My kidney situation was evaluated back in 2005 when I was going through a pre-transplant evaluation for pancreas transplant. I was told that my kidneys had mild - moderate disfunction. There were no #’s or letters assigned to the level (that I was told about) and I was told I did not need a simultaneous kidney transplant. I had a “pancreas alone transplant”. In 2008 my endocrinologist suggested I find a nephrologist. I did and found out that I had CKD stage 3 (still no letter). Over the next 8 years I think everything slowly got progressively worse (diabetes & kidneys). In 2016 I started looking into simultaneous pancreas / kidney transplant again. My transplanted pancreas was decreasing in function and I got a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. My eGFR was bouncing between 14 - 42 and my nephrologist proclaimed that I was CKD stage 4. Long story short (too late), I’m doing EVERYTHING I can to work with my endocrinologist and nephrologist to stay as healthy and stable as possible. I have high tech devices, insulin and dietary resources for diabetes. My nephrologist prescribes meds for blood pressure and I have access to a renal dietician for my kidney situation. At a recent follow up nephrology appointment my eGFR was 38. My nephrologist is pleased with all my labs, says that I am stable and now has labeled me CKD stage 3B.
I realized that primary docs don’t become alarmed with stages 1,2 or even 3. Nephrologists don’t usually even see you until Stage 3 and sometimes aren’t particularly alarmed with that because they have patients who are end stage and facing dialysis &/or transplant. What I do is to remind my providers often that I am depending on them to help me keep from going there. I even asked my nephrologist if he had a kidney he would be willing to donate to me (when I was on a quest to search for a living kidney donor!) He was surprised at my question, but now he knows just how serious I am about this!