Hello friends!
I was wondering- do your nephrologist consider as correct the adjusment according to your weight and height in the egfr-epi formula or the calculation to 1.73m2 is the most important?
Cause it makes quite a big difference in my case... im very tall women (1.84cm) and have bigger body surface, with the adjustment my gfr is 88ml/min, without it- 74ml/min... its still stage 2 but 88 is much better
I did see the eGFR calculation using height and weight. In my case, the eGFR declined by 6 points. I am short and weight within BMI.
Hi Didididi,
My Neph. goes by the lab results, and the lab has no idea about my height and weight, they go by race still but not even gender. I'm female 5'5" and within normal weight and BMI.
Are you a person of color? If so, don't go by the black gfr. This is a racist practice that delays treatment for POC. It is not used outside of US and is no longer supported in the us either.
Labs in the US do still use the African American and non-African American eGFR calculation. I have no idea where you live but I had one done very recently and it had NOT changed. It was only announced by NKF in Sept. of 2021 to do away with African American and non-African American eGFR. It is going to take time for labs to do away with it. The 2 results are there to review so it isn't an issue.
I think it's rude to ask people's race here or anywhere else.
I have kidney disease due to an autoimmune disease. They attack people differently by one race over another as well, but I still don't think it's a matter for anyone but my Neph, my Rheumy or me.
I think is is very important to point out the racism inherent I the us egfr scores. I don't care anyone's race. I want all poc to know the score is racist and designed to delay treatment for POC.
Hi Barbara. I appreciate you pointing out that there should not be any distinctions in egfr regarding the non-black and the black populations. It's clear this has been used to withhold treatments and transplants from the black population. Although egfr should only be based on height and weight, it's long overdue in being implemented in a number of labs in this country. Hopefully, in those instances, all doctors are ignoring the suboptimum values given to these individuals and providing everyone quality treatment. For the record, I'm a white lady who sees the issue with the "old" outdated way of doing things, even though it persists today. Thank you for bravely alerting the membership.
YOU specifically asked me if I am black!!!!
The test doesn't divide for POC. POC includes other races besides African Americans. The eGFR test is only dividing results between African Americans and Non-African Americans. Does your test actually say "black" on it. Mine surely never has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are being racist. You don't even understand what POC means. I find that offensive. POC includes Asians, Latinos, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and a multitude of other races.
Please don't post statement that are offensive and/or use terms which you don't fully understand.
I presume you were trying to lecture me about eGFR tests, which I didn't need as I have a medical background, but to come out and ask me if I am "black", then say eGFR tests discriminate against POC is INCORRECT. They only sub-categorized for African Americans, not all races.
I hope I've made myself clear. Please don't ask me anymore about my race or anyone else's. And please do some research about what the term POC actual means and the people included in that group before you toss the term around. I'm done talking to you.
My doctor said if you have muscle mass, like body builders, it generally causes higher levels of creatinine. The amount of muscle in your body... The taller you are can mean you have more muscle mass, but I think it has to with your BMI (Height and Weight)
I used to work out and my creatinine was 1.1. I haven't lifted weights since three years ago and have lost a lot of muscle and my creatinine is 1.2. Doesn't sound good!
But anyway, I used Davita GFR calculator and my GFR is higher than before, though I entered the same numbers! (GFR 78 then, GFR 81 now) Maybe something has changed in calculating GFR and we don't know!
Don't let them tell you that bullshit. I thought that for YEARS too. Till I really started questioning and I was already Stage 3. I ran marathons and lifted weights. Heavy lifting. For a women I am solid build. If you are young and your GFR is lower than it should be...trust me, it is NOT the working out. PERIOD. Don't let anyone feed you that bullshit.
Perhaps that bears more exploration. My doctor said the same thing to me...ie..".you have more muscle mass than average, which is probably why your creatinine is a bit higher". I really don't know if it's bullshit or not. What I do know is that none of the creatinine formulas take lean body mass into account, although I've read some research studies where it was stated that each 10kg of lean mass equates to about 5 points additional GFR. There is so little research on this subject. Same goes for how to define "strenuous exercise" and "heavy lifting" as it pertains to ckd.
Better safe than sorry.
That's the problem. Nobody's defined what "safe" is. Lifting cans of tuna? 
It is not the lifting that causes the Ckd. But DON'T take the supplements. Some of those are damaging. So workout. I still workout. That is probably why my kidneys have lasted as long as they have.
I gave up the soy protein powder(not the creatine variety) smoothies immediately after my diagnosis five years ago, but the damage was done. I really don't think it was the protein powder nearly as much as it was my sum total of protein intake throughout the day. In my breakfast smoothie, I'd add 22gms of soy protein powder, 8gms of protein in yogurt, 6gms in peanut butter, 1 or 2 of oat milk, 6 in a half cup of dry oatmeal, and then the fruit, ice, etc. That's 45gms just starting out for breakfast. I've also had two kidney stones and was on an NSAIDs for several years for ulcerative colitis. Dad had kidney stones as well. Combine genetics, smallish kidneys, eating too much protein, and NEVER BEING HYDRATED ENOUGH and there ya have it; Me with ckd. My doctor told me after my first kidney stone: "I tell all my patients to drink two liters of water a day, but I want YOU to drink three." I sure as hell wish he'd have added "or else you'll end up with kidney disease" because back in 1996 (1st kidney stone), my creatinine was already at 1.1 (within reference range). I did increase my water intake, but hardly ever came close to two liters a day, let alone 3. Bad bad bad and sad sad sad.
YIKES! Yeah, for most Americans...too much protein in the diet.
When I worked out a lot in 1996, my creatinine was 1.1. When I was diagnosed with CKD in 2016, my creatinine was 1.2. I had lost a little bit of muscle by 2016, but not a whole lot. I'm 63 yrs old now, and my creatinine just rose to 1.5 and my GFR dropped to 49 (from 59 two years ago". On the flip side, my cystatin-c gives me a GFR of 88! I'm a pretty muscular little runt (all 140lbs of me), and I don't have diabetes or thyroid issues. Just some data points for you.
Thank you for your story! Im just desperately looking for some positive explanations 😆 either way creatinine 1.03 mg/dl is high for a 28yo female..
Im just more than 2SD (standart deviations) more than the standart height if it counts.
Cystatin C might be a good idea in uncertain cases
Absolutely get your cystatin-c tested. It mostly takes muscle mass out of the equation. Btw, I forgot to mention I'm male. If you saw my photo, I'm very cut for any age person, but I don't know whether or not being very cut matters as much as raw muscle weight or whether all of it is total bullshit. There just isn't any real research on the matter. What researchers mostly use is an "average".
I know, right. Actually, as I said, I haven't worked out since 3 years ago, and my GFR is lower. So, there is something wrong, regardless of muscle mass (I don't have much cause I lost a lot of weight hahaha) ... I've visited a few doctors, but none of them exactly know what's what... Or maybe they know, but say not much cause it's stage 2...
Yep agreed. My egfr is bouncing from 34 to 48 !!Dr said repeat Labs in a year! I have no Nephrologist I haven’t even met the PCP that took over for my retiring Doc I miss him dearly my Rheumatologist retired too ! Both my Drs for over 40 years I feel so .....,well anyway
Losing protein can create weight loss. If you haven't done a 24 he urine collection get one done.
Well, my 24 hr urine collection last year showed 45mg/24h (reference range <150mg/24h) Actually, I've always been fairly thin. When I workout I gain muscle, and lose it when I stop. I've always been like this.
And now I'm on this plant based diet (I put myself on it! :-D)
And am thinking about having my creatinine and stuff checked again one of these days to see if it has worked or not! Fingers crossed!
It will work. Give Five it six months and don't drink soda or alcohol either. There are medications that protect your kidneys. I am on Lisinopril. My BP was low as hell most of my life and that is what got me thinking about my GFR because my BP came up a bit. Up to 130/80. Now with a small does of Lisinopril, it is 90/60 and my GFR is up from 42 to 60 ...this is all in six months. I should have been treated five years ago when I had micro protein in my urine. Apparently, the doctor was just going to watch that number rise. DONT let that happen to you.
Thank you very much.
Well, my BP was also always low. 10/6 or 10/7. But since my kidney problem started, I've been under a lot of stress and anxiety...
I have spikes at times (140/90 sometimes) but usually my diastolic number is higher than normal (80 - 85) and my systolic number is normal or a little higher (around 120-125). They say it's pre-hypertension !
And I usually get stressed when I see the sphygmomanometer! Hahaha
So I guess most of the time that's why my BP is high.
But I also need to control those spikes I guess.
Yeah I was getting those spikes. So you are taking some bp meds! If not you better start. My nepherologist said that kidneys liked the low bp and were happier. You can't be a yoyo.
I resisted the bp med for years saying that I didn't have high bp...which I really didn't. But damn, I shouldhave been on some meds for my kidneys.
I'm not taking any med for my BP spikes now, cause I almost always feel a little lightheaded and have headaches (pressure in my head). I've had them for years, and my doctor said it's either migraine or tension headaches. But I'm afraid if my actual bp is low (which was usually the case) and my current hbp is because of my stress, if I take bp med and my bp goes too low, it might also be harmful to my kidneys. I don't know if I'm making it sound too complicated or it really is. But I also sometimes make it too simple and think if I can control my anxiety, most of the problems will go away... Lol
But you're right, I need to do something about the spikes asap, before it's too late...
Well, dido on the lightheadness and migraines. Strange. But it only took 2.5 mg of Lisinopril to help me. I am not a med taker. I did smoke weed and drink, self medicate. But don't do that anymore either. Sometimes i"m lightheaded, and I drink more water and get up more slowly, but after a few months, I have adjusted OK, and my kidneys are happier. Again, at Stage 2 the situation can be reversed. Not true for stage 3. The kidney dr. said the best I can expect is 60s as far as GFR goes. But that is better than 43. Oh, and I don't have anymore migraines after starting the Lisinopril. You start are a very low dose and work your way up if need be, but like I said, my bp was high to begin with...just occassionally. Anyway, no more migraines. I would get them so badly, that I would be throwing up for 12 hours. It would happen every 3 months or so. Sugar and Salt would not help that. Anyway. good luck. But when you tank, you will not be able to turn things around. And that will suck.
Yes, you're right. I think it's time I asked my doctor to check my bp and do something. I'm tired of the headaches as well... That may help kill two birds with one stone! XD
Too many general practioners have zero experience with CKD. I had more than one prescribe this or that and a higher dose, so of course, I get a cough and I stopped taking it. Again, ask for an ACE or ARB and start with the smallest dose then after three months test your blood etc, and six months.... But give it time to work before getting a higher dose. I got 2.5 mg. And that did the trick, but took six months to really get used to it...even that small dose.
We truly can't ignore bias in test results. Barbara presented a rhetorical question (not a personal question) that those who are black can be treated in a subpar manner. So, this is a warning to the readership in general. Sadly, this problem is well known and there is no reason any lab to still separate out the black population in establishing egfr on which many, many outcomes are determined.
Too many general practioners have zero experience with CKD. I had more than one prescribe this or that and a higher dose, so of course, I get a cough and I stopped taking it. Again, ask for an ACE or ARB and start with the smallest dose then after three months test your blood etc, and six months.... But give it time to work before getting a higher dose. I got 2.5 mg. And that did the trick, but took six months to really get used to it...even that small dose.
Weird I did the height/weight calculation (creatinine clearance) and it shows me with a GFR of 15-17 while my renal panel shows an eGFR of 22.
Microalbumin creatine ratio
Still no clue whats going on but have some numbers
Kidney failure definition
High serum creatinine with High Creatinine clearance. Thoughts or experience on this
Kidney test results - opinions please
