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I have a GFR of 20.

Posted , 10 users are following.

VorpalBlade
VorpalBlade

Recently my CKD went from Stage 3 ot Stage 4. I am a 53 year old male and in fairly decent health. I follow a renal diet and have quit smoking 3 months ago. My nephrologist told me that he will see me in three months and if my GFR is 20 or lower he will make arrangements to have a fistula put in my arm for dialysis. Is it even possible to reverse my GFR and go back to Stage 3? Has anyone done something like this? I got to tell you. I am kind of scared. I am in the U.S. by the way.  Hope to hear from you.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • louise5027
    louise5027 VorpalBlade

    Posted

    Hi, has the nephrologist repeated the blood test as sometimes the reading changes between tests. You might find that when you go back in three months the number might have gone up. You don't say the cause of kidney disease or what medication your on. Some medication such as ibrubrufon can affect blood results. I'm in the Uk and have stage 3, a few years ago I went for an annual check and the blood test said I was stage 2 which confused my GP so she repeated the test and it came back stage 3 again which was reassuring as she didn't really know what to do. Here in the Uk I only see my Gp once a year for blood, urine and blood pressure checks and don't have a nephrologist. It's all very casual and controlled by medication.
  • john85166
    john85166 VorpalBlade

    Posted

    No way they'll put in a fistula with a 20 reading. More likely to be half that. You might even stabilise at 20. Odds are on your side. Anyway I wouldn't consider a fistula when they now have PD. Much better option but you might stabilise where you are for a least a few years. In 4 years time they'll be clinically testing artificial kidhey. See kidney project San Francisco Medical Center.
    • karen_15225
      karen_15225 john85166

      Posted

      Try not to worry. I have been stage 3 for years. Last year after having routine bloods done my creatanin went up to 177 which put me into stage 4 failure. Like you I was very scared and upset. I had more bloods taken a month later any my drqatanin had dropped and I was back into stage 3 again and been since. Have you had repeat bloods taken which confifm you are now stage 4? I was told by my kidney consultant that dialasis only offered when in stage 5.
  • trollking
    trollking VorpalBlade

    Posted

    It depends on the issue with your kidney i guess, mine is up and down depending on infections and general health.  My GFR ranges from 18 to 35 and creatinine from 120 to 300.  It could just be a one off reading and i agree that in my experience they wont put the fistula in until 10-15 but i live in the UK ?
  • panda22
    panda22 VorpalBlade

    Posted

    4 years ago my gfr fell to 29. I saw the nephrologist and he found the problem I was taking Diclofenac for pain. I was told to stop taking them and my gfr went up to 44. Couple of times it has dropped into the 30's but then have gone up again. Have you been taking any anti inflammatories as these should not be used. Hop your appointment goes well.

  • LynQ
    LynQ VorpalBlade

    Posted

    Hi,

    I am 73 and my GFR is 27 and has been lower quite often.  GFR is quite sensitive.  You should not eat any meat for 14 hurs before a test and you should make sure that you are well hydrated as these simple things can affect your GRF reading. Is your blood pressure well controlled?  This makes a difference too.  Good Luck and try not to worry.

  • mikewordman
    mikewordman VorpalBlade

    Posted

    Hi VorPal, sorry to hear about your decreasing GFR.  Unless I missed it, you didn't include a diagnosis in your post but you referred to it as "CKD" and since "c" stands for "chronic" I assume your kidney disease is, in fact, ongoing.  As such, it sounds like it has decreased over time and unless your kidney specialist says otherwise, it sounds like there is nothing to prevent it from continuing on a downward trend.  sad
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