Date:   1/10/2012 10:04:08 PM ( 12 y ago)
Hits:   10,801
URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1898804

I'd suggest you ask your MD when you see him/her for a reference to see a kidney specialist. Doctors sometimes wait until you are on your last legs and ready for dialysis before referring you to a specialist, hoping the disease won't get worse very fast. I was lots worse off than you are when I asked for my reference, and was amazed at the amount of testing the specialist did when I first saw him. There are things to rule out, the sooner the better.

Your disease might not get lots worse very fast. On the other hand, it might, and if it does, you're better off in the position of already seeing a specialist regularly.

If it makes you feel any better, my 24-hour urine test returned protein at approximately 1100 and, though I'm not well, I'm at least still off dialysis at this point.

Your GFR reading means quite a lot. You can get by reasonably well with about a 50, but when it gets into the mid to lower 30's you feel pretty bad, regardless of how much you have reduced protein consumption compared to what you used to eat. Because the amount of water you've had to drink can change the appearance of severity, it's a matter of your doctor making some professional guesses when explaining the severity of your problem. Using a ratio can help to tell you how bad the problem is, more than just the numbers themselves. Comparing the urine protein (spot urine) to the creatinine (spot urine) will give a ratio, and the closer to 1 (or less) that you can get with that ratio, the better. Mine is many times higher than 1.

You're not very bad off yet. Now is the ideal time to try everything you can think up/find to try to arrest your kidney deterioration.

If you have been taking things like Aleve, ibupfroprin, and aspirin, quit entirely now if you can. Lower the protein content of your meals now too, at least by some amount (unless you already eat little in the way of meat, poutry, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and beans on a daily basis). These two steps will give your kidneys the rest they need now.

A good book to read is by Mackensie Waller, a Johns-Hopkins kidney researcher who believes many people can arrest their deteriorating kidney function by really drastic protein reductions: "Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis." He suggests that protein reduction for those with early stage kidney disease, not just later. (Not all kidney specialists go along with this orientation.) The book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471274232/


It's a book worth reading, with lots of kidney disease information.

Best wishes,
Mary
 

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