MY CKD JOURNEY..FROM EGFR OF 11 TO EGFR OF 84.. FROM AKI 5 TO CKD 2.. STRUGGLING WITH LOW SODIUM LEVELS.

[Mwachibwago]

Good morning CKD heroes? Thanks for reading my long post.. Today,marks one month since I joined this wonderful community.

Got my past lab tests results from my Dr..they read as follows.

First, have summarised them into 2 stanzas.

FIRST STANZA(From February 28-2021 to November 22 - 2021)...Was admitted to hospital with flank pain on the right lower ribcage (on 28 February).. Blood test results revealed my serum creatine was at 483.63(normal range 72-127)....egfr was recorded as 11... blood urea 25.40(normal range 2.1-7.1)...other parameters ware okay, except sodium was low

On 1-3-2021.. creatinine was at 449.50 and egfr 12

2-3_2021 creatine 388.54 egfr 14...

9-3-2021 creatinine was 170.21 egfr 39..Was discharged from hospital on 9 March 2021. The final diagnosis was chronic UTI, Sepsis,DM2,AKI.. The following were recorded during my clinic visits.

16-3-2021 creatinine was 151.88 egfr 45

17-5-2021 creatinine was 107.81 egfr 68.

On 30-10-2021, was admitted again with pain in the right flank lower ribcage.. creatinine was 120.96 egfr not given. Was discharged on 2-11-2021 with a creatinine of 117.60 egfr 61.. final diagnosis.(Both kidneys are normal in sizes-rt kidney 95.9*50.7mm...lt kidney 108.5*83*5mm).. early renal parenchymal disease (nephropathy)..On 22-11-2021 creatinine was 100 .69 egfr 85....All through the tests,have seen low serum sodium levels.the other parameters were within the normal ranges,.

SECOND STANZA...(From 3-2-2022 to date).

3-2-2022 creatinine was 112.37 egfr 81

3-3-2022 creatinine was 93.62 egfr 85

13-5-2022 creatine was 94.96 egfr 84( Sodium levels still low).

URINALYSIS TEST.only on 28 February 2021 it showed Blood positive +..All the other tests, including the latest one showed negative blood.Protein has been negative throughout.

BLOOD AND URINE CULTURE RESULTS.. showed normal results..no growth.

A1C was 11.5 last year, January stood at 8.6 this month is at 5.86.

LIPID PROFILE..On 1-11-2021 all parameters were normal.

January 3 -2022 LDL cholesterol was high at 4.6..was given atorvastatin .

On 13-5-2022 total cholesterol was low at 3.13(normal range 3.2-5.2).. LDL cholesterol was also low at 1.66(normal range 2.59-3.34).. nolonger using atorvastatin.

Now,I have been experiencing burning sensation and throbbing pain in my right leg and itchy dry skin,could it because of the low sodium levels or something else? Also,what is the best solution to improve my sodium levels and boost my cholesterol levels?

Is it possible for egfr to increase from 11 to 84 for CKD? Have heard some saying increase in egr does not mean improved kidney function.. Does it mean my kidney function is still at 11? Which is the best way to maintain or even improve my egfr? Am already on plant based diet.

There's a lot to inform you,but have that bite for now..

[Marvin8]

For an eGFR to increase from 11 to 84 means either you had an acute kidney injury that miraculously healed itself or a kidney transplant you weren't aware of.

[Mwachibwago in reply to Marvin8]

Thanks for your clarification..I think it was Aki but it has induced diabetic nephropathy...

[Sarah_402]

I have acute kidney injury and now chronic kidney disease. However mine was not caught in a timely manner probably because it was dropping over time rather than all of a sudden. From my limited understanding it is possible for acute kidney injury to improve. In my case, it has not improved. It sounds like in your case, your kidneys have slowly improved over time, which I have heard can happen from a few other members on this site with acute.

[Mwachibwago in reply to Sarah_402]

Thanks Saray_402 for sharing your CKD journey, which, to some extent is similar to mine...Now I have Aki induced diabetic nephropathy..The egfr improvement climaxed at 84..It seems I may have had diabetic nephropathy before the Aki attack...What the Aki attack did was to somehow wake me up...Am already on partial plant based diet,but will top up with lots of fruits and see what the egfr readings will be on July 6 this year..What is your latest egfr as per the latest lab tests?

[Sarah_402 in reply to Mwachibwago]

Hi Mwachibwago, I am 45 years old and my egfr is 40. It fell from 89 to 40s over 4 years most likely due to low blood pressures by a rare condition I have. I had a biopsy that said AKI, which I thought was weird considering it happened over a 4 year period. Then 6 months ago, my doctor thought with treatment for my blood pressure my egf would improve to maybe high 50s, but it did not. So maybe not everyone with acute improves? I think you are very wise to take control now and look after your health. I do exercise, eat mostly plants, and take my medications for blood pressure control. We can only do what we have control over right…

[Mwachibwago in reply to Sarah_402]

Sarah_ 402.. Sorry for what happened to you..Am 52 yrs and 7 months old ..I can only cheer you on and encourage you to keep on keeping on..After all, the darkest night is not at all that dark..There were people who saw darknesses compared to what you are seeing today was morning light to them..but they had hope, revive that hope and you will cross the few remaining rivers towards Jerusalem..

[Sarah_402 in reply to Mwachibwago]

Thank you so much Mwachibwago. I needed that today

[Sophiebun11]

That's fantastic!! Are you on a diuretic? That could be causing low sodium. I ask because I too have low sodium and low potassium and my Dr. says it's from my diuretic. I take a potassium supplement. If your sodium is below normal it can be treated medically. If it's just low normal, don't worry.

When my eGFR went up a little after starting on Prednisone for inflammation from my autoimmune disease which is the cause of my kidney damage, my Neph told me that even though my eGFR increased somewhat the damage had been done. I had to stop the Prednisone and my eGFR is dropping again so he was right, but mine was increased with the help of a pill not on its own. And I still never increased beyond Stage 3B.

Good luck, you're an inspiration to others!

[Mwachibwago in reply to Sophiebun11]

Thanks so much Sophiebun11.Am not taking any diuretic.The only drugs I use are..Treviamet and Empiget for diabetes.. Safetelmi for BP(nolonger using,since BP is within the normal range)... Nefrosave plus supplements for the kidneys..I was using novomix insulin for diabetes,but was also discontinued..Used atorvastatin for cholesterol,but after 3 months,the total and LDL cholesterol dropped down to low levels (discontinued this month)...My target is to at least get the egfr to 90 and above,if possible...I don't the egr increase is caused by the drugs am using or the treatment plan have employed by treating the underlying cause, which is diabetes type 2.. During my last lab test results, Creatinine increased from 93.26 to 94.96 after 2 months causing egfr to drop from 85 to 86(but did the test in the morning without taking anything, including water)..I don't know whether it will drop again.my next lab visit is scheduled for July 6 this year.

As for your case,I pray for GOD'S DIVINE INTERVENTION AND HEALING

[RoxanneKidney]

I would contine to live like it is not 88 or whatever but kidneys can heal themselves. Probably not to 100 percent though.

[Mwachibwago in reply to RoxanneKidney]

Roxannekidney...What an insightful observation....I think,it's GOD'S way of telling me I should do more and take charge of my health..Am very grateful..Am tightening and reviewing my eating habits and check on what type of drugs to use..Still hoping my kidneys will continue healing themselves,as they have already shown.

[WildIris]

I would add that drinking a large amount of water can make lab results a bit lower for things like sodium and creatinine (which would also give a higher GFR. I also have slightly low sodium and chlorine and creatinine is lower than history would suggest, but I always drink a lot of water before labs, partly on the advice of phlebotomists to avoid multiple pokes. I've decided to take the low sodium & chlorine as permission to consume a bit more salt, maybe a mistake?

[Ruthy35]

I did read somewhere looking at my results and questioning figure that sometimes water or fluid depletes the amount of sodium potassium etc in our body if drank too much can lower these levels and cause more problems for CKD like heart attacks strokes.i recently tried butternut squash and was looking up the goodness of it. Contains high amounts of potassium. Vwas told to drink water or fluid before blood tests as this opens the veins.

[Blackknight1989]

True but also falsify l readings allowing for potential improper care. You must be honest with you nephrologist and yourself. I’m sorry folks but no nephrons do not regenerate like liver of skin cells. CKD is progressive and for not “get better” only worse over time. EGFR is a highly inaccurate lab result only accurate to within about 50% of real gfr. As suck it fluctuates hourly. Mine last year 17-29, almost an 80% flux. Did my nephrons regenerate nope but my kidneys were less burdened. If you have protein in your urine it’s like the old ride at the county fair, bumper cars as the protein molecule just wipes out kidney cells with impunity. You are born with only a set number of nephrons never to get anymore currently. Some promising results but still a long ways away.

Let’s say each kidney gas 1,000,000 nephrons. Once gone, they are gone. When you make good choices you CAN preserve what left but not regenerate. Sometimes if you remove the toxin improvement is seen but rarely. Like you both I was diagnosed stage 4 in ‘96. AKI 4 days later. Metabolic acidosis, sepsis twice. Vit K crazy so heart arrhythmia daily. Maintained for many years but we all get older and that is the death sentence for kidney function. I am proud for you sir but don’t mislead yourself or your doc. You are on a great path but life’s not only uphill it’s peaks and valleys. Tomorrow COVID could revenge you kidneys. Not my wish for you just the truth, or an auto accident resulting in you being unconscious and a large shot of NSAIDS. Don’t set yourself up for failure.

I don’t mean to be Debbie downer only to bring levity. If you don’t advocate for you who will? You are preserving kidney function and that’s the number one priority! No one will do a better job. Ever! If your lab results deteriorate how will that make you feel? If that scares you CKD is not for the faint hearted. We are all unique. If you treat the underlying cause correctly then things will be good but the majority don’t have that luxury. I’ll trade ya me eGFR for yours…lol! I don’t begrudge you only seek to offer a difference of opinion, okay maybe a little. Certainly don’t hang on your eGFR numbers but don’t fret them either. If you feel relatively well and aren’t retaining fluid then mostly things are good. If that changes they most likely are not. Y’all been here long enough to see the fear in new members. Misinformation is all kinds of places out there. out there on the information super highway. I really do wish you my best just don’t want you to fall pray to the daily steer I see too much of as I’ve tried to give back and help newly diagnosed patients. Only to see them fall victim to the snake oil and face dialysis way earlier than necessary. Anyway I’ll post links if you request but won’t burden you with those unless you ask. Truly my best to you. Keep walking the straight and narrow! No intention to offend and I hope I didn’t. I apologize if I did. Have a great day!