My eGFR is 61, so close to stage 3a kidney disease. Still trying to take it in. Last thing I expected from a general blood test. Had a text from GP last week to say all normal but the nurse I saw later in the week shared kidney result.
I have well controlled high blood pressure, take 4mg, a low dose of Candesartan.
Not and have never been diabetic. So don't have either of the 2 main risk factors for CKD. I'm 62.
Got another everythings OK 5 years ago when I saw GP for extreme fatigue. I have yearly monitoring blood tests due to an underactive thyroid and tbh was angling for a T3 test.
Within range but at bottom. Distinctly remember her saying kidneys are OK. Got a print out of results. Didn't focus on eGFR or really register that it was a % of kidney function. It was 70.
I have very high cholesterol but a not bad split between high and low density. Refused statins 5 years ago but considered them last year as terrible exercise tolerance and some scary near fainting episodes. Still don't take them.
It genuinely never occurred to me that my kidneys were poor.
I was diagnosed with Barrett's oesophagus 7 years ago and was advised to take Omeprozole. So every day for 7 years. Did nod along but ignore advice re doubling dose. Had some vitamin deficiencies flagged since then. Vitamin D, tbh not concerned but took supplements, as most people are deficient. Foliate deficiency though made me wonder, and suspected Omeprozole.
My risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus,no dysplasia tbh is miniscule. Especially compared to a 9% drop in kidney function over 5 years. Life expectancy, according to Google at stage 3 is 11 years.
Will ask for print outs of blood tests dating before Barrett's diagnosis.
I'm really angry that I didn't notice this and that I was just told everythings OK. Completely blind sided. Realise that the relationship between PPIs and kidney function was only discovered recently, plus that GPS only act no the magic number of 60. Gone are the days when you mostly saw the same Dr, who knew your history and could spot trends.
Has anyone found an alternative to Omeprozole?
Rebound heartburn can be horrendous but need a way ot wean myself off it. Ideally a compromise med, or as and when heartburn is bad.
Written by
lilliput
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Just sharing. I have been taking omeprazole for years due to esophageal problem also. Have talked to gastro Doctor and been told to keep taking it. I do take the lowest dose. I was diagnosed at 3b.
"they" have always known omeprazole was bad for kidneys. It's only recently (few years) that it's as bad as it is. I took it for years too but stopped because of kidneys. I'm also diabetic so not sure how much, if any, it affected my kidneys. I learned my trigger foods and avoid them now. I take tums for when I need to.
Joader I have been taking omeprazole for about 6 years, one doctor said take one every day another said only when symptomatic. This latter is difficult when they are prevention not cure. I only really have an acid problem after several beers so only took one in the morning when I knew I would be out for a drink that night.
Don't drink so much anymore as my body just does not tolerate it well, probably the ageing process. So trying to wean myself off them altogether.
Norman, that's how I got off them. I don't have any left to take as a precaution but also avoid my trigger foods. Agree also about drinking as we get older. Takes to long to get over it. lol
Joader I have just read that omeprazole also helps reduce blood sugar so I might start them again. I am testing the line on pre-Diabetes so possibly won't do any harm. Apparently no proof of danger to kidneys. We'll see anyway.
Yes every comment has an opposite one. My concern with omeprazole was always that it was too good, too effective so must be doing something else as well. I will definitely look at drugs.com.
I've been taking omeprazole for years and have to continue taking it as it was discovered that I have a very large hiatal hernia. My nephrologist agrees that I have to continue taking it (20 mg) because have silent reflux which can erode my esophagus it I stop it. I'm at GFR 3b up from GFR 4 a few months ago. I tried getting off omeprazole several times only to suffer severe rebounds. As far as MY case is involved, I havent experience any major GFR shifts because of this medication. Zantac is not a PPI and could work for you if you're successful in getting off omeprazole.
you may have to look for another underlying cause for you kidney issues although your correct reading at 61 is a decent number that many of us wish we had.
Good luck. My nephrologist agrees to new medicines if the condition that calls for it is very serious and requires it. And, my very large hiatal hernia and silent reflux is a serious condition.
want to add that omerprazone depletes your magnesium, so you'll want to check your labs for any deficiency in that area. And, dont be too casual about the vitamin D deficiency. It's very important for CKD patients.
Sorry if I've offended anyone. Just devastated and no one to talk to in real life especially as still look healthy.
Need to get will etc in order and think about bringing potential move to retirement community forward. Always was plan to do that, now thinking it needs to be earlier whilst still healthy enough to do it.
I was on high dose Lansoprazole for years due to hiatus hernia. I am also hypothyroid, and on BP meds (currently Bisoprolol, Amlodipine & Aspirin). I'm 63, and had an acute kidney injury, where my eGFR dropped from 85 to 29 in about 10 days due to BP meds.... now recovered . I don't have Barrett's.
I'm probably teaching granny to suck eggs, but vitamin deficiencies (especially low folate) together with reflux & hypothyroid resonate with me...............I was finally dx coeliac and am now completely off PPI's.
"The main cause of folate malabsorption is gluten-induced enteropathy."
If your coeliac test was more than 2yrs ago, I'd suggest testing again. Do you have an explanation for the reflux that caused the Barrett's, or did they just throw PPI's at you?
As you must know Barrett's is serious. I would not stop taking anti-acids with this condition unless under the guidance of a gastro doctor. I foolishly tried to get off omerprazole a few times in the past and my gastro doctor told me that in doing so i probably caused the hiatal hernia to grow larger. And, finding out about the "silent" reflux threw me for a loop as not one of the five gastro doctors I had seen in the past ever mentioned it. A surgeon who specializing in gastro surgery told me about it and diagnosed it as my cause to have developed the very large hiatal hernia. Good luck with your situation. Try not to fret so much because I've been on GFR 4 and back to GFR 3a and 3b for the last several years. Hopefully, you'll do the same. Keep us posted on your situation.
The Barretts is serious but less likely to kill me than kidney disease.
Barretts has had no dysplasia for about 7 years. Take into account the fact that only about 1 in 150 people with Barretts go on to develop cancer over 10 years ,plus the 4 stages of dysplasia before even developing stage 1 cancer, which can be treated with ablation.
I'm 62 and willing to bet that Barretts won't kill me.
Prognosis for 3a CKD is 11 years, most likely with dialysis for last 4. Likely to be well for 5.
Finding planning for the future hard. Need to look into selling home and renting in a retirement complex with medical aid on site.
Would be very isolated living where I am if I couldn't drive. Single with little social support.
You seem to be on quite a few medications - ever considered seeing a naturopathic practitioner? My 67 y/o mum has been on nil medications for 5y after weaning off a BP tablet with levels maintained around 125/75.
She was diagnosed as CKD3 but improved eGFR from 36 post nephrectomy 5y + ago to ~60 now with diet and wellbeing.
Unsure where you got life expectancy figure from (?) - we don't even consider her mortality, just how improve her results further.
Oh Wow I found out on my own a few years ago I had CKD and was at gfr of 34! Nobody told me it’s only when they started posting labs online and I could see my results I had Septicemia in 2009 almost died had multi organ failure heart lungs kidneys liver everything! Years later so many upper endoscopy tests run because of severe acid reflux and Barrett’s esophagus was put on Nexium 2 capsules twice daily! I was taking Advil for pain getting mri and cat scans with iodine…, two years ago I stopped the four Nexium and took two a day then this last year for a few months I stopped the Nexium bad for my throat but labs have improved! My gfr was 57! I was very surprised my stomach and throat are not taking well to the stopping of Nexium I dk if that’s it or being more conscious of salt and diet . I’m wondering if Nexium is causing my kidneys to fail? Any thoughts? Thanks I was diagnosed 3 b
I dk at gfr if 57 now a year ago 48 isn’t 60 on the low end of normal? Thanks 😊
I do not believe Google has medical knowledge to make life-ending predictions. Lots of people on this site and others would attest to the fact that Dr. Google knows nothing! Hydration, diet, exercise, etc., as well as knowledgeable medical practitioners will help a whole lot more!
In it's defense, Google is just a browser, not a doctor. I will point out that a lot of the articles and information in the search results are from accredited and highly professional physicians. I agree that you shouldn't try and self diagnose serious conditions but you can learn a lot about your illnesses that the doctors don't tell you. Believe me, I have had a lot of conditions over the past 5 years and have seen two truck loads of doctors but I still read about everything and enlighten myself. I have several doctors who are surprised about how much I know about certain conditions and they think that is great.
I have acid reflux and hiatal hernia. I was prescribed generic Prevacid for many years but when kidneys went to 3b my neph took me off reflux med and recommended Pepcid. It really helps, it doesn’t prevent heartburn but really works well to stop it. God bless 🙏🏻
Lilliput, you are strong, you have managed so many health to date, you can keep your kidneys healthy too! The shock is the worst, CKD is so silent. Finding out you have this is very upsetting.
My story: I'm 66. Last year at my annual physical my eGFR was 78, this year it was 17. Talk about shock! After a biopsy, the docs said I was allergic to omeprazole. Six months later after two months of heavy steroids and a shift to mostly plant based proteins, my eGFR is now 30. Yeah! I'm out of stage 4 and into stage 3.
As for a substitute for omeprazole, my Mayo nephrology team advised me to take Pepcid Complete twice a Day to prevent my acid reflux. Once in the morning and once before dinner. It is totally controlling my symptoms. Plus I stopped drinking red wine, which I think was the primary culprit.
Also, my nephrologist told me that after age 40, we all loose kidney function every year.
I also had lots of day fatigue. My primary care doctor kept hearing me complain and ordered a sleep study. I found out I have severe sleep apnea, again without many symptoms other than fatigue. Apparently my breathing at night is shallow. I'm now on a CPAP machine and it has given me my life back! I wake up so refreshed and peppy and stay that way all day. The fatigue part of kidney disease interrupted my life and with this machine I feel 20 years younger. I miss being able to kiss my husband during the middle of the night, but we have adjusted.
Hope you can find dual action Pepcid Complete. Good luck.
Same here with regards to CPAP. Both my husband and I have them now. My sleep is so much better and I have so much less fatigue than before. I think I never got into that deep sleep state before my CPAP. I also credit my CPAP for helping me have a mild case of COVID 19 last month. It never really got to my lungs.
Hi lilliput, I'm Larry. My CKD journey took me from End Stage to currently 3b over the past 5 years. I have been taking Omeprazole the whole time for GERD. I see my Nephrologist every 3 months and about 9 months ago, he asked if I thought I could cut back on the amount I took. I have been taking 20 mg daily. I told him I would try alternating Omeprazole and Famatodine every other day. At first, it seemed like it was working OK then I started having days where I would get heartburn after a meal so I've gone back to every day again. It does not seem like taking it has had a negative effect on my kidneys although it may in the long run. I'm sure there are surgeons out there who would love to be messing with my insides to try and fix things but I'll take a rain check on that.
I've had a liver transplant and now have CKD 4. I have been taking lansoprazole for the last 6 years. Both doctors are comfortable it is not hurting either organ. I have a lot of faith in these doctors. They saved my life.
i was on nexium for twenty years as a result I have CKD. My nephrologist put me on Pepcid and it works fine and is kidney friendly. Hope this helps. Take care.
It's 61% kidney function. Looked at old blood tests and it's been declining at about 2% a year. 5 year's ago eGFR was 70 and urea was high 8.5 (range 1.7 to 7.1).Still have no copy of more recent ones.
As many have said, don't freak out with your eGFR number! Most people here would love to have it at 61. At least you know early enough to try prevention rather than serious treatment. You can make yourself sick if you worry too much, especially at #61. My nephro keeps me on Omeprazole without issue, although she has changed many other scripts over the past year, including stopping Lisinopril, adding Hydralazine, lasix. High potassium has me taking potassium-blocker Lokelma. Changes to meds and diet have seen eGFR rise from 22 to 47 in the past year. I freaked when it was 22, but that was well into Stage 4. Now I've adjusted to the diagnosis and dietary changes, and will deal with whatever comes next. Btw...I take Omeprazole for severe gastropharesis, dysphasia. Good luck to you! Check out NKF, NIDDK/NIH.gov,& DaVita for tips, tricks, recipes, etc.
I was taking protonix for heartburn for many years until someone said that could be harmful. Then switched to Ranitidine for sometime. However 2 things fixed my heart burn. I lost weight by about 20lbs and stopped the 2 cups of espresso coffee I used to have daily. Now a couple of years later on a recent holiday I tried espresso coffee and Greek coffee occasionally and there was still no heartburn. I am 61 and at CKD 3b.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Trying to guess my stage
Concerned about kidney function numbers going down
eGFR after stone problems
