Hi, stage 3 is a standard time when diagnosis may be given. Subject to what’s causing it, it’s not a huge concern depending on age and what sort of speed the decline is.
I was out in touch with a dietician some time after being diagnosed, because I think it’s not seen as a huge need if you are eating well/sensibly anyway.
Good luck on your journey
Hi, sounds like you have a sound outlook on things and you’re right, it’s early days and to focus on the main, more important things right now.
I was diagnosed initially about 14 years ago, but it was nothing special to worry about. Since then, it’s jumped down, stayed steady, or been declining steady, so there hasn’t been any rhyme now reason behind it, other than it drops when I have a virus or am ill, and sometimes bounces back, and sometimes doesn’t.
Stage 5 now, arm fistula in place and awaiting my consultant appointment, sat in the hospital right now, to see if dialysis is coming soon, but I have a more important focus on getting prostate cancer treated in the coming weeks, so the kidneys packing up is less of a focus the past couple of weeks
Keep positive and good luck
Thanks, that’s helped my peace of mind; I am adjusting my diet, but this offers good context.
Hi I am Jackie, 61, Mother of 4 grown ups, youngest is 22. I live close to Omagh County Tyrone N.Ireland. I am CKD3 a I think, I found out by accident, I was b but numbers have improved since diagnosis, 3 to 5 years ago and have stayed steady. I am under GP care, bloods being monitored every 12 months. Only info I got from GP, was maybe reduce salt intake. So here to learn some useful information.
I have had SLE lupus since I was a teenager and diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was 26, so those have been a struggle, treated long term with strong pain killers, Hydroxychloroquine and nsaids, I always had low, below average BP and chronic anaemia. Then with menopause my BP went high and was started on meds for that. In 2019 I attended rheumatologist as struggling with severe fatigue, falling asleep constantly, he sent me for sleep study tests and discovered I had sleep apnea so was prescribed a c-pap machine. Further tests revealed my iron profile was deranged, iron stores were extremely low, I was put on high doses of iron which didn’t improve hgb levels so out on a different ferrograd for 6 months which improved levels followed by another 6 months of ferrograd so hgb levels up around 12. In between that had headaches my BP had gone very high. Had 24 hr monitor and BP had been in the red for the 24 hrs so started on 1 tab which worked well, dosage has been increased 3 times over the years.
At some point I think around covid 2020, GP called to say I was showing some signs of kidney disease nothing to worry about and that they would closely monitor it. Blood and urine tests every 12 months. I asked about advice, dietary restrictions she said no not really other than reduce salt intake. Which I have always done anyway as family cardiac history.
I was going on a holiday in June 2025, and travel insurance asked me to clarify which stage of ckd I had as I had mentioned it. I contacted GP, eventually got an answer 2 days before travel it was CKD3. Is time hearing that, it was a total shock. Reported that back to travel insurance that day and next day, day before travel they contacted me to say they could no longer cover my travel insurance. Got Insurance sorted before we travelled but insurance cost almost the same as the whole weeks holiday. To say holiday was affected by learning I had CKD3b and hadn’t a clue what that meant definitely did affect my holiday enjoyment.
Follow up after holiday with GP left me none the wiser, was told it was nothing to worry about, people can stay at level 3 for the rest of their lives and we will monitor your bloods and urine every 12 months to keep an eye on things.
So it’s great now to be here and learn more about this condition.
Sounds like a lot going on there for you, but as stage 3, and stable, the doctor is right, you can stay at the level for a long time if monitored etc
I didn’t bother advising my travel insurance company when I was stage 4, but do now that I am stage 5.
And yes, it ramps up the cost unfortunately, but as I saw it, stage 3 isn’t going to give me any issues really, depending on how your levels fluctuate
Hi, I’ve been out of hospital almost 2 weeks following an AKI. When last checked 2 weeks ago my GFR was 22,not helped by my hypertension that caused a stroke 4 years ago. I am nursing left leg ulcers so am feeling very sorry for myself. I’m 60 years of age, so any help and advice to turn things around would be much appreciated
Hi, Alan Crabb just joined. 80 years old. On dialysis for 2 years, with fistula. Very happy at Wm. Harvey Renal Unit, Ashford, Kent. 4 hours, 3 times a week. Profoundly grateful for NHS services.
Hi @Chris3012!
Thanks for joining Kidney Community and for sharing your kidney connection 
.
Has your GP or medical team provided you with guidance on how to best treat your legs?
Brogan
Hi @alanc.
So glad to have you as a member of Kidney Community. I am so pleased to hear that your experience at Harvey Renal Unit in Kent is a positive one .
Do you have any words of advice for others who may also be on haemodialysis?
Brogan
For those starting on HD, it is a tough and frightening experience. Try to make friends with other patients, you will find them a source of encouragement and practical advice. And later, when you are more settled, extend a welcoming hand to newer ones. Not everyone will want to be ‘chummy’ but most will appreciate a sympathetic interest.
I also have CKD Stage 3b as a result of taking Lithium and have Bipolar but not diabetes although I have mild pre Diabetes. My biggest issue is that I have a permanent catheter, fitted when I because seriously ill with a kidney infection. I started with a urethral catheter but was fitted with a supra pubic catheter in March. I had horrendous problems with infection and very severe pain for 8 weeks before they replaced it. This didn’t immediately resolve the pain but it gradually resolved. Since then it hasn’t been too bad although I have had more infections which didn’t need antibiotics. I was given lots of antibiotics at first including via IV and am now Gentamicin resistant. I find that the catheter is the worst part of my CKD as it is is much more life limiting than the actual CKD. Has anyone else had similar problems?
Hi there
Sorry for the delayed reply. Just wanted to say I faced a similar situation in that I had a breast cancer diagnosis which delayed me for 5 years but I’ve finally got the all clear and should be on the transplant list in the next couple of months - so keep positive.
Like you I was heading towards home haemo but after a chat with a consultant who specialised in pd and talking to a couple of pd patients I opted for that instead. I’ve been doing it for 18 months now and I like the fact that all my days are free as I use the machine overnight and I have the freedom to travel whenever I want. Worth considering depending on your lifestyle.
Best wishes
Angela
Hi everyone
My name is Barbara Folley
and im new to this i have kidneys disea.\nSe and im going in the hospital to have one of my left kidney removed i be in a lot of pain and can’t infection can’t sleep at night of in the day because I be in so much of pain i don’t know if I need a transplant.\nBut right now , the doctor told me , I would the lot of medication ask for prayer
Thanks for the PD advice.
I’ve gone for HHD, I’ve had the arm fistula op and it’s the one for me.
By having a solution based system, rather than plumbed in one, I’m able to take it with me too if I want to go away, so it doesn’t impact that too much.
Obviously if the fistula doesn’t work, I’ll go to plan b, but it’s good to hear that there’s transplant options after cancer.
Although I am positive about it, it’s still positive to hear it does happen 
Hi my name is Ray and I néed advice because I know something is wrong and I haven’t got a clue what to do orwho to ask .
Hi Ray,
Have you got kidneys failing? What is your diagnosis
The first place to start is your GP
Hi chalky this I were it gets complicated a few years ago after a operation I was told I had 2 kidney stones and it’s nearly 2 years since I have seen my consultant . I also use self catheters but not had many UTI until this year then . I have told my doctors for a long time about frothy bubbles which there was a lot of and that the hospital was monitoring it.and have been told to lose weight and drink water.my legs are swollen and my toilet habits are a lot worse ,sorry it’s had to explain but I am also losing my energy all the time after work I fall asleep yet doctors just think more tablets and I honestly don’t know if I have ckd all I know something is wrong and it’s getting worse .sorry for long story
You need to get proper medical help, it could be any number of reasons, which may or may not be kidney failure.
I hope you get the answers and support you need, but you should get bloods from your GP to find out what’s going on.
Hello I also have a super pubic catheter and for many years I had very nasty problems with it blocking up almost every week which did more damage to my one remaining kidney, I was given Botox for the problem and eventually told to try a open tip catheter which was a wonderful idea because I now hardly have any problems with it, just talk to your nurse or doctor and ask them to proscribe an OPEN TIPED CATHETER in your size and I hope they will help you as much as possible
Hi, I’m Elaine
I was born with only 1 kidney.
In 2018 I was refused a knee replacement in a local hospital as I had CKD and they didn’t have the facilities if something went wrong. I rang to tell them I didn’t have CKD, just 1 kidney - they told me it had been put on the referal by my gp and to contact them.
I went in to the surgery and told the practice manager what had happened, she said ‘it’s nothing to worry about, you’re only stage 2, we lose kidney function as we get older!’
Now my GFR is 44 so stage 3b, the gp’s advice is ‘drink more water’ Surely I can do more than that?