Should I be concerned?

[AndiL]

Hi.

I’m new here and after some advice.

Recently my kidney functions have dropped.

My GFR is at 19

Creat is at 355

And UREA at 16.

Over the last couple of days I’ve started to feel sick.

It’s worse in the night and first thing in the morning, but it’s getting worse each day.

Also, my muscles have been hurting. They just hurt and every now and then feel like they are pulled.

Should I be concerned or not?

Thanks

[Celtic]

AndiL, if you aren’t already under the care of a renal consultant, then do ask for referral immediately. You need investigation to look for the cause of the recent drop in function and address it with the correct treatment. Meanwhile, do not take any anti-inflammatory meds, drink plenty of water and reduce your protein intake - low functioning kidneys cannot cope well with filtering of protein,

[Irelandy]

Hi AndiL, I am at the same level as you egfr 18 and you should be concerned. Are you seeing a nephrologist?

Have you read or seen what you should be eating/drinking?

You can slow the progression of ckd and that's what you need to do. Davita is a good place to start. You must learn as much as you can about this illness and modify your lifestyle accordingly. My main problem is extreme tiredness particularly in the morning, but I don't feel sick. My urea is 9.5 and creatinine levels is 298.

Good luck.

Andy

[DadviceTV]

Your kidney function is very low and you shouldn't panic, but you should be concerned and actively working with a Nephrologist (kidney doctor) and Renal Dietitian (not just a regular dietitian). It's also important to watch your blood pressure and blood sugar as well as end any bad habits you may have which accelerate kidney damage (smoking, using NSAIDs, etc.). While we are each different and will respond differently to our own treatment strategies, you need to really focus on reducing the burden placed on your kidneys to see where it will take you. While there is no way to repair/restore kidneys, the damage is done forever with current medical science, many people are able to regain lost kidney function and live a great life without symptoms. My lowest GFR was 8 and my last was 33. While 33 isn't great, I feel amazing, have no symptoms, have tons of energy, and have been holding steady. All from doing what I mentioned above - no magic pills, no secret flower, no Aztec moon dance...just diet and lifestyle changes. Best of luck!

James @ Dadvice TV

[vinadhun2 in reply to DadviceTV]

It was great to learn that you are able to improve your gfr.

I have no medical issues. Everything is normal except creatinine which is 1.85.I have done all possible tests.finally Nephrologist has advised that this is due to old age.i am 73.

Just follow diet and do regular exercise

[DadviceTV in reply to vinadhun2]

It's amazing how powerful diet and some light exercise can be. In many interviews I talk about how getting diagnosed with kidney failure actually saved my life. If forced me to look at my diet and lifestyle and make changes. The old me was certainly headed to an early grave (even without my kidney problems). The new me is so much more focused on health and it has added years, probably decades to my life.

James @ Dadvice TV

[Sammi_n_Munk]

Hi there AndiL! Welcome to the forum! I am also suffering similar issues right now myself. I too, have high creatinine, urea and red blood cell count. I do know that high creatinine levels can cause muscle, bone and joint issues much like those that you have described. High red blood cell count can also do this, as well as high phosphorus levels.

Not sure if your doctor has referred you to a renal dietician yet or not, but if not, you really should request an appointment with one. They can use your most recent blood results to compose a proper kidney-friendly diet plan to help you manage your levels better.

In the meantime however, these are a few quick diet and kidney-kind tips to help you along until you can connect with a dietician:

1. First and foremost, steer clear of any over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and even Aspirin. These are very brutal on the kidneys. If you should ever require any prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics as well, always discuss them with your doctor first as these can be harmful to your kidneys. The same is true with any drugs containing steroids also. For pain relief, try Tylenol as long as you have no liver issues or allergies to acetaminophen. Tylenol gets processed by the liver so the kidneys are not involved.

2. With regard to your diet, try to stick to a low sodium, low potassium, low phosphorus plan. Stay away from high-sodium processed foods, red meats, whole grains of any kind including oats, barley, whole wheat, nuts, seeds, beans and other legumes, dairy, chocolate, dark sodas, as these are high in phosphorus and can also cause high creatinine levels. Also, try to keep to a low-protein diet, this includes any meat proteins or protein powders and bars, as these tend to be high in creatine, thus raising creatinine levels. Eat mostly low potassium vegetables and egg whites should be okay also, until your creatinine levels come down. Then, some lean chicken or fish (with portion sizes no bigger than a deck of cards).

3. A little light cardio exercise is good for you in order to keep your heart rate up as this will also aid in lowering your creatinine levels. Stay away from heavy weight-lifting though. This type of exercise is usually discouraged for CKD patients because such overly strenuous exertion releases creatine from your muscles into the bloodstream, hence raising your creatinine. Walking is what is normally recommended (about 30 - 40 minutes once or twice a day, or so).

4. Drinking water and remaining well hydrated is the best thing for those of us with CKD. This will also aid in flushing your system and help in lowering your creatinine and may also even help with your GFR levels. Remember too, that your GFR levels do tend to fluctuate.

Also limit or omit completely any alcohol consumption, and if you smoke, it would be very wise to quit. You’re going to find that this will be a lifestyle change that is going to require some adjusting to. If you can do your best to stick to these kidney-kind tips, I think you’ll find that you won’t feel so sick as much anymore, and that CKD in general, is quite manageable. The basic idea in one’s CKD journey is to slow the progression of the disease.

I apologize for this lengthy post. Just wanted to share with you the basic “rules” of CKD management. Of course, there are a few websites you can visit also that will provide kidney-friendly food lists and beverages that are a safer choice for us. Just type your query into the Google search engine. Visit kidneyschool.org, and such sites. These can help you better understand kidney function and offer other good advice. Also, always keep in touch with your medical care team.

Once again, welcome, and I certainly hope that you will find these tips helpful. I hope also, that you’ll be feeling better soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. All my best to you. Remember, we’re here for you anytime you feel frustrated or you need our support. Please keep us posted as to how you come along. God bless. 🙏😊👍

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

kidneyschool.org is a great place to start. Blessings

[Kidneybeans]

I gave up all red meat, added salt, ibuprofen, potatoes, bananas, reduced any sugar and drank more water and started walking 3-4 miles a day. Also. No food dyes! Three months later my GFR was 15 points higher! You can do it- giving up salt was hard but all these little changes really added up. I also lost 10 pounds doing all this. Best of luck to you!