Stage 3a kidney disease: looking for info

Furthermore, my gfr has now risen to 60 and my creatinine has dropped 20 pts to 130 in the last 3 months. I believe the protein experiment I ran on myself may have helped. I increased my protein from 100 grams daily to 150 . Go figure. it's the only change I made in the last 3-4 months. Johnmacc

Great information and impressive results. One thing I have learned about the value of protein with CKD is not only the quantity of protein, but the quality of the protein. For example, vegetables and fish are higher quality protein than red meat. Keep up the great work.

I am so glad your situation has improved and your “ program” is working for you. I am a month or so out from next blood work so don’t know if I’m still on right track or not but the challenge for me is to get enough protein in smaller “ hits” throughout the day. I’m eating mostly veggies/grains as protein as I read it’s easier on kidneys. . It takes a lot more of it though to get enough. Feel like all I do is think about food. Phooey on that. And my waistline isn’t shrinking either. Any suggestions?

Good question. I am simply adding a morning whey protein shake with half banana and couple strawberries with almond milk and little ice. Mix and enjoy. Same thing in the afternoon. Johnmacc

Great news for you! My eGFR went up from 59 to 62 & potassium dropped a bit, as well as creatinine & sodium, so I'm a happy camper! I use a little whey protein once per day in my smoothie & have begun adding half a banana back into my diet per day. Other than that, I have no clue what has improved my numbers, but am happy with the results. ^_^

Great news. Now let's see our next labs and see if it a trend or just an outlier

Exactly! I'm anxious to find out my next lab results in August. ^_^

I have had technical CKD stage 3 for a long time. I never paid any attention to numbers in the 50's. I also usually ask for a retest if it is lower, thinking that drinking some water might help the score, and often it does.

In September my eGFR was 53 but last month I got a 36. That I paid attention to. I had two retests (long story) and got 41 and 42- with hydration.

I have a lupus diagnosis that is longstanding but just got a test back for scleroderma that was positive. So something autoimmune could be going on. I have taken flurbiprofen, an NSAID, more lately and also drink low sodium V-8 for my heart, which has a lot of potassium.

Docs don't mention my eGFR but then again they didn't notice the positive scleroderma test either. I am seeing a nephrologist for the first time next week. I am supposed to have a Reclast infusion for my bones on July 10 and that is very bad for kidneys.

I am going to ask for a dietician for kidney diet. I eat a lot of protein but not much red meat. The potassium and salt both need to be addressed I think. Thanks for the tips!

It IS a lot of work to look up and compile food dietary values! It’s very much appreciated by those of us who need them. Thank you!

I discovered I had Stage 3a CKD by accident, on a routine hospital check-up prior to having a pacemaker fitted. When I asked my doctor why I hadn't been told the answer I got was that the borderline (GFR 59) Stage 3a was 'normal' for my age (then late '7Os) and I didn't need to be concerned. I consulted Dr Google and quickly learned what S.3a was; that it was a progressive condition which could be slowed downbeat not cured by lifestyle changes, in particular diet (Food and drink). Then I realised the inappropriateness of not having been given full information about the condition: how could I 'slow' the condition if I didn't know I had it? Having a number of co-morbidities , including more recently PMR, I'm on some heavy meds which must strain the kidney. So the only variable I can influence is lifestyle and I was deprived of the opportunity of addressing it, not knowing I had reached S 3a CKD. I subscribe to a Mayo Clinic PMR group and it's helped to, at least, ask the relevant of my rheumatologist. Finding this site, I can see it can do likewise for my CKD.