Can general illness affect your egrf - Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease

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Can general illness affect your egrf

Folklady profile image
19 Replies

I was wondering if anyone knows if being unwell with a bad cold or the flu can affect your EGRF. At the end of last year my egrf was 54, I had it repeated three months after and I made sure I drank lots of fluids before the test and it came back above 60. Annoyingly the blood test won't tell you what your measurement is if above 60. Anyway I had one done last week that I didn't expect and it had gone down to 52. Is this likely to because I had been unwell for 10 days before with a heavy cold, or because I affected my measurement by drinking lots of fluids in the days running up to the test. I have another test in three weeks time.

Thank you for your help.

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Folklady profile image
Folklady
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19 Replies
Ziggydoodah profile image
Ziggydoodah

Hi Folklady. My gfr was at 15 in January. I had a terrible flu/cold, that was doing the rounds. My husband also had it and he felt awful. Ended up in hospital as my consultant was worried. On a drip for 24hrs. Gfr had gone down to 9. They got it up to 12. Two weeks later, I got Omicrin. Gfr went back down to 9. So I believe your gfr can go up and down when you have a cold etc. All the best.

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to Ziggydoodah

Thank you. Hope You are feeling better now.

whats profile image
whats in reply to Folklady

My eGFR also went down after various illnesses though it came back up. Does anybody know what the mechanism might be? I didn't take any medicine, just extra water and steam. Maybe the antibodies, fever, the ketosis when you don't eat much?

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to whats

That's an interesting thought. My cold/ flu didn't stop me eating sadly.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to whats

From what I understand is your eGFR is an estimate based on that particular time you have the test done. As an estimate it can be affected by dehydration for example while you are sick. I'd be worried more about creatinine, BUN, potassium and phosphorus levels., and protein/blood in urine. While they are also markers for that particular date and time, if you track the results over a period of time you can get a good idea of where you stand.

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to horsie63

Thank you. I am having more bloods done on Wednesday so will see how it goes. But I fear having just had an infusion foe osteoporosis and covid almost simultaneously I am not expecting an improvement. But am trying to drink a good amount of water daily.

fartikins profile image
fartikins in reply to Ziggydoodah

Oh crikey - I have a stinker of a cold and my husband has tested positive for Coronavirus. I managed to get a PCR test sent which I have done and sent off. I hope I don't get Coronavirus because I am a stage 4 person but if the test is positive they will prescribe retrovirals to try and keep the damned thing down. I feel pretty grim at the moment but he still wants his tea cooking for him ( a difficult subject )

whats profile image
whats in reply to fartikins

I got coronavirus, the omicron variant that isn't as serious. I didn't take anything for it. My eGFR went down a few points, though its lately been going up past where it was before, maybe because I'm losing weight from the kidney diet though? Anyway, sorry you're sick, its not fun, and having to make tea for your guy? I think Skeptix got the delta variant over a year ago and his eGFR stayed down a little?

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to whats

Thank you, that good to know, as I just tested positive for covid this morning. So far I'm not to bad and have only taken paracetamol for the headache.

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to fartikins

I have just tested positive this morning too. Not too bad at the moment. I am hoping it stays that way. I think I will just make sure I drink a lot. I also have a husband that can't cook.

barbara55109 profile image
barbara55109

eGFR is a moment in time blood test. LOTS of things effect it. My Dr. focuses on the trends, not the specific numbers.

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to barbara55109

I think that sounds very sensible. I will have a test done again in a couple of weeks so will see what that shows.

fartikins profile image
fartikins

Hello - I have tested positive now and feel like the proverbial. I rang the 111 helpline and the outcome of everything is I have to go into hospital for a anti viral drip - which stops 80% of the spikes multiplying. Its either that or a tablet which gives me 30% protection. This ckd thing has me really cheesed off now - what solution do I take. The drip can make you feel really ill that's why they keep you in for observation. Thanks for reading

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to fartikins

Hope you get the right treatment and soon start to feel better. Let us know how you get on please.

fartikins profile image
fartikins in reply to fartikins

Hello - thanks for your message. I spoke with the doctor and decided to go with the 3rd line of treatment which is a drug called Lagevrio - can anti viral you take for 5 days at the rate of 8 per day - 4am and 4pm - I was concerned about the drip because it is a strong therapy and I. am trying to protect my kidneys as best as I can. The dose of covid I have got is really nasty and I am so fed up because I have gone through work -keeping myself self etc then hubby brings it into the house and whammo - I have really been knocked for 6. I have to take this stuff until Saturday - it just gives you a headache and makes you feel really sick. Thanks for reading.

Folklady profile image
Folklady in reply to fartikins

I am feeling really dreadfull today. Can barely get out of bed. Everthing hurts, even my eyed. Got a deep dragging pain in my kidney area. At what point did you decide to call the helpline number? How are you feeling today?

fartikins profile image
fartikins in reply to Folklady

Hello - gosh I am so sorry to hear about your health with this covid. Its how it got me as well. I had been feeling fluffy for a day or so and because my husband tested positive I was sent a PCR test (( which turned out to be positive ) I also did a lateral flow test which was positive. I am uk based and perhaps our system is a different but I rang 111 and got everything going because I didn't want to waste a second getting covid treated with anti virals. We get anti virals in the uk when you are ckd 4 or 5. The NHS were brilliant - I decided not to do the infusion because of the strain on your kidneys so I went for 3rd line treatment of Logeviro which involves taking a massive amount of pills for 5 days. They make you feel a bit sick and dizzy but if it reduces your chance of hospitalisation by 50% then I am all for it. Let me know how you are.

Folklady profile image
Folklady

Hi, I am in UK too, Scotland. Ah,, I wouldnt qualify then as in stage 3 but it is so frustrating that with kidney disease you don't get taken seriously until things get worse when I would rather try to proactively stop myself getting worse. I had an infusion with a bisulphate drug for osteoporosis on Saturday which is also hard on your kidneys so I dread to think what my next egrf will be. Hope you are not getting the side effects from the antivirals too badly. But definitely sounds like a good idea. I have started to feel a little better as my temp has come down a bit. Here's hoping for an improvement tomorrow. But covid has certainly given me some really weird dreams.

Blackknight1989 profile image
Blackknight1989

It’s awesome to ask these questions but if interested her is an example of my “google” search I use when I am looking for the most recent info:

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