Just found out

[Lulie111]

Hi it’s only just come to my notice that my eGFR in 2018 was 51 , & my recent result 55 .

I was only aware of it because last year I started to have my Medical information on the NHS site.

I was recently prescribed Naproxen for a painful foot & I noticed the pharmacist (after I had been taking it for a while ) had flagged up that due to my Kidney impairment shouldn’t have been prescribed it .

I had no idea up to this point that this is what my blood results have shown ,

Im in my early 60 ‘s & quite shocked at this discovery.

I’m just starting to try & find out more about it . I have read some alarming information online especially concerning life expectancy with this condition .

I do have a lot of low back ache & have suffered for years with restless leg syndrome.

Any advice help or support would be much appreciated, Nice to meet everyone on here

I haven’t had any FTF acknowledgment of this situation.

Thank You

[Bassetmommer]

Yes Ibuprofen is terrible for kidneys. It is one of the factors that caused mine. Unfortunately, for pain, they work very well and the alternative, Tylenol does not, especially for joint pain. But do not take ibuprofen anymore. At this point, all your medications should be reviewed to see if there are any more that are not good for CKD.

Then ask for a reneal dietician consultation to help you find the best and healtiest diet to keep the kidney function you have. It will make a huge difference. Things like protein should be limited, like red meat. All processed foods should be eliminated like bacon and sausage and prepared meals. Believe, these changes make a huge difference.

Ask questions, we are here to support.

[orangecity41]

I was prescribed Mobic nsaid (thankfully low dose) for arthritis and took it daily for a couple of years, and Doctor did not mention my eGFR declining. I fortunately changed Doctors and got proper treatment. You are lucky your pharmacist advised you. Keep us posted.

[userotc]

As your concern seems to be you werent advised by doctors about your ckd...join the club! Most on here (and my mum) weren't either largely because doctors cant help directly with drugs - but you can manage it via natural treatment. My mum follows a Nutritional Therapy protocol which has helped almost double her eGFR to just above yours.

If you require external help, Id recommend a qualified N/Therapist that specialises in renal.

[Ruthy35 in reply to userotc]

In the UK and from the begining of kidney disease diagnosis I have always been told nothing stronger than paracetamol even have to be careful with and gels for pain relief as this contains anti inflammatory such as the above .

[Sunnysideup12]

Hi, similar story to me. Did a Well Woman check up as now 61 years old. Got a call from my GP last Monday to say I had CKD. Dumbfounded! GFR results 51 then 57. Awaiting 3rd test then presume go from there, no idea what stage I'm at or what caused this although I did have kidney stones 2 years ago that passed. Like you did Google and basically frightened myself re life expectancy. I've cut out high potassium foods and started excercising more but a bit difficult due to arthritis in my knees but I'm trying. Got told no ibrufine but didn't take much anyway as not a tablet person. Think we're both at the discovery stage so I'm presuming will be provided dietary advice at some point. I found an NHS leaflet that was extremely helpful in the meantime in identifying high, medium and low potassium foods. Google Royal Devon and Exeter NHS patient information How to have a low potassium diet. I found it very informative for food choices.

[purple-1974 in reply to Sunnysideup12]

Google is one of the worst things you can do, as it gives you the most worse case scenario, CKD does not mean life limiting, most people from the age of 50 will have a loss of their kidney function without realising, knowledge is key but that can also be dangerous especially when cutting out foods that are healthy, we all need potassium for our health and you should only limit foods if your blood test results are showing any high potassium levels 5.6 and above, having not enough potassium can also be very dangerous. NASIDS should be avoided but be advised by your G.p if you need painkillers as there are lots that you can still take but it would be monitored and at a much lower dose.

I’ve had CKD since 2008 at the age of 31 years old and my stage 3 has not really changed, in all that time, live your life as you have done but with more mindfulness of your health being top priority.

[Sunnysideup12 in reply to purple-1974]

I'm only cutting high out not medium or low potassium in the meantime whilst I wait for some more informed. I'm mainly vegetarian (occassional chicken and salmon, red meat every couple of months) as my partner is fully veggie and we eat a lot of bananas, avocados and tomatoes which is typical! Always the foods that you like best that are the worst for you. Totally agree Google is not the place for comfort.

[purple-1974 in reply to Sunnysideup12]

there isn’t any need to cut out any foods containing potassium, bananas, avocados and tomatoes are all really good for you, especially if you are vegetarian. Things to consider are hidden unneeded foods containing potassium sorbate which is used in many foods as a preservative like fruit squash , salt replacements such as Lo -salt, diet fizzy drinks this is the less healthier ingredient that can cause more problems for people who have kidney impairment.

[Sunnysideup12 in reply to purple-1974]

Luckily we don't have any of that, don't use salt and dont have many tinned items containing it. Only fizzy drink is tonic in the gin which we have swaped to plain water and no longer eat tinned soups which to be fare is about the only tinned goods along with beans, (yep know about these), we eat. We eat lots of pulses again not to brilliant for the kidneys but the NHS produced leaflet is really good re portion sizes etc otherwise you would end up eating dust!

[Ruthy35 in reply to Sunnysideup12]

I've never really been given and diet advice and I'm 49 and have only one kidney. Was down as stage 4 but has improved slightly and now 3b. Lots of info on here just scary I'm sure n virtual clinic which monitors blood and urine samples

[userotc in reply to Ruthy35]

In the words of a song, we've always believed that, as far as eGFR is concerned, "the only way is up"! Mum also has only 1 kidney.

[bevgt in reply to Sunnysideup12]

Have you high blood pressure or type 2 was just wondering as you got your gfr to go up well impressed

[Sunnysideup12]

I'm uk too and found the info on the Kidney Care Uk website good. This explains about seeing a renal dietitian depending on what stage you are at. With my results it seems I'm stage 3b and at stage 3, (as you are too,) you do see a dietitian. I am requesting this anyway as I've no idea other than the NHS leaflet on what I should be eating.

[Ruthy35]

Never been referred to a dietician or have been given much advice bit do feel recently that if I eat large meals I'm bloated for days and don't feel hungry or have any appetite for foods I like. I had a recent blood test which showed everything was quite high or low and was told maybe dehydration so was told to drink lots of fluid water soft drinks a retake blood test roughly a week apart and went down. But I physically struggled to drink fluid swallow as felt so bloated. I've cut out caffeine as the doctor said it wasn't good so no drinking decaffeinated tea and coffee. I suffered for a few days with headaches etc but read this is a withdrawal symptom for about a week then dissapeared. Apart from the taste difference in tea as really all I drink all day long and the decaff coffee which to me I find the flavour better if anything as like coffee quite strong lol so will see if this has made any difference to my blood test that I had yesterday another urgent request.