Living with Stage 4 Kidney Disease

My eGFR started to decline in 2014. In 2014 it was at 60, today, Sept. 2025 it's at 21. I have nephrogenic diabetes insipidus from long term lithium use. I'm off lithium and wonder if I could have been given a lower dose years ago, but that's in the past. My life is a healthy diet, no red meat, watch protein intake, low salt, lots of water (60 oz/day). There's really nothing else I can do other than be very careful with infection and blood pressure. My BP is normal. I recently got sepsis from a UTI. This is so dangerous with severe kidney disease. Do not ignore bacterial or viral infections. You can be treated with IVs at the hospital, very easy to do. It's pumping water and nutrients into your veins to keep your kidney function healthy. I even had this done at a hotel overseas. They brought the IV to my hotel room with a Dr present. I had food poisoning which caused diarrhea which in turn caused dehydration.

I have a first cousin who's lived with eGFR 20 for over 10 years. Yes, it is possible. She has no symptoms, like me and lives a normal life. If you take care of yourself you can live a long time with a low eGFR. It depends on your disease but also awareness of what is most dangerous to your kidneys. My Nephrologist at Mayo Clinic said to me...the thing that worries her most of her patients is sepsis. It happens quickly. Pay attention to your temperature, how you feel, more lethargic than normal, appetite. Stay positive, kidneys are amazing. They work very hard for you. 🙂