Stage 3a kidney disease: looking for info

Most of what you said could’ve been written by me. Except I never chose to use the VA after they blended my father 15 years ago. A few days ago I saw a nutritionist. Long story short, I was somewhat encouraged by his approach, which is to limit protein to 75 g, fat about the same although he was not specific on that and two watch my carbs, which I take to mean around 200. He wanted each meal to be a mixture of the three. That is doable. I was thinking about starting a thread with those comments to see what folks think about it.

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Hi @ryman, I see that you posted a discussion in 2017 on Possible low kidney function - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/possible-low-kidney-function/. Here's some basic information on stage 3 kidney disease that may be helpful.

"Stage 3 CKD is split into two substages based on your eGFR:
-- Stage 3a means you have an eFGR between 45 and 59
-- Stage 3b means you have an eGFR between 30 and 44
With treatment and healthy life changes, many people in Stage 3 do not move to Stage 4 or Stage 5."
--- Stages of kidney disease: https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/stages-kidney-disease

There is a discussion focused on stopping or slowing the progression of kidney disease --- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): How do I stop progression?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ckd/

Did your doctor offer any suggestions or lifestyle changes that might help you?

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I have come to the conclusion that doctors do not care to even tell the patient they have CKD. They are just in it for the money. The only help I got was on the computer.

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@sammyloue I am not so sure it is because they don't care, so much as the kidney and how they relate to our body's very function is a highly specialized area. From my experience, I feel like I know more than my general doctor about kidneys and kidney function, but way less than my nephrologist. Because the kidneys impact many systems, a generalist simply doesn't have the education to address it all, and will hopefully refer to a nephrologist.

Be wary of the computer searches. "Dr. Google" can lead you down a rabbit hole, definitely! Trusted websites like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, National Kidney Foundation, etc. offer sound information.

How are you doing today, any questions I can answer for you?
Ginger

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I am guessing that my husband's Enlarged Prostate might have brought his on. For the past year he has been on the cusp of Stage a/b. Because of the EP he has to watch his liquid intake. Catch 22. He is 89. Had high blood pressure under control with medications for a lot of decades. Now suddenly it has dropped 92/58 (Bradycardia). Yet they still have him on the BP med (asking again at his next appt!). His eating is terrible. Mostly doesn't want to eat. If I can get him to eat will only be a little bit. Only wants sweets (not diabetic) Now has been diagnosed with dementia - which I suspected for about 10 years. So many signs were there but he is so good at 'showtime'. He is now on medication for anger (Yeah, it is working!!!). CKD seems the least of his doctor's concerns. We just go day to day.

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Wow! My sister will be 93 in Dec! I have learned a lot from the internet. I really don’t have a lot of faith in doctors anymore. I wish you well.

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Everyone, please pass this along: I have had to stop ordering groceries online for home delivery from Hy-Vee now that the company requires the homebound online customer to have a printer, paper and ink to print out his/her own receipt. This is after nonavailability of many foods the past few months which other stores are able to obtain and the increasing difficulty customers have in using the website. Website will show a product but when the customer tries to get it from the customer's local store it's not available after all.

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@kamama94 we started using HyVee aisles online at the start of the COVID pandemic to order groceries. We have had them delivered but mostly just mask up and pick them up ourselves. We also use the HyVee pharmacy for prescriptions so we have to venture out anyway to pick those up. Never considered if pharmacy delivery was an option? We have experienced the same problems as you with the Website search, the so called substitutions, and getting receipts. My husband is a computer geek and I am so thankful for him. We do have computer, printer, ink and paper but he usually just refers to the online receipt if we have any issues with the order (which is often). Our last order was missing over half the items and there was no effort made by the shopper to substitute something else. This was for really basic stuff like bread! (Trying to follow dietary needs for diabetes and CKD make it even more difficult!!)

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