Naughty Kidneys

Annb

Expert
Messages
7,202
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Him sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm not much into guidelines, but the NICE guidance is here , and it is useful for you IMHO:-

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...ns#classification-of-chronic-kidney-disease-2

If your e GFR was 70 last year and it is now 42, then that is more than a 25% drop in 12 months and NICE says you should see a specialist. One is not allowed to recommend treatment or diagnoses here, and one should never be disparaging of other healthcare professionals cos we don't always know the full story, but if I was you, I would see a different GP, tell him/her about your drop in renal function and proteinuira and ask to be referred to a specialist. They might prescribe drugs such as ACE inhibitors that preserve renal function, and they would look for anything else that might be impairing your renal function,

I would go for it, rather than wait for your renal function to worsen. With what you have been through, you can sort this.

Best wishes

Sorry I didn't reply to your kind words before this - I didn't realise that there had been a response. I had another blood test today, but haven't had the result yet, of course. I also saw a medical consultant at the hospital about my liver problems but they just want to leave everything with my GP. My GP is a very kindly man, but he is the only one available here and he seems happy just to keep a watching brief over these various ailments. He does say that he is concerned (actually more concerned about the possibility of my liver cirrhosis resulting in cancer than in my kidney problem) but no treatment is on offer.
I can't help thinking that the large proportion of protein I have been consuming whilst low-carbing might have had an effect on my kidneys. No point asking about that because no-one here believes in low-carbing and they are bound to say "I told you so..."
 
  • Like
Reactions: SimonCrox

Becks33

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
How did you find this problem out with your kidneys? I’m sure you will be fine I don’t know much about the kidneys but what I do know is I have huge problems with my eyes I ignored it for 15 years and only got control the past 3-4 months you will be alright , I guess it normal to worry once hard times hit but I hope you feel better because complications can be reversed
 

Annb

Expert
Messages
7,202
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I only found out some 4 months after my creatinine level started to drop. It was a standard blood test that I have to have to check thyroxine levels and things associated with my liver (don't understand what they are - I'm a bit thick that way). My doctor called me and said he was a bit concerned about the creatinine level which had been dropping from 45 in December, via 40, then 32 in April. When he checked again he found a level of 30. I had been hospitalised after collapsing at home, although the hospital hadn't given me any indication as to why. It was probably dehydration though because I realised, when I thought about it, that I hadn't been drinking very much for months. I have upped the level of fluids to 2 Litres a day now, but no notable improvement yet. Not unless the lack of a concerned call from my doctor indicates that things have improved.

I am awaiting a liver scan to see if there are any developments in my cirrhosis. I did have a light hearted moan at my doctor about always having chosen a healthy lifestyle and being active until my legs gave out with arthritis. He reckons it's all in the genes and there's nothing anyone can do about it. He might be right - all of my family have "done the right thing" in terms of lifestyle but my husband developed lots of health problems and died and my son now has crohn's disease and sarcoidosis requiring steroid treatment! We must have had some bad genes between us! So, anyway, the doctor seems to be saying "just relax and accept your lot in life". I don't like that.
 

Becca6510

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
How did you find this problem out with your kidneys? I’m sure you will be fine I don’t know much about the kidneys but what I do know is I have huge problems with my eyes I ignored it for 15 years and only got control the past 3-4 months you will be alright , I guess it normal to worry once hard times hit but I hope you feel better because complications can be reversed

Hi becks they always check your renal function in blood tests when you gogor your annual or 6 monthly checks. They didn’t even raise it to me I had to ask.. I recommend asking what yours are. I wish I had this info sooner, so not to scare or anything but they mentioned that as both eyes and kidney depend on small vessels it meant that if I had some issues with my eyes (I have maculopathy) then I’m likely to have decreased kidney function. I’m sure yours is fine but I’d Defo just check it out to be sure xx
 

Becks33

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
You have Maculopathy??? :( :( did you have treatment for it?? Don’t they do them tests automatically every 6 months in blood tests? I used to suffer from severe swelling which is a symptom of CKD ... I’ll deffo get that checked do you drive with your Maculopathy?? Xx
 
  • Like
Reactions: kitedoc

kitedoc

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,783
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
black jelly beans
Him sorry to hear of your troubles. I'm not much into guidelines, but the NICE guidance is here , and it is useful for you IMHO:-

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg...ns#classification-of-chronic-kidney-disease-2

If your e GFR was 70 last year and it is now 42, then that is more than a 25% drop in 12 months and NICE says you should see a specialist. One is not allowed to recommend treatment or diagnoses here, and one should never be disparaging of other healthcare professionals cos we don't always know the full story, but if I was you, I would see a different GP, tell him/her about your drop in renal function and proteinuira and ask to be referred to a specialist. They might prescribe drugs such as ACE inhibitors that preserve renal function, and they would look for anything else that might be impairing your renal function,

I would go for it, rather than wait for your renal function to worsen. With what you have been through, you can sort this.

Best wishes
I agree with @SimonCrox, but to respectfully point out that according to sites like drugs.com and monographs on individual ACE inhibitor drugs once a blood test reading of GFR is below a certain level, it is recommended ACE inhibitors have to be stopped. I only mention this as it is something any prescriber should be mentioning but hopefully your GFR levels will not get that low and regular testing is suggested as a precaution. Best Wishes.
 

Becca6510

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
You have Maculopathy??? :( :( did you have treatment for it?? Don’t they do them tests automatically every 6 months in blood tests? I used to suffer from severe swelling which is a symptom of CKD ... I’ll deffo get that checked do you drive with your Maculopathy?? Xx

Hi! Sorry for late reply. Yeah it’s oroliferative? Yeah I drive, tbh I don’t find my sight is affected too much (fingers crossed) I’ve never had to have laser or injections for it so far, seemed to of avoided that so far but wouldn’t be surprised if I have to next time they get checked. Tighter control helped a lot xx
 

Becks33

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
No worries at all , what’s that? I’ll look it up! Has it come back?? I’ve had surgery twice on my eyes with severe retinopathy:( try to avoid this! I’m trying so hard to control my diabetes but I hate it and I find it stops me doing things I want to xxx
 

Becca6510

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
No worries at all , what’s that? I’ll look it up! Has it come back?? I’ve had surgery twice on my eyes with severe retinopathy:( try to avoid this! I’m trying so hard to control my diabetes but I hate it and I find it stops me doing things I want to xxx

Hey becks. I totally know the feeling, please if you want to dm me for a proper chat that’s absolutely fine, sometimes I don’t get notifications you’ve replied.

It’s so hard and I have days where I feel that life’s so unfair and have my own little pity party. But we have to live with the ****** hand we’ve been dealt, we can’t get rid but we can manage best we can. Don’t let it stop you. What’s something you really want to do (nothing massive just a small goal or bucket list item)