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GFR estimates: How can I improve them?
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Jun 22, 2021 | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
@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
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Ginger, in January of 2020 one doctor told him he was at stage 3a - sort of on the cusp (47) - after that no one mentioned his results. In April 2020 it went to 51 then in June dropped to 42. November saw it at 55. He has taken medication for HBP for decades and is under control. Has absolutely no energy - exhausted after making trip to bathroom. Constant back pain in the kidney area. Some confusion, puffy under eyes, sleeping problems, usually not hungry and mostly wants cereal for meals. He doesn't want dialysis if it comes to that. He has taken medication for gout for years. Thyroid medication and lately the doctor put him on medication for cholesterol (never had a problem before). Because of his enlarged prostate he is thinking of asking for a Urolift. I'm not sure whether to encourage him or not. Blood test in November also showed MCV at 99.6 and MCH at 33.5 (he takes an OTC B12 once a day - recommended in 2013. Thank you for your help.