GFR after nephrectomy

Hello @azkidney57. I'd like to invite @sheeb and @wolfer1975 who talked about GFR rates previously on Connect. I'd like to also invite back @harleymama, @harleymama, @granny50846 and @nnimblett to share their experience after nephrectomy surgery.

@azkidney57, how are you doing with your diet? Is it something the cancer center thinks will take a little time to catch up and ultimately help your fatigue?

Thanks for responding! I am on no special diet. When I see my oncologist no mention is made about nutrition. I saw a nutritionist there weeks ago and was told there is no “special” diet I need to be on. My PCP also said I don’t need a “diet”. The only thing I am told is don’t over do salt intake and eat healthy. I will research on what I need to do to help my kidney and fatigue. I may take vitamins but I have to be careful what I take. I have always been healthy in the past except for a history of kidney stones on occasion. I will see what others have to say. Thanks for the direction!

@azkidney57. At two years post surgery, I feel as good as I did prior to my surgery. However, I am considered to have chronic kidney disease, Stage 3(b). My GFR is 54. Unless you begin to show worsening symptoms, don't think you need to be concerned right now about diet. I do avoid foods which have high concentrations of phosphorous, potassium, or sodium, such as avocados, and spinach, but no one has suggested a strict diet. Do not know your age, but any surgery at any age is tough on your body. I was told that I'd be back to normal in six weeks, and that was true, except that I tired more easily. Truth is, it takes a full six months to even a year to return to total "normal." Your doctors will require you to have six month checkups for a while, and should they spot anything, you'll be advised. At any rate, don't think you need to worry. Take care.

@azkidney57 Congratulations on the surgery, and now a new chance to make a difference in your life. Since your will have one kidney going forward, may I suggest you take care to keep that one in top working order, and not overstress it. That may mean not overdoing foods that have high potassium, phosphorus, sodium, organ meats, etc. I look forward to hearing what your renal dietician may have to say about this.
Ginger

@trishanna reading your response helps me be less anxious about my upcoming nephrectomy

I'm getting ready for a nephrectomy due to a medical mistake 15 years ago that wasn't acknowledged until too late to fix and been dealing with the ongoing worsening issue of now severe hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Been told unable to fix the blockage and as of last year blockage compounded by a huge renal stone. Anyone ever have a nephrectomy due to this type of diagnosis? Any advice? Appreciated.

Responding to your query: I had Right Nephrectomy in 1998 (renal cell carcinoma) which was detected during one of my flying physicals via "microscopic traces of blood in my urine). It saved my life! According to Mayo Clinic charted symptoms, I was supposed to be feeling fatigue, general malaise, flank pain, etc. But had NONE of those symptoms. I felt great! Long story much shorter...my RCC presented as a fist-sized tumor sitting on my right kidney. Good news was we caught it early (if you can believe that)...as the tumor was still fully encapsulated and had not metastisized or spread. On Jan 21, 1998 they cracked me open...10 in incision...extracted all my internal organs save for the kidney which they removed with the tumor. The additional surprise was that surgeon discovered that the fully encapsulated tumor was also growing into my Vena Cava which required removing a portion...so they had to call in a vascular surgeon to perform some "reweaving magic". Other than that...I've been cancer-free since (knock on wood). And, my remaining kidney appears to be functioning well enough. Although you will notice elevated creatinine levels since you now only have one kidney. Be gentle with you remaining kidney. Eliminate as much sodium as possible. My urologists recommended drinking 6-8 8 oz glasses of water daily each tinctered with either lime or lemon. Consequently, water is my fave drink of all time! I did develop a small kidney stone back in 2022..and small piece of which broke off and partially blocked my ureter which required another urology surgeon to go in and remove that rascal...installing a temporary stent to allow the aggravated ureter to recover. The temporary stent was removed approx 30 days later with no lingering side effects. The small stone (5-6 mm in size) still lingers in the same exact spot. My current urologist has decided to monitor it...and is against any sonic blasting given the fact that I only have one kidney left. But I've been cancer-free. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES! DO NOT IGNORE MICROSCOPIC TRACES OF BLOOD IN THE URINE! FOLLOW UP - GET TESTED!!@

My 52 year old husband had a radical left nephrectomy in December 2021 after a 7cm tumor was found in the middle of the kidney. His creatine and eGFR were a bit outside range for the first year post op (around 1.4-1.5 creatinine and mid to high 50's for eGFR) but for the last two years or so, they have generally been around 1.2 and low 70's which is amazing to me (I'm a nurse so I understand the significance of someone with one kidney having a GFR in the 70's; his nephro would have been happy with 60!)

He recently had a thoracotomy to remove a small section of lung that was mets from the clear cell RCC and after the surgery/pain meds and brain MRI with/without contrast, kidney function declined a bit - creatinine was 1.5 and GFR dropped to 53. But he just had a repeat one to make sure kidney function was back to his baseline so he can get a CT scan with contrast of chest/abdomen/pelvis for restaging the cancer - and it's back to baseline at 1.2 and 73. He doesn't eat a special diet other than to limit animal protein; most of his protein sources are plant based. And he drinks a fair amount of water, probably 80-100oz.