Question about kidney disease

[Meriwether]

I haven't had many physicals. But with some recent health issues, I have had a blood test last year and this year. Last year my kidney function numbers were great. This year they dropped about 25 points. I know it is a formula and it can fluctuate slightly, but that seems like a lot. Would you schedule a follow-up to talk to the doctor about it? Or wait for next year and see if the number moved one way or the other? My concern is that I am headed toward kidney disease, but I am not sure if the doctor will have anything to say about it until there is a continuing trend.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Meriwether

[grantmeawish]

First what test dropped that many points?

Is there a reason other than blood testing that you think you may be headed for kidney disease such as diabetes or congestive heart failure?

Hydration status affects these tests as well.

[Katy]

Have you been eating more protein?

Were you dehydrated?

 

Has your doctor expressed concern?

 

Can you tell us exact numbers?

[Meriwether]

First what test dropped that many points?

Is there a reason other than blood testing that you think you may be headed for kidney disease such as diabetes or congestive heart failure?

Hydration status affects these tests as well.

I can't check medical records on the Kindle, but the eGFR dropped from high 90's to 72. This is TMI, but I often have burning pee so I check occasionally for UTI's. I always have trace amounts of protein. Trace amounts aren't necessarily bad, though, right? I have had other symptoms, too, but it seemed to be related to my bout of paresthesia that started last year. I don't think the doctor would be concerned until it would get below 60. I don't know if I need to be concerned.

[Meriwether]

Have you been eating more protein?

Were you dehydrated?

 

Has your doctor expressed concern?

 

Can you tell us exact numbers?

I don't think I was dehydrated. I drink a lot of water. I don't eat an excessive amount of protein, but I don't remember what I ate the day before. I think I had some nuts before bed since I wasn't going to have the blood draw until 10:00 the next morning. Would that affect it? It was a full 12 hour fast. I'm in the process of losing weight, so I am not eating an excessive amount of anything. If anything, I'm not eating enough.I've lost 40 pounds since the first test. I am more active.

[Katy]

How many servings of protein do you have per day?

 

Does your sweat ever smell of ammonia?

 

Do you have diabetes or a family history of kidney disease?

 

What color is your urine typically?

[umsami]

Do you have diabetes?  (If not, are you sure? What's your HbA1c? What's your fasting blood sugar?)

 

Have you had bariatric surgery?  (Saw that you recently lost 40 pounds.  How quickly did you lose weight?)

 

Do you have a family history of kidney disease?

 

 

Honestly, if you're concerned and have health insurance, ask for a consultation with a nephrologist. 

[Meriwether]

I don't have a reason to think I am particularly prone to kidney disease. I've had issues with my urinary tract for the past 16 months, but those proceeded my first test which was fine. I was surprised by the drop in numbers. I'd love to hear it is within normal for fluctuations. :)

[grantmeawish]

I do think you should follow up with your dr just to be sure all your symptoms and test values aren't being overlooked. Having protein in your urine with the lower gfr value would warrant a follow up to me. Maybe since the numbers aren't alarming they didn't discuss it with you??

[Meriwether]

No family history of kidney disease. I do not have diabetes. I know because I've been monitoring my blood sugar. My blood sugar spikes pretty high but not to diabetic levels. I've been eating a really clean diet partly in an effort to lower those numbers. No bariatric surgery. I eat well and not too much, between 800-1200 calories per day. I also try to get my steps in each day.

[Meriwether]

I do think you should follow up with your dr just to be sure all your symptoms and test values aren't being overlooked. Having protein in your urine with the lower gfr value would warrant a follow up to me. Maybe since the numbers aren't alarming they didn't discuss it with you??

The blood test was after the consultation, so he wouldn't have seen it. I'm sure he glanced over it, but I doubt be would have compared it to last year's. Since it isn't below 60, it probably didn't mean much to him.

[Classic Mom]

You shouldn't have protein in urine without a uti. I'd get that result checked with Doctor.

[Meriwether]

How many servings of protein do you have per day?

 

Does your sweat ever smell of ammonia?

 

Do you have diabetes or a family history of kidney disease?

 

What color is your urine typically?

I might have several T of peanut butter, several oz of cheese, 4 or 5 sausage links or a piece of fish or chicken breast, or a serving or two of nuts. No more than three of those options in a day. And no more than one source from meat per day. Oh, I occasionally have eggs, too.

 

I don't sweat much, but I would say no since I've never noticed it.

 

Anywhere from light to bright yellow, not brown.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Meriwether

[katilac]

I would call the doctor to discuss, and I'd probably want another blood test in 6 months as opposed to a year, particularly because you do have related symptoms. Your regular doctor is fine, I wouldn't be at a specialist yet. 

 

Do you take NSAIDS? Like ibuprofen, aspirin, aleve - most OTC pain relievers other than Tylenol/acetaminophen are NSAIDS. My numbers were showing a downward trend and actually got below 60. My doctor didn't really think I was taking enough NSAIDS to affect it that much, but I went off of them for lack of any other know factor.

 

My numbers went up past the danger zone in the first few months, and then zoomed back up the six months after that. She said she had never seen kidney numbers go up so much, so quickly. Needless to say, I'm staying off NSAIDS, no matter how much I miss Advil every month! 

[Meriwether]

I do take ibuprofen sometimes but not regularly. I will cut those out. Two or three weeks before my physical, I took cephalexin?, something like that, for a UTI. Maybe that was a factor? I'll cut out the ibuprofen.

[Meriwether]

I would call the doctor to discuss, and I'd probably want another blood test in 6 months as opposed to a year, particularly because you do have related symptoms. Your regular doctor is fine, I wouldn't be at a specialist yet.

 

Do you take NSAIDS? Like ibuprofen, aspirin, aleve - most OTC pain relievers other than Tylenol/acetaminophen are NSAIDS. My numbers were showing a downward trend and actually got below 60. My doctor didn't really think I was taking enough NSAIDS to affect it that much, but I went off of them for lack of any other know factor.

 

My numbers went up past the danger zone in the first few months, and then zoomed back up the six months after that. She said she had never seen kidney numbers go up so much, so quickly. Needless to say, I'm staying off NSAIDS, no matter how much I miss Advil every month!

Congratulations on getting your numbers up!

[hornblower]

If you're looking for prevention & treatment through diet: 

"Thousands of women, their diets, and their kidney function were followed for a decade. The researchers found three significant risk factors for declining kidney function in these women; none of which come as a surprise given that we’re talking about clogged and inflamed blood vessels: animal protein, animal fat, and cholesterol. All three of these risk factors are only found in animal-based foods. No such association was found for plant protein or plant fat."

http://nutritionfacts.org/2012/10/04/preventing-kidney-failure-with-diet/ & http://nutritionfacts.org/video/preventing-kidney-failure-through-diet/

 

[Meriwether]

I called the nurse and she said it was within normal fluctuation and that the protein just needs to be watched. I can get a physical through my husband's work in 6 months, so maybe I will do that.

[SparklyUnicorn]

My dad has kidney failure due to years of taking Lithium.  The only thing he is told to monitor closely is potassium.  He has his potassium levels checked regularly.  And that might not seem so bad, just the one thing, but potassium is in a lot of healthy foods such as vegetables, beans, and fruits.  So he actually has to limit many healthy foods.  Although, a lot of packaged foods also have potassium.  So eating is a bit challenging because of that.

 

This has been good enough to keep dialysis at bay for now though.

 

Glad you got the extra info.  That doesn't sound bad at all.

 

 

[Meriwether]

Not bad at all. I guess the formula isn't so accurate above 60, so a big drop isn't serious. I'm glad to know.

 

Yeah, potassium is in a lot of things. I hope your dad continues to do well.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Not bad at all. I guess the formula isn't so accurate above 60, so a big drop isn't serious. I'm glad to know.

 

Yeah, potassium is in a lot of things. I hope your dad continues to do well.

 

I never even realized potassium is in so many things until he told me (and I tried to work around that when he visits).  I've heard of people mentioning they have potassium deficiency and I'm wondering how in heck they pull that off!

 

Potatoes have too much, but the doctor told him about some method of soaking them and preparing them that basically takes most of the potassium out. Kind of annoying, but at least he can still have some potatoes once in awhile.