wife with stage 3

[feris]

my wife has stage 3 along with diabetes BP etc. she was just in the hospital for h BP fluid lungs etc nephrologist biopsy kidneys have appointment next week potassium in blood normal aic 7very scared

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

Good you have appointment with a Nephrologist. Ask the Doctor about a CKD diet which can help with slowing down progression of CKD. Many of us with CKD are having good results from the diet. Here is a link for information on the CKD diet from National Kidney Foundation. kidney.org/nutrition/Kidney...

[feris in reply to orangecity41]

can we prevent stage 4 or 5 very anxious

[Skeptix in reply to feris]

Diabetes and BP, on their own, are the two chief causes of CKD in the first place. Both need to be brought under control in the first instance.

Diet has a big impact in terms of the load put on kidneys so certainly worth exploring that. You can read around it on this site but generally starts with plant based, low protein diets. Bear in mind the notion of dietary intervention at stage 3 is a brand new thing: it's a guideline only published in 2020 and few nephrologists will be up to speed on it - not least because its renal dietician led, not nephrologist. New medical paradigms are slow to take hold so expect your nephrologist to give you a blank stare. Just say 'KDOQI 2020 guidelines advocating low protein diets from stage 3a?. The guideline is given a 1A (a.k.a. triple AAA) rating?"

Prior to 2020, the guidelines had no dietary intervention at stage 3.

[feris in reply to Skeptix]

I will look it up. can we prevent 4 neph doctor said pot was normal adjusted all her BP meds prescribed iron told us biopsy results showed diabetic kidney damage have appointment Wed. is this a death sentence?

[Skeptix in reply to feris]

In a word no. At stage 3 there's still a lot of function left - think: a person donating a kidney is automatically at 50% function, which is around stage 3 territory.

I've 33% function last count and have no symptoms (that's my ass hanging over a fire called stage 4 :)). Which is not to say others don't have symptoms at that stage.

The name of the game is preservation and how well your wife's kidneys can be preserved can't be known. All that is known is: many things that cause damage are known (with digging) and the less damage you cause, the longer kidneys last. The general jist is to act and hope. Many have found that they held their kidney function in situ by such action.

How old is your wife. In a way, the older the better - you don't have to make your remaining function stretch as far if you are older. One of the few benefits of age!

[feris in reply to Skeptix]

Hi unfortunately she is 48. very skinny but has type 1 and now hbp. Doctor called and said the biopsy showed damage due to diabetes wants us to come in Wed. all sonogram were normal creatine was 1. 6 I think

[Sophiebun11 in reply to feris]

It's not a death sentence. It's good the kidney problem has been found and your wife will be seeing a Neph.

My kidneys went down to Stage 4 and a Neph got my autoimmune disease better controlled and brought me back up to Stage 3.

Your wife's type 1 diabetes and hypertension are greater concerns than Stage 3 CKD. If the Neph gets those under control she can maintain the kidney function she has and maybe even improve it with a plant based diet which can lower BP.

Controlling her BP is her biggest issue if it required hospitalization. High BP and diabetes caused the CKD, not the other way around, so that is where she needs to focus to help her kidneys.

This is definitely not a death sentence.

Learn all you both can about kidney disease at kidneyschool.org/mods/

I'm sure it's overwhelming to find out your wife has another health issue. She is young and has a good support system. Look at it that it was a blessing she was hospitalized with high BP and the CKD was found before her eGFR dropped any lower. At Stage 3 there are things to help slow down or improve her numbers.

Best of luck to you both.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Sophiebun11]

I also attended a class on Kidney Disease by Davita, which was helpful. They have virtual and on site classes.

[feris in reply to Sophiebun11]

thanks so much. I can't sleep. She had slighy edema and enema in the hospital. Dreading this Wed appointment with neph. We do trust the Doc as she has a kidney fellowship from the Mayo clinic and highly rated she is on ferrous sulfate hydraalazine sennosides labetol liptor b2 this is what the neph put her on

[Sophiebun11 in reply to feris]

Please don't dread the appt. with the Neph. Look forward to it. You'll find that things aren't as grim as you feel they are now. The Dr. will explain things and lay out treatment options. I was relieved to get an appt. and am doing much better since my 2 appts. which I've had so far. I was Stage 4 at the first appt. and up to Stage 3 when I went back for my follow up. I'll be seen every 3 months from now on. Nothing to dread at all. The dentist is someon to dread, but not the Nephrologist : )

[Chimama]

Well one thing in her favor is support Sounds like she has that. Second sounds like you have a good Dr on top of things just try to follow the diet , take bp meds, exercise and rest most important try not to feel like life is over sounds like y’all are kicking a kick in the rear but I think things will look better after bp gets under control. I pray for y’all .. this is a great place I have found it very helpful Hang in there

[feris in reply to Chimama]

Thanks very much. will post after Wednesday doctor visit. G-d bless.

[Okiksaints1955]

Sounds like your reading the "synopsis of the short story of a book". You have to read the book at least twice.

At Stage 3, it is could be a long ways to go. Stressing on incomplete information could lead to wrong conclusion and choices. And stress to you and your wife.

Get the whole picture:

1. Assemble a good medical team lead by a Nephrologist that has a team of doctors with different specialties. Make sure you trust them to answer all questions. Otherwise, be ready to replace them.

2. Get the series of tests over a period of time (usually a year) - to establish a baseline.

3. Read read, read. Analyze, create options, make choices. We can make recommendations, read them, then make a decision with your medical team in the loop. They are the expert - were sharing experience and what we read.

4. Prepare short term plans, mid-term and bucket list. Prepare also financially - not everything will be covered by insurance (I fully pay on my own - very little from insurance)

It is going to be a long journey (mine was +30 years). Be prepared for the ups and downs. But don't forget to enjoy life one day at a time.

Good luck. Hope this helps

[Darlenia]

Oh Feris. I know how you feel. My hubby has T2D, not T1D like your spouse. Both cause damage to the kidneys by damaging blood vessels inside the kidneys. Eating right is a good way to go and it seems your wife is already doing that since her weight is well controlled. In diabetes, glucose is the villain producing vessel damage not only in the kidneys, but also in the limbs, eyes, etc. As vessels stiffen, blood pressure also rises. To control diabetes, plant based diets are okay, just remember some fruits and veggies have high sugar and carbs (producing high glucose) whereas meats don't. So a blended diabetes/renal diet is preferable. A good dietitian will give you and your wife direction. Your wife has staved off kidney issues for a very long time and that is exceptionally commendable. She may well have additional years ahead of her with no issues. (Her creatinine levels are not over the top.) If the opposite occurs, simply remember that people can live with complete kidney failure - there are treatments for it; namely, dialysis and transplants! Even though your wife is still in the early stages, I'd like to bring up that many T1D diabetics receive a pancreas/kidney transplant without ever needing dialysis. And lead great lives. Simply be proactive, and try to avoid denial, when the signs point you in that direction. My husband ignored the descent which complicated matters. We're fortunate that we're living in the 21st century with all of its wonderful advances if you look ahead and not down or back. I see a wonderful, quality life ahead for both of you!

[feris in reply to Darlenia]

Thanks so much. I am so happy to find this group. Her nephrologist is very on top of her. constantly ordering blood work etc So we trust her.

[Darlenia in reply to feris]

I'm glad you have a nephrologist you trust - she will guide your steps. I didn't realize how resistant my hubby was to our nephrologist's advice. I happened to overhear a video meeting between our doctor and my hubby during which my husband was brushing away his advice to "get on the transplant list" telling the doctor there was no need to do so, he felt fine, etc. I was shocked. I jumped into the convo much to the doctor's relief who stated, "Happy wife! Happy life!" Anyway, things didn't have to go the way they did with my hubby. You will have a far better outcome than we did since you've made yourself part of the picture. Caregivers are essential in outcomes. I'd like to add, that my husband received a transplant is doing well at age 72. Kidney disease does not mean death. It's one of the few organs that actually has treatments even if they completely fail.

[feris in reply to Darlenia]

Hi advice from anyone on. So as I wrote my wife was hospital last week with kidney issues doctor told us stage 3 and took a biopsy appointment Wed with nephrologist in the hospital she had edema and fuid by the lounge enema etc. they treated it released her last Sunday today she is telling me she has light trouble breathing and bought an oximeter machine she is on iron supplements do not know what to do.

[Darlenia in reply to feris]

Hi Feris. You may want to place your question all by itself on HealthUnlocked. You posted your question only to me, so you likely won't hear from many others, if anybody. There are, indeed, many in our group who have great advice.

Trouble seems to come all at once at times. You'll want to check your wife's oxygen with the oximeter. It may take several readings for you to feel comfortable with what you're seeing. (You simply clip the device on her forefinger.) I was told to call the doctor if my hubby's oxygen level registered below 95% . S/he will then advise further. I would also ask the doctor the reason for the iron supplements. While it's not uncommon for kidney disease patients to be anemic and require iron supplements, it's best to know precisely if this is the situation with your wife and nothing else. So onward and forward...you've got this under control.

[feris in reply to Darlenia]

yes she said she was anemic

[feris]

can't handle this if she is stage 3 why all these issues?

[Darlenia in reply to feris]

Oh Feris. Sometimes things just happen, particularly for those with diabetes and similar autoimmune conditions that can affect the entire body and instigate these things. But have faith. There are many medications and treatments. I'm sure a good team is aware and gathering around your wonderful wife (a cardiologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, etc.) and moving the situation into a positive direction. Stay in touch with them, provide them with feedback, and be at peace knowing she is in skilled hands. And, of course, you also have this site when you're troubled. You're not alone - others will help you handle this. We are so fortunate this is also the 21st century. You and your wife have life to live!