Hydration and eGFR results

[Sarah_402]

Hi Everyone So I have seen posts that hydration effects eGFR results. Would you mind sharing some examples of how much your eGFR varied based on how hydrated you were at the time? Most of my labs I have done in the morning without drinking anything. Just wondering if there is hope my labs could be much better if I hydrated before hand or if it is only a few points difference?

[jodaer]

I can't answer that but sure would like to know the answer. My eGFR goes up and down between 50-60

[Skeptix]

Hard to tell I'd guess - our values will fluctuate from lab to lab anyway. I imagine the best place to look is to see if there have been any controlled trials done to find out. I read that hydration matters and my own RD had me hydrate more saying that creatinine would increase if I was dehydrated.

Dunno if its only down to hydration but I went from 209 to 198 creatinine in the course of labs 2 months apart. I went from never drinking water (lab 209) to 1.5 litres a day (lab 198). For myself I wouldn't pay much attention to such a difference given there is fluctuation anyway.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Sarah, I t depends. Mine can fluctuate 2 point but at the level I am at it makes a big difference. The issue is that bein dehydrated affects all the of the results, some more than others. Drink water the day before and then before the lab, a small 8 ounces is a good idea. Too much can skew things also. Being hydrated also makes your veins easier to poke.

[Skeptix in reply to Bassetmommer]

Easier pokable veins - good tip

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

I think medical conditions and age can affect your hydration.

[Sarah_402]

My GFR seems to be fluctuating in the 40s right now. Next labs I will some drink water before hand and see if it makes any difference. I really don't hydrate well anyways and probably should be doing that on a daily basis. I actually have another condition that makes me chronically dehydrated even though i'm not that thirsty. I'll post my next labs to see if its just fluctuating in the 40s still. I'm new to all this and maybe I'm just still in the denial phase thinking things can improve. Thank you for your responses

[Skeptix in reply to Sarah_402]

The reason to hydrate (if that's to be advised) is that your body works better or its kidney protective or you alter the concentrations of stuff in your look for the better. Just doing it to makes test bloods better is of no use (except psychological)

I've managed to get 1.5 litres of the stuff into my body more or less daily and have put on a solid kg - I wouldn't have drunk liquid other than beer or coffee otherwise! Think it's better I hydrate , even though I've no thirst as such.

Poster Sophie recently reported a huge leap in eGFR due to meds which tackle auto immune sourced inflammation. That's the kidneys getting better (since inflammation is unwellness)

Her example is reason perhaps not to auto-start out with a 'can't get better' paradigm. It may well be that you can't totally recover function. But recovering some .. and perhaps stalling disease is a great target to aim for as a starting position.

[Sarah_402 in reply to Skeptix]

Thank you Skeptix, makes sense.

[lowraind in reply to Sarah_402]

I think getting in the habit of regular hydration is more important than just doing so before a blood test. I know it is difficult because I used to go long periods of time without drinking water. However, when I consciously hydrate, my labs show better numbers.

[Sarah_402 in reply to lowraind]

Yes I agree I need to be more consistent with my hydration. Thank you for your response lowraind

[Remy55]

I was advised to drink lots and eat before the testMy GFR came back 65 but on the second test

After consuming food and lots of fluids back to 92

Electrolytes need to be balanced apparently?

[Sarah_402 in reply to Remy55]

Wow that is impressive!! Thanks for sharing Remy55!

[Dakot in reply to Remy55]

Interesting. I have always been told to fast. I find if I drink at least 12 oz of water at least 2 hours before my blood test my egfr is maybe a point or two higher but not alot. That is a curious though eating before a blood test? Has anyone else had that experience? Thanks so much

[Samia1942]

Maybe start by asking your dr how much liquid you should have per day. Over doing it you might end up with swollen feet.Water with slices of orange in it would be good.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Samia1942]

Yes agree best to ask Doctor. Other Medical conditions might be involved.

[Sarah_402 in reply to orangecity41]

Yes your right orangecity41. I do have another medicial condition I am suppose to drink 2500 ml a day for. So I do need to talk to my doctor about the CKD now. Thanks!

[horsie63 in reply to Sarah_402]

What about your BUN level? A higher than normal one can show dehydration? I go by the color of my pee...it should be a light yellow color, any darker could be dehydration, too light and it could signal too much water and an imbalance in electrolytes, also dangerous.

[Sarah_402 in reply to horsie63]

Looks like my Bun was really low in the past like 6, but now for some reason it’s in normal range 12. Thanks for your help!

[Sarah_402 in reply to Samia1942]

Thank you Samia1942!

[PecanSandie]

I am one of those people who hates water and so I am prone to forget to hydrate. This last lab was mid morning and I had eaten breakfast but didn't have a whole lot to drink and my urine test was disappointing.

My Protein-Creatinine: level was 676.0 {mg/G_CR} ! (It not supposed to be more than 150 mg and the last time I had this test it was around 450 mg). As soon as I saw the results, I researched whether it had any to do with hydration and the articles I read said it didn't.

Didn't make me feel any better though.

[Sarah_402 in reply to PecanSandie]

Thanks PecanSandie

[SissyFaye]

Hi! I was constantly having issues with dehydration that in turn was causing electrolyte imbalances and frequent complicated UTIs. Many times it would get so bad I would end up hospitalized. A month ago I started doing IV hydration fluids daily at home and it had made a big difference for me. My eGFR had dropped from averaging 38 six months ago to averaging 18 a month ago. After two weeks of 500ml-1L daily, my eGFR is now back up to 25. Plus I feel so much better overall. I have always been a huge water drinker and was doing my best to always get in the required amount of fluids daily but was apparently taking short. This has been a game changer for me. More good days than bad days lately, more energy, improved appetite (somewhat). I have a power port and home health sends a nurse once weekly to change the access needle and I do the daily infusions myself. (After receiving instructions and demonstrations by the nurse until she felt confident that I knew what I was doing)

Lmk if you have any questions.

[Bond-007 in reply to SissyFaye]

My mother always did better after an IV of normal saline. Improved bun & creatinine. Water makes up much of our body I believe.

[Sarah_402 in reply to SissyFaye]

Thank you for sharing SissyFaye. After hearing everyone's comments sounds like finding the right amount of water and electrolytes for each individual is very important.

[DEZIN]

My doctor said to drink water all the time, not just before test. Your doctor shouldadvise you how much water to drink on a daily basis for helping your kidney function.

Dehydration affects kidneys in the worst way.) My ex- Primary doctor prescribed a medication that was too strong for a kidney patient. I became severely dehydrated and went into kidney failure and was hospitalized.

Before that happened by GFR was steadily Increasing and I was feeling pretty good.

I am now trying to regain what I lost. It is a slow and disappointing, but I am drink

ing the water that my body can tolerate. My labs have improved. My point is stay the

course with hydration, not just before lab work.

[Sarah_402 in reply to DEZIN]

Thank you for sharing that with me DEZIN. It would be very hard to have your own physician's decisions send you into kidney failure. I hope you are under much better care now. Until recently I didn't realize the impact dehydration can have, especially on kidneys. I hope your labs can improve more Dezin

[DEZIN in reply to Sarah_402]

Thank you

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

It's always good to check with your doctor first regarding how much water is good for "you" to drink daily. It's a little different for everyone depending on what Stage you are at with your CKD. Staying hydrated is good because it flushes your kidneys. Even with edema in your feet and ankles, my doctor tells me that drinking water is very important. I have had a transplant 22 years ago and it is vital for me to drink. Even now if I am dehydrated, my BUN is elevated, my creatinine will also be. They don't check my eGFR any more. My lab just says it's >60. Hydrated my creatinine will be stable at 0.9, but if I am dehydrated it jumps up to 1.2. I was diagnosed with CKD in 1991, so have been playing the hydration game for over 30 years. I notice if I have not had enough to drink, I feel tired, have no energy and just feel unwell. It's my signal to drink. It's almost funny what a little water will do. Drinking water is good for your health. So, Sarah follow your doctors recommendation and drink water.

[Sarah_402 in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you WYOAnne!! How is it to have a kidney transplant?

[4Bar7]

Four months ago I finally got referred to a nephrologist - I had a grr of 22 and creatinine of 2.56. I'm 80 years old, active, and in general good health. He set me up for a transplant eval and talked about dialysis - and he recommended that I concentrate on hydration. I weigh 170, which means I should be drinking at least 88 ounces of liquid each day. I got on a hydration program and am drinking around 100 ounces a day. A dietitian also recommended that after I've drunk around 40 ounces I should drink 20 ounces of an electrolyte drink - I'm using Propel powder. The results: My grr went from 22 to 26 to 30, where it's been for a month. My Creatinine is now at 2.03. My nephrologist says if we can maintain this level, I can live a long time. So I think that hydrating just before your lab test probably won't help much, but concentrating on hydration might.

[Sarah_402 in reply to 4Bar7]

Thank you 4Bar7!!!

[RoxanneKidney]

If you want a good standard to tell you exactly where your kids dneys are without the confusion then ask for a The Cystatin C test and forget about the creatinine. Or just go by how you feel and stick with your program. My problem is Halloween and I've got candy in the house. Not a good snack.

[wheezoids21]

hi there. Well, i live in a climate with very hot, humid summers. And I work outdoors. Often my gfr swings from just below 15 in the summer and then up to 20 when it cools off a bit. I drink about 3 liters of water in the summer during the day but it doesnt seem to be enough. No other indicators that i might be dehydrated apart from that. It's weird.