Had my first appointment with a nephrologist today, thought I would post a followup because of the interest on this forum in GFR numbers.
Though my GFR is still 50, even after increasing hydration , the doctor considers me stable, and actually not dehydrated. I have what he considers very mild kidney disease, and may have sustained a bit of NSAID damage. So I won't take NSAIDS anymore, but I have no other restrictions. I am "remarkably healthy" compared to patients he usually sees. He will monitor me once a year, as will my primary care doctor.
This is what you might find of interest: At GFR of 50, he considers me only slightly below the normal of 60. So if you are reading info on the stages of chronic kidney disease but you don't actually have serious symptoms, don't worry yourself to death over your GFR. And talk to an actual physician about your concerns. All the best to everyone trying to make sense of their labs!
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Geetarpicker
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I would never agree more. As I stressed many times on this forum egfr (which is not gfr) its standard and cheap way to asses renal function. This is kind of red flag not a sentence. All the rest of blood values and symptoms must considered before making any statement. Too much people scared by 1 point more or less, 3a or 3b I would ask first to those: how do you really feel?
My Gfr is where some people go on dialysis. BUT, I feel great. I have tons of energy and I am able to work out and keep a crazy pace all day. So It is all about how you feel.
The eGFR is only an estimate thus the "e". It doesn't take into account your height or weight and if you are like me...very small at 92 lbs is it inaccurate as it doesn't take into account body mass. So if your other numbers are within range then take the eGFR with a grain of sailt. If you drink, smoke and otherwise live an unhealthy lifestyle it's a wake up call to make some changes.
I totally agree with Geetarpiker. When I was told that I have CKD the first time, my GFR was at 40 and I was very scared. I took another test a month later and the GFR was 52. I was told the GFR number will continue going up and down. I have no symptoms whatsoever so I was at ease. I have then told myself I just have to follow a better diet and drink a lot of water, do not pay too much attention to the number as it'll only get me all stressed up and might get the situation worse. At my age, I am happy that I don't have any serious disease or health issues other than the CKD. I just need to enjoy the rest of life, whatever it takes me.
That's fantastic. I wish my doctor would have told me sooner....after pressing her for more info because I wasn't feeling well and both mother and sister have ckd I was diagnosed. I was at 30 gfr. I can tell you if I knew at 50gfr I would have started controlling what I ate. My Mom lived about 7 years on dialysis it was rough. I will do anything to avoid that. Watching my salt, processed food, eating less red meat, drinking more water, stopping those diet sodas and so much more is worth it to me.
Whilst I agree re absolute numbers, I think their long-term trends need to be observed. Also you have at least 2 things in your favour ie non hypertensive and non diabetic. Maybe a 3rd if no protein leakage, as Roxanne suggests.
I also agree wholeheartedly with the comments on natural (heath & wellbeing) approaches. We adopt that for mum (CKD3) and she has done well save for a recent, 1-off kidney function reading setback and increasing proteinuria, albeit at relatively low levels.
My doctor said I am remarkably healthy compared to the patients he usually sees. If it weren’t for what is probably mild nsaid damage, I probably wouldn’t be seeing him at all.
So yet again the moral of the story seems to be: avoid drugs and you get healthy! Lol.
Mum does but one candidate for her unexpected drop in kidney function a couple of weeks ago was taking OTC medication once or twice (Benadryl) without checking.
When I was diagnosed with CKD, they weren't estimating eGFR. My diagnosis was based on my creatinine, urine fand other blood levels. This was about 1992. I had my transplant in 1999. My nephrologist still does not calculate my GFR, but looks at urine and blood results. I am doing great with a steady creatinine of 0.9 - 1.0 .Best of luck to you!
I had a similar experience. My egfr was down to 34. Then up to 44 after stopping myBP med (Lisinopril). He said no restrictions on diet and check back in 4 months.
I've had CKD for 7 years. If your nephrologist didn't tell you to keep your protein intake minimal because your kidneys can not handle protein. I've been a weight liter for most of my life and protein is one thing that can help your muscles recover. I was in the 50s range ever since I had renal failure but I was told to ease up on protein. If you read labels like I learned that just about everything you eat has protein in it. I'm a 70 year old man who still lifts weight but had to reduce the everything quite a bit. Creatinine is a natural part of your muscle and the heavier the weight you lift makes the creatine get larger. You kidneys can not handle that. Good luck with what we all have!!
I wish people would post ages. Age is a major factor in eGFR. A score of 50 for an older person is "normal," but for me it wasn't. I was 55 or 56 when my eGFR went down and NOBODY told me. I wasn't even told when it dropped to 28. I thought it was like my A1C and my other labs and that it just goes up and down. It wasn't until I saw the diagnosis code for CKD stage 4 that I even realized what was going on. It wasn't until I was hospitalized with a eGFR of 7 that I got a nephrologist and learned I needed to get off caffeine, watch my phosphorus, go on anti-diarrheals (my CKD is caused by a high output ileostomy and the related dehydration). I've bounced back to 28 and am on the transplant list. If I didn't make those changes I'm sure I would have stayed at 7 and gone on dialysis. I wish I could have made those changes when my test showed 50. I might still be in the 50s then. I'm 59 now, but was probably 55 when my eGFR started falling.
Hi barbara55109, Can I ask how long it took for your kidneys to improve from 7 to 28? My doctor thought maybe I’d have some improvement in eGFR but I haven’t seen any yet.
2 years. And the 7 was an accurate injury. I was in the 20s. Got a migraine on 4th July weekend. AC broken. I couldn't keep water down. Severe dehydration dropped my gfr to 7. Three or four days in the hospital with IVs pumping me full of fluid. Mr eGFR slowly climbed up to 20 in about 6 months. Two years later after stopping caffeine and going on anti diarrheals I'm up to 28. I am VERY unique though. My ckd is from 30 years of living without a colon and having a high output ileostomy.
Thank you for sharing barbara55109. I’m glad your eGFR improved cause that is scary. I’m going to remember how important not getting dehydrated is, right now the weather is in the 90s. I’m taking medications to improve my low blood pressure, my eGFR went up 2 points, but I thought it was probably just normal fluctuations. I guess I’ll see next labs.
An eGFR of 50 is great. At least half your kidneys are working perfectly well. Stay off the NSAIDS and your eGFR may improve more, same for if you try a plant-based diet.
I was already Stage 4 before I ever saw a Neph. My eGFR is now 22.
eGFR is important. The closer to 60 the better.
Best wishes. It's great you were caught in the early stages of CKD.
True but would you ignore cancer? CKD is just as insidious, maybe more so? You start with a set number of nephrons and then when eGFR indicates a problem, those are gone forever. No regeneration of nephrons period ever…yet. Thus the trend of labs helps you and your doctor monitor you health. Doesn’t that seem reasonable? Certainly bad doctors out there but I don’t believe they are making up false CKD diagnosis. If you educate yourself and get on it and protect yourself then doesn’t that seem like a better plan? You won’t be young forever. At some point if the diagnosis was correct would you rather confront it now with an eGFR of (blank) versus mine of 17?
CKD is progressive and has no cure except for a lie threatening operations. Not good options. EGFR is a bad lab value tremendously inaccurate but it’s the standard. That’s why it’s used to ensure you protect every nephron you have left to avoid dialysis. The risk of CVD first 6 months of dialysis increases 85%. Plus that completely changes your life. I’ve been stage 4 since ‘96. My eGFR ranges from 17-29. Last year at my COVID diagnosis 29. In January 17. That an 80% flux. Highly inaccurate. But the standard. I was able to stave off the significant fall for 26 years. But I’m no longer 45, I’m 55 and it’s all taking its toll now. Quickly as others are tired of my story by now I’m sure, but diagnosed stage 4. Almost killed by an incompetent doc. Never again!
Diagnosis stage 4 using creatinine and bun. 4 days later AKI. Woke up in a vent. Spent 6 months in the MICU. Told nearly everyday I was going to die. Metabolic acidosis caused by too many NSAIDS! Mine cause as yours because the Army loved Motrin. 6/8 a day sure no problem! Severed 11 years never told I had HBP. Thus my story. My creatinine was 11.7, 11.7. My nephrologist told me he’d never seen that reading on a person alive before. He passed a couple of years ago and was my hero. He saved my life. Anyway, eGFR not used in my rural community until 2018. When I recovered finally nearly a year later I had lost most everything I had accumulated in my young life. Business owner 30 years and then lost that. Homeless just last year. I’m my 50s.
When you can’t support your family that’s loss of purpose. I’m not doing this to play whose is bigger only to get you to think deeper. If you don’t advocate for yourself who will? Who’s be better at protecting you kidney function than you? No one. Ignorance is why CKD is world a worldwide problem. Patients and docs. NKF in the states is working hard to change that but there is only so much they can accomplish to overcome come 50 years of complacency. Why wouldn’t you want to be the smartest person on your care team about your health? Anyway plenty of resources out there if you are interested. NKF, AAKP, DeVita rsnhope and NIDDK, and all .orgs. Go to the resource section and find other links. I am glad you are healthy now but what about in 10 years? Will you even know? That’s scary! As always my best and I’m REALLY not picking on anyone just trying to be devils advocate. I apologize if I offended. Not intentional Good luck!
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