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Somebody tell me why CKD stage 3a or 3b is no big deal.
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Oct 11 3:55pm | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
@thenazareneshul As you have read, we need to advocate for our own health. Not only nephrologists, but many times other specialists beyond our primary care physicians, will seem to downplay a situation we consider important. In my opinion, getting to Stage 3A or B is a big deal, and we need to make it a priority.
My cousin suffered from long-term side effects of a cardiac medication from decades ago, which ultimately led to dialysis. At that time they had little clue what damage it could cause.
We want to look for trends, not necessarily a one time drop, unless there has been an infection or acute kidney injury [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20369048] Decline in eGFR can be caused by uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, diet manifestations, medication side effects, dehydration at time of testing. Our kidneys really are pretty sensitive to a lot of things, and we want to stay ahead of the curve to keep them as healthy as possible.
Switch to acetominophen [Tylenol] rather than ibuprophen or Aleve. Check medications you may be on to see if there is possible side effects of kidney concerns. If you have had a drop in eGFR and had any medical procedures that included contrast dye, your kidneys need time to clear that from your system, up to 2 weeks! As far as diet, minimize your sodium intake, watch protein intake, calcium/phosphorous/ potassium. Eat healthy for your lifestyle.
Remember, eGFR is only one value. As @mrainne mentioned, get to know what indicates a healthy kidney report.
Ginger
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Now, see, this is why she, the nephrologist, isn't making sense. It turned out to be because of past labs also that it's fluctuating between CKD 3a and 3b. I'd already been taken off of all NSAIDs and then she's told me I can take the prescription for Meloxicam again. That was when my worst results came in! It's not like I don't want to take it, that was the best my pain has been for years. But I had stopped, because as I told her, "I'm not gonna just kill off my kidneys. I don't knowingly do things like that." So now, my daughter and I had allowed me 1 or 2 tabs a week (instead of 3 per day) as rescue meds. But I'm now to give Cymbalta a try, so if that helps the pain instead, that too is not an opioid. If it's safe for my kidneys. I do have high blood pressure. I have sinus tacycardia, and high cholesterol, and I'm obese from high Prednisone back in 2014-2015 for Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I've lost 30 obs of that but still have about 60 to go. And I take assorted other meds. I guess I'll just ask for a different nephrologist appt. Because I have to be able to ask about food restrictions, all she told me was not to eat large amounts of beef at any one sitting. I'd heard to cut the salt. That's really about it. Yet, it's good to find out my impression that I did not get good advice from her was right. I can move on with that, and her, behind me. I haven't had contrast in any imaging lately, so it's not that. Again, good to know. Thank you very much for the straight talk.