This always causes me to be confused

[Dakot]

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. Please excuse me I am so aware that others have more serious problems. I am just always trying to understand the numbers and why they fluctuate so much.

I take some meds so I usually have blood test done every 3 months. This alone drives me crazy. LOL. I have been paying close attention to my EGFR and associated values for two years. At one time MY EGFR dropped to 56. I quickly changed my diet made sure I ate the right foods and drank the right amount of water. This luckily over time got much better, with a proper diet and fluids. I take two meds that have not changed one for High blood pressure and one for cholesterol, the med dosage is the same even the mfg is the same so no changes at all.

My last blood test 3 months ago( 8/22 ) my EGFR was 70, I was so delighted. 3 month before that in May 2022, it was 64 so I felt clearly we were heading in the right direction.

I just had another blood test done this week and just got the results and my EGFR was 69 although still good. So it went down from 70 to 64??

I am writing here because everyone has been so very helpful and I have learned so much

So my question is, if nothing has changed, diet, fluid intake, meds even the time of morning the blood drawn is taken has not changed why is there this fluctuation from time to time?? Just trying To understand this fluctuation not just this time, but other times too with not changes in diet what so ever. I work pretty hard at keeping my health and kidney’s good after a scare two years ago, so I am very careful with diet, fluids, suppliments everything.

Thank you everyone.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

The whole business with GFR testing is random. It may have nothing to do with you. It could be the labs. It could be the time they ran the test at the lab, not the draw, it could be temperature. So random. The thing with GFR is to note a consistent downward trend. That is when you should worry. Have your tests run again in 3 months and see what happens. Make sure you drink plenty of water the day before and some before the test so you are hydrated, That is often the reason for a difference. Up and down is very normal.

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to Bassetmommer]

I agree...The GFR number is only a snapshot....look at how well your blood is being cleaned...look at phosphorus ..Potassium...Calcium levels etc...to see if they are in range and stable...these numbers tell you far more about your kidney function than the GFR number

[Dakot in reply to RhenDutchess123]

Thank you all my numbers are within normal range. There were timess in the last 2 years that was not always true. I have worked real hard at diet staying hydrated and paying close attention and as mention my blood is taken every 3 months. I was hoping to get a better understanding of why GFR can fluctuate so much over the course of say a year. I have 4 blood test a year since it is every 3 months. Thank you for your input and time it is always appreciated

[Dakot in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you so much for your time all that you suggest is what I do that is why I wonder. I drink plenty of water daily I am always well hydrated and I make sure I also drink just before a blood draw. I am also very careful what I eat not just before a blood test but always. All my levels are good I just was wondering if there was some reason why GFR jumps around alot. Thank you again for your itme.

[Dana66CKD in reply to Dakot]

I also stay on diet, but deviated slightly this past Thanksgiving, which resulted in higer b/p after being stable 2-3 months straight. Of course, I regret this. Now trying to stabilize again. Fluctuations in b/p not as frequent, awaiting results from labs, cbc/cmp.Hope you can stay healthy/stable Dakot. That's my goal... well enough to feel better, enough to enjoy life's joys... my family, friends, etc.😊🙏

[horsie63]

What do your other lab values look like? All this attention to something that is an estimate does no one any good. Your body is not only your kidneys but a complex organism so you have to look at everything and not just focus on one thing.

[Dakot]

Thank you appreciate your reply

[Hidden]

Hello Dakot, I have read other comments on this thread and agree with them. GFR is calculated using the creatinine value. My neph has told me many times that the lab error with creatinine could be as much as .3 and that could skew the GFR value either way. As Bassetmommer points out, drink plenty of water. My urine test can show no protein or as much as 2+ protein depending on how well I hydrate and how far into the day when I give the sample. There's one other thing to consider. Your muscles are constantly shedding old cells into the blood and that is part of the so called "toxins" that are filtered by the kidneys. Depending on your age and the amount of activity you do, the amount of toxins can vary.