I have just been diagnosed Stage 3A with eGFR, Creatinine level at 1.47 mg/dL and Albumin/Creatinine Ratio in urine test is 163 mcg/mg. My doctor told me the cause is probably the medication (don't want to elaborate) I took as well as high bp (usually in the low 140s range). I do not have diabetes or any symptoms. I was wondering if it'll be to my advantage to start taking Farxiga as I have read that it does help to slow down the progress. I'll also start talking to a dietitian about a good diet. I have been reading a lot about different diets as learning about living with kidney disease.
Any comments/suggestions are much appreciated.
Thank you.
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Silkdog
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Sounds like you are on the right track talking to a dietitian about an appropriate Chronic Kidney Disease diet. Welcome to the forum where we share information and give support.
I was able to go through my blood tests in the last 2 years (just found out how to find them myself) and just realized that my eGFR has always been in the low 60s and just started getting lower in the last 2 tests. Strange that my doctor never did mention that to me (I was seeing her for another health issue) all these times. I got a different doctor when I did the last 2 tests and that's when he alerted me about the kidney disease. I didn't look at those results in the past as I depended on my doctor. If I have known that much earlier, I would have done a lot of researches and changed my diet so I can slow down the progress.
I had similar situation. I changed Doctor's and new one diagnosed me at stage 3b. An appropriate CKD diet was prescribed based on results also of blood tests for sodium, phosphorus, & potassium. I have been on diet for 5 years and has helped slow down the progression.
Considering your problems initiated at least in part to medical drugs, Im surprised youre considering another although thats likely the fault of medical authorities coercing us all. As youll note from my profile, I have been severely affected by a prescription drug so dont go within a mile of any now! Whilst no-one on here (including me) can advise you to take or not take drugs, Ive linked below some side effects of Farxiga which you may/may not be prepared to accept.
The good news is that kidney disease can largely be controlled without drugs i.e. using natural means as youve already discovered in this post and doubtless before posting. We have managed my mum's CKD in the past 5 years purely via natural means with eGFR increasing from 36 to 76ml/min, serum creatinine reducing from 131 to 72 umol/L and removed her bisporol tablet (so now 100% drug-free) with BP controlled at ~ 124/78.
Imo it would be wrong to provide full details of mum's natural protocol as we are all individuals. Rather I suggest you either see a naturopathic nutritionist speacialising in CKD or maybe research further if you can (reading comments on this forum is a good start).
To 76 actually! The only kidney-specific supplement involved is cordyceps in recent months (to try to reduce proteinuria) so its not likely to be a key contributor to serum data.But an individualised, naturopathic nutrition protocol involving diet and other factors is.
Thank you, userotc, for your response. Yes, I have read about all the side effects that Farxiga might have. I am aware that any drugs will always have side effects. I am going to explore all possibilities to lower the progress. Of course I'll go for the safest route first, which is diet.
My insurance will not entertain any protein number under 300. ---I was denied based on this BUT when I started with the journey, before the lisinopril my protein was 600. I took the SGTL-2 for two week as samples. Will speak to a doctor tomorrow and see what is up.
Well the protein went below 30; last tested at 158 with just Lisinopril. With the added SGLT 2, it did seem to help. MY insurance denied me, so waiting to see what Mayo can do about that since my protein started at 600.
The neph said no way to the SGLT 2. He said that Lisinopril was the best drug they had for controlling protein. Then he told me that the amount of protein that I had in my urine was likely normal because of how active I am. I reminded him of my puffy eyelids and low gfr. Then he tells me that stage three is not a bad thing and not to worry about it. Then I reminded him that no one e ven told me my kidneys were impaired and the let my gfr tank to 37 at one point. The Lisinopril has my Cystatin C at 54. Anyway the good news is that the imaging scan f ound a small mass on an ovary so I'll check that out back home. So I just keep doing what I'm doing.
From what I know from taking Farxgia for about a year. No side effects so far has increased my GFR. My neurologist recommended because I have protein in my urine. Talk to your nephrologist. Also my doctor didn't tell me until I was 3B. Checked my records 3 years back and had it all along. When I have numbers that are not on range my blood test, I ask questions and do research. I am my own advocate for my health....I'm on my 4th and hopefully my last doctor. I think I finally found a doctor to communicate with me and answer questions.
What really puzzled me is that in my lab test results (Quest Diagnostic), unless your eGFR is lower than 60, they will not listed it as low (which will be marked in red to alert you). Maybe that's why my previous doctor never did alert me as it wasn't marked in red, and she probably didn't even look at it and only looked at those marked in red. It would seem that Quest will put an alert if any eGFR is below 90, which will be at Stage 2 CKD.
I just tried farxiga as a non diabetic ckd and it sucked all my energy. I am taking a 3 week break and my energy almost immediately returned. Hoping I can stay off it.
I've been taking Farxiga; not diabetic to protect my kidneys, and keep protein in my urine in check. So far so good no side effects my gfr actually went UP and protein has returned to normal.
Thank you, Sandracee, that's good to know. And I do understand everyone reacts differently to any drugs.
Yes, I was a bit apprehensive looking a the list of possible side effects but I thought it was worth a shot; I could always stop. I'm happy it seems to be working for me, it's the only drug I'm on so far so I'm glad that it's working as planned!
For me...plant based diet, no meat... too much protein and the wrong kind is the big concern for the kidneys... alkaline foods as much as possible, juicing, reduced salt, exercise and weight loss... gone from GFR of 53 to 65 in six months and still climbing. I learned a lot from Lee Hull's book "Stopping Kidney Disease". Good luck, you can do this without drugs. My Nephrologist says I am on the exact right path and
My doctor thinks that my ckd was caused by medications I was taking for diabetes and arthritis. She has been saying for the last 2 years that she is watching my kidney lab work because it was starting to show some abnormalaties. Plus about 6 years ago, I had a fall that caused a life threatening injury to one leg and also damaged one kidney. Because there was so much damage to my leg (7 surgeries, 90 days in hospital, released to home to heal from surgeries before a final knee replacement surgery) I didn't ask enough questions about the kidney injury.
I am obese, a diabetic, have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all of which is controlled by a combination of diet and medication. I started Farixiga about 3 weeks ago and so far no side effects. I go in for lab work in late July and will know how it is helping then. I'm hoping for good news.
I just talked to my doctor and asked him about Farxiga, he said it's mainly for diabetics and didn't recommend me taking it. Also he has asked me to stop all the supplements that I used to lower my blood pressure, and no green tea either. I'll be taking another test next month, I'll see what will the results show after I stopped all the supplements.
If you have not had a chance to do so, you may want to check out the National Kidney Foundation podcast called "Hot Topics in Kidney Health." The Dec. 20, 2021 episode is on the topic of SGLT2 inhibitors (Farxiga is one of them). The doctor explains it very clearly. The medical opinion seems to be that it is not for CKD with diabetics anymore. The September 21 episode of the podcast "Kidney Essentials" also talks about this topic. "Kidney Essentials" is for medical professionals, so it is very difficult to understand. However, I did catch something to the effect of "SGCL2 inhibitors should be in the water these days"after the 21 minutes.
I forgot to ask as I was so surprised to hear that. For some reasons, my doctor does not recommend me taking any supplements at all, just drink water, nothing else.
I was told and have read that if your GFR is under 30 you should not take Farxiga. I am stage 4 , GFR of 21 took farxiga because of protein in urine for about 5 months GFR went to 19 so i stopped taking it and will see if GFR goes up
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