I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on this.
I had some blood tests done around March of this year, and they shown a eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73m2 and Creatinine level of 116 umol/L.
I then had another blood test done in September, which gave a eGFR of 52 mL/min/1.73m2 and Creatinine level of 131 umol/L. (My Triglycerides were also high at 3)
This pointed to CKD stage 3, but I had not had a urine test to confirm this.
Since that news, I changed my lifestyle drastically, I cut out as much processed food as possible, decreased salt intake, decreased sugar intake, increased. fruit and plant based foods, replaced red meat for Chicken and Turkey, increased water intake from barely any to 2 to 3 litres per day, and started exercising. In 10 weeks I have lost 12kg (1.8 stone, 26lbs).
I have since had Ultra Sounds and everything came back ok with that (except for a fatty liver that I need to improve)
I also had another blood test 2 weeks ago and a urine test (not 24hr)
My GFR is now up to 61 (mL/min/1.73m2) from 52 (mL/min/1.73m2)
Serum Creatinine is down to 114 (umol/L) from 131
My Triglycerides are down to 1.2 (mmol/L) from 3
And the results from finally having the Urine Test are
Urine Albumin is <3.0
Urine Creatinine is 5.24 (mmol/L)
and ACR is <0.6 mg/mmol
What would this suggest?
Written by
russellh
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I would say you are on the right track with your dietary changes. The lack of proper nutrition is usually what leads to kidney disease. so I would continue what you're doing. If you are exercising that will also help. Continue to check with your doctors regularly as they identify the underlying cause.
Interesting last comment re underlying cause. Do US doctors seek to identify that?
Here in the UK, they simply treat symptoms. My dad once asked my mum's GP about the root cause for a condition she had and was told "we don't do root cause"! No explanation of the cause of her CKD has been offered by her GP, urologist or nephrologist. We believe it's likely to be her high BP (now resolved) or relatively high blood glucose since diabetes and BP are the 2 main causes of CKD but medics haven't advised.
Yes, that is interesting. Im in the UK, and the doctor has effectively said its likely I just have a low base rate in kidney function and there is nothing to worry about!!She even had the nerve to say I am too anxious about my health!
I don't have any other test planned by the doctor other than another blood test in 3 months time.
I'm left to my own devices with it really, not even had any lifestyle change information
My doctor said the same thing....don't listen. Get a new doctor this is a life long struggle for most of us. Read.....change diet, exercize, lose weight etc. You can stay at this stage for a long time with dietary and lifestyle changes. Right now you are in pretty good shape so improve where you can.
Ive actually booked in with another doctors for their opinion. Same surgery, but different doctors, so we will see what their feedback and thoughts are.
I would have thought they may have offered some advice at least on diet ect.
Hi Russellh, I don't like it when doctors tell patients they just have anxiety. I was told that that for years until finally a doctor found I had a rare condition. Your doctor was probably trying to tell you not to worry yet, but she needs to work on her bedside manner.
Anyways, nice job on trying to improve your health with lifestyle changes!I think you need to make sure your labs are monitored regularly. If your blood work in 3 months comes back low again, ask for a referral to a nephrologist. It may be that your doctor will not refer you yet. In that case, it might be best to look for a new primary care if she has no plan to look for a cause. Do you know if you have a blood pressure problem or a health condition that could put you at risk?
Low blood pressure is my cause. My eGFR is 40 and I am 45 years old. This had been going on for years in my lab work but I was not told until it went into the eGFR 40s. I did get to a nephrologist and had a biopsy done in sept. Now my nephrologist is going to discuss treatment soon for the low blood pressure. Honestly, I feel it could have turned out better if I had not trusted my doctors to take really good care of me.
I wish you the best! I know its hard to wait for answers. Be vigilant on making sure your health is protected. I hope it turns out your kidneys are fine, but if not get the help you need.
I couldn't agree more. If I am anxious about health then its only cause they haven't won my confidence yet! Plus my mother died through years of misdiagnosis of a previous doctor of something that turned out to be cancer, if it was diagnosed right at the first stage she may well have been treated in time. It certainly made me angry when she said it.
My blood pressure has been high for quite some time, each time I do it at home and enter it in to the NHS app, it says I'm in Hypertension 1. The funny thing is, each time I get it checked at the doctors, all the say is "its a little high but nothing to worry about"
I have a feeling, is the signed are that its not CKD and possible an AKI, that it might all be through damage caused by taking painkillers such as Iburofen and Diazapam for a great number of years.
I guess if the doctors plans are to just monitor through blood tests, I will ensure its dont 4 times a year!!
Russellh, I’m sorry about what happened to your Mom. It’s hard enough to lose a family member and then know it may have been preventable.
If you can get your doctor to order a 24 hour blood pressure monitor that could be helpful.That was helpful for me. It checked my blood pressure every 20 minutes all day all night. I think it was more accurate than the one I have at home.
My mom’s kidney doctor said she is only allowed to take Tylenol now. Hopefully your kidneys were not damaged by ibuprofen. I hope you get the answers and help you need. Have a nice evening Russellh.
I never read any mention of a medical team or Nephrologist. Are you doing this all by yourself.
You need to have a very good Nephrologist/medical team that can advise you.
This forum is not intended to diagnose you - it is to provide you with our experience, what we read, research, etc.
And you can use what we give you to refer them to your doctor.
You have to take control of mapping your journey. Everything else, you need to digest and add to your vast of information you need to know. You vannot pick and chose nor take everything as cast in stones.
Sometimes it's also important to know that the cause of something may never be proved. I crashed to 8GFR without any symptoms and despite a battery of tests, biopsy and not being overweight, or diabetic or having high blood pressure it was a best guess scenario. I have another condition that means I took a very common medication that so very very rarely can cause kidney issues and thats probably what caused my AKI which in turn became CKD through time. Chronic just meaning long lasting not worse. My GFR is now 26 but its been a long slog. I will be frank and say because I ate healthily (and I hate the expression) I had no diet just avoid banana's, grapes and low salt salt, baked beans and drink a lot of water. In short I'm in the UK and do have a Nephrologist, spent weeks in the major trauma hospital then the Renal hospital and see a Nephrologist every three months. It's difficult with the restrictions of Covid at the moment but have you had a biopsy and/or a CT scan because it may be a watching brief until the hospitals are able to do more and in reality your function is not bad.
Hi Medea’s-lady, I have AKI but it seems it’s CKD now. At least that’s how I understand it. I asked my doctor if he thought my eGFR could improve and he said he didn’t know. Would you mind sharing how long it took to see improvement in your eGFR?
Mine was an AKI that through time is renamed CKD and they don't know so your not being fobbed off but as my son said 'medicine is a science but not an exact science" it was slow and from an AKI of 8 to 26 its been over two years. And function does decrease as we get older naturally. I was told that its not just about GFR as well but in my biopsy 25% of my kidney was dead and the rest looked normal but just doesn't work due to a medication injury although that is a hypothesis not a fact. It's best guess but can't be proved as the damage had been done but not as in a car accident when tears and rip are clearly seen. CKD taut means in the UK that the decreased function has lasted longer than six months. I was tested for all the usual kidney problems but all were negative. The consultant said that they do there best to find out but at the end of the day sometimes the damage is done but it's just not passible to determine why. If you're in the UK find your local Kidney Patients Association and join. Its good to talk to people in a similar situation, and your local Renal Unit will be able to pass on details of a contact. I'm in Kent and their is a group here.
Thank you so much for sharing medway-lady. My biopsy showed acute injury with damage. I guess I’ll have to wait and see if my eGFR improves some and I’m trying to take good care of myself. Thank you!!!
Ask your Dr as it is not a complete blood work and urine analysis however from what you describe it is not yet CKD unless you have physical kidney damage as well maybe mild AKI again confirm with Dr first. you do not have to be strict on diet yet but you should talk to a dietician before making any changes. Although you should eat mindfully drink enough but not over ask your Dr how much and avoid things like smoking anything or any OTC including all NSAIDs cold meds steroids alcohol illegal drugs and unnecessary supplements especialy creatine. Do anything that will benefit your heart and your kidneys will benefit not the other way around. At least for the first 3 stages. Stress management breathing exercise walking etc finally get vaccinated or get boosted you really don't want Covid damaging your kidneys. Not everyone with impaired kidney function has CKD especially if one is above 60 since our kidney function degrades with age. Dr usually checks for other reasons before they make a diagnosis so if you have other issues such as inflamation diabetes or high BP etc make sure to try to control those first. Take care. This is NOT a diagnosis please talk to your Dr before making any changes.
Thanks for all the replies everyone, very much appreciate it.
I'm certainly not looking for a diagnosis, I know I wont get that from here, but more a guide on what other doctors are doing to see if my doctor is doing all the right steps. When she keeps say I must have a low base line, I feel like she is brushing it under the carpet.
I used to take Iburofen, probably over the last 20 years due to issues with my lower back. I have a feeling that will have had a huge impact unfortunately. I certainly wont be taking them anymore.
I had Covid exactly a year ago now, and had my two jabs around June, Im a bit hesitant on the booster though I must admit as I'm worried it will do something to the kidneys
I do have a banana each day, are they quite bad for the kidney then?
In my case I was told not to worry for 4 years, even though I said my mother and sister have CKD and my blood work showed I did. She continued to tell me don't worry. Lose some weight maybe a high protein diet will help..she said. That's when I really got sick cause my kidneys couldn't process all that protein. Then she said yes you do have stage 3 kidney disease. Needless to say I switch from family dr to an internist and nephologist. Be persistent . Because there is nothing they can prescribe they tell you don't worry. Through this forum I've learned so much. Hope you figure it out. Get that BP under control and find out if that's a factor. Good luck
I had a Moderna booster in late October. I just had new labs done and my GFR is up 5 points and some other small problems I had in previous labs have improved or just disappeared. I am not a doctor and of course, you should do your own investigation, but I don't think I've seen any correlation between the vaccine and kidney problems.
I agree with you. My hubby has had three Covid vaccines thus far - two while on dialysis with poor functioning kidneys and one with a transplant. His numbers didn't change after the jabs. Since about half of those that are hospitalized with serious cases of Covid wind up with acute kidney injury, it's good to see that most people seek vaccination to protect themselves from the harm it produces. webmd.com/lung/covid-kidney...
Exactly! I have fought hard to protect my kidneys and I don't want to see a loss of function if I can help it! I'm also living like a hermit, lol. Covid is nothing to mess around with. I got a vaccine as soon as I was able.
i had CKD of 53 - lost about 25 lbs started exercising - drinking lots of water (same as you) and went to 77 egfr. I dont have high BP or cholesterol or diabetes. I was taking a s**t ton f Advil which probably did the trick and eating meat almost every day. Cut the meat / eat chicken and fish and salads, work out and plenty of water. This is Just my 2 cents: living a healthy lifestyle is most likely the best defense against many diseases including CKD.
I'm not a doctor, but based on those numbers I'd say you're skirting around CKD but since there is no evidence that your GFR has been below 60 (the cut-off point, it seems) for more than 3 months, you're not in CKD technically. But it's obvious that you are benefitting from a lifestyle change and you should keep at it! It sounds like you're really taking this seriously and are making many necessary changes. I would imagine (again, not a doctor!) that if you hadn't made these changes, your GFR would continue to be below 60 and you'd have other problems.
My GFR right now is 57, it's been below 60 for over a year so for sure I have CKD, but I've made a lot of changes and I am hoping that I can stay in this light/moderate stage of CKD for many, many years. It was caught early, thank the Lord. Looks like the same thing going on for you. It's been caught in plenty of time, keep on doing what you're doing and researching and advocating for your own health!
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