BP pills for high blood pressure are worsening my CKD

Thank you Matt.  No I haven't been on Furosemide which I believe is one of the most popular diuretics.  Indapamide I gather is one of the latest and quite strong.  I'm wondering if it's been around long enough to be truly tested, and will report the effect it has had on me to the MHRA.

I'm sorry to hear that you have CKD4 but it sounds as though you are doing well.  I'm still within Stage 3 but this stage is divided into a and b, so this pill has moved me into b.  Has your Furosemide been prescribed for high blood pressure or 'just' fluid retention? I will keep it in mind and mention it to my kidney consultant when I next see him in 3 months time, when he will, no doubt, suggest yet another BP pill as the Losartan doesn't seen ti reduce my BP sufficiently.

Stay well, Matt.

If youre ready for a long version, then this is it.

Arrived lax with swollew legs & feet in 09 and they were wersening. Few weeks settling in went to the docs. He started off with gout...whichnit wasnt. DvT.....it wasnt.....many many other tests were done buy they came to lymphodema . Got my nice skin color shrink sock on.battling through physicians I found one in santa Ana area who coversclymphedema. Heart lungs kidneys had all bee checkedcand no major case for concern.......until.......One weekmi got this headache and it never went until I was outnof hospital. I went oun walking the dog 1 evening with a headachd, slightly cirrohised liver (stable and not life threatening, but I fell down in the rai n abs git a double compound comminuted fracture.......a bad snap on th lrfe. Passed out until in hosp and new nothing til the next day.....

Docs came round, leg bolted, but then I went doolally in front of them all..

...there had been a 5inch abcess in my head so that was me off for a craiiotimy. After thaft, hy left side function was very week but there. A few daya fter that I wentninto bodyshock shutdown andvthe liver gave up, months in a coma ans a full txplant later I aas alive for the 3rd time. Thing is, mwhen the liver closes down or dies, the kidneys stop too t protect themselves. The hassle is getting them running again, so the furosemide (for me to get the pee ready for expenditure).of course the excess fluids are causing higher bp abd for that I use amlodopine and Doxasosin.

Sorry, the Furosemide is excellent for flushing the urinecout, and the amlodepine / doxasosin ane working of for bp.......and if thats ok on a left leg amputeee, brain surgery, liver txplant (full) and on off dialysis (and diabetic type2), then its a good combo for me.

Wishing you very well with the challenge ahead. Feel free to privare mail my account if I can help. Im nog a physician but have endured all these processes in 1 sitting in Cedar Sinai LA for 5 months...

Wow!  What a horrid journey you've had , Matt.  Thank Heavens they finally managed to get it all sorted out, and it's great proof that drugs do in fact have their place - where would you be without Furosemide for instance.  I'm so glad to hear you're in a better place now and long may that continue.  All good wishes.

Louise, thank you for your kind reply.  I guess the Ace Inhibitor you are on may be Ramipril as that seems to be the popular one for anyone with kidney problems.  It made me feel nauseous and gave me fleeting temple pain so soon came off it rather than risk it causing a return of an auto immune condition which caused horrendous head pain and had to be treated with long term steroids at the time to protect my eyesight.  Probably not related at all but as the illness arrived within 3 weeks of taking Ramipril some years ago, I wasn't taking any chances second time around!

I hope all continues to go well for you, Louise.

Your right I am on Ramapril I'm on the maximum dose and luckily this seems to be working for me. I did try Atelanol but this gave me awful shakes. I only have check up one a year and if my result are different the doc repeats them till they look better. I have had more regular check up at the moment as I go away for a couple of months at a time and the doc insists I get checked if they have had to give me three months supply. 

I guess I am one of the lucky ones with CKD as mine seems to be stable. 

I hope you get the right meds and they get control of yours.

Louise, I'm so glad the Ramipril works for you and is agreeable to your kidneys.  I wish I could have stuck to the Ramipril but I didn't enjoy the nausea or the fleeting head pains.  However, perhaps my kidney function would have stabilised again if I could have coped with it.

Thank you so much for your good wishes.  Long may you continue to be "one of the lucky ones".  Take care and stay well.

Hi Helen, you said about setting reminders. Have you ever tried an app called Medisafe? Set up you meds & reminders all in one.

All the best.

Hi,

Thank you so much for that, I have added it to my phone and will input everything once I have made everyone tea.  It looks just what I need

Take care

It sounds like you've been through the mill. Could they not give you something for the tiredness? Have they checked your iron levels as people with ckd do suffer from anaemia.

Hi,

Not really they just have no idea whats wrong with me so diagnosed me with having everything imaginable.  I strongly believe my kidneys were scared from the severe throat virus and poor treatment at the time, but there is no point dwelling it is what it is.  I am big on honesty though and would rather they say they have no idea than make it up.  Regarding the renal failure this is going to sound really mad, I'm glad in a way its all ive got (i'm not deluded I know its a massive thing) I could have terminal something nasty that nothing could be done about so I consider myself lucky.

My iron and red blood cell counts are ok, its more than likely my own fault I'm not really a sit down and have a rest kind of person.

I will be able to go on the transplant list soon (even though I have some live donors I have to) I am not scared of the transplant I scared for my friend who is looking like a match.  I am scared for her in case she goes through it all and it doesn't work, i'm scared incase something happens to her (she is my best friend, I am supposed to look after her not put her in danger) I will blame my self as if it wasn't for me she wouldn't feel the need to do this.  I have spoken to her and told her how bad it will be and told her in graphic detail what they will do to her - but she simply says that its worth a try as she loves me and wouldn't want to be without my.  See how lucky am I.

Thank you for your message

Take care of you

Wow what an amazing friend. Remember is her job to look after you to.  Imagine how she would feel if she could help you and keep you.  Very best of luck to you both.  

Helen, your friend sounds amazing and so do you.  I really admire your positivity in spite of experiencing such problems since such a young age.

By coincidence, my problems started in babyhood but at the age of 13 it was finally discovered that my left kidney was causing the problems - it was removed and I never looked back until about 8 years ago.  I found myself bedbound with a painful and immobilising illness that no-one could diagnose, until a linked condition came along which threatened my eyesight.  I was then diagnosed with both PMR and GCA, linked autoimmune illnesses which required very high dose steroids to protect my eyesight and reduce/control the inflammation in the muscles and arteries of my body.  It took 6+ years for it to go into remission but in the meantime CKD3 was diagnosed.

I have also tried Candesartan, among many other BP lowering drugs but they have all had unwanted side effects that badly affected my quality of life including walking, and yes the diuretic, Indapamide, was prescribed partly to offset the inflamed and swollen legs from firstly Amlodipine and then Diltiazem, and partly to reduce high BP.  I doubt it is coincidence that my kidney function has dropped 8 points in the 3 weeks since starting Indapamide - now withdrawn 3 days ago due to low sodium, high creatinine and high urea, thus reducing the eGFR from 47 to 39.  The fatigue that hit on the 2nd-3rd week of this pill was soooo debilitating.  Previously, although low, it was mostly stable with a very very slight drop each year or so.

I haven't asked the renal consultant if my function i "naturally dropping" - he just appears to believe the pills are the problem, or rather my body is the problem because it is so sensitive to the pills.  Anyway, I doubt whether in this case it would be possible to confirm whether my function was "naturally dropping" whilst taking so many drugs known to aggravate kidney function.  However, I have to bear in mind that Anno Domini might be coming into play - I am a 'young' 72-year-old!!!

As to how I feel at the moment, I was feeling fine before BP treatment started 18 months ago and have had bouts of feeling great inbetween, particularly whilst on Losartan only but unfortunately that isn't sufficient to control my BP.

As you mention being at end stage kidney failure, do you follow a special diet.  I remember once reading that it was helpful to avoid too much protein and overcook the veggies - can't remember why. 

You haven't mentioned your age, but my heart goes out to you especially if you are much younger than me.  I'm so glad you are passed ok for a possible transplant in the future.  On a recent holiday, by coincidence, I met an American lady in her early 50's who has a transplanted kidney.  My local Vet is quite young and also has a transplanted kidney courtesy of her lovely hubby.  She is very well and holding down a very demanding job with all the poorly animals.  Lots of good luck wishes, Helen.