Possible low kidney function

Posted by Ryman @ryman, Feb 12, 2017

Hello, I am new. From blood work, it appears I may have low kidney function. I am waiting for further testing. I have several other health problems. I am anxious about this and just want to get connected with people who are going through this. I will be reading and learning. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

@kanaazpereira

Hello @ryman,

Please ask away, because that is precisely what the Connect community is here for. I see that @predictable has shared some great information, and I would also encourage you to read this recent discussion on Connect: "Diminished kidney function" http://mayocl.in/2l9m1P9
Feel free to ask questions and tag other members.
Here is some information from Mayo Clinic too, about questions you may have for your doctors: http://mayocl.in/2l9zTcm

In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to @macarl, @jmbjar, @rosemarya, @2011panc, @rozalia, @lindaw, @wolfer1975, @suelfin, @mouser, @kimhill1972, @gulzar, and I hope they will be able to tell you more about their experiences and help you find some answers.

@ryman, what symptoms are you experiencing? How are you managing your other health issues?

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Thank you for the info. I will check those out shortly. The symptoms I have now are much like what I had with Lyme disease. Dizziness, weakness, headaches, nausea, fatigue and blurred vision. But I just have an overall ill feeling and no appetite at all. I think my doctor is also looking at liver function. My potassium has dropped to the normal range but the filter rate is still low. My carbon dioxide and creatinine are still within range but have gone up. I take synthroid, amlodipine and nexium for thyroid, bp and GERD. I take aredia by iv once a month for osteoporosis. Thank you so much for your help. The possibility of kidney disease came as a complete surprise to me and concerns me more than my other issues.

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@joan47

Sorry that you are experiencing kidney health problem. I an in year 8 of dealing with similar issues and have acquired a lot of information and experience with the disease. The most important piece of data to be aware. of is your creatinine number from your blood work. Health kidney function level is around 1.0. When the number starts getting around 3.0, there is serious illness and the direction is towards being on dialysis, a very debilitating process on the body and quality of life. My best advice at this point, is to find a nephrologist at a teaching hospital near you and begin working them right away. I am willing and available to share information with you about my own journey in deals big with this very long gestating and very long debilitating chronic disease.

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I am sorry for your ordeal with kidney disease. I will appreciate any advice. This is very new and a surprise to me. My creatinine is still in range but has gone up since Dec. I hope that finding this early will help me keep it controlled. I am waiting for my doctor's next step. She talked about an ultrasound. The waiting for tests and appointments stresses me. Thank you. I hope you are doing well.

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@joan47

Sorry that you are experiencing kidney health problem. I an in year 8 of dealing with similar issues and have acquired a lot of information and experience with the disease. The most important piece of data to be aware. of is your creatinine number from your blood work. Health kidney function level is around 1.0. When the number starts getting around 3.0, there is serious illness and the direction is towards being on dialysis, a very debilitating process on the body and quality of life. My best advice at this point, is to find a nephrologist at a teaching hospital near you and begin working them right away. I am willing and available to share information with you about my own journey in deals big with this very long gestating and very long debilitating chronic disease.

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@ryman, as I looked over your messages this morning, I sensed how uncomfortable you feel waiting to hear from your new primary care doctor, but as a new patient to your PCP, it probably takes more time to visualize and comprehend the full range of your challenges.

These points stick out to me: 1) You suggest that you have had high potassium (hyperkalemia), which might account for some of your most bothersome symptoms. 2) You're taking a lot of medications, some of which you indicate have been with you a long time. 3) You would benefit from a detailed review of your medications -- one by one -- and their possible interactions and current necessity; your PCP will do that for you at your request. 4) You would benefit from keeping a complete file of your lab reports so that, if you'd like to have a second opinion on any major question, you have documentation to share with the other doctor. 5) If you can, ask a medically knowledgable friend to go with you to see your doctor and to act as another set of ears on the answers you receive. 6) Ask your PCP whether referral to a nephrologist is appropriate for addressing your kidney concerns.

This sounds like a lot to do, but the more of it you can shoulder, the more you will be in command of your medical plan, diagnoses, and treatment. I have found that most doctors greatly appreciate this kind of personal involvement by their patients -- even when I offer something "off the wall," my cardiologist thanks me for keeping him "on the ball."

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@predictable

Welcome @ryman! We're glad to have you with us, and we'll be interested in what your medical team tells you about your challenges. Could you say a little about your "other health problems?" I have reduced kidney function, but without much consequence in terms of symptoms. In my case, hypertension is a key factor and has been for 25 years; doctors and I have tried two dozen therapies to protect my kidneys and manage my hypertension. Right now, we're doing OK with that. I also developed atrial fibrillation a couple of years ago, and we're managing that pretty well also; this brought cardiology back into my treatment regime, which relies on nephrology to deal with hypertension. A major problem -- bladder cancer -- came up 8 years ago and was treated successfully by urology, so that's behind me. If you're interested in any of these challenges, let me know and I'll fill you in. Martin

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@ryman, I understand how stressful it can be to wait for appointments and test results. I am glad that your new pcp is doing a thorough investigation of your condition. I suggest, if not already doing so, to keep a running list of your questions for your doctor. I have been thru my share of waiting for results, so I would encourage you to ask how and when you will receive the results - this eliminates one small uncertainty from the clutter.
Rosemary

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@predictable

Welcome @ryman! We're glad to have you with us, and we'll be interested in what your medical team tells you about your challenges. Could you say a little about your "other health problems?" I have reduced kidney function, but without much consequence in terms of symptoms. In my case, hypertension is a key factor and has been for 25 years; doctors and I have tried two dozen therapies to protect my kidneys and manage my hypertension. Right now, we're doing OK with that. I also developed atrial fibrillation a couple of years ago, and we're managing that pretty well also; this brought cardiology back into my treatment regime, which relies on nephrology to deal with hypertension. A major problem -- bladder cancer -- came up 8 years ago and was treated successfully by urology, so that's behind me. If you're interested in any of these challenges, let me know and I'll fill you in. Martin

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At the risk of being looked at like an know it all......:) I have learned from various health issues to ask questions, and if you don'd understand ask again till you do. I have had great success with that. The waiting is the hardest for me. I fight anxiety and take meds. for it, but that is usually where I go first ...being anxious. And I worry that my increasing weight gain will kill me before anything else does. I have mentioned to nurses but it is always shuffled to another question.

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@predictable

Welcome @ryman! We're glad to have you with us, and we'll be interested in what your medical team tells you about your challenges. Could you say a little about your "other health problems?" I have reduced kidney function, but without much consequence in terms of symptoms. In my case, hypertension is a key factor and has been for 25 years; doctors and I have tried two dozen therapies to protect my kidneys and manage my hypertension. Right now, we're doing OK with that. I also developed atrial fibrillation a couple of years ago, and we're managing that pretty well also; this brought cardiology back into my treatment regime, which relies on nephrology to deal with hypertension. A major problem -- bladder cancer -- came up 8 years ago and was treated successfully by urology, so that's behind me. If you're interested in any of these challenges, let me know and I'll fill you in. Martin

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Thank you.yes, I do keep a list of questions. They send my results through a patient portal email or the doctor calls me. I guess. I just worry that all the running for tests and waiting for results allows the problem to get worse. I probably need an anxiety pill but have never found one I could tolerate. I have a weird body that fights me all the way, I have even had a doctor tell me that!

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@predictable

Welcome @ryman! We're glad to have you with us, and we'll be interested in what your medical team tells you about your challenges. Could you say a little about your "other health problems?" I have reduced kidney function, but without much consequence in terms of symptoms. In my case, hypertension is a key factor and has been for 25 years; doctors and I have tried two dozen therapies to protect my kidneys and manage my hypertension. Right now, we're doing OK with that. I also developed atrial fibrillation a couple of years ago, and we're managing that pretty well also; this brought cardiology back into my treatment regime, which relies on nephrology to deal with hypertension. A major problem -- bladder cancer -- came up 8 years ago and was treated successfully by urology, so that's behind me. If you're interested in any of these challenges, let me know and I'll fill you in. Martin

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@jjwest, Thank you for sharing what you have learned along the way. All of us, each and everyone, learns as we go along. And although we all endure different conditions and treatments, we can help each other by sharing our experiences. We welcome and appreciate your input here on Connect. I hope for you to get some helpful information from the tests that you mentioned on a previous post.
I am a bit troubled by your comment about your weight concern and the way the nurses seemed to move to another question. That must be frustrating. Did you bring this situation or the weight related question to the attention of the doctor that you see?
Rosemary

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@joan47

Sorry that you are experiencing kidney health problem. I an in year 8 of dealing with similar issues and have acquired a lot of information and experience with the disease. The most important piece of data to be aware. of is your creatinine number from your blood work. Health kidney function level is around 1.0. When the number starts getting around 3.0, there is serious illness and the direction is towards being on dialysis, a very debilitating process on the body and quality of life. My best advice at this point, is to find a nephrologist at a teaching hospital near you and begin working them right away. I am willing and available to share information with you about my own journey in deals big with this very long gestating and very long debilitating chronic disease.

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Thank you. My new doctor went over my Meds on my first appointment. She is still trying to come up with an alternative osteoporosis treatment but between my swallowing and my insurance that is not easy. Also because of the osteoporosis I wanted to drop Nexium but she was not for that. I am keeping my lab reports and patient summaries. My grandson usually goes with me because I am very hard of hearing and he asks questions and brings up issues. I feel that once the testing is done she will refer me to a specialist. Oh, I am one to go with a written list and make suggestions and I feel this doctor does not mind that. In fact, my first visit her nurse said Feel free to discuss anything at all with her.

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This is so frustrating! I keep trying to reply to a certain message and when I click on view & post it takes me to some old messages and a box at the bottom to send. So...I have had a few messages guiding me to sites concerning weight problems. I am still on hold to begin the test for kidney function. I do NOT have any symptoms so I am not too concerned about it. I have been having a difficult time being positive for the last few days. Not sure what is going on...anyone who goes thru these times I would appreciate some input. It seems like so many times in my life I am "on hold" 🙂 I see so many folks on here that are struggling with different things in their lives. So glad folks here are willing to share themselves anD experiences. I need someone to talk with but I don't know why and what I would say. .......oh by the way.......HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! EVERYONE!!
PEACE & LOVE ...jj

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@jjwest

This is so frustrating! I keep trying to reply to a certain message and when I click on view & post it takes me to some old messages and a box at the bottom to send. So...I have had a few messages guiding me to sites concerning weight problems. I am still on hold to begin the test for kidney function. I do NOT have any symptoms so I am not too concerned about it. I have been having a difficult time being positive for the last few days. Not sure what is going on...anyone who goes thru these times I would appreciate some input. It seems like so many times in my life I am "on hold" 🙂 I see so many folks on here that are struggling with different things in their lives. So glad folks here are willing to share themselves anD experiences. I need someone to talk with but I don't know why and what I would say. .......oh by the way.......HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! EVERYONE!!
PEACE & LOVE ...jj

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Hi @jjwest,
When you hit View & Reply in the email notification, it will first take you to the initial message of that discussion thread. If you wait about 4-6 seconds while the site loads, you'll will be directed exactly to the message you wish to respond to.
However, I'm not sure what is happening with respect to the weight problems site that you're being directed to. Can you please send me an email through this form with more details of the issue? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/contact-a-community-moderator/
We'll get to the bottom of it.
Thanks
Colleen

PS: Improvements to make the site load faster are coming 🙂

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