Kidney Function eGFR. Good news.

[Pearlteapot]

I thought for a change I'd post something positive. My kidney function is back in the healthy range after 15 months of thyroid replacement medication.

In March 2022 at diagnosis my eGFR was 55, Creatinine 97. Started levo.

November 2022 eGFR 61, Creatinine 89

June 2023 eGFR 83, Creatinine 66

Hoping that I'll sneak over the eGFR 90 mark at the next test but happy with this.

The big improvement from November to June is probably because I started T3 in December although presumably not necessary for good converters.

Hurrah. One less disease to worry about.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Yay 🥳 T3 bought my kidneys back to life too.... what a massive relief 🤗

[Pearlteapot in reply to TiggerMe]

yes indeedy!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Pearlteapot]

My Mother ended up on dialysis.... it all makes so much sense looking back, as far as we know she never had thyroid treatment 😕

[tresa56 in reply to TiggerMe]

How long did it take and how bad was your gfr if you dont mind me asking.

[Pearlteapot in reply to tresa56]

I think this question is for TiggerMe but the reply notification has come to me

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Pearlteapot]

Thanks Pearl, you as the original poster will receive all replies, this one from Tresa did make it to me 🤷‍♀️

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to tresa56]

It jumped up from 77mL/min in June 2022 to 86mL/min in Nov 2022, I started adding T3 in August, I'd be intrigued to see if it continued to improve as I've been stage 2 CKD since at least 2010 as it turns out 🤷‍♀️

NHS Range

Your eGFR results is given as a stage from 1 of 5: stage 1 (G1) – a normal eGFR above 90ml/min, but other tests have detected signs of kidney damage. stage 2 (G2) – a slightly reduced eGFR of 60 to 89ml/min, with other signs of kidney damage. stage 3a (G3a) – an eGFR of 45 to 59ml/min.

[Pearlteapot]

how awful. Was she hypothyroid too?

My GP never said a thing. I only picked up on my eGFR rate of 55 from March 2022 a couple of weeks ago. My GP never mentioned it and I wasn’t as alert/paranoid about interpreting test results for myself as I am now. I guess it would have been nice to know and be told that thyroid replacement would help over time. Or something. I suspect a lot of under medicated people are needlessly suffering kidney dysfunction.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Pearlteapot]

We didn't have a clue but looking back at all of her issues she was a classic hypo having now walked in her shoes and at least 3 out of the 4 of us have inherited the wonky DIO2 gene... thankfully this forum saved me from following in her footsteps 🙏

p.s. not sure the reply's are working properly as i see you responded to Tatty about pie's but it didn't link to her? Something funny is going on as I only spotted this one by chance

[Pearlteapot in reply to TiggerMe]

I thought it was me being inept but the same thing happened just now when I replied to slowdragon so maybe you’re on to something

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Pearlteapot]

There is certainly something weird going on as when I send this it opens another reply box above.... gremlins

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I post links about low GFR and low Ft3 regularly

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40] due to several reasons. 

Hypothyroidism results in a reversible elevation in serum creatinine due to the reduction in GFR 

Both these changes are reversible with treatment of hypothyroidism. 

It seems many, many GP’s (and endocrinologists?) have no idea of this link

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

It has been observed that hypothyroidism treatment increases eGFR in geriatric patients. Similar results were obtained after studies with younger patients in the literature. This study is a study in which only geriatric age group patients were examined. It should be kept in mind that hypothyroidism which is not corrected in geriatric patients may also contribute to a decrease in eGFR.

[Pearlteapot]

I agree, neither my GP nor endo even commented on my eGFR. I researched it on PubMed and then saw that you’ve been writing about it here for years. Doctors don’t seem to join the dots on the manifold serious secondary consequences of low thyroid. The consequences for the people left on low T3 because of TSH based treatment is just horrific. Maybe your kidney links should be in a sticky ?

[tresa56]

I hope my kidney function returns...My doc and the kidney doctor both said it could not have anything to do with hashimotos...I am fairly new to all this and my thyroid has not been stable or in range yet. I am up to taking 90mg of armor thyroid so hopefully soon...I have so much anxiety surrounding my kidneys at the moment..I am told I am in stage 3a...I never even knew there were issues until recently...

[Pearlteapot]

Hi tresa56 Perhaps they know something about your kidney disease that is different from other hashimotos patients Or perhaps they just don’t know anything like enough. you should show them the articles that    SlowDragon has referenced and post your latest thyroid results in the forum so that people can comment on whether you are properly medicated for your thyroid condition. As the articles state, high creatinine and low GFR in a hypo patient are reversible with adequate thyroid replacement. How is your T3 level ?

[tresa56 in reply to Pearlteapot]

I have no idea...I am having it tested next week though..My T4 was super low last time..Like the 1st number that makes it in range and my tsh was like 6. something...But hopefully on the new dose its better..my chloresteral and blood pressure went high too..I never had that either...the doc said she didnt know why my kidney function was down...I dont have diabetis..and I only had uncontrolled high blood pressure for a couple of months...I feel like these doctors dont want things to be connected..I wish we could have a doc that looked at the connections and made sence of it all.

[tresa56]

I definetely plan on insisting on treating t3..I am on armor thats a start

[Pearlteapot in reply to tresa56]

when you get your new results post here. It can take time to get your thyroid levels to the right place. As you saw from my post it took 15 months for my eGFR to rise to a good level although there were small improvements straight away.

[tresa56 in reply to Pearlteapot]

My thyroid levels are terrible =) I am going for a kidney ultrasound today. I hope that doesnt affect it. It has been a nightmare getting my thyroid stable. I am currently taking 1.5 grains of armor...I imagine they willmove me up to 2. I could not stand levo/synthroid. Felt worse than not being treated.

TSH

7.72 H

mIU/L

Reference Range

> or = 20 Years 0.40-4.50 ... Show More

T4, FREE 0.7 L Reference Range: 0.8-1.8 ng/dL

T3, TOTAL85

Reference Range: 76-181 ng/dL