anyone diagnosed at a young age?

[Mommy_of_2]

Hi! I'm a 30 yo female. I have hashimotos which I'm wondering if it might be related. My GFR has fallen for my last 2 blood tests, 74 to 69. It isn't below the limit yet, and I have to go take another blood test in January but I'm still scared regardless. I have health anxiety already so you can imagine how this is going for me. Can anyone reassure me that it is possible to live a long life with CKD? I don't have high blood pressure or anything so I'm sure mine would have to be caused by some systematic autoimmune Issue.

[Sophiebun11]

Hi Mommy of 2,

Yes indeed you can lead a long life with CKD. Your eGFR is still fairly high. 70% of your kidney function is working. Mine went down to 28% and I'll still be around for a very long time.

You need to start taking care of yourself by starting a plant-based diet. Also drinking a lot of water can and will raise your eGFR before a test. If you are a little dehydrated your result will be a little lower which isn't anything to worry about unless it goes very low.

The main thing I'd suggest is to see a Rheumatologist if you don't have one. Then see a Nephrologist. You can have a kidney biopsy done to determine the cause of your CKD. Hashimotos itself doesn't cause CKD but medications and inflammation or other accompanying autoimmune diseases can contribute to lower kidney function.

I have Hashimoto's, but it's not a problem for my kidneys. I also have Scleroderma which is like Lupus and it destroys the kidneys and lungs, and hearts and joints. Pretty much everything except the brain.

My Nephrologist started me on Prednisone for kidney inflammation due to autoimmune disease and my eGFR went up, but we have to test it again next month to see if it dropped back down to Stage 4.

There are other treatments for autoimmune caused CKD like CellCept, I may be starting that next per my Neph after I see my new Rheumatologist but I don't have an appt. until May. LOL it only took a year to get that referral.

I know being a mom you are concerned about being around to watch your kids grow up.

Read all you can on this website, the more you learn the less worried you'll be: kidneyschool.org/mods/

If you eat less animal protein, and increase water your eGFR should show some improvement when you are retested in 3 months.

Best of luck, and happy holidays to you and your family.

[Okiksaints1955]

This is a reprint from my previous post. I was diagnosed in my early 30's, had my transplant at 66. Never went to dialysis. It's a long journey. Hope yours is even better.

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Each kidney case is unique to the individual. Every Nephrologist is only as good as his capacity to learn, education, experience, cooperation with other Nephrologists, ability an willingness to research and learn new developments, etc.

I was diagnosed with glomerulus nephritis 30 years ago. I found the right Nephrologist for me (I am inquisitive, ask many questions and won't stop until I am satisfied) 14 years ago. My eGFR was 22 and creatinine was low 2.0. With the proper kidney management (mix and match of meds as I have other conditions, diet, lifestyle, etc), he was able to extend my kidney's functionality until my living donor transplant a month ago. He was also able to reduce my stress level by being open, providing me with options and preparing me with the eventualities. He researched a lot and has a vast network of fellow Nephrologists.

Points are:

- Find the right Nephrologist for you that will give you the right answers. After all, you are the client.

- Our advices and opinions could be unique to our case. We base these on our experiences and/or what we researched. We are not kidney disease experts. Digest what we give you and use them to create questions you will ask your Nephrologist (the right one). He is the expert.

Good luck. Take care.

[medway-lady]

I have a GFR of 26 and live an active life. GFR can go up and down naturally so don't panic and stay hydrated and be patient as the next blood test it could be up not down. I don't think Hashimoto's is relevant and my thyroid went about 30 years ago. I'd say don't worry yet and don't go on any extreme diet just stay active and see what happens. If your in the UK your GP may be able to give you some advice but it's unlikely you'll see a Nephrologist for a good while and I don't know why a Rhumatologist would be helpful unless you have RA. Perhaps I missed something as I do have Rhumatoid Arthritis so take RA meds.

[Nana16]

I was not diagnosed until I was at stage 3, but I was in my 60's when that happened. I was most likely slowly losing function over many years. I am now in my mid 70's, and have lost only about 10 points over the last 12 years. I also have Hashimoto's, and I have had a massive struggle to first get that confirmed, 17 years after I was put on Synthroid with no explanation other than 'sometimes when you get old your thyroid just doesn't work as well'. When I was finally tested, I had off the charts TPOAC antibodies, and also very high TSAB. My GP sent me for a thyroid ultrasound, which showed a 'shriveled and shrunken' (wording of the ultrasound report) thyroid. So she sent me to an Endocrinologist who told me she only tests for TSH, so I went back to my GP. She has only tested T3 a few times, and it's always at the very low end of the range, or below range. I did some research a while back and found that there is a connection seen between CKD and Hashimoto's. I do as close to plant based as I am able, but because I also have IBS, there are a lot of plant groups my body does not tolerate. I know about the anxiety that comes with thyroid issues, and I also have IBS which has its own set. Do the best you can with eating plant based, healthy diet, omit soda as so as possible, if you do drink it, and drink lots and lots of water. Another tip about your test: Avoid any heavy duty exercise for a couple of days before you go. That can cause your creatinine level to be a little higher, and that will skew the results. Here's a medical report about CKD/Hashimoto's for reference. I don't believe that many practitioners in the US even know this, and it's awfully hard to tell your doctor that you know more about something than they do. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Nana16]

Good to know. My Internist was only concerned about my Sclerodema being a cause of CKD as was my Neph. It took a long time for me to get diagnosed with Hashimotos but I had many other autoimmune things going on. finally a new rheumatologist figured it out and got me to an endocrinologist when the synthroid wasn't lowering my TSH. Turned out to also be low Vit D and hyperparathyroid along with the hashimoto's thyroiditis. Autoimmune stuff is so complex. Thanks for the link. I didn't find any during my search.

[OKShakespeare]

I am in my mid 70's and have had Hashimotos since I was about your age. My hashi was discovered when I lost fertility and once hashi was corrected I regained it and had a child. My thyroid disease is poorly managed and I never seem to have the right amount of meds to regulate it properly. So, yes my CKD is probably a result of all those years. I am 3b and have had a lowering eGFR for years. Will I be able to forge on till 80? I don't know. But, you can probably get a lot of future years depending upon how you can take care of yourself.