Dizziness with ckd

Glad you mentioned "orthostatic BP," @cehunt57. When my CKD was diagnosed a few years ago, my nephrologist told me to change how I was taking my BP, citing the possibility that dizziness might be the result of orthostatic hypotension. That occurs when a person's blood pressure falls after suddenly standing up from a lying or sitting position. It is defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg or of diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg when a person assumes a standing position. He asked me to report my BP in three ways -- while sitting (as normal), while lying down, and immediately after standing up. After a few weeks, I automatically adjusted my posture to compensate from or overcome the dizziness, and I quit thinking about it. Now, on rare occasions, when dizziness recurs, I remember to check for "ortho-hypo."

I’m in the same situation. Stage 3 kidney disease and it seems like the 3 nephrologist I went to, seem to wait for u to get on dialysis, which I’m not doing. They don’t even tell u the least amount of protein u eat the better for your Kidneys. That how on my own research I found out. And my gfr went from 54 to 70. That’s pretty good. My kidney dr. Burst my bubbly telling me it will fluctuate. I’m Sharon, good to talk to someone who has what I do. I also have Atrial fibrillation, pre diabetic, Lyme disease, COPD, etc.

I don’t have a nephrologist. Just my gp. I am stage 3. Doctor says wait till next blood test. New dr as I just moved. Kidney info new. Is there an advantage for specialist or do I wait for blood work?

@carnes - What I'm going to share is my personal experience and knowledge relating to my specific disease (PKD). I'm not a nephrologist but I do know drinking a lot (at least 64 oz. a day), 2000mg of salt (no more than 5,000 which is near impossible if you eat out much) in your daily diet, low protein (1 gram of protein per kilogram of your body weight), no alcohol, and no more than two caffeinated drinks (a drink being 8 ounces) a day is good for the health of your kidneys.

Keeping your blood pressure under control is also important for the health of your kidneys as they regulate bp. So take any bp meds you might be prescribed and try to exercise because that will also maintain or lower your bp.

Motrin is also not recommended if you have kidney issues. I never start any new med without discussing it with my nephrologist at Mayo because some are really tough on the kidneys. As I'm sure you know, medications are usually filtered through your liver or kidneys. Some herbal supplements and over the counter meds should be avoided (one example is decongestants).

What that "diet" does to your GFR depends on what your health issues are. Usually when a GFR fluctuates it is within 5 points which is why it is called an eGFR (estimated GFR). There are also different ways to calculate GFR so if you went to a different lab on the same day your GFR could be different. I have never seen, or heard of, a jump from 54 to 70 so I'm inclined to think (again, I'm not a doctor) that the change in your diet is helping.

I too have a local nephrologist that was just waiting for me to get on dialysis because that is what he does - manages people on dialysis. When I was at the Mayo Clinic last month I learned that they offer educational classes about the kidneys, how they work and how to take care of them. If you are not near a Mayo Clinic perhaps you could find a similar class in your community.

Of course once your GFR gets below 20 you need to speak with a dietician because there are many changes that need to happen in your diet that I know little about. Hopefully you won't get to that point.

Best of luck!

Lynn

@jo54 - Personally I'm a fan of specialists because they are usually more informed about treatment specific to the reason your kidney function is low and if they are good they should be informed about the newest treatments and latest research. They are specialists so they should know more than a general practitioner. I guess it depends on if your next blood work is in 3 months or a year (former is not bad but I wouldn't wait for the latter) and if you are having any other symptoms of kidney failure. It also probably depends if they know why your kidney function is not in the normal range. The doctor might be waiting to see how quickly your GFR changes if he/she does not have previous labs to compare to. Some basic diet changes could be beneficial (see post from me above). Personally, I wouldn't wait more than a year and I would make some of the basic dietary changes mentioned above (low protein, lots of water, low sodium) and exercise to keep your blood pressure in check.

Lynn

Thank you. Blood test is in April. Will watch diet and stop protein drinks. Think I will go through holidays and find a nephrologist after the first. Appreciate your help. Jo

Hi everyone, I am new here. My name is Delmar. I am originally from the USA, Montana-born, and I live in Barcelona, Spain.

The healthcare here is socialized, but that doesn't make it better than anywhere else. It's just "available." Just because it's "available," doesn't automatically mean we get all the little goodies and entitlements. It's a tier-based system of coverage, like HMO's, with a minimum, medium and comprehensive access to healthcare, paid for by taxpayers. So, please, don't get any ideas of how privileged European social healthcare is until you live here or understand it's system. I was one of those people. I needed to get this out of the way as a way to get to know me and my status.

I'm a male, 59 years young. I've had benign prostatic hyperplasia- (enlarged prostate) at least, I hope! for over 20 years, self regulated by natural remedies. It has been some time since i have taken those remedies. Although I had urgencies to pee, nocturia and retention, among other things, I also had hepatitis c since 1990. With healthy living, I was able to keep the barbaric treatments away for years until I received Harvoni direct acting antiviral for only eight weeks that had successfully cleared the virus three weeks in and have sustained viral response after three years, "undetectable." Unfortunately, the side effect of Harvoni, as well as hep c itself, is kidney damage. Well, here I am. Stage 3a CKD hydronephrosis. I was catheterized over a week ago. I never realized, in spite of the urgencies and having to sit on the toilet, that I had been retaining between 3-500 mL of urine on a frequent basis. Combined with the hep c, BPH and the hep c treatment, I think I got the triple whammy. The catheterization, was extremely painful, I was literally screaming as the Spanish nurse was screaming at me to relax and I wanted to backhand her. A little "discomfort?"
All of my test results on the 13th of July were too perfect, except for the creatinine level 1.16 mg/dL and eGFR at 69. On August 4, I went for an ultrasound of my kidneys and I was told to go to emergency. My test was no different, except by glucose had gone to 110 (only a cup of coffee, no food all day) and my eGFR had dropped to 55 and creatinine went up to 1.36.
My next appointment, perhaps another episode of painful re-catheterization (they need to change it) is the 10 of October. I was instructed to connect a bag to my indwelling catheter only at night, but to go all day without a bag. This is where DIZZY comes in. When I am not wearing a draining bag, I have some time to move around, housework, some shopping at the market for dietary foods that I am still unsure about, and then I start to feel faint, dizzy. Also, my hands prune more rapidly when in contact with water. Even if I drink fluids without the drainage bag attached, my bladder cannot relieve itself through a tiny catheter hole above an inflated balloon in my bladder. I am glad I stopped the Flomax, the side effects and bladder spasms of forced urine urge struggling to get out was counterintuitive. Why am I dizzy now? Is my kidney still holding water, even though I am outputting close to the same amount of urine to water I am inputting? Or is this a blood nitrogen issue?
In the meantime, it's a pleasure to meet you and I hope we can get through this together.

I am in stage 3a, get a little dizzy when standing up when getting out of bed. Not very often. Hard to keep my BP in check. My home monitor is not like the doctors. Have never had a monitor (have had 3) that is equal to the Landmark person who comes to the house every 3 months. Hers is always better than mine which registers high. I think age may be part of my trouble, I will be 95 in October. I would like to know the age of these other people. What kind of monitors do you people use? Mine is just arm, doctors use a pump up kind. Just took BP: 172/76. That is way too high, but I don't know if it is real.

Hi, I have read here that some have either orthostatic low BP and high. Either way, they both can cause dizziness to varying degrees. About the BP home monitors- of which I do not have yet. I will get a 24 hour monitor in November. Sheesh, that's a long way off. I'm skeptical about the inflatable cuffs monitors and their accuracy. I have to go into a pharmacy to use one, which is attended by a pharmacist, strange. The first reading is always high, 140 over 85-95. I ask them to take it two more times. The reading changes. The Systolic is lower and the Diastolic is higher. On the third try, the Systolic is 118 - 122 over 80-85. It begs to ask the question of whether any of these readings are accurate. In your case, if you haven't already, ask her to take your BP three times. BP always fluctuates. It can be affected by stress, pain, simply having a nurse take your BP (white coat syndrome) and any exercise (in my case, simply walking to the pharmacy) and drugs or coffee. An "isolated" BP reading is not how a person's BP is all day or overnight. Three's a charm!

My doctor would not agree with taking BP 3 times close together.