If your kidney problem is caused by autoimmune disease, better find a Rheumatism doctor

[smile-hope]

Nephrologist, in my opinion, deal with all issues which cause kidney damage, such as high BP, diabetics. While rheumatologist specifically deal with autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune disease can be very tricky and it requires the doctor to be very experienced.

It’s my experience and I learned it the hard way. For 9 years I have been visiting nephrologists and few of them are good at dealing with autoimmune disease. They didn’t take good care of me. From this year I have been visiting a rheumatologist and she is so knowledgeable about this disease.

Kidney disease caused by autoimmune problem can be hard to treat and you probably need to monitor it for as long as you live. Please find yourself a good doctor. Don’t feel embarrassed if you keep leaving doctors and finding new ones, because it’s not a common flu or something like that, you deserve the best care.

Personally I visited about 6 and finally found the best one.

Good luck to you all.

[Sparker88]

Very interesting. What was the difference in their treatment plans and what kind of autoimmune kidney disease do you have? Thanks for sharing!

[smile-hope in reply to Sparker88]

They treat the same way, but the dose is important.mine is vasculitis

[OKShakespeare]

Thanks for that tip. I have Hashimoto's and haven't received good treatment for kidney disease or for thyroid disease. A rheumatologist just might be the alternative needed to give me some hope.

[smile-hope in reply to OKShakespeare]

Yes, I would find a rheumatologist for my disease

[Sophiebun11]

I couldn't agree more, smile-hope. I have a Rheumatologist for Scleroderma and a Neph. I moved and need to find a new Rheum. but my Neph. is referring me so he can consult with them about trying me on CellCept. The Neph. was very aware of my autoimmune disease and that it is known to cause kidney disease and disease of most organs. He started me on low dose Prednisone last month and my eGFR went from 28 all the way up to 50!!!! It had been steadily declining over the past 4 years so that was amazing. I'll see how things progress but feel very confident with my new (and first) Nephrologist.

Great advice to those with diseases requiring multiple specialties to address all their issues. Best of luck to you.

🐇

[smile-hope in reply to Sophiebun11]

Congratulations, Sophie. We are on the same medication,lol.

[Darlenia]

Great advice. CKD is often caused by an underlying disease. Tackling the underling disease often eases the CKD. So finding a great doctor to tackle the main issue, particularly autoimmune disorders, in tandem with a nephrologist is very wise. I have a son with severe psoriatic arthritis with signs of diabetes (which took out his dad's kidneys) around the corner. His rheumatologist has simply been amazing in noticing and staving off potential cascading health events.

[smile-hope in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you for sharing,dear, and best of luck with your son’s treatment.