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.