Stage 2 CKD

[Jojoteacher]

I’m new here and petrified. I’m 57 year old Caucasian female. After a year of extremely high blood pressure that takes 4-5 different medicines to somewhat control, I just got diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. My only symptom was clear urine. I have had lupus for over 30 years, so I guess it may be lupus nephritis. In addition, I have history of DVT and I’m on blood thinners, and, finally, I have low thyroid and high cholesterol. I exercise 5-6 days per week and eat well. This kidney disease came as a shock, to say the least. I have appointments lined up with my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and, now, also a nephrologist over the next month. I know nothing about kidney disease, except what I’ve been reading online over the past couple of days. I feel as if all my systems are failing one by one. I just don’t want to die.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the community. To calm your anxiety go to davita.com and sign up for a virtual Kidney Smart class. It will give you lots of answers and information to formulate questions to ask your physicians. When you meet with the nephrologist ask for a referral to meet with a renal dietitian. Bring as many hard copies of your previous lab results with you and help develop a kidney-friendly meal plan specifically for your wants and needs.

One thing you should concentrate on is getting your blood pressure under control. HBP and diabetes are the top two causes of CKD. I have both. My diabetes is controlled by diet and exercise and my HBP is controlled by three medications. It can be done.

Become proactive and learn all you can about slowing the progression of CKD.

Knowledge is power.

Take care.

[HealthBuddyMelissa]

I was scared when I was first diagnosed, but I can tell you fear does not help anything, but being proactive does. Learn as much as you can before you go to doctor appts. Have a list of questions you want answered, and bring them with you. Insist that your doctors work together to coordinate a care plan that works best for you, not them. If you have Lupus, then your Immunologist would need to work with your Nephrologist to make sure medications are not counteractive to each diagnosis. Look up all medications you are taking to see if they can be doing damage to your kidneys, and then see if there are others that can be taken that will help BP and not be toxic to your kidneys. If they have not already told you to start restricting sodium in your diet, it might be a good place to start. You are stage 2, and at your age it is possible that is a normal baseline, as the kidneys normally decrease function as we get older. But, with that said it is better to be proactive than reactive. Best wishes and keep us posted. Don't forget to ask about otc meds. Some are very nephrotoxic.