Stage 3. The Paramedic found it in my notes while looking up my meds for another reason
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Hello, Another case of finding out via the back door. Suggest you contact the originator of the entry and find out what is going on. This is really appalling treatment and you deserve better. There appears to be a growing trend within the NHS to not give a damn. Best wishes B
Good morning CRJ, I have blood tests every 6mths. I also keep an eye myself by doing urine dip tests at home if I feel the need.
How are you keeping?
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Hello Beanbag. Thankyou for your reply. I hope you get the news you are hoping for at your appointment. What is the Easi-Kidney ? It sounds like a device?
Please let us know how you get on.
Hi, I had a little scroll back to find your story. I’m sorry to hear you haven’t had the support or information you needed from the Doctors.
I’m no expert and can only go on my own experience, but feel free to reach out to me if you need.
Try distracting yourself while you wait for the results of your tests. No point in worrying before you know what to worry about!!
And bare in mind its possible to stay stable at stage 3 and lead a normal life. Im proof of that. Been married, had 3 children, divorced and built myself back up again. All with sad Kidneys.
Best of luck.
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Hello, Easi-Kidney is a medical trial that is running for 5 years. It began last year and joining was by invitation. I take Empagliflozin 10 mg and Kidney B1 690517, now called Aldosterone or a blind, I do not know which. The object of the trial is to determine the efficacy of this combination on benefiting the kidneys and prolonging their useful life and possibly replacing dialysisi n the long term. So far my sugar levels have dropped because an effect of Empagliflozin is to rid the body of some of the excess sugars that hamper Type 2 diabetics. I have been a diet controlled type 2 diabetic for 15 years so this is a benefit to me as well. It was strange that my local teaching hospital was undersubscribed on the trial with many people being wary and not interested. Being 80 , with stage 4 CKD , a five year trial might be a little optimistic, but I decided to go for it. Nothing ventured etc. Best wishes B
I was told it was stage 3 but not whether it was a or b. I’m hoping to get an appointment next week and find out more. I wondered about testing my urine at home, should I be looking for protein and anything else?
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Very foamy urine is often a sigh of excessive protein in the system. Have look behind you when you next get up .
Best wishes B
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Thank you for responding. Ok my GP said yearly checks. But I might request 6 monthly. Im well thank you.. Just changing my diet and trying to exercise more. I have been told to drink 2L of water daily.
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I had to work it out for myself that I am stage 3b.
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That must have been really frustrating to have to work that out on your own @Gwennie!
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Thanks for this, I haven’t had any advice what to eat/drink! I only found out I should limit potassium from my own research and I was eating lots of bananas, potatoes, spinach.
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Well, had my bloods done yesterday and the results today were better than I thought that they were going to be. Generally ll the 16 tests came back with improvements. My EGFr has risen from 21 to 23 , so I live to fight another day. Best wishes B
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That is certainly a positive @Beanbag, especially when the results were better than you were bracing yourself for. Thanks so much for sharing your results 
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That’s great news. What ever you’ve been doing, keep it up.
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I was only diagnosed with stage 3b last year despite going for blood tests every year as required by the medical aid. Could they not diagnose it at an earlier stage. Nephrologist i just saw last month said it started over 10 years ago, he actually showed me scans from some time back when i had stones lasered out in 2014. So Im a bit puzzled and angry that it was only diagnosed towards the end of last year ?
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Hello Blake, Welcome. Your story is an all too common one. Many on here including myself have suffered from the vagaries of our medical system. There appears to be a general feeling that the NHS only does the minimum and never looks beyond the patients current condition to find the cause. No everyone is like that, of course, but there are sufficient numbers to bring the system to a point of disrepute. I think that the NHS these days is all about ticking boxes so that the overall performance looks politically good. What was it that Jim Hacker or Humphrey Appleby said ?, the NHS worked perfectly well until some idiot introduced patients , or something like that. In my case a simple biopsy could have avoided the situation I am now find myself in. But here we are, and we must look forward. Try to put your anger, justified as it may be, to one side and direct your energies to the current situation. Best wishes B
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Hi, I’m 68, Since having gestational diabetes many years ago the GP’S nearly always did an annual blood test looking at blood sugar which included renal function. 4 years ago I received a phone call from the GP asking me to do a retest efgr 35 on both tests. Saw another Dr at the surgery who was annoyed with me, said my egfr the year before was 54 yet no one had advised me. Was that my fault? Anyway the first 3 years I managed to push up egfr to 59 and it had bobbled around 45 to 56. The past 6 months it has gradually dropped (I am now tested every 8 weeks as am on a biologic for ulcerative colitis) It was back to 35 last week. I spoke to the GP who was dismissive and said that I was too obsessed with figures. Feeling very low and dreading the next test in 3 weeks.
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Hello Margie, Welcome to our forum. Sorry to say, but you are one of many these days. It is a common thread that the attitude of GP’s these days is appalling. A once respected profession has now attained the levels previously only occupied by Estate agents and Car dealers. (Other recent members being Vets and Dentists) It is not your fault , it is the fault of a box ticking society that gauges it success on fulfilling government issued goals, and money, not patient wellbeing. Cheer yourself up and try not to worry, 35 is not so bad. I had a celebration last week when mine went from 21 to 23. I was so happy , i almost had a cup of coffee! But I settled for Barley Water. I wish you well for your upcoming test , you are not alone. Please come back with any concerns and let us know your results. Best wishes B
Thank you for your kind and reassuring words. When you have 2 conditions the consultant and GP always seem to be slightly at odds too.
I’m so pleased and happy for you that your egfr increased last week and that you had a mini celebration.
Thanks again, I’ll certainly come back with the results of the next one. Best Wishes Margie
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