Can efgr improve drastically?

@syedlaeeqahmed Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Changing eGFR is often a topic of discussion here! Many of us like to follow the advice to watch a trend versus individual tests, to get a better overall picture. Does your father have any other health concerns that could be a factor in his overall health status?

When eGFR drops, it could be a result of progressing disease state, dehydration at time of the testing, illness/infection, medication interaction, diet choices. You haven't mentioned how long it has been since the 29 reading. A sudden drop could be an acute kidney infection/injury. Rebounding back like it seems to have done, it sure looks like you are doing the right things, now! Keep on being mindful of diet, stress, use of NSAIDs. Be careful to not be over-vigilant regarding the protein too much, as that is needed everyday in some form for good health.

Hydration, getting the right amount of fluids every day, is easy to say, sometimes harder to do. But our bodies really rely on the right fluid level in order to function well.

What do you plan to do from here?
Ginger

My GFR was down to 28 before my GP mentioned it and set me up with an appt at the local dialysis center. Ummm....that was a hard NO for me. Both of my parents were on dialysis when they died and I decided to try and improve before resorting to drastic measures with dialysis.

I cut waaay down on red meat, began eating a lot more vegetables, limited myself to one cup of coffee a day, cut out soft drinks entirely, started an exercise regimen. I didn't drink alcohol, smoke or use drugs but would have stopped if I had. Three years down the road at almost 73, my GFR is consistently between 48 and 52, which for my age is good enough. So I definitely believe that being proactive about improving kidney function can be helpful. I have been a T2 diabetic for 18 years, btw.

@syedlaeeqahmed I also want to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I noticed in your original post that you mention blood pressure and blood sugar. Hypertension and Diabetes are the two most common causes of kidney problems. It sounds like you are working hard to control these conditions. As @gingerw mentioned the overall trend in eGFR is more useful than any one individual test. I am diabetic, have a history of hypertension and have been diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). My eGFR has bounced between 14 - 42 since 2016. It is currently in the low 30’s. Taking medications and treatment for other related conditions (such as diabetes and hypertension) can help even things out. This includes a dietician who is well versed in these conditions and can help you develop an eating plan to meet your particular situation. You also mentioned “serum”. Were you referring to creatinine? And you mentioned “ongoing medical procedures”. Are you comfortable with saying what that entails?

My grandmother, mother, and aunt went through dialysis. When my time arrives, I won't be doing it, even though I know the outcome. My nephrologist and renal nutritionist highly recommend a vegetarian diet. I am trying! I have eliminated red meat, but still having difficulty with the processed foods. I believe diet and exercise can help immensely. Good for you!!♥️

You can understand my feelings about dialysis, then. Hang in there with the diet and lifestyle changes because they do make a difference. I've always been a carnivore. Lol But I've learned to enjoy quite a few meatless meals such as Indian vegetable dishes, eggplant lasagna or parmesan, spaghetti with red clam sauce etc. Chicken and fish are okay, just avoid red meat for the most part. Best of luck to you. I enjoy Dadvice TV on YouTube and Facebook and have learned a lot from watching it.

Thank you so much, Ginger. This has been a huge relief. My father was diagnosed with CKD in October, with a serum creatinine level of 1.38 and an eGFR of 44. By December, his creatinine had risen to 1.58, and his eGFR had dropped to 36. In January, it worsened to 1.80 and an eGFR of 24, eventually surpassing 2.38 with an eGFR of 29.

Throughout this journey, I remained vigilant, staying in constant contact with the doctor. We strictly controlled his diet, limiting it to vegetables only, along with Dapa 10mg. Now, his serum creatinine has improved to 1.68, and his eGFR has risen to 44. He consumes no protein, no oily food—only boiled vegetables prepared with just half a spoon of oil.

Your journey has been incredibly motivating, and you’re truly an ideal person I’d love to meet in person someday. The way you took charge of your health and improved your GFR through lifestyle changes is truly inspiring.

I’ve been doing the same for my father—strictly managing his diet, keeping a close eye on his kidney function, and working closely with doctors to ensure the best possible care. Seeing your progress gives me even more hope and reassurance that proactive efforts can make a real difference. Thank you for sharing your story!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I truly appreciate the support and insights from this community.

Yes, I was referring to serum creatinine. My father was diagnosed with CKD in October, and since then, I have been closely monitoring his condition. Initially, his serum creatinine was 1.38 with an eGFR of 44, but over the months, it fluctuated—rising to 1.58 (eGFR 36), then 1.80 (eGFR 24), and at its worst, 2.38 with an eGFR of 29. However, with strict diet control (mainly boiled vegetables with minimal oil and no protein), along with Dapagliflozin 10mg and ongoing medical supervision, his latest results showed improvement—his serum creatinine is now 1.68, and his eGFR has risen to 44.

He also has hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, which we manage carefully with medication and a restricted diet. For **blood pressure control**, he is taking **Anifed Retard 10mg (three times a day)** along with **Carvida 3.125mg (morning and night)**. For **diabetes management**, he is on **Insulin 70/30—10 units in the morning and 8 units at night**.

His ongoing medical procedures mainly involve routine monitoring, medication adjustments, and dietary changes under a doctor’s guidance. We are working hard to stabilize his condition and prevent further decline.

Your journey and insights give me hope, and I truly appreciate you sharing your experience. It reinforces the importance of proactive management and staying committed to a healthy lifestyle.

I completely understand your feelings about dialysis, and your journey has been incredibly inspiring. Thank you for the encouragement! We’re staying committed to the diet and lifestyle changes because, as you've shown, they truly make a difference.

I’ve always been more of a carnivore too, so adjusting to a vegetable-based diet for my father has been a learning experience. But we’re making it work, incorporating meals like boiled vegetables, and avoiding red meat altogether. It’s great to hear about alternatives like Indian vegetable dishes and eggplant-based meals—I’ll definitely look into those!

I really appreciate your advice and will check out **Dadvice TV** on YouTube and Facebook. Wishing you continued success on your health journey, and thanks again for your support!

I truly admire your strength and determination. It must have been incredibly difficult seeing your grandmother, mother, and aunt go through dialysis, and I completely understand your decision.

A vegetarian diet has been highly recommended for my father as well, and we’ve been strictly following it—eliminating red meat completely and sticking to boiled vegetables with minimal oil. Processed foods can definitely be a challenge to cut out, but every step in the right direction makes a difference.

I absolutely agree that diet and exercise play a huge role in maintaining kidney health. Wishing you all the best on your journey, and thank you for your kind words and encouragement! ♥️