Hi my name is Christina just been diagnosed last month with stage 3 so very new to all of this. I’m just looking for more info and suggestions on how to manage my symptoms
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Hi @Christina1977, welcome aboard! There have been a few posts on the forum from people recently diagnosed with stage 3 CKD. You can read them here: Latest Living with kidney disease/Recently diagnosed topics - Kidney Community
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Hi. I’m Sue. I have cardiorenal disease and I’ve just been told I’m at stage 4. I’m struggling to eat as most food makes me nauseous. I would love to hear how people cope with this.
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Morning all. Steve here, I was diagnosed last year with stage 3B CKD. Drs have not been great in providing info at all, told me to carry on as I have been doing. I have started to research myself and shocked what I have found out. I am still trying to work out what I can and cannot eat, and I am already a very fussy eater already.
I have recently seen a renal specialist and they have done some blood tests and I’ve to go back in December.
How fast or slow does CKD progress. my biggest symptom just now is fatigue, always tired or can’t be bothered with things that I used to do which I’m finding it frustrating.
Delighted I have found this channel as I’m not on facebook etc
Good to meet you all.
Steve.
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Hi. As a lot of people here are arriving on the site with stage 3/3b, there’s no real speed of declining.
You may stay at that for many years yet or it may drop, all depends on what’s causing it and your lifestyle.
Certainly when I was stage 3, I was working and walking 10-12 miles a day as postman throughout covid etc.
Now stage 5, I’m more tired and only walk 20-30 miles a week and do a completely different job, having gone back to what I used to be before the change of lifestyle becoming a postie.
Whilst fatigue is certainly there, I’ve found that finding out one has CKD is enough to then blame everything on that.
The fatigue, the aches, the sickness, and to let it get into one’s head and then convince oneself that’s it, I’m ill forever now.
For me, cutting out alcohol, eating the right fruit and veg and less meat, and no processed foods (but not always 
) has helped a bit, but walking has kept me mentally well and stopped me deteriorating and just waiting to be sick.
I do feel tired, I do ache, and I do feel nauseous a lot of the time, but I keep positive, keep going and that helps fight the mental spiral into giving up.
Of course there are days I can’t, and we are all different, but I can’t emphasis enough to anyone joining the site or discovering you’re stage 3, as much as I understand it’s a worry, I’ve been there, but keep positive and it may not end up being a decline at all.
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Hi everyone,
I am new here! My name is Kate.
I am now at CKD stage G4A3. My eGFR has declined from 59 in January 2024 to 22 now. I also have renal artery stenosis and possible issues with the smaller veins to the kidney. I have other chronic conditions such as aortic thrombus and emphysema (which has also got worse over the last couple of years).
I recently became very sick on holiday in Iceland with a respiratory infection and whilst in hospital was diagnosed with chronic metabolic acidosis for which I have been prescribed sodium bicarbonate.
One reason for joining this community is because I am suffering very severe itchy skin, particularly in the hands and feet (but everywhere in general). I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had this issue and found ways to reduce the itchiness. I have tried fexofenadine tablets, but they don’t seem to help much if at all. I am also using QV cream to keep the skin hydrated, but it doesn’t help greatly and not for very long.
My kidneys appear to be unable to cope with some treatments. In June, I had a zoledronate infusion for osteopenia. Even though it was at a reduced dosage, my eGFR went down to 14 and I was very sick for several weeks. Previously, I was prescribed losartan, but my kidney function declined far more than expected (eGFR 12) and I had to be taken off them. I would be interested to hear if other people have had similar issues.
Kate.
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great! thanks for this, I don’t drink alcohol, and eat ok, as I can and attend the gym 4 days in a week. yup! I am Mr positive ha, just don’t like half a story, and like building the picture so I know what I am working with or towards.
Sorry to learn that you are at stage 5 and great you are managing the best that you can. Need to keep up the good fight. 
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Hi everyone, my name is Khalifah.
I was born with a rare condition called ADAMTS13 deficiency, which has affected my health throughout my life. As a result of this condition and its complications, I developed several other serious health problems, including chronic kidney disease.
In 2012, my brother kindly donated a kidney to me. I was very grateful for this precious gift, and the transplant worked for around 12 years. Sadly, in 2025, my transplanted kidney failed, and I am now back on dialysis and urgently need another kidney transplant.
I have faced many challenges and difficulties throughout my life, but I remain hopeful that I can receive another kidney and have the opportunity to continue my life.
I would be extremely grateful for any support, advice, or help you may be able to offer me. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to hear my story and for the important work you do for people living with kidney disease.
With my sincere thanks and appreciation,
Khalifah
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Hiya, I can’t give advice but if you need a chat and off load, give me a shout. Keep up the good fight 
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Hi my name is Dean, im Stage 5 CKD and been on heamodialysis for 5 years, i cant go on transplant list as I have a heart condition and overweight, I hear there is pioneering stem cell treatment to repair damaged kidneys, I for one is definately up for it and would like to be a guinea pig if needed
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Hi Jim, thanks for sharing your journey. I hope you are doing well 
Hi Dean, welcome to Kidney Community! If you are interested in being involved in research I recommend having a look at this page on the Kidney Research UK website: Patient involvement - Kidney Research UK. There is also a category on Kidney Community for discussing being involved in reseach so you might want to start a new topic there if you have any questions.
Hello, I’m Malcolm from Bewdley in Worcestershire. I had a routine kidney blood test recently and I was staggered to learn that I am at stage 5. I have just been told today that I need dialysis (fistula) but I know very little about it. I’m 66 and had only just retired last month. I am petrified and not sure how i am going to manage.
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Hi Malcolm, thanks for taking the time to come to here and get involved in the group
I am in the same position as you, younger admittedly, but stage 5 and I have had the wrist fistula procedure in preparation.
It sounds like you haven’t had any signs, monitoring or treatment up til now?
It’s important to be aware that stage 5 doesn’t automatically mean starting dialysis. I went to stage 5 earlier this year, and am still of dialysis at the moment, but I’m realistic to know it’s coming.
I’ve also had 10 years of this declining at a rate that I knew what would come one day and I couldn’t do anything to stop it, so I have managed to adjust mentally to this, whereas I appreciate it’s a huge shock to you.
Try and take a breath, keep focused on today, and each step as it comes.
This site and the the NHS site has good resources to read, there are many free leaflets you can order as well online from Kidney Care UK.
They will help hopefully give you some idea of what’s ahead and a perspective.
On the positives, being retired, it will help you manage your appointments and treatment, and won’t be juggling work commitments as well.
It’s important to view small wins I’m afraid in our situation 
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I’ve been taking this tablet for a few years now. No issues and it reduced my protein leak
Thankyou. I was anxious because of possible side effects but started now and fine. Hopefully it will do the same for me as you. Thanks
Hi I’m Paul, just been diagnosed with Stage 3 and coming up to 70 next year.
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Hi Everyone
My name is Tina and I’m 59. I’ve just been diagnosed this week with CKD3a with egfr of 55. Only told this week but apparently been declined quite a bit over the last couple of years looking back on my previous renal tests but since Nov last year has went from 64 to 55.
I don’t have Dr app but have been booked app with clinical pharmacist? Should I not have Dr appointment?
I believe this has all stemmed from years of being prescribed Naproxen and Omaproazal. I only read after the diagnosis that they can cause CKD so I can’t understand why the Dr continued to prescribe and not check my renal bloods for any decline. I am very upset by all this. I have stopped taking the Naproxen and Omaprozal which I am prescribed for Osteoarthritis in some of my joints I’d rather suffer pain than cause anymore decline in my kidney function.
Not sure if I should wait for pharmacist appointment or ask for appointment with Dr I am just not sure what i need to do or should expect to be done next ? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi, I would continue with your medication until advised otherwise by your doctor or consultant. I wouldn’t believe everything you read online about omeprazole being bad
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I am more worried about the Naproxen as NSAID over use seems to be a cause I have been on them for at least 6 or seven years constantly. I am on other pain meds along with them so I’m continuing with them until I speak with pharmacist in a couple of weeks.
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