GFR dropped 5 more points and I don't know why.

According to my doc, creatinine-based eGFR's are very variable, and even large drops may not signify trouble. Mine has bounced from mid 30's to low 50's for months. Cystatin C GFR remained stable in low 50's. There are many factors that can affect the creatinine-based eGFR including muscle loss, blood pressure, heart function when kidney function is actually okay.

For now, like @jrn57, my creatinine-based GFR is back above 50 after a few months of:

-hydrating more
-no NSAID's, only tylenol
-cutting down on supplements especially B vitamins
- dietary changes (for me, more salt to address blood pressure and more protein to address muscle mass, but most people may do the opposite)

Have you tried drinking more water?
That seems to bring my egfr up.

Great discussion. Does Medicare cover C Cystatin tests? My creatinine GFR ranges from 25-33, over the last 5 years or so. When it dropped significantly in 2014 from GFR 60+ I was working out heavily. Weights, treadmill, swimming, a lot of activity. This raises creatinine levels. Since then, I basically walk and dance. My disease is from lithium use over 40 years and I’m off that now. I only take 2 meds and a vitamin D supplement for hyperparathyroidism. My PTH was 315 last checked. Should go down now. I have no proteinuria. I have no symptoms. All my concerns are from lab work, blood tests, etc. a Nephrologist I saw a few years ago said many people have no idea their kidneys in decline. Often, even young people don’t discover this until they are in kidney failure. And older folks who pass away from something else an autopsy shows their kidneys are in failure and no symptoms.

That’s great. I’m happy for you that yours is stable. I’m off all supplements and never take anything for pain. I’d like to work with a nephrologist but haven’t been able to get an appointment. After losing at least 11 GFR points in 14 months ( they told me it was over 60 but wouldn’t give a number when I asked sixty what), it now 49. I don’t have a team of doctors. After the drop in GFR my doc said it was stable! I’m in FL where we have a shortage of doctors. After the nephrologist’s office saying they’d look at the lab report and call if they thought I needed an appointment, it’s been a week and no one called. I don’t know what to do, but sure would like to know what’s causing this and if there’s a way to slow it down. No one has mentioned reducing water intake or a special diet. All I know about this is what I’ve read on the Internet, because I haven’t been able to get an appointment. I have Medicare and an F supplement which pays everything, so insurance shouldn’t be the problem.

Thanks for caring. I don’t know what caused it yet, because I haven’t been able to get an appointment with a nephrologist yet. Tomorrow I’ll make more calls and keep trying.

I have Hashimoto’s with TSH at the very bottom of the normal range and T 4 a little above range. My doctor said she’s not worried about it, but I wonder if it’s making a difference in kidney function.

@macbarb0503 maybe try to get a Cystatin C test. It is not variable like the creatinine-based GFR. My creatinine-based GFR (the test usually done) jumps all over the place so I don't pay much attention to it at this point. I do try to hydrate a lot before it though.

Thanks. I’ll ask for that. Do you know if a person with stage 3 kidney disease should be on a kidney diet? My doctor just blows off my questions and concerns. Finding a new doctor here is hard because of the shortage. The nephrologist’s office I’m in touch with has a nurse practitioner, All she said was cut out supplements and NSAIDS, which I don’t take. Is weight loss common at this stage? I read that it is and I’ve been losing weight without trying for the past couple of years. Sorry about all the questions, but I need to learn, since I haven’t been able to get information from a medical professional yet. I’m not concerned that it’s stage 3, just that the function is declining so fast. Thanks

There are other reasons for a decline in the creatinine-based GFR which is why that other test can be reassuring. I assume we are all in stage 3 after a certain age but I get the concern about the drop.

I had autoimmune tests (positive but for a long time), blood pressure check (actually low bp can lower the GFR), echocardiogram (low heart function can lower the GFR) and hydrated more, avoided too many vitamins and no NSAIDS, and it came back up. If you can get it over 50 by drinking more before a test, maybe that will be reassuring!

Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy your Sunday.