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Kidney function and medications

Posted by Ginger, Volunteer Mentor @gingerw, Apr 24, 2021

Do you have Chronic Kidney Disease along with another health issue? How do you cope with the fact often we cannot use the accepted medications because it will not clear our kidneys?

Here is my story: I am firmly in Stage 4 CKD, and may face a decision to go on dialysis later this year. Meanwhile, since January 2021 my lower back has messed up. The medications best used for pain relief, cannot be put in place because they are not recommended for my level of kidney function. No gabapentin, no Aleve, no aspirin. Acetaminophen only. I am going to get a spinal injection of cortisone, but will opt for local numbing only, no sedation. I use homeopathic topical creams to help some of the pain.

As fellow kidney patients, what do you do? It seems unfair we cannot get the relief we need. Please share your experiences and what has worked for you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney Conditions Support Group.

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stuartbell | @stuartbell | Feb 3 6:46pm
In reply to @mnsansei "@stuartbell I see Dr. Nelson Leung (which he pronounces "learn" and says it's the Cantonese pronunciation)...." + (show)
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@stuartbell

I see Dr. Nelson Leung (which he pronounces "learn" and says it's the Cantonese pronunciation).

As a heads up, he seems to only rarely be in the clinic. I see him quarterly, sort of. He recommends a timeframe for my next appt but only once in a blue moon is there an opening then. He considers himself a consultant to my local nephrologist. That arrangement works well for me since Dr. Leung is difficult to contact between appointments, unlike my local doctor.

I may have gotten an appointment because he has published on my disorder which he once told me very few patients have, idiopathic Immunotactoid Glomerulopathy (ITG). I read somewhere there are about 10 of us world wide, found in a concerted search lead by Dr. Leung. About seventy percent of the approximately 100 patients who have ITG also have lymphoma and the other thirty percent have myeloma.

If you are in the Twin Cities, my "main" nephrologist, Dr. Eric Chen, is in the Health Partners system at the Park Nicollet Specialty Center adjacent to Methodist Hospital. I heard that, amazingly, one other ITG patient has been/is seen at that clinic.

Good luck.

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@mnsansei
Thank you for the detailed reply. Hopefully I can find a physician like Dr Leung at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and a local Nephrologist who will talk with me. Good luck with your battle.

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mnsansei | @mnsansei | Feb 4 9:44am

You're welcome. I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble making an appt with a nephrologist. I was fortunate that my primary care PA referred me to Nephrology within the same HMO (which I joined in 1978).

You're using a Mayo Clinic "product." I assume that if you are seen in a Mayo Clinic, that you've asked that person for a referral to Nephrology. Or asked here for advice on how to be seen.

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Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | Feb 22 7:31pm
In reply to @stuartbell "@mnsansei May I have the name of your nephrologist at Mayo Clinic, please I’ve contacted Mayo..." + (show)
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@mnsansei

May I have the name of your nephrologist at Mayo Clinic, please

I’ve contacted Mayo Clinic and I’ve been unable to find a nephrologist that’s willing to talk with me so far.

I wish I could give you my email address, but the system won’t let me post it

Thank you

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@stuartbell I see Dr. Kukla at Mayo Rochester since about 2016 I think. She is very good. I have a virtual /phone visit with her coming up in a couple of weeks.

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