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GFR estimates: How can I improve them?
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Jun 22, 2021 | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
My husband, who is 88, has been tested in the past 2 years and his GFR has gone from 47 to 51 to 42 to 55 - the last test was done in November 2020. I'm not sure what is going on as it seems to jump back and forth. Not sure if this is good or bad. He has no energy. Averages 1 to 2 hours between bathroom trips and often starts before he gets there. He is taking generic Flowmax and Avodart for enlarged prostate. Thank you.
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@billchitwood Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are fellow patients, caregivers, and family members, sharing our experiences and journeys with others.
It appears your husband is in Stage 3A of kidney disease. It is normal for people to lose some kidney function as the age. Seeing a variety of values for his GFR can be attributed to his hydration level at the time of testing, medications, even the different machines used for the lab testing!
Has your husband been able to speak to his dr about this? Have they determined the cause of the drop in his eGFR? High blood pressure, diabetes, and congenital defects seem to be the leading causes of kidney disease, although lifestyle and side effects of drugs can play a part, also.
Here is a link to a kidney.org article discussing eGFR and kidney function that you may find interesting: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr
Ginger