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How can I stabilize or improve my eGFR?

Posted by belabaliw @belabaliw, Jul 9, 2023

Hi, my eGFR came down from 38 to 28. My nephrologist put me on spironolactone 25mg to replace my Verapamil 180 mg, to stabilize my blood pressure in the morning.
I have changed my diet to non beef, pork and other high phosphorous foods. I do regular exercise walking and sleep well. I’m not diabetic. What other ways can I bring up my eGFR?
Thank you for this website you have for us who are truly trying to stabilize our kidney condition and great concern to stay healthy.

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

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umer834 | @umer834 | Dec 16, 2025

Thank you so much for your guidance sir. I also have done my complete urine test and the protein value is negative. The change in reference I found is only gfr which is 60 potassium which is 6.3 AlT value 49 and AST 36

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joefriday49 | @joefriday49 | Jan 2 10:15am
In reply to @gingerw "@mrainne I am on PD dialysis, having started it at an eGFR of 14 last September...." + (show)
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@mrainne I am on PD dialysis, having started it at an eGFR of 14 last September. My prescription is a light one, in that I do one bag a day of fluids. There is a theory that starting dialysis at a higher eGFR may help preserve kidney function a bit. For me, I made the decision to start because I was feeling so poorly, with the combination of kidney disease and blood cancer treatments. Through diligent diet and lifestyle monitoring, I was able to slow the decline on kidney function for well over 10 years.

I hate to say this, but we cannot assume anything as far as kidney function. While you are healthy now [yeah! for you, by the way!] it could be a long time before there is a need for additional treatment/dialysis/transplant. In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your kidney function could tank on you, and you wouldn't see it coming, no matter how diligent you are. We each work hard at keeping ourselves as healthy as possible, on all fronts of our life. Diet, moderate exercise, stress reduction, no smoking, all play a very beneficial role.
Ginger

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@gingerw
>>In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your kidney function could tank on you, and you wouldn't see it coming, no matter how diligent you are.< <
Truer words were never spoken!.. Seems like sometimes we are just along for the ride and have zero control of this roller coaster we are all on...

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 2 11:39am
In reply to @joefriday49 "@gingerw >>In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your..." + (show)
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@gingerw
>>In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your kidney function could tank on you, and you wouldn't see it coming, no matter how diligent you are.< <
Truer words were never spoken!.. Seems like sometimes we are just along for the ride and have zero control of this roller coaster we are all on...

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@joefriday49 Yes, it is so true. Recently, a friend's husband had some labwork just before a new treatment. It showed his kidneys had gone into acute kidney failure. He was showing no outward signs! If they hadn't done the labwork that day, he probably wouldn't have survived. He has fortunately mostly recovered now, after emergency dialysis and other lifesaving treatments.

Roller coaster is a good description.
Ginger

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kimmy9260 | @kimmy9260 | Jan 26 4:27pm
In reply to @joefriday49 "@gingerw >>In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your..." + (show)
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@gingerw
>>In the worst case scenario, you get sick with a sudden infection or injury, your kidney function could tank on you, and you wouldn't see it coming, no matter how diligent you are.< <
Truer words were never spoken!.. Seems like sometimes we are just along for the ride and have zero control of this roller coaster we are all on...

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@joefriday49 Absolutely. I had major surgery in 2017. I've never had high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes runs in my family. Fast forward, to 2023 ish, I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. I did everything my doctor told me to do. I'm worse now. My last eGFR was 25.
I live in the Midwest. We are stuck in a major snowstorm. So, all I can do is drink my water. I'm waiting for a little window of time, with decent driving conditions, to get fluids and have my labs rechecked. This is still new to me. But, I appreciate what a lot have said, "One day at a time" and "Do the best you can"

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joefriday49 | @joefriday49 | Jan 26 5:51pm
In reply to @kimmy9260 "@joefriday49 Absolutely. I had major surgery in 2017. I've never had high blood pressure, kidney disease..." + (show)
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@joefriday49 Absolutely. I had major surgery in 2017. I've never had high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes runs in my family. Fast forward, to 2023 ish, I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. I did everything my doctor told me to do. I'm worse now. My last eGFR was 25.
I live in the Midwest. We are stuck in a major snowstorm. So, all I can do is drink my water. I'm waiting for a little window of time, with decent driving conditions, to get fluids and have my labs rechecked. This is still new to me. But, I appreciate what a lot have said, "One day at a time" and "Do the best you can"

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@kimmy9260
Drinking your water is a very good thing... In the past 11 years of chasing the eGFR beast I think that's the best thing you can do!

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martychambers | @martychambers | Jan 31 9:48am
In reply to @joefriday49 "@kimmy9260 Drinking your water is a very good thing... In the past 11 years of chasing..." + (show)
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@kimmy9260
Drinking your water is a very good thing... In the past 11 years of chasing the eGFR beast I think that's the best thing you can do!

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@joefriday49
I thought at stage 4 you have to lower liquid intake to take stress off kidneys.

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 31 12:40pm
In reply to @martychambers "@joefriday49 I thought at stage 4 you have to lower liquid intake to take stress off..." + (show)
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@joefriday49
I thought at stage 4 you have to lower liquid intake to take stress off kidneys.

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@martychambers You do indeed need to keep hydrated, but not guzzle fluids. Many guidelines will suggest 48-60 ounces a day for fluids. But, everyone is different. We need to think of other health challenges we have at the same time.
Ginger

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joefriday49 | @joefriday49 | Jan 31 2:37pm
In reply to @martychambers "@joefriday49 I thought at stage 4 you have to lower liquid intake to take stress off..." + (show)
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@joefriday49
I thought at stage 4 you have to lower liquid intake to take stress off kidneys.

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@martychambers
Depends... If you have no kidney function, by all means reduce intake, but remember that you will always have to intake fluids even if your kidneys have completely quit.
I am currently at 3b and even though I don't drink a set amount each day I do my best and can to get between 2 to 3 liters/day. I have a night bag that I connect to my urostomy bag at night and in 8 hours it usually collects 1,500 ml. plus or minus...
Please take your Doctors advise on fluid intake. They will always know what's best for your situation.

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