Trying to guess my stage

[Ladyprudence]

After seeing a nephrologist five months ago, I paid very close attention to my salt intake, and drank plenty of water and exercised, all per his instructions. Watched my potassium and protein fairly closely.

Now after my 6 months visit to my family doctor, she has said, 'Kidney function is stable. Electrolytes look great. Blood counts unremarkable. Lipids look great. A1c normal.' I checked my values and almost everything is in a normal range.

I sent a message asking her if I'm still in stage 3a or have I progressed to stage 3b. No answer. Maybe all the test results aren't in yet. But that makes me antsy, so I checked online and discovered that my eGFR value of 53.3 is in the 3a stage. Does this sound right to you? Can you determine a CKD stage just by the eGFR?

[bumblebee_tuna]

It doesn't really matter, what stage you are is not going to determine the outcome of your CKD. Your nephrologist will be more interested in the trend of your eGFR. If it stays stable and there is no sigh of albumin in your urine. You are in a good spot.

[userotc]

Broadly eGFR is used to determine stages but with the option to include "damage" such as protein kidneyfund.org/all-about-ki.... But that depends on how much protein.

I agree with bumblebee_tuna that the trend is more important although many (including some medics) like to put a label on it. When my mum's eGFR increased from 59 to 76 a couple of years ago, we didnt get too excited (well, OK a bit!) and didnt consider she'd moved from stage 3 to 2. It's more recently quite stable back at ~56-59 but I admit we get a bit apprehensive before the next test - which is quite soon. Hopefully its at least stable again.

[Ladyprudence in reply to userotc]

userotc, I hope your mum gets a good report next time. She must be doing all the right things, and is really fortunate that you are so attentive. Thanks for responding to my question.

[userotc in reply to Ladyprudence]

Thanks. Yes she follows a Nutritional Therapy protocol but we still 🤞🤞 when testing time comes.

[Hidden]

There are more than one formulae to work out your GFR. Age ethnicity and gender all play a part. Each formula will give different results.

What you have done and eaten or drunk preceding blood testing will alter the outcome also.

To get comparable readings try to do the same thing prior to testing each time and around the same time of day. You will find a more consistent result to compare.

I know if I do strenuous activity prior to testing my GFR plummets. Great tool to see if Dr's are paying attention.

[Ladyprudence in reply to Hidden]

DC39, sometimes I wonder that we know what to do at all. There are conflicting rules everywhere I look. Some say cut way down on protein, my doctor says take more protein to strengthen my legs.

I read that watermelon is good for me, and I ate nearly a whole watermelon over a week's time. Then read that I shouldn't eat watermelon; too much potassium.

I get discouraged. In the doctor's office, I exercised strenuously to plump up some veins to draw blood. Dr. said that was good! No idea that it could cause GFR to plummet. It's almost laughable.

I am 80, and all things considered, feel like a walking miracle.😀

Thanks for your great tips.

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to Ladyprudence]

Listen to your doctor, eat protein to keep yourself strong. Fragility is the bane of old age, your kidneys will be fine.

[Ladyprudence in reply to bumblebee_tuna]

Refreshing words! Thanks, bumblebee_tuna.

[Hidden in reply to Ladyprudence]

I think we all need to remember medicine is not an exact science. That with the fact we can all react differently to foods, medicines and even life itself. Is there really any wonder there are so many conflicting opinions. Doctoring is based on generalities from years of trial and error and they still haven't perfected it.

For myself I have had to sort through my health difficulties and find what works for me the best.

I think the best we can do is eat a kidney friendly diet, exercise moderately and don't do anything stupid, which likely counts me out!

My mother in law is 93 with GFR20 Up from GFR10 five months ago. I can tell when she is not drinking enough, instantly. My mother died from kidney failure in front of me, steroids for 23 years. I had kidneys fail for18 hours a few years ago, campylobacter. If you don't drink enough fluids the kidneys can't do their job and the impure blood starts to slow down muscle response and anesthetise you. This is how important it is to drink fluids, but you don't have to over do it. For me around 1.5 litres a day, usually tea.

I would be mindful of your health requirements and above all else, enjoy life.

Cheers

[Ladyprudence in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, DC39. One of my problems is that I have a hard time trusting doctors anymore. But as someone said, we're going to have to trust somebody at some point, like it or not. The other thing is it seems like all serious illnesses are labeled in stages. But that doesn't mean I have to pay undue attention to them. I feel good. That, plus living as smart as I can, has to be good enough for me. GP told me I was drinking too much water, and said she would be happy if I have the old fashioned 8 glasses a day. Thank you so much for your response.

[Hidden in reply to Ladyprudence]

Dr's scare the C--- out of us initially. Once you get past that and realise the D stand for disease and not death, life can continue with some changes. I no longer worry about my numbers as long as they remain relatively constant. I don't rely on my Dr's opinions as they generally mitigate against my kidneys, without telling me. I research everything myself and draw my own conclusions and stick to what I have found works best for me. I kind of listen or read everything I can on my health, get rid of the anecdotal evidence and work with the scientific evidence.

Cheers

[bestmom247 in reply to Hidden]

You are so right! Know your body and you will know your health. Do not let the medical field bully you into something because they get paid more when you are in poor health!!!!!!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Jeepers, please take what people say with a grain of salt. If your numbers are stable, let it be that you are doing everything right in taking care of yourself. The fact that you are 80 plays into the "normal" level of the kidney function. No matter what, the kidneys decline as we age. So, it is probable that your GFR would be lower than 100 just because of age.

To determine CKD, it is the decline of the GFR (which is a picture of the kidney function at the time of the test) creatinine and protein in the urine. All those things put together is how they stage it. It is all just numbers.

BUT.... this is the most important thing.....how do you feel? Let the doctor worry about the numbers. If you feel good and keep doing what you are doing, you will be absolutely fine. I am stage five and still do water aerobics and walk 2 miles a day.

Oh, and about watermelon..... I know. You have to pay attention to serving size. Watermelon is low potassium at 1/2 a cup. That is like 3 one-inch chunks. Who eats a1/2 cup?

[Ladyprudence in reply to Bassetmommer]

Fantastic that you're Stage 5, and still doing water aerobics and walk 2 miles a day.

[Ladyprudence in reply to Bassetmommer]

Bassetmommer, I meant to add that I liked your encouragement and plain, common sense talk. AND, I'm so happy that I can have a little bit of watermelon. Just don't buy the whole thing!

[jeffmensch]

as far as I know stage = eGfr

[Ladyprudence]

Thank you, jeffmensch. Hope you're having a good day.

[S_dillow]

dont sweat it too much theres a lot of bs out there.you know your body best.be easy and just take what your docs say with a side of research.

[Ladyprudence in reply to S_dillow]

Thanks, S_dillow. That sounds right to me.

[gingersmom9102]

No, you cannot determine your CKD stage with only a GFR. Please contact your nephrologist's office to get an appointment for an in-person visit or even a phone call with the doctor. If your nephrologist is not willing /able to explain everything to you and to address your concerns, then please, for your health's sake, find another nephrologist.

[bestmom247]

Yes, GFR is what is used to determine you stage. I am over so over my PCP and Nephrologist right now, I could spit. I feel like I am just a cash cow to them.

[Ladyprudence in reply to bestmom247]

Bestmom and gingersmom, I feel like I'm walking a tightrope. There was a caution on my report that they were watching for patterns over the last few test results. And yet on the phone they talked like I would live to be a hundred. The general consensus is that salt is my greatest enemy, so the B/P has to be watched pretty closely. Not really scared, just a bit tense about it. Appreciate your replies.