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Primary Care tend to avoid CKD discussion or inform patients

Posted , 9 users are following.

mari11869
mari11869

I just read a great article, my cut/pastes doesn't seem to work here. The Nephrologist talked about kidney function and how many Dr. avoid the discussion with patients, many patients don't even know there's a problem with kidney function. Thus, medicines that are prescribed also ignore the CKD issue. So many meds affect the kidneys. A simple conversation about high creatinine or low GFR regarding salt, water intake, exercise and protein intake could truly help many CKD patients. There were 33 comments following this article from health care professionals weighing in on the data. If interested, this article is in Medscape online under the heading Nephrology. There are many great discussions here. 

2 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Willowby
    Willowby mari11869

    Posted

    This is so true Mari I believe that the only reason I have ckd is because I took a large dose of ibruprofen for years for my fibromyalgia. I had no idea that it would cause the damage. The doctors didn’t inform me that this could happen,

    I only found out because of this site. 

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Willowby

      Posted

      Snap! with Ibuprofen causing CKD, Willowby, in my case taken for about 6 months for a then undiagnosed auto immune inflammatory condition, although also in the mix of possible causes were scans with contrast.
    • Willowby
      Willowby MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Hi. Sorry to hear you experienced the dreaded inbuprofen.  There must be so many out there taking this medicine who don’t know the facts. It’s about time health professionals started to warn people of what this drug can do 
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Willowby

      Posted

      I certainly feel that Ibuprofen and certain other NSAIDS should be on prescription and not available over-the-counter.  Then, of course, it’s down to the prescribing GP/Consultant to be aware of the possible harm to kidney function.  At the time I was unknowingly being harmed by  it, the rheumatologist knew I was taking Ibuprofen....and he knew that I only had one kidney.....!
    • marj01201
      marj01201 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      I agree completely! Some of these over-the-counter meds are not safe for our kidneys but very few people realize that. The medication may provide a warning in small print but I've heard many friends note the warning but then say that if it was a serious problem the Med wouldn't have been approved for over-the-counter purchase thereby choosing to ignore the warning on the label. This sets into motion serious health problems for some. It would be much better to pull those meds off our pharmacy shelves and make them available via prescription only.

      Matj

  • marj01201
    marj01201 mari11869

    Posted

    Mari, thanks so much for sharing this information. I am, unfortunately, a patient who was not told that I have chronic kidney disease by my primary care physician OR my first nephrologisist! I know I'm not alone on this. Others who post on this forum have had similar experiences. It's good to know that there are at least some medical professionals who are aware of this issue.

    As I'm sure is obvious, I very much concur with your comments. So, again, thank you for sharing this information with us!

    Marj

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey mari11869

    Posted

    Thanks for finding that Mari - I’ve only just looked in and seen that ‘marj’ asked me to give the source of the same information I mentioned in my earlier post a couple of days ago.  I wonder if the balanced fluids are available in our NHS hospitals here in the U.K.?  Or even if the will know what we are talking about if we raise the issue when/If next confronted with a saline drip?
  • fran32391
    fran32391 mari11869

    Posted

    I've been on ibuprofen since before it became over the counter, 1978. ( for Connective Tissue Disease)I was told by my nephrologist that the metformin I was taking for my diabetes is what caused my CKD,. That was Nov. 2017 when my gfr crashed down to 24. At the same time I was told to stop taking the Ibuprofen. Bit late to tell me.   I am now on daily Tylenol, we'll see how long my liver takes it before it goes out. Tylenol goes straight after your liver. Thank you Mari. 

  • Colombos
    Colombos mari11869

    Posted

    Dear Mari, 

    With regards to this i have some practical experience. I was about to ask this question in the forum for expert opinions. I started taking some tablets for Kidny and then in two months i got a uric acid issue, those tablets given has increase my uric acid in blood. so now Dr. stop that medicine and have given another one for uric acid control and another one for kidny + bp. 

    The thing is, when you try to control one thing, another thig pops up, so this system is very commplicated where doctors think one thing but three other things will go out of order. I am now thinking also its best to control salt, water intake, exercise and protein intake could truly help. 

    any thoughts would be in help sad

    • marj01201
      marj01201 Colombos

      Posted

      I agree, this is definitely a very complex system the kidneys orchestrate in our bodies. So each of our treatment plans are likely very individualized to best fit our unique renal functioning. Of course, there are some issues many of us tend to experience but we may each find that our treatment plans are actually rather unique.

      It's just critical to find a nephrologist who is able to figure out what is best for your kidneys; maximizing what your kidneys can do and appropriately supporting them in areas where they can no longer handle the job, so to speak.

      Marj

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