I am CKD Stage 2 and How Long I would Be Able To Survive until Starting My Dialysis

[hanep]

Dear friends,

I'm 31 years old with no family history of any disease. 3 months back I have been diagnosed with the following:- CKD Stage 2, GFR 72%, Creatinine Level 117, Phosphate 4.xx (The rest of the result are all good)

I am worried about my health. In past, I did done bodybuilding and consume proteins a scoop daily and this lasted for 3-6 months. During the duration, I also perform steroid injection Sustanon 250mg for 1 cycle (which then I stopped already). This was back 2 years ago after I completely stopped consume all this (my bad decision ever made).

Back few months ago, I suffered panic attack, feeling to fainted, gastric, and I managed to overcome the situation. To confirm, I went to a doctor for a full medical checkup.

To my surprise, my GFR is 72% and I'm high in phosphate ( perhaps because i eat sunflower seeds daily while doing my coding, as i work as a programmer). No urea in blood, no protein in urine, blood pressure is fine, blood sugar is fine.

The doctor has advised me to drink a lot of water. And after following doctor's advise, all of panic attack, gastric, feeling to get fainted, are completely GONE.

For now I am waiting for the 2nd blood test and urine result. I didnt notice any difference physically, no edema, etc. But I am really worried as I noticed foamy urine. When I pee directly to the toilet bowl, foam will come up (slight appearance when i pee at the side). This happens when I drink less water. When I drink water like 7-8 glass a day, the foam will disappear. But I do notice foam appear during early morning. But to my finding, I found out that foam easily appear when my urine is yellowish / slight yellow (when i drink less). when it is clear (when i drink a lot of water), it doesn't. and of course, upon drinking more, i frequently urinate like 15 minutes to 30 minutes interval.

My question is:

1. I believe the CKD root cause comes from protein/steroid intake in past. Though I only took small dose the damage has been done. I stopped all this a long time. Does kidney function will continue decreases or stopped once I manage to cut the root cause (steroid/protein intake) ?

2. How long will I go to Stage 5 or Dialysis as now I am with Stage 2 CKD?

3. Is it possible that the result (GFR) is because of dehydration? As I do consume less water about a glass or two daily in past.

[Rosabeth]

Please don't worry too much at this stage I am stage 4 with a reading of 29 occasionally it goes to 31 I eat a good sensible diet no real fads but as a diabetic I also have to watch the carbs. I am told that it's stable but unless it goes down to 15 to just carry on as I am. Follow your doctors advise and when worried go see him. Everyone is different but my advise is good diet plenty of sleep and exercise and enjoy your life. Best wishes Rosabeth

[Nutbrownhare]

Hi Hanep

I agree with Rosabeth- don't worry. Kidney function tests can vary depending on how much fluid you have drunk before and exercise. If you do vigorous exercise 48 hours or less before hand it can lower your function percentage.

Your urine will look differently first thing in the morning as it is more concentrated from overnight.

There isn't a formula for working out how long it takes from one stage to the next and for most people they don't even move to another stage. It may be that your kidneys have always worked at that level- anything above 70% is considered to be normal. I have never yet met anyone who as had 100% results for function- most people who I know who are perfectly healthy vary between 70% and 90% - and their results can vary too.

So my advice is not to worry, enjoy life, make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle (discussing with your doctor will help) and keep hydrated. And if you need more support there are always people on here who will share their experiences.

Best wishes

[pryderi]

My GFR bumped around at 13% for 2 years before it finally dropped to 9% which was when i started dialysis. It was less than 40 for 5 years before that. I had infected kidney stones.

[draftee in reply to pryderi]

How many days a week do you have dialysis and for how long, Did you have a choice to do it at home ? Will you ever be able to discontinue it ?

[pryderi in reply to draftee]

Hi

You will have the choice of peritoneal or haemo dialysis depending on certain factors which you need to discuss with your doctor. I'm on haemodialysis.

I started dialysis at the hospital unit abut 2 years ago and have been doing home dialysis in Wales for nearly a year now. I would have started earlier but I had a tropical holidays booked which meant I had to have dialysis in isolation for 3 months so couldn't start the training earlier.

At hospital they usually get you started on 3 sessions per week each lasting 3 -4 hours, they sometimes need more. Generally target is about 12 hours. At home its still same target but you can do it every day for shorter periods if you wish.

I think peritoneal dialysis is every day but don't quote me on that.

The only option to dialysis once kidney function is too poor to sustain life is transplant, but that is linked to your weight, other health factors and availability of a suitable donor. If you have a live donor they are able to work with you before had to reduce rejection problems but most transplants come from deceased donors so will require close tissue matching and lots of ongoing medication.

Dialysis can give you headaches and cramps and its mind numbingly boring but it is what it is, and is better than popping up the daisies!! However it usually makes me feel much better at least one day at a time.

Bottom line - don't worry be happy for the opportunity

[draftee in reply to pryderi]

Thanks for your informative answer.

Wishing you the best of luck.

draftee

[phillen]

sounds like it was probably the body building stuff & steroids caused the problems in the first place as others have said there no answers you can stay at that stage for many years you may never need dialysis my husband has had ckd for many years he was stage 3 for around 15/16 years he went very quickly through to stage 5 within 1 year but because he had heart problems he's been on dialysis for over 7 years now he's 62 just eat healthy & look after yourself as an "ordinary" person should thats the best you can do x

[Sally10255]

Hi, I drink at least 100 ounces of water a day. One of my kidneys is barely functioning, , either born that way, something damaged it, or from a stone recently that kidney doctor thinks was in there for awhile wreaking havoc. With that said, I don’t take any vitamins, supplements, no dairy by choice, watch protein. Smoking, alcohol, soda pop isn’t good for kidney. I also eat low carb, no bread, pasta, potatoes. Just look up the kidney diet and see recommendations. Kidney disease is a silent epidemic. My thinking is because of medicines, supplements, excessive proteins, that many have it, and no clue. I suggest you start with way more water.

[hanep]

Dear all. Thank you for your support.

Here's an update of me.

I had received the 2nd blood/urine test. Here's the result (I only share the problematic one, others are fine)

Cretinine level : 113 (previously 117)

eGFR : 74 (previously 72)

Phosphate : 1.4 (Previously 4.xx) - Went normal

Other results are fine.

I am now at Stage 2 and asked to recheck in the next 3 months of time while having proper diet. No medication are given.

[SamuelChin]

I am 34.

eGFR: 106, Creatinine: 83, Protein in Urine: 0.3g/L, ACR: 59.2, high cholesterol, high bp, high blood sugar

on 50mg Losartan daily

I am with you.

[HA_Q8]

How are you doing brother?