advice needed

[Jayrye]

hello all i would appreciate the help to understand whats going on with my dad he is not a diabetic his G F R dropped 59 ml on 4/15/21 to 46 ml 9/10/21 then to 40 ml on 10/5/21 i have anemia and 1 small kidney cyst, metallic taste in mouth i can provide more in info if needed thanks jay

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

Welcome to the forum, where we share information and support. Has your father seen a nephrologist? If not has the primary Doctor discussed a Chronic Kidney Disease diet?Here is a link to information on eGFR and age relation. kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr

[Jayrye in reply to orangecity41]

Thanks

[RoxanneKidney]

Have them check for protein in the urine. That is the speed of the CKD train. Any protein is bad news and needs to be treated or slowed.

[Sammi_n_Munk]

Hello there Jay. I’m sorry your dad is going through this. You should know that our GFR does naturally decline with age, but your father’s seems to be decreasing quite quickly. There are a few things that could cause this. Our GFR levels can fluctuate daily. That’s just how it is. But, many in this forum will tell you that drinking more water can help with that. Also, if there is a consistent decline over a period of months as you’ve stated, this could mean his kidneys are weakening.

He should express his concerns regarding his GFR drop with his General Practitioner and ask for a referral to see a nephrologist (kidney specialist), and also a renal dietician.

You should know that kidneys can be affected by a few things. The two main causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). You mentioned that your dad is not diabetic, but does he suffer from high blood pressure at all? Also, some medications that we take like prescription, and/or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve and Aspirin for pain, can be very tough on our kidneys and can contribute largely to their decline. If he doesn’t have any liver issues or allergies to acetaminophen, ask him to try Tylenol instead for pain relief should he need it. Also, some antibiotic meds for relief from infections, can cause kidneys to fail as well.

Try to go online and research some websites like the NKF, kidneyschool.org, or DaVita.com for some advice, and ideas on kidney-friendly foods. In the meantime, perhaps your father should incorporate some changes in his diet and increase his daily water intake. Speak to his doctor before making any changes to his diet and exercise regimen.

Until he does see a nephrologist for proper advice, he should try to steer away from alcoholic beverages, smoking (if he is a smoker), high protein foods (protein powders and bars, red meats and processed foods), and dark sodas. Also, limit his intake of foods high in potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. As I mentioned above, DaVita.com is a good site often recommended in this forum for ideas and food lists for kidney patients.

I apologize for such a long post, but I hope you will find this helpful in some way. Remember to consult with his doctor before making any changes to his diet, exercise, and medication schedules. Please keep us posted on his progress. Remember we are here for you to provide support and any advice we can. This is a wonderful site with many kind, wise and knowledgeable people! I’m wishing you and your dad all my best! Keep in touch! God bless. 😊👍🙏

[Jayrye in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

Thank you so much

[Sophiebun11]

Hi Jayrye,

I agree with what others have said. You will probably need to request a referral to a Nephrologist and a renal dietician. Many here have had our primary care physicians totally ignore our drops in eGFR until we were in stage 4 or 3b. I was in stage 4 at 29 eGFR before I was referred to a Nephrologist. The sooner your dad sees a Nephrologist the sooner the reason for the drop and the reason for the CKD can be discovered. The Nephrologist can also help in slowing or preventing further decline. A Nephrologist will review all of your dad's medications and health history. An ultra sound of the kidneys and a biopsy may be necessary. Please demand a referral to a Nephrologist right away. Best of luck.

[Jayrye in reply to Sophiebun11]

Thankyou