Stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD): What specialists do I see?
My primary says I do not need to see a kidney specialist. Is this true. My blood chems are ok.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.
My primary says I do not need to see a kidney specialist. Is this true. My blood chems are ok.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.
@julieprayer, I notice that your are at stage 5 ckd. I am a liver and kidney transplant recipient, and I see that you are a transplant patient and waiting for a living donor. Is that correct? I will be happy to connect you with other kidney transplant patients in the Transplant discussion group. Do you have any questions about kidney transplant that i can help you with?
I also have stage 3 kidney disease,NAFL disease. Lupus. My primary checks me every 6 months unless I have an episode. No medications, allergic to most especially synthetic steriods. Not much they will do for my circumstances. If you feel you need medical attention seek it. Bless you. Pray all will be well.
I had a serious urine retention crisis late last summer, which has been resolved but left me with stage 3b chronic kidney disease. There was mention while I was in the hospital regarding the urine retention issue about having a nephrologist see me while in the hospital, but that never happened and after that problem was resolved I heard no more about it. On my own I contacted a nephrologist in my system and am now being followed by her on a regular basis. Her staff contacts me once a week to see how I am doing, and she has me taking blood pressure measurements 5 times a week as they work with meds to lower my bp. I am now stable at a good bp. They also consult about diet and other matters, all to make sure I get better if possible but no worse for as long as possible. The nephrologist certainly thinks I need to be seeing her on an on-going basis for these reasons, and I sure feel safer knowing someone is monitoring my chronic kidney disease.
@paull55 Good for you, being your own advocate and looking for a nephrologist yourself! I am glad to hear you did that.
Staying on top of your kidney issues is important. And, it sounds like the staff at the doctor's office is following you closely. It's definitely a win-win situation! There are countless stories of how monitoring and self-education can keep us with decent kidney function for a long time. Blood pressure issues and diabetes appear to be the top two reasons for chronic kidney disease.
Ginger
Good for you 'acting on my own' and seeing the specialist. And good for the specialist fir not always requiring a referral too.
I agree
Welcome, @flannery54. Do you also have chronic kidney disease?
My GFR’s are borderline low, So I think technically yes. But the nephrologist did not say that yet. I’ve just had one appointment have another one coming up up.
Why do you ask?
I asked because I saw you had made your first post and wanted to welcome you and help you connect with others like you. Have you got a list of questions to ask for your upcoming appointment?
My husband was having "white outs" for years and we couldn't figure it out. When he became incontinent/leaky, we ended up at a urologist. It turned out that he was never emptying his bladder. Who knew: it was strange. However, a urolift by a urologist later, along with some meds and he is experiencing less dizziness and definitely better at night and less leaky. It was a simple procedure, fairly new. My husband's bladder has lost its flexibility, but works ok now that he is able to totally empty.