Stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD): What specialists do I see?

Hi Ginger thank you for your information actually I did ask my primary care to suggest someone else and they called me today and suggested that I go to the same doctor that I am having a problem with I just don’t know where to look for a good nephrologist!

@nimalw I agree! Stage 3 CKD is no joke! Unfortunately, unless there is a sudden trauma, most cases of kidney disease "sneak up" on a person, and many doctors don't even address it until it gets to Stage 3. Here is a list of the typical breakdown of stages:
Stage 1 CKD: eGFR 90 or Greater
Stage 2 CKD: eGFR Between 60 and 89
Stage 3 CKD: eGFR Between 30 and 59
Stage 4 CKD: eGFR Between 15 and 29
Stage 5 CKD: eGFR Less than 15

My own kidney function has been teetering between 14% and 20%, in the last year, due to a very rare autoimmune kidney disorder. Just before the New Year, I had a fistula placed for future hemodialysis. In the meantime, I am working hard to get my blood values up to a good healthy level before starting dialysis, seeing it is hard on someone's body, and I hope to hold off until necessary.
Ginger

@nimalw I agree! Stage 3 CKD is no joke! Unfortunately, unless there is a sudden trauma, most cases of kidney disease "sneak up" on a person, and many doctors don't even address it until it gets to Stage 3. Here is a list of the typical breakdown of stages:
Stage 1 CKD: eGFR 90 or Greater
Stage 2 CKD: eGFR Between 60 and 89
Stage 3 CKD: eGFR Between 30 and 59
Stage 4 CKD: eGFR Between 15 and 29
Stage 5 CKD: eGFR Less than 15

My own kidney function has been teetering between 14% and 20%, in the last year, due to a very rare autoimmune kidney disorder. Just before the New Year, I had a fistula placed for future hemodialysis. In the meantime, I am working hard to get my blood values up to a good healthy level before starting dialysis, seeing it is hard on someone's body, and I hope to hold off until necessary.
Ginger

Ginger, I have found you to be both the voice of hope and reason. Bless you.

Hi Ginger I wish you well stay positive I held off stage 4and 5 for almost 10 yrs .

I learned, to my shock, by accident, when I was at Stage 3 a or b. that I had Kidney Desease. (Antibiotics).

Got right on it, although I think mistakes were made at the medical practitioner level. I also, like others here, noticed that at Stage 3, doctors tell you not to worry, you don't have to do anything!

Not my personality. I studied, changed my diet, changed my exercise, all of that, and in a relatively short time have raised my GFRs and regressed to Stage 2.

PAY NO ATTENTION TO DOCTORS TELLING YOU TO NOT DO ANYTHING IN STAGE 3. .

My dietary changes have caused me bowel problems, probably the change in diet, however, I have been a vegetarian for 20 years.

I also noticed a lack of support from medical personnel and had to become my own advocate. You have to get pushy. The nutritionist, physicians in peripheral fields, dieticians.

AND, NEVER believe the MANY medical people who tell you just to go on as you were, you are "only in Stage 3." (Two nephrologists!) Get informed, make changes in your diet - it is all about diet and exercise.

@susanna82 Congratulations on regressing your CKD level back to Stage 2! I certainly agree that each patient has to be their own advocate! Since 1988 when diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, my interfacing with doctors and medical team has been lovingly described as "engaged". Some called me a difficult patient. But being actively involved in my own health has stood me in good stead.

We each make our decision how best to handle our health issues, and interact with specialists. By being proactive, educating myself, and making dietary/activity changes, I was able to slow the progression of my rare kidney disease. First signs of CKD were back in 2005, and by 2008 a renal diet was in place, even though, like you, I was told that wasn't necessary. Over the years the diet plan was modified, and in 2015 was the formal diagnosis of the rare disease, previously attributed to my lupus! Do I miss some of my favorite foods? Oh! you bet! It's not easy to buck the tide of professionals who would like you to continue on as normal.

The kidneys are a wondrous organ, and do so much for our bodies. Often I liken our bodies to a balancing act, and how we each need to watch how to keep things on as even a keel as possible. There are many parts to the puzzle and misplacing one piece can wreak havoc!

@nimalw @csage1010 What are your thoughts?
Ginger

@ms9246 Hmmmmm. Do you live near a teaching hospital or university? You can also check with your secondary insurance for a recommendation. Try your county medical association to see who is listed, and look them up. Do you have any family/friends who see a nephrologist, and are satisfied with them? Try putting in "nephrologists near me" in google and see what comes up. Is there another nephrologist in the same practice as the one you have an issue with, that you could switch to [so you don't need to change offices]?

Do any of these suggestions sound like they might be worth a try for you? Also, I would frankly tell my primary care about the way you are being treated by that current kidney doctor!
Ginger