With one kidney what to expect for "normal" test results.

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I  am 68 year old male who had kidney removed in July due to cancerous tumor.  Stage 1 and grade 1 encapsulated tumor.  I see a Urologist, Kidney doctor, primary care doctor and an oncologist.  While currently there is no indication of cancer left, the oncologist is used as a second opinion to what the Urologist and kidney doctor tell me.  Today's appointment was the first time a medical professional told me what to expect blood and Urine tests to be for a person with one kidney.  She stressed that while it is possible to have all "normal" numbers with one kidney, that it is not likely.  She said I should expect Creatinine numbers to be in the 1.7 to 1.9 range as my new normal.  This of course means low eGFR numbers which would classify me as stage 3.  However to totally ignore the prognosis and studies about stage 3 CKD because these are not specific to a person with just one kidney.  All these are based upon people with two kidneys that are failing and rarely take into consideration the one kidney patient.  She also said the Universities and physicians are taking a hard look at the usefulness of eGFR.  That it is not a specific test since it just takes your Creatinine levels and applies it to a one time study of patients years ago.  And that the group it is based upon was not a good cross section.  That eGFR does NOT take into account if the kidney is damaged or capable of full function.  That here again it does not consider if 2 kidneys, or 1 kidney, or 1 perfectly normal kidney with 1 failing kidney.  It does not consider that all 68 year old males are not of the same stature nor the same weight.  eGFR is too general a classification.  She pointed me to this study http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/19/5/844.full? which explains the faults of eGFR and how we look at stages of CKD.  For example for a person of 70 with stage 3 CKD, only a small percentage will progress to full blown kidney failure.  While it his much more likely in a younger person.  It is a great article.  It starts a little confusing but as you read the point is clear.  That eGFR alone should not bused to put you into a stage.  It recommends eliminating stage 1 and 2.  It sites that the worst part of the current staging system is it puts people into a classification and causes them extreme worry, when in actuality they have little to be worried about.  Interesting to get a different perspective.

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11 Replies

  • Posted

    When this categorising of kidney patients was put into practice over 12 years ago, a friend’s GP said the Government had opened a can of worms with this test as loads of his patients diagnosed as being within Stage 3 CKD were rushing off to kidney consultants in panic.  The National Kidney Federation told me that they were suddenly being bombarded with calls from patients being diagnosed with CKD3.  I once mentioned to one renal consultant my unease at the title “Disease” to which he replied it was unfortunate but had been so named in the US and “we had to live with it”!  Apparently, the eGFR/Creatinine test was Irene finally requested by the Government to be carried out routinely as a way of determining whether reducing function was due to an ageing process or  to a disease process.

    It’s now comforting to hear your Dr saying that the test is being “looked at”.

    Incidentally, I had my right kidney removed aged almost 13.  Now, more than 60 years later, my kidney function remained normal with normal creatinine until about 4 years ago when my blood pressure meds caused an increase in Creatinine .  The renal consultant said this was expected on the medication (already having tried 6 other meds with horrid side effects), and he was not concerned.  Just about to ring surgery for latest eGFR/Creatinine results before embarking on antibiotics for yet another UTI.......and another corresponding 10 point drop in kidney function as a direct response to the AB.  It does improve again thank God a couple of weeks after stopping the AB....or at least it had thus far!  Wish me luck!   And lots of good luck wishes to you, too - if it’s any consolation/reassurance, a fiend had a kidney removed due to cancer 3 years ago at the age of 78 and she is doing fine.

    • Posted

      As a US citizen, let me apologize for the panic the eGFR/Creatinine system the US developed and we now all use has causedsmile

      I'm very glad to hear that doctors are beginning to question the worth of this system as well! 

      Marj

    • Posted

      Oh, no apologies needed, marj, and certainly not from you!😊 The US has made many good medical advances after all.  In fact, one of my ‘go to’ sites when I’m not delving into the NHS site for information is the wonderful Mayo Clinic!

    • Posted

      Well, the ESRD criteria and system we currently use cause lots and lots of panic for us too. Just very unfortunate for everyone.

      Marj

  • Posted

    Sorry about the odd word cropping up (Irene) - predictive text on the iPhone!
  • Posted

    Hi Rick,

    Great Post, with some interesting points!  I too at age 79 am down to 1 kidney, but am not getting the full follow up that you seem to have now.  I have been wondering about the eGFR relevance with one kidney and old age.  What I can say is that since the nephrectomy I do get periods of total fatigue that I did not have previously.  I just try to be careful with meds and sensible with eating while taking what exercise I can.  You do reach an age and a point in life when you know what is over the hill so just taking life day by day is all one can do - but keep quizzing the docs!

    KenR

    • Posted

      Ken.  I do not have total fatigue but as the day wears on there are days where I sure do need a nap, or find myself falling asleep reading or watching TV.  I sleep about 15 minutes and feel fine.  All my doctors laugh at me for blaming everything in my life on the solitary kidney. smile.  They all say, hey you are not 30 or 40 anymore, of course you have more fatigue as time passes.  They also site the typical cartoon in the paper or the sterotype of the older man sleeping in his chair, or always falling asleep.  That this is not because he has one kidney. smile
    • Posted

      Hi Rick,

      I have heard similar comments, but the need to nod off and the sometimes really tired day only occurred after kidney removal.  Add in things like severe leg cramps in the night, and I am pretty convinced that my metabolism has changed. 

      The docs are pretty sharp at noticing things like a busted leg, but the more subtle things pass them by or are passed off as 'normal for your age'!

      KenR

    • Posted

      I sure agree with you about the doctors looking at the age on your chart and then treating your concerns as non significant.  To talk to you like you are a child who can no longer understand their direction.  Or to ignore every complaint as insignificant if it does not show up as an irregularity in a blood test or xray.  I definitely found my need for "naps" to not be before the kidney removal and only since after, just as you mention.  And my primary care and urologist just ignored me mentioning this them.  But on oncologist, who I am very impressed with, told me that at my age it can take the body at least 12 to 18 months to fully recover from the surgery.  That as non medical people we do not realize what a trauma this is to the body.  It is not like having your tonsils removed.  The amount of muscles that are cut or damaged, other internals, have to heal and rebuild.  Your metabolism is changed and needs months to adjust.  And she said frankly things may never be as they were before the surgery.  To try to walk 20 to 30 minutes 5 or 6 days a week is the best way to rebuild and fight the fatigue.  I suffered with night sweats for weeks (months) after the surgery, that none of them could explain other than body adjustment. Our metabolism definitely has changed. 

  • Posted

    Thanks for the information Rick. I only have one kidney also. Seems common on this forum.
  • Posted

    Great article! Thanks for sharing it as well as what your nephrologist shared with you during your appointment!!

    Marj

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