My GFR dropped from 58 to 48 between March and November (on should be Greater than 60). Any chance the Covid vaccine can affect those tests? BTW, I am a big believer in vaccines. My neighbor had the same thing happen. Then her numbers went back to her normal. The only thing I can think that I did different was the vaccines and then the booster. I see there is some research in Europe regarding rare kidney side affects.
GFR lab results: My GFR dropped from 58 to 4... - Kidney Disease
GFR lab results
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Lucido
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BassetmommerNKF Ambassador
No one in the Government will probably ever let us know the true impact of vaccines because they won't know for many years. I too had a drop after my two shots, but it came back up. It's a gamble. Get covid and surely lose my kidneys or have a short-lived drop. I went with the latter.
I think I'll check with the vaccine manufacturer. I don't think its a reason not to get the vaccine. If they recommend a 4th shot, I will get that too. But I think they would want to know this information. I'll get retested in February.
I just read where multiple shots can break down the immune system. Most people have had three shots in a year.
Yup, the three covid vaccines plus got the flu shot at the same time as the booster. No immediate reaction other than a slightly sore arm. GFR numbers have gradually gone down with age but this was biggest drop in short period.
3 shots in a year and people are still getting Covid ?????? I for one am not buying what they are selling!
I've had the 2 Moderna vaccine shots plus the booster. In fact, I am in the Moderna study. My GFR goes up and down but what I found after the 2nd vaccine was my proteinuria went sky high. It has always been high, in the 100s + but this was up to 3000. I had to have a biopsy at that point to see if more was going on than diabetes, nothing was. It's still high but then its only been a couple of months since the booster. From June to Sep I had no tests. I have reported this to Moderna but of course they don't say anything. It will be interesting in the end to see what all it does cause.
I'm a strong supporter of the vaccine but if lower GFR labs are a possible side affect, doctors and patients should know just so people don't get freaked out.
Agree, but it will be a while for them to decide which side effects are real and which on just a coincidence. If you think about it, it takes years for a new med to be approved, many studies. The covid vaccine was approved in just months. It will take time to know all the ramifications of it.
After working for lawyers as a paralegal on many medical malpractice and product liability cases for many years, and watching numerous commercials from law firms advertising to contact them if a person is adversely affected by all sorts of meds, I lay the blame squarely in the lap of the FDA for lack of proper testing/screening of drugs. However, the lawsuits are always brought against the drug manufacturers.I shutter to think what the long-term effects of a vaccine like the mRNA and J&J will have down the road! Some diseases, like cancer, don’t rear their ugly heads for such a long time after administering that tracing it back to a source becomes a challenge (like the Prevacid and ranitidine lawsuits now blaming the drug for cancer after years of taking). I believe that is why drug manufacturers warn in the directions against long-term use of a med (for example, Omeprazole — which I take daily instead of the prescription “Pantoprazole”.). I believe it’s a “cover their butts” blanket warning to ward off future Product Liability lawsuits.
Look at the Asbestosis/mesothelioma cases. I worked with a lawyer in the late 70’s/early 80’s on the defense of manufacturers in those cases. They said during the mid 80’s that they would see the end of those lawsuits by the 1990’s. Well….they are still around. It can take decades after exposure to asbestos to contract mesothelioma, so I assume these cases will go on ad infinitum! BTW: it actually takes only 1 fiber of asbestos to later (possibly) cause mesothelioma. Unbelievable.
I never knew Pantoprazole was bad for kidneys. I knew about the 14 day limit but everyone ignored that. And of course I've taken it for years now. But my docs as they saw my GFR gradually go down never said "maybe the pantoprazole's not a good idea anymore." So now I'll request something else. Same with the gabapentin. My concern is that I not end up on dialysis. I'll change my diet and do whatever I need to do. But I don't know what I don't know and therefor don't know what questions to ask like what other tests I should request.
I have no definitive information that pantoprazole is bad for your kidneys. However, in 2019 I signed up for a study at my transplant hospital of receiving a hep C+ deceased kidney sponsored by the drug "Epclusa". During the evaluation process for the study, a nephrologist looked at my medicine list and said "you have got to stop the pantoprazole." At that time, I assumed he meant to stop taking it forever b/c of my kidneys, but now I'm suspecting (without verifying) that it had an adverse reaction with the Epclusa medication.
Check with your nephrologist or do additional research to find out. I find that the Omeprazole, which is over the counter and I can get on my Humana Medicare plan free each month, works for me, but obviously it is in the same family since it ends with the "prazole" word. I have not been told to stop taking it. It, however, as you said, also has a warning of not taking it over 14 days. I accidentally forgot to put it in my pill pack recently and in about a week and a half I started getting acid reflux again. So, who knows whether the acid reflux is more deleterious to my organs (such as the esophagus) or the drug is affecting my kidneys. I believe it's a 20 mg tablet.
My father died of liver cancer which was metastasized from having esophageal cancer, so I guess it's a toss of the coin which I would rather have: a problem with my esophagus or a lessening of my gfr.
It's disheartening that some of these doctors do not really know the facts about medication and how it affects the body. I still occasionally have to take a Pantoprazole tablet at bedtime if I ate something that causes more acid than the Omeprazole can relieve.
A couple things that helped me were watching the types of food that I eat -- like acid-producing foods -- and also not eating anything after 7:00 at night because the acid reflux caused more problems when lying down in bed on a somewhat full stomach.
Good luck to us all!!!
Youre right but the medics only do what the system tells them. Hence the vaccine manufacturer isn't the port of call (see my reply to jodaer).
The vaccine manufacturer isn't the port of call, it's VAERS in the US (MHRA/yellow card here in UK). I'd expect the response you got from the manufacturer but they ought to have directed you to the relevant reporting system. For the sake of others, further research etc, it's key.
Wow that is scary 😣
I am due for my booster on Monday Jan. 3rd. I'm supposed to get my next kidney blood tests drawn the following week for my Nephrologist appt. on Jan. 16.
Maybe I'll see a change, it only went back up on one test. I'd be surprised if I have protein as I never had it before as I've been a lifelong vegetarian. And now that I am on Prednisone for my autoimmune disease my eGFR went from 28 up to 50. It was between 30 - 35 for the 3 years before that.
Have you had more than 3 abnormal tests? Usually you need to in order to be considered Chronic kidney disease.
Saying COVID vaccine is the reason behind the change is reasonable, but mine is autoimmune disease, so it's really impossible to pin down fluctuations IMHO.
2017 - 67, 2018 - 54, 2020 -58, Mar 2021 - 58, Nov 2021 - 48. Only 2 Meds. Gabapentin 400mg once per day. Pantaprazole 40mg 2 times per day. Not diabetic, no high blood pressure but I am overweight. I just don't want to rely on doc to not take this serious. 10 point drop in 8 months concerns me.
10 points in 8 months isn't too drastic. I've droped 8 points in 2 months. Make sure you are hydrated for the week or two before your test. That will account for a drop if you are dehydrated.
Are you on a plant-based diet? That will help. You are still in stage 3A so you can take a lot of steps to retain your kidney function. You still have roughly 50% of your kidney function left which is not bad at all. Many here have less than 10%.
Please look into a plant-based diet, it will help with controlling weight. Try eating foods from a low-glycemic index table. I used to counsel cardiac patients on diet and exercise rehab as part of my job. They were also instructed to go on a plant-based diet. It is the single most important step you can take to keep your kidneys working. Most everyone here follows a healthy diet, a bit of poultry or fish occasionally is fine if you don't want to go totally plant-based. Just keep the majority of you meals based on veggies. You'll learn to enjoy it, trust me. Check out kidneyschool.org/mods/ for info and eating tips.
I don't know your age. If you are over 65 your kidney numbers will naturally fall a bit over time year by year. But get the extra weight off and increase your water and cut back on other fluids, water is best to help your kidneys flush out toxins. You need to help them do their work. Exercising helps too, even something not that strenuous. Find something you enjoy doing and you'll stick with it. Get a bike, go swimming, take yoga, there are all kinds of things that will help with kidneys and weight loss.
I send you my best wishes for your health in the New Year~~
🐇
I'm 75, retired but active. Spend several hours a day outside in the SW desert planting, weeding, painting, building etc. I do not hydrate enough so I'll have to change that. I just forget to keep water handy. Happy to switch to mostly plant based. This is new to me but very concerned about it getting worse. Thanks for the link.
It's good that you are open minded about switching to plant based. I think the extra water may really help. Keep some ice too, it'll add extra fluid as it melts, or freeze plastic water bottles and bring them outside with you so they are thawed when you are ready and will be nice and cool.
I became a Water-aholic about 20 years ago. My asthma Dr. told me if I drank one gallon of water per day it would help my asthma. It helped. Now I drink a 5 gallon bottle of water per week, so about 3/4 gallon, but that's still a lot!!!
Sounds like you have a great attitude and desire to control this disease. Best of luck and Healthy Happy New Year.
Have you checked whether these other medications could be causing the GFR drop? Pantaprazole is similar to Prilosec and ive been told that both can be problematic for kidneys. In any event, I agree that you had a big drop with your GFR and I'd be worried, too. Hope you can find out why soon. Meantime, you should seriously consider the vegetarian diet and other good advice offered by others. Best to you.
I know the Pantaprazole is bad for kidney function but have taken it for years. Tried cutting back to one per day but that's not working. Need to find a substitute. I don't like meat so I can easily eliminate that but no dairy will be difficult. I wonder why dairy is bad.
Pantaprazone and Prilosec are PPIs that are very difficult to stop taking. I tried to get off Prilosec a few times and only experienced horrible rebound of acid forcing me to get back on it. One can switch to an acid reducer that is not a PPI but should be guided to as how to do this by a gastro doctor. I found out the hard way, you just can't stop taking these PPIs cold turkey. Right now i"m only taking 10 mg of Prilosec that hardly anyone makes, but my mail in pharmacy does get it for me. I am very afraid to just stop taking this so I plan on getting to a gastro doctor soon for this and other issues. I have a great nephrologist, but he tends not to get me off medication that I claim I badly need and have been taking for awhile.
About the vegetarian diet: I'm struggling to get on it, too. However, my kidney doctor told me to go slow and currently limited animal protein meals to just twice a week. I'm doing this now, but I still eat low sodium swiss cheese, milk in my cereal, and an occasional egg omelet. Its a work in progress.
Good luck and please let us know how you make out. I know drops in GFR are worrisome. I get concerned when mine goes down just two or three points.
Thanks for your reply. I've been amazed at all the feedback. I want Star Trek technology - Step into a machine and get everything diagnosed at once!
LOL, I thought that years ago when I had my car hooked up to a diagnostics machine. I told my Dr. he should invent one for humans and become a Zillionaire!!!!😀😀😀🐇
Hi drmind,
My PCP and Neph decided to take me off Omaprozole/Prilosec and put me on Famotadine instead. I couldn't take it because it's orange and I'm allergic to food dyes.
Now I am taking Reglan/metaclopramide instead of Prilosec. It is helping even more and I'll see how it's doing on my kidneys in a few weeks. I was between eGFR of 35 - 30 for 3 years then went up to 50 after trying Prednisone for my autoimmune-related kidney disease. I hope between switching out meds and taking Pred. I'll stay in Stage 3, not down in Stage 4 where I was over the summer at eGFR of 28.
You might want to ask your Neph about Reglan, just a thought. If it might help it's worth asking. Happy New Year dr mind.
🐇🐇🐇
P.S. Does anyone know why I keep getting a frowny face from the text box as I'm typing, do they think I'm mean or sad? I'm trying to be helpful or even amusing at times. I think it's something new that just started?
Thank you so much. I'll definitely ask. Those PPIs are awful to try to stop. I thought I was doing so well with my 10mg Prilosec 7 days a week. Then 5 days a week, then 3 days, then no days. Would you believe that I had such horrible rebound acid reflux I almost had to go to the ER. Anyway that was before I switched to a more vegetarian diet and was still eating meat. So, I don't know how that would work now. But, I will look into what you recommended. My son who doesn't have CKD may also be interested. Again, thanks, and hoping we all enjoy good health and many happy moments.
And, keeping my fingers crossed that your lab results come back and make you happy. Nothing like doing the GFR dance so early in the year. Abd, please let us know how you made out
I know what you mean about cold turkey. I went for an entire month. I have silent GERD but I have esophageal dysmotility so my food just falls up my esophagus and out onto the floor if I lean over within an hour of eating. Quite bizarre. I called my Dr. and told him I had to have something else to take, between my kitty and me my floors were getting a workout LOL
The Reglan is really helping. And thanks I'll post after my labs in 2 weeks. I just want to stay out of the 20s, even if I don't maintain an eGFR of 50 again. It will be a 3 month check-up with the Neph to decide if the Pred is helping and we should continue or discontinue it.
Even though your son doesn't have CKD, you do, and being on that med plus the family history he should try something else if possible.
Happy New Year
Sending you a PM
Dairy is usually high in phosphorus. If you experience leg cramps or skin itching, high phosphorus can be the culprit. Most dialysis patients are on phosphorus binders to bind the phosphorus so that the toxins don’t build up. Unfortunately, phosphorus binders (I chew one Fosrenol 1,000 mg tablet — like a large Tums — with each meal and it contributes to my constipation — even if I stay hydrated). I’ve tried so many “Colace”, fiber, probiotic, etc. meds/supplements, but am now on Trulance (which is like Linzess) but it causes me to go to the porcelain thrown on numerous occasions! It also makes me feel quite tired.I asked my Transplant Coordinator why my PRA was documented as “0” in 2018 and now it is 72. I asked if there is any evidence that the Covid vaccine contributed to the drastic change. She said that the transplant hospital was now using a different algorithms to determine the PRA. I am skeptical.
Having been on dialysis for 6 yrs now, my labs don’t even show the GFR. I can calculate it myself by a formula of taking the Creatinine and BUN numbers to determine GFR. You can find the way to calculate it on Google (I cannot remember the formula since my GFR is so low now).
If eGFR continues to drop you need to see a Nephrologist and have a kidney biopsy to find the cause of your CKD. Without knowing the cause, the treatment won't be ideal for your case. Since you don't have T2 diabetes, or hypertension, there may be an autoimmune problem which can be treated.
I've been treated for fibromyalgia for years but its not severe and I've never been 100% positive about that diagnosis. I'll ask my GP about a referral in Feb. Right now these medical appointments are so hard to get scheduled.
My labs dropped almost exactly the same but this was last spring before the vaccines.
Best ask a Dr as always.In my own experience my egfr went up since or unchanged or uneffected I went from 42 to 60 even after taking 2 Pizfer shots and taking the booster soon. In my opinion it is better than getting the virus because the medicine or the virus can impair or damage your kidneys and reduce egfr by as much as 40%. Besides Covid can cause a lasting damage to the heart which is more important to any CKD patients. It will also damage the brains and lungs so protect yourself and be safe
I believe yes. My wife had same experience including recovery in couple of months. Real point is nobody can confirm or exclude as no official study have been published on this topic. I heard several cases like that.
I had a preciptous drop over two years and, although I can't prove it, I feel that it might have been caused by the Losartan/HCT combo pill that I was taking. My medication was changed and the eGFR has gone up a bit but not to anywhere near normal.
Darn you PecanSandie, I always want to eat some cookies when I read a post from your handle LOL!!!
Happy New Year!! Here's to all of our eGFRs going up even a tad bit in 2022!!!
LOL!
I'll toast to that wish, Sophiebun! Happy New Year to you and all !
I was taking a very large does of Propantazole a PPi for many years 40 MG. Much more than recommended, but my doctor kept upping the dose for acid.
After a lot of research in scientific sources, i discovered the theory of using betaine to replace the PPI. I credit PPis and mesalamine for my kidney damage. I am stable at high 40's and low 50's after reducing mesalamine and ending my use of PPIs.
I decided to get off and it took about a year of slowly decreasing my dose. PPI's turn off acid receptors in the stomach, so you need more and more and food is harder to digest.
As I decreased the PPI, I took Betaine ( a supplement that replaces acid in your stomach).
It completely took away the pain of acid reflux from reducing my PPI dose. I chose how much betaine to take by pain and if I burped, then I knew i needed a another betaine pill.
It absolutely worked. After you are off PPi's the acid receptors are reestablished in your stomach. I, now, take no betaine any more. I am vegan for a year now and that's has completely eliminated my need for occasional betaine.
At my peak of withdrawal from PPI I was taking 10 to 15 betaine pills a day with meals to digest my food. I took 2 0r 3 with every meal.
If you are taking a PPI regularly and try to stop, the acid you feel is not normal stomach acid but bacterial acid from food that can not be digested normally.
I was able to get off PPIs and have been off for 5 years or more, No more betaine. I must have enough stomach acid to digest my food. I notice a difference without meat in my diet and sugar. If I eat a piece of cake for example, I have to take a betaine because of acid reflux.
Good Luck to and and a pain free 2022 from acid relux!
Amazing how many people trust what the government is feeding them on vaccines,,,
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