 PM I drank two bottles of water had breakfast and it came back 39. I was pretty dehydrated I think the day before because I had visited the dentist and he said my mouth was unusually dry. I have an appointment on April14th. The only thing I can see that might be a concern is I have had some back back pain and seeing a chiropractor and itchy skin. I have been under a lot of stress at work which prompted my blood pressure and going on meds in Dec. I am trying not to worry.
Sorry it took a while to respond. I looked into your drug, triamterene. I never say to anyone to NOT follow a doctors advice. But this drug is KNOWN to possibly cause high creatinine levels, which would indicate to a person that they have CKD (lower than normal egfr) WHEN THEY DO NOT: For example:
"Triamterene: less powerful diuretic usually used in combination with other diuretics to prevent low potassium levels during therapy with other diuretics. A disadvantage is that it may sometimes raise the blood creatinine concentration and give the false appearance of CKD."
In addition one of the ways this drug works is it reduced the amount of Potassium your kidney normally gets rid of. In short, it raises your potassium level. THIS IS BAD FOR KIDNEYS.
Make an appointment with your doctor. There are so many diuretics this one is obviously affecting your Creatine, Potassium levels, lowering your egfr, find another, or perhaps explore lowering bp without a diuretic.
Rick are you saying my low GRF score and creatine may have been caused by this? I have an appointment Friday with the kidney doctor. I am hoping that this is the case and I don’t have CKD. I am under the impression once this blood test comes back like this it’s a death sentenced. Been in a huge depression since and scared to eat anything that can hurt my kidneys. Thank you for responding.
Yes that is what it is saying. That this drug raises your Creatinine and Potassium levels and it will look like you have kidney malfunction (CKD) but it is NOT the kidney but it is the drug. Here is a link to a website that says this drug can indicate FALSELY that you have CKD when you do NOT. Scan down to 2nd page where the drug is listed on the bottom of the chart. Print it out and take it to your doctor and ask him if this is what is happening (best way to find out would be to stop the drug and see if your egfr returns to what is was before starting the drug).healthpartners.com/ucm/grou...
Your doctor knows best, but certainly this is a needed discussion to have with him.
The kidney specialist should set it straight. He was spot on for me. Hopefully, once medications are changed your numbers will come back to somewhat normal. Unfortunately, some of time they will never recoup completely.
I agree with Rick. Some doctors jump the gun and over do medications. I have white coat syndrome and was overdose with BP meds and went into acute kidney failure which caused some damage. Please, please question your doctors and better yet know you own body.
First, take a deep breath or two. I'm glad you will be talking to your doctor. But CKD takes at least 3 readings over a few months to diagnose. It can be scary esp. at first, but it is not a death sentence. I read an article which said most of us older folks would die of something else; I found that comforting.
Thank I nonna. This just took me of guard because most all my. Loose pro is perfect. I went through a very stressful time at work in December and my blood pressure started to go up this these problems. So I don’t know what to believe. I will know more in three weeks. Thanks for your response. ❤️
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Here's an update
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