I was diagnosed with Stage 3 CKD several years ago, but never knew until I saw a note in my medical records. Since my doctor didn’t even mention it, I didn’t think much of it at the time. Fast forward to today and I now have Stage 3b CKD and was referred to a nephrologist which I have an appointment with on December 17th.
Any suggestions on what questions I should ask my nephrologist on a first visit?
Welcome to a good web site for support and information on kidney disease. I too was diagnosed at level 3b , and had eGFR bloodwork flagged as out of range but no mention of CKD from Doctor, until changed to another Doctor. Here is link to information on Nutrition and Kidney Disease from National Kidney Foundation that may be of help. kidney.org/nutrition/Kidney...
I’d ask the nephro the following questions:
1. What has caused my chronic kidney disease?
2. What can I do to sustain the renal function I have left? (This gets to the treatment plan your nephro will implement—changes in diet, fluid intake, and medication…)
3. What is my prognosis; am I headed toward dialysis or a transplant?
Jayhawker
Hi Kardis,
Welcome to the forum. It's typical that the patient doesn't find out or isn't sent to a Nephrologist until later on. I didn't see a Neph. until I was Stage 4. I kept asking my Dr. about my kidney numbers when they were Stage 3A and was told they were fine. I knew better but couldn't see a Neph. without a referral here.
The cause of your CKD is the most important issue since there are different ways of treating it. Like controlling hypertension, or diabetes if you have those, or treating your autoimmune disease if that is your cause as it is in my case.
If you are on any medications make sure to ask the Neph if any of them could be contributing to your CKD and if there are safer alternative meds. My Neph switch 2 of my meds and discontinued 2 others.
Ask for a referral to a Renal Dietician. Starting a plant based diet and learning the foods to avoid like ones high in potassium and sodium will help maintain or even improve your eGFR.
Best of luck to you.
Welcome to this forum kardis1. I see where others have posted very helpful info. I will just ad that now is a good time to stop progression. It's better now then waiting until you need to go on end stage treatment.
I too found a note in my file about my kidney disease...I have a need doctor now who is taking CKD a little more seriously 😊
How do I track my test results?
What can I eat?
What can’t I eat?
What about fluid intake?
How much protein, sodium, phosphoros and potassium am I allowed?
***Be prepared to do a lot of research on your own. There are still many nephrologists who will tell you diet is not important at your stage.
it's criminal, this medical system. The GP doesn't tell you there's a problem (how can you keep the visit below 15 minutes and explain all that entails, who has time, above my pay grade, late for golf game etc.,) and when you finally get a referral to a specialist it's probably too late to do anything about it and the specialist is financially incentivized to get you on dialysis asap.
My primary didn't catch the numbers until I was 3b you shoulda heard the explosion between her and my nephro ...wow I have a different primary now
I WENT TO THE KIDNEY DR AND HE DID NOT TELL EITHER. I TO FOUND OUT THAT I WAS STAGE 3 B. I TO FOUND IN HIS NOTES. WHY WOULD HE NOT TELL ME? WHEN I RETURN HE DID NOT TELL ME UNTIL I ASK HIM. THEN HE ONLY MUMBLED. I GOT A NEW ONE AFTER THAT,
I guess I am fortunate. When I was 1st dx with diabetes, T-2, the doc put me on BP meds, when I told him my BP was fine he proceeded to explain the connection between BP, Diabetes and CKD. Even though my sister died of CKD I wasn't aware of the connection. Some years down the road, different doctors, mostly bad, i ended up with a PCP who was always reminding me of the connection. I tend to spill protein but other than that #s were good, FF a few more years, different doctors, different area but still on top of the protein. I was referred to neph at beginning of stage 3. I never realized just how lucky I am.
Concerned about my lab results 
Kidney cortex thinning -- I'm new here
just diagnosed at stage 3b need to know how to live with this
Haven't been to the doctor in way too long... can I go straight to a specialist?
