New diagnosis at ckd 3a

[Patricia10]

Just been informed by my doc. that I am at stage 3a ckd. He said it was nothing to be concerned about as it is my age, 71 and that was the end of the conversation. However, I am concerned as my kidney function has declined 10 in the last five years and I am now on 51. I do not have high blood pressure or diabetes so don’t know what has caused this. Any advice please.

[Hidden]

Kidney function does decline as we age. That doesn't mean that we can't do something to slow the progression. Since you don't have either diabetes or high blood pressure, the two leading causes of CKD, you may be dealing with a normal decline. Since you are concerned you can switch to a kidney-friendly meal plan. The best way would be to meet with a Renal Dietitian. Since I see that you live in the UK that may not be easy to do. You can find recipes on line for someone with CKD. One place I can suggest is to go to davita.com and under their RECIPES you'll find ones to thing about. Adjust the recipes to suit your taste and the specific requirements of fruits and vegetables available.

To make it easier on your kidneys you'll want to maintain control of what you eat that can be harmful to your kidneys. Avoid red meats, processed food, and avoid taking NSAIDs.

If you have or can obtain hard copies of your previous lab work find out where you are with potassium, phosphorus, protein, sodium, and calcium. You can try to ask your physician what the recommendation is for daily limits of those to help your kidneys function better.

Best of luck.

[Patricia10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your very welcome advice.

[FlowerPreciousLover]

Hi, Patricia10, All too often our docs wait until CKD reaches stage 4 before recommending we take measures with diet and exercise to better manage it and to refer us to a nephrologist or dietitian.

When I was diagnosed with stage 3 at age 76. I had to request referrals to both. In the meantime, I began researching all I could learn about ckd.

kidneyschool.org is a great site for learning about the disease, how to interpret lab scores and developing a personal treatment plan. By learning to interpret and chart the main values on my ckd lab reports and following a dietitian recommended diet plan, I've improved both my diabetes and ckd scores as I near my 2 yr diagnosis.

You have come to a great place to learn more about kidney function and group members are wonderful at answering questions and sharing what works for them.

[Darlenia]

Hi Patricia. I'm close to being in your age category. As we age, our numbers change - gfr decreases, creatinine rises, etc. In another month, I will be be 70. I recently offered one of my kidneys to my husband, who is on dialysis, and I was rejected because of the age related reduction in my gfr values. So there is indeed such a thing as age-related decline. There are a variety of tables online which actually display the range/decline of values for men and women by age. Please keep in mind that gfr and creatinine are only a snapshot at a point in time, they can vary significantly, even over a day.

You noted that you don't have high blood pressure and no diabetes. And that is indeed great news. As kidneys fail, one's blood pressure generally rises - either due to cardiovascular disease or the diabetes. Yet, in other cases, kidneys can be affected by medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, so you may want to review those if applicable. In any event, because you have normal blood pressure, please do not go on the renal diet without a doctor's approval and monitoring. This is a diet exclusively for those with diagnosed kidney disease. And it severely restricts sodium, potassium, and more...these are electrolytes which your body depends on, particularly your heart, for proper function. I speak from experience. I have normal blood pressure, no pre-existing conditions, and I went on the renal diet to be supportive to my husband. In my case, the lack of sodium and chloride, specifically, sent my blood pressure plunging, created heart bradycardia, and more. It was caught just in time and corrected. I'm now being closely followed by my own doctor to ensure I don't relapse. So, please rely on professionals for guidance, explanations of figures that concern you, and more. Sending you sympathy and reassurance your way. Aging is a process!

[vinadhun2 in reply to Darlenia]

I found your mail extremely interesting.

I am 73 and I have no issues absolutely nothing .all blood parameters are normal.i have no diabetes; blood pressure is normal.cholsterol is normal.No protein in urine.

Only issue is elevated creatinine around 1.86.

Over period of one year it is stable. I had never tested my blood before that.

My nephrologist says that it is due to age and just monitor creatinine at regular intervals. He has suggested to follow renal diet.

I am following renal diet since past 6 months.

Now from your mail I am little confused.

Do you strongly feel that no need to follow renal diet if rest all is fine

[Ladyboomer in reply to vinadhun2]

An elevated creatinine level at 1,86, while not terribly high, is higher than high normal, and I would suggest you not let it get any higher. Mine runs are 1.76, above high normal, and best advice for that is DRINK LOTS OF WATER thruout the day, a good 50-64- oz per day protects the kidney filters from clogging up. My dx is Glomerulonephritis, and is hereditary from my father. If i drink less than 50 oz per day, my next labs will show it in the BUN, CREATININE, and GFR. If I continuously drink over 50oz per day, my labs will remain normal to high normal. And YES, following a renal diet with CKD 3, I think is highly important. Can you never have a lot of salt? In moderation, and try to limit to once, twice a week. I speak only from my experience. CKD and salty foods, salty snacks, soft drinks, especially diet, and using too much salt at the table, will always tell on you in your labs. 😏 My nephrologist always knows if I've been partying and didn't keep up with the water.🙃

Good luck

[vinadhun2 in reply to Ladyboomer]

Thanks for all information.I do drink around 50oz of water per day.My BUN, urea and uric acid are all well within limits. for your ready reference, giving below various values from my latest blood work:

sodium: 138

phosphorous: 3.7

potassium:4.30

protein:6.60

albumin:4.29

creatinine:1.86

Hb:13.60

calcium:9.10

BUN:16.36

weight : 57.50kg

Urea:29mg/dl

Uric acid:4.70mg/dl

HbA1C:5.50

Total Cholesterol: 110mg/dl

Triglycerides:53mg/dl

HDL: 45mg/dl

LDL:54mg/dl

Hope this will give you good idea. since last six months, I am following renal diet strictly, mainly on sodium, Potassium, Phosphorous and protein

[Darlenia in reply to vinadhun2]

Hi Vinadhun. If your doctor has told you to follow the renal diet, by all means feel free to do so. I just looked at my personal creatinine level, and mine falls in the normal category, whereas yours seems to extend just outside of the normal parameters. So your doctor's advice is likely okay for the "renal diet". Your sodium reading is 138, maybe you can check where that falls in the sodium range for you. I'm an older white lady and, for me, the normal sodium range is 137-146. My cardiac system began shutting down at 132 for sodium - bradycardia, falling blood pressure (90s/50s), inadequate oxygen, lightheaded, fatigue, shimmering vision, etc. I need to add that chloride may have also contributed since that also was too low. I want to repeat that I'm not a medical person at all. I really don't know if age, sex, ethnicity, etc. produces different ranges. And, in addition, I don't know how creatinine interfaces with sodium. Since you're under a doctor's care, everything you're doing is probably perfectly fine. That's the reason why it's so important for everyone to talk to their medical professionals. If that small voice in your head tells you to seek a second opinion as well, then do so, even if it means doing a telemedicine visit. As for truly healthy individuals, please don't go on any diet (particularly the renal diet as it manipulates electrolytes) without guidance from a professional. That was my big mistake.

[vinadhun2 in reply to Darlenia]

Thanks for your thoughts

[Ladyboomer in reply to Darlenia]

I should preface the email I previously sent by saying "if there is no high blood pressure, high cholesterol, no diabetes or even pre diabetes, then yes, i would say chances are it is age related. But even one of those 3 COULD cause kidney disease if left unchecked over a prolonged period of time. Another reason for the annual physical, the older we get.

[vinadhun2 in reply to Ladyboomer]

Thanks.

Just wanted to know if age related creatinine can remain elevated but stable for long time?

[vinadhun2 in reply to Ladyboomer]

Thanks. I am regularly monitoring

[Patricia10]

Such wonderful, knowledgeable, caring responses. Thank you very much for

your time and your very useful advice which I very much appreciate.

[Ladyboomer]

What kind of physician told you it's age related? Whenever you see a decline such as you experienced, for me, that sends up a red flag. My suggestion would be to get a 2nd opinion, and I don't know if that's something you can readily do in the UK. If you have something like an Urgent Care or Immediate Care Center, you might try that first. Did your doc do a BUN and CREATININE blood test as well?

[Dangermom13]

No one has mentioned that NSAIDS can damage kidney function, particularly ibuprofen. Avoid all of them.

[Patricia10]

Thankyou, I do feel as though I would like more information but it is very difficult getting anything because of the pandemic.