So Confused...

[MissPeace]

Hi,

First post here. I have convinced myself I have CKD and my anxiety is now horrible. My GFR is 60, creatinine is 1.0, BUN is normal. My Potassium is low and Aldosterone is high which is how this all started. My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest so I checked my bp and is was 185/125. Consulting nurse said to go to Urgent Care. Now they’re trying to figure out why my Potassium is low and Aldosterone high. They put me on Amlodipine 10 mg.

I should add that I’m an ovarian cancer survivor and, ever since then, I’ve had anxiety regarding my health and I’m always sure that my doctors are missing something.

Thank you for any advice!

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the community.The first thing you should know is that your GFR does get lower as we age. You didn't mention your age but I did want you to know that. Now, one test does not make someone have CKD. It would take a few lab draws for your doctors to make that determination. It's not only blood labs but urine tests as well. In addition to GFR, they will look at your serum creatinine, albumin, and a few other numbers. Each draw is only a snapshot of the time the fluids were drawn. Try not to stress out and wait for the additional draws to allow the doctors to make the diagnosis. They may also add a diagnostic test like an ultrasound to make the call and identify the reason for the onset of CKD is suspected.

I've included a link below to give you some information on Amlodipine. I hope it helps and answers some of your questions.

rxlist.com/consumer_amlodip...

If you want to stay on top of this and develop some questions to ask your physician you can go to davita.com and register for a free, 90-minute Kidney Smart class. You'll get a lot of information and resources that will help you develop questions to ask your doctor at your next visit. In addition, you can also go to kidneyschool.org and view the learning modules and develop questions from that information.

Best of luck.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI MissPeace, You are wise to stay on top of your health. Diagnosing CKD takes several lab draws over a period of time. Although you are concerned, I would wait for another lab report to see if there is findings that indicate CKD. What you are reporting here may be normal for you.

[SadMad]

I too suffer from anxiety and depression. Your eGFR is normal but I would keep an eye on it and definitely controll your blood pressure. Mine went from 60 one year to 30 the next caused by uncontrolled blood pressure mainly. You have to educate yourself. I was angry that my PCP never told me that my blood pressure and diet could affect my renal function. Definetly get blood pressure and diet under controll. I was on a couple different blood pressure meds but I kept eating salty foods which raise it. Take care and take ONE DAY AT A TIME as far as your anxiety goes. 🙂🙂🙂

[jj76541]

By all means get your BP down to normal levels, this will help your kidneys, regardless, and should bring up your egfr because they don't have that extra load on them. Maybe not much but you gotta do, what you gotta do!

[Tr33cy]

I realize this thread is old, so idk if you’re still checking it. Did your doctors check to see if you have an adenoma on your adrenal gland? Did they check your aldosterone/renin rate? Adrenal gland “tumor” (can be benign but still functional) can cause all of the symptoms you described. If it is adrenal gland related, removing the tumor or the affected adrenal gland could resolve all issues you described including a possible complete return to normal blood pressure. Hopefully this has already been checked, but just in case it hasn’t, it’s worth checking into.