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

My kidney function dropped from plus 60 to 45 ,caused by extreme high blood pressure for three days. That was 11 yrs, ago at 71. I'm 82 now and my most recent blood work ,this past May my kidney function was 51. I have never been to a kidney dr. or taken any medication, other than to regulate my BP .I eat a decent diet and get lots exercise,mostly walking.

My Cystatin C eGFR was much better than my creatinine eGFR, so make sure to get the Cystatin C one. I was told that losing weight/muscle mass can affect the creatinine eGFR.

Ginger et al, Thank you for your info. I recently have ‘’progressed’’ to stage 3b, along with several autoimmune diseases, Two strokes and now finally docs got the message I needed a Pacemaker after my heart stopped beating a few times in ER! Sigh! Then medical school students stepped in to take away needed meds which then caused lungs to fill with fluid, with kidney damage of course, and PCP nixed need for renal diet but I started that anyway! I unfortunately live in a country with no malpractice and socialized medicine….a lethal combination! Soooo, bottom line: be scrupulous in watching your back and acquiring knowledge ..thank you Mayo Connect, the wise moderators and postings…….if you have a credible gut feeling, go with it! We all need to outlive the idiots lurking out there!

@windyshores
The best marker for kidney function is a Cystantin C test. Other than Medicare, some insurance companies do not cover this test. My nephrologist tells me that she is not so concerned about the creatinine eGFR as many are bodybuilders or exercise a great deal to get lean muscle mass. Ideally, she says both tests should be about the same eGFR. You are in good hands if your Cystatin C is high. Incidentally, I read somewhere that Cystatin C is in the high 90s percentile for accuracy of kidney disease as opposed to creatinine eGFR which is in the 60s. Interesting!

My eGFR is 41 and Cystatin C is 54. I am going with the Cystatin C.

@windyshores

If your Cystatin C eGFR goes above 60, you will no longer be considered having CKD. Great job!

I have been working hard and with the ever declining creatinine eGFR was so glad they did the Cystatin C.
Just hoping Reclast doesn't affect my kidneys.

@collegeprof Too bad I can't get the Cystatin C eGFR test done. They don't concern themselves too much with either value at this point, seeing that I am on daily dialysis. Each month my cancer center gives me my eGFR value within the battery of tests they get from me. I'm down to 13% now.
Ginger

I've had an ileostomy for about 5 years now and it has taken a toll on my kidneys mostly due to the dehydration ileostomies are known for. I was diagnosed with CKD 3 also. I have stones often which are too large to pass and have to have surgery to remove them. Anyone else with an ostomy in the group?

@gingerw

I have low muscle mass, and on my last visit to my nephrologist, she tells me that muscle mass creatinine can be improved with physical therapy or a weekly regimen at a fitness center. Just thinking aloud, perhaps with improvement of muscle mass and its eGFR might also improve Cystatin C eGFR. Cystatin C is expensive because it looks at all your cells rather than a confined area like muscle mass. Even on dialysis, perhaps with muscle mass improvement can lend itself to getting off dialysis or perhaps minimizing your time on dialysis.

Lastly, I saw on 60 Minutes or somewhere where a gentleman remained in a coma and life support with no chance of recovery. Docs were able to transplant his kidney from that of a pig to him, and so far, this has been successful, So there is some hope of future trials and research in the areas of cancer treatment and CKD.