← Return to Just diagnosed Stage 3 CKD: Should I be referred to a nephrologist?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@gingerw

@brklimeks Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are a community of patients, family members, and caregivers, sharing our unique health journeys with fellow members, offering support and experience, and what has worked for us.

CKD stages are based on the eGFR function level of our kidneys. From the National Kidney Foundation, here is a chart https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr

You mentioned you were taking spironolactone. Here is information from Mayo Clinic's website on that drug: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/spironolactone-oral-route/description/drg-20071534. If you are taking spironolactone +hydrochlorothiazide, here is the Mayo Clinic information on that: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/spironolactone-and-hydrochlorothiazide-oral-route/description/drg-20071484 And remember, interaction with other medications can be an issue!

Chronic kidney disease may be caused by genetic issues, medication side effects, lifestyle choices, high blood pressure, diabetes, or a combination of any of these! It will be to your benefit to narrow down the cause of your decreased function, in order to work with it, and minimize the effects as possible. For me, I am in Stage 4 now, having started out Stage 2, finding out I have a rare autoimmune condition for it. I take blood pressure medications, a water pill, and follow a renal diet.

You might want to consider getting to a nephrologist for kidney care. Many NPs and primary doctors are simply not educated to follow a kidney disease patient. It can be a sneaky disease.
Ginger

Jump to this post


Replies to "@brklimeks Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are a community of patients, family members, and caregivers,..."

Ginger, I have a multitude of diagnoses and am on more meds than you can imagine. Should I see a geriatrician?