My kidney function went from 53 to 35 in 3 weeks: What next?

@cekkk, gosh I can see that you're concerned. Let me tag some fellow kidney members to share their experiences and wisdom with you, members like @gingerw @rosemarya @kamama94 @csage1010 @leahdrose @jolinda @bugsowen and others.

You may also appreciate these related discussions:
- Understanding GFR and kidney disease: What's normal? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gfr
- Who else is living with Diabetes (TD2) and kidney disease (CKD3)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diabetestd2-with-ckd3/

It can be a long wait until Monday. We're here to help answer questions. How are you doing with drinking more water?

I could never play doc for a diagnosis, but I would have retaken the blood test because mistakes can happen. If the test is accurate, I might suspect any new medication that you are taking because it sounds like dehydration. My values went down quickly when I took Torsemide, a diuretic. Another nephrologist favorite is Farxiga where constant urination is a side effect. Colleen is correct in asking about water consumption. I can't imagine a food problem with your lifestyle over a short period of time.

@cekkk No apologies needed for being wordy! I echo the welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, and am glad you sought us out.

As a fellow kidney disease patient, it has been important for me to understand that trends in labs results, instead of a single lab, is better for an overall picture of your kidney health. Due to your hydration level, general health, different machines processing the specimens, and even time of day, the results can flucuate. And as @collegeprof mentioned, medications. I also took Torsemide for a short time; it was not good for me and returned to furosemide.

Diabetes and high blood pressure seem to be the leading cause of kidney issues, and I hope your endocrinologist is also aware of what your recent labs show, so they can confer with your primary doctor.

Please do let us know what comes of all this, and remember to come and ask us questions!
Ginger

Drinking water. The doctor recommended that I drink, drink, drink. We lived for many years at 9000 feet, and hydration was important. Now we are in the Mojave where it is equally important, perhaps more so. I drink like a fish. And suddenly, the last few days, I’m having to force down what it is my usual intake.

For whatever reason, I have responded to you twice and I don’t think either got posted. But thank you. I’ll get the mechanics of this form figured out pretty soon.

My problem with diet is in trying to formulate what I will be eating should this be a rest of my life proposition.

If your main concern is what you should eat, then see a renal dietitian on a quarterly basis at least. My Mayo nutritionist works with my doc and reviews my labs. Part of any kidney treatment is your dietitian, nephrologist, PCP, and endocrinologist in your case. Independently, there are so many kidney food resources on this forum to follow. The best also comes from the so many kidney foundations including DaVita and the American Kidney Fund.

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 CKD due to severe oxylate damage four years ago. My GFR was 16 and Creatinine 3.80. Through diet and increased hydration, I’m now at 36.7 and Creatinine of 1.90. Everyone’s situation is different but…..My experience with hydration is too much can be a bad thing. I was initially advised to drink 4L/day. Then we found my sodium levels became too diluted. So, I’m now drinking 3L/day. For my low oxylate diet, I use this study as a guide - https://kidneystones.uchicago.edu/how-to-eat-a-low-oxalate-diet/

Cheers to a great article: https://www.healthdigest.com/946425/why-you-should-avoid-water-loading-when-diagnosed-with-kidney-disease/

Excellent article. I am close to drinking too much water too quickly.

There is so much I don’t know about this disease. I only hope I can learn enough to stop or minimize its progression.