[Beholden]

Hey, I found a site on the web to answer my earlier questions about what my lab test results meant. So now I'm prepared to go see the kidney specialist without too much anxiety.

Any one have kidney disease out there that would like to chat with me about it?

I don't have kidney "disease", but my doc just informed me I have kidney damage. I did have kidney malfunction on lithium so I had to get of it after a couple months but have taken some anti-psychotic meds so internal med doc thinks that is what is caused it. I guess it is not severe, but it cannot be reversed.

[bebop]

my dad has kidney issues. his creatine level right now is 3! yikes!

[Beholden]

Hi Be...

Sorry to hear your dad has kidney trouble. Is he currently on dialysis? I'm sort of learning about kidney function, and what questions to ask when I go see the specialist next month.

Have you any suggestions for me - one of the things that I think has happened is that I've been on Celebrex for a long time. than isn't good for kidney function, and combined with caffeine that makes it even worse I guess. At least that is what I've found on several medical sites.

Won't really know until I see the doc.

[Beholden]

Hi Suzy...

It's the pits that the meds we need, or were Rx'ed for us do bad things as well as good. I know where you are coming from

Do you know what your lab numbers are from you kidney function tests? How often to you get a lab redone?

Any advise for me as I start with seeing a specialist?

Thanks

[Pup]

Hi there.
My Beloved Nan had kidney failure for 7-8 years... she battled it for many years, but unfortunately, her body became extremely weak and her health took a turn for the worse, she suffered from other health problems, too, and she was in hospital for about 6-7 months, then she passed away...

I wish you good luck on whatever the specialist says, and hope you will be okay. I really do wish you to be well and that whatever is going on can be fixed or handled with and you to live a long, healthy life...

My two cents worth.
(even though I'm in the UK!)

[bebop]

Dad isn't on it yet. they won't do that until the function is down to about 10 to 15%. right now he is at 25. and to make it worse he only has one kidney. what is your level at this time? Dad sees his dr every 3 months for check since his is so low. he has other issues though with his bladder. pretty rough on an 80 yr old man.

[Beholden]

Originally Posted by bebop

Dad isn't on it yet. they won't do that until the function is down to about 10 to 15%. right now he is at 25. and to make it worse he only has one kidney. what is your level at this time? Dad sees his dr every 3 months for check since his is so low. he has other issues though with his bladder. pretty rough on an 80 yr old man.

So sorry it is so hard on your Dad. Was he born with just one kidney? I know some folks are...my kidney function is at 1.4, so I'm just starting down the path ... hoping to stablize it at this number. But that's the thing about kidney function, it isn't reversible, unless it is 'acute' - of course, I don't know the name of what I have yet, or any of that stuff. I'm shooting in the dark with what "I think" form what I've looked at on the medical sites on the web.

But, I'm sharp with knowing where to locate real information and can sort of understand a lot of it. I'm not a doc....just a realist.

One thing I'm grateful for is the new allergy medication my prim. care. doc started me on is starting to work I just get a little bit anxious while I'm waiting to see the kidney guy, you know how that is I'm sure.

Thanks for the information and support.

[Beholden]

Originally Posted by Pupp

Hi there.
My Beloved Nan had kidney failure for 7-8 years... she battled it for many years, but unfortunately, her body became extremely weak and her health took a turn for the worse, she suffered from other health problems, too, and she was in hospital for about 6-7 months, then she passed away...

I wish you good luck on whatever the specialist says, and hope you will be okay. I really do wish you to be well and that whatever is going on can be fixed or handled with and you to live a long, healthy life...

My two cents worth.
(even though I'm in the UK!)

And I'll take your two cents worth too I know I'm just starting to have the problem, don't know what my dx will be, what part of my kidney(s) are not functioning like normal ones. From what I've read you can have chronic kidney failure for many many years and live a 'fairly healthy' life. In the early stages, there are no symptoms for the most part.

I've stopped taking the one drug that is known to cause CKF, Celebrex and I've sort of stopped my caffeine habit, at least cut it way way down. So I know just that will help prevent more damage. I'm sure the specialist will run a few new/different test when I see him, just don't know what they will be yet. If diet and not taking anything by Tylenol for my arthritis pain, some exercise and all the stuff we are all told to do anyway, i should be able to maintaain my kidney function level where it currently is for a long time.

At least that is what I'm reading and have already been told from my primary care doc. First it is a matter of going to my appt next month on the 15th.

Oh, just another 'glitch' in my health bucket - I also start taking "pre-pre diabetic" (yes that is what my doc called my elevated blood sugars, pre-pre diabetese) diet classes with the nurse on the 9th of July. It is a 4 part 'course' to teach me how to eat healthy foods without too many carbs to prevent my blood sugar from going up anymore to be then dx'ed as pre-diabetic. So I've got my bucket overflowing with a few little things that just make me anxious. I'm ready to deal with all of it though, so I just wanted a little support for youall here at my favorite place, PC.

Thanks so much for sharing about your Nan.

[bebop]

no he was born with both but lost one in 2001 I think it was. they think that kidney damaged his good one. long story but had to do with unchecked kidney stones. nasty!

[Beholden]

Sorry for him.

[FerretGuy5]

I was on dialysis for a while after a suicide attempt in 1989. Though my kidneys recovered. I know someone on dialysis and awaiting a kidney. He has been 16th on the list for over a year. Not nearly enough donors after death.

[lynn P.]

Heygimm,
I don't have kidney problems and I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems. Just try to find out as much info as possible. I hope you feel better soon.