Symptoms

[gojets]

just curious , at what GFR rate do you feel any symptoms?

[RoadRunner44]

Sorry, what is GFR please?

[Sally1931 in reply to RoadRunner44]

GFR is the percentage your kidney is functioning. Or medically Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

[Hidden in reply to RoadRunner44]

Normal for Caucasians is over 60. Mine is 34. I take iron and vitamins D.. Other than being tired I feel OK on most days I eat small o amounts of protein and use no salt at the table, so if I cook from scratch, I feel OK, but if I use anything prepared, urine production slows down and I may have some edema in my legs.

[Sally1931]

My GFR is currently 29 and I have no symptoms so maybe it just depends on you as a person

[flowerssmile in reply to Sally1931]

I don't agree but I am no one give anyone advice! I am 75 and I have had this or should say was made aware of the kidney disease in 1914. My GFR is now at 18! yeah looking at probably getting a talk about diaylsis but I have several other diseases and so I don't think I will do the treatment. I have no problem with going to be with my creator, so I will endure,besides not interested in stay alive to endure the pain from the other things that have invaded my body. My legs and my right foot are swollen all the time. I am taking a water pill now when it gets bad to give me some relief. I am always low on iron, and have to have infusions sometimes, but not for awhile anyway. I just want to pray for the rest of you or your loved ones to get help and at least not in so much frustration. I admire the way some of you take it in your stride and don't give up.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I was diagnosed with CKD level 3b, and after being educated on Kidney Disease, I realized I had some symptoms for years. Most of the indicators were on blood work; eGFR, high phosphorus, high sodium, low RBC, and low Vitamin D, which had been changing over the last few years. Many Doctors do not treat until level 3.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Gojets,

Most people do not FEEL kidney symptoms. They feel things like being tired. I some cases, there may be discomfort from a stone or cyst or other physical issue with the kidney, but most often there is no pain associated with the kidney directly. Some people get fatigue earlier than others, and that can be contributed to anemia. So to answer your question, there is no set pattern for "symptoms" as there are too many contributing factors.

[Chris1974]

I noticed something was wrong when I was on the antibiotic Bactrim (only took 3 tablets). My GFR went from 85 to 56 and then 60. I had sharp right flank pain, felt sick all the time and had urination issues. I was pale and white. I also lost weight and my back started to really hurt. I saw 2 nephrologists and a urologist and all 3 at UCSD said it was a combination of a reaction to the Bactrim which led me to severe dehydration. That gave me the flank pain and all the other issues. It also zapped all the fiber in my body or close to it. So I am still on the strongest probiotic for being “floxed” from another antibiotic (Cipro) and added a lot of fiber to my diet. My GFR is back to high 80s low 90s. Flank pain is just about gone but feels like I have a bulged or possibly a herniated disc yet I am not overweight. My last follow up is this week. It’s been a long few months of testing, specialists and emergency room visits.

So I did have issues but everyone is different.

[Hidden in reply to Chris1974]

At one point in my life I was sick all the time and had abdominal pains. It turned out that I had diverticulosis. I took care of it with Fiber but it makes a difference what kind of fiber: If you don't know the difference, that is a good starting point. There are two kinds, soluble and insoluble. The soluble kind is oatmeal, psyllium, hot and cold cereals, etc. The main insoluble is wheat bran and that is the one that I use to clean out my polyps. (the soluble doesn't do it) If I don't clean them out, the waste dissolves and seeps through the intestinal wall into the body making me very sick. Good luck with learning about "Fiber". Some cereals are claimed to contain wheat bran but so far as I have found, they are a waste of time because they don't contain enough to do any good. FYI, my GFR is 22, (+-).