HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

chronic kidney disease

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/27/2013 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone I always post on the chronic pain forum and I was advised by BarbaraLee to come over here to the Lupus forum because I just found out I have chronic kidney disease, and I wouldn't have known, except I saw the diagnosis on the form to get blood work done. My primary care doctor told me back in May of 2012 that my kidney function was worse, and then in October of 2012, she said it was better. That was the first time I had even known that anything was wrong with my kidneys.

I was going to a different pcp, and had to change because my medicaid transportation decided they didn't want to drive me that far.

Needless to say I don't trust my doctor anymore.

BarbaraLee told me that Lupus can really affect your kidneys. I don't have Lupus, but I do have Type 2 diabetes, and I know it can affect your kidneys. I have been doing good with controlling my diabetes though.

I hope that those of you that have kidney disease can advise me on what to do. I sure would appreciate.

Thank you
Loretta
Posted 1/27/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I would follow whatever your doctor suggests as a diet. Also talk to a dietician about what foods are better for you to eat with the diabetes and now batteling kidney disease. f you have any particular questions, please ask them and I will answer from personal experince!! Hugs to you! Do you know what your BUN and creatinine are?
Posted 1/27/2013 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't already seen a nephrologist you should see one.  Kidneys are nothing to mess around with and I would not trust a pcp to take care of complicated kidney problems.

Bill

Posted 1/28/2013 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Amy Thanks for replying. I don't know what my BUN and creatnine are. I guess that would be a question to ask my doctor about. The blood work paper said that it's stage III. Does that mean that it's bad?

Hi Bill Thank you for replying. I will definitely get an appointment with a nephrologist.

Loretta
Posted 1/28/2013 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
There is 5 stages of kidney failure I believe. (Someone correct me if I've got my numbers mixed up.)

5-no function on dialysis (my brother is at this stage)
4- less than 30% (my mom is at this stage)
3- not positive, but think it's 40% functioning
2- I think it's 50%
1- I think it's 60-65%
Posted 1/28/2013 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Stages of kidney disease:

http://www.renal.org/whatwedo/InformationResources/CKDeGUIDE/CKDstages.aspx

Posted 1/28/2013 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I was at Stage 3 for a very long time. You don't get worried until your nephrologist gets worried. Something he taught me awhile ago :)! But yes, Bill is correct, you need to be seeing a nephrologist!!! Please let us know what he says!!
Posted 1/28/2013 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Just to clarify on the stages of kidney disease

Stage 1 is anything above 90%
Stage 2 is 89-60%
Stage 3 is 59-30%
Stage 4 is 29-15%
Stage 5 is 15% and under

Don't let the numbers scare you. We can function without a whole lot of kidney function. i actually started dilaysis at 7% fuction. It all depends on how your body responds to decrease in function. But imperative you get a nephrologist so you can try and slow down loss of function!
Posted 2/17/2013 6:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone. I still can't get an appointment with a nephrologist because my Medicaid Transportation is screwing with me. I realize how important that it is to see one. I'm really frustrated because this is my kidney function we're talking about.

Amy it did help to hear that you were at 7% when you went on dialysis.

I plan to call again Tuesday to see if they have approved my transportation.

Take care. I hope everyone is doing as good as is possible.

hugs
Loretta
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply