eGFR /kidney disease | Arthritis Information

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.   The medicos have heaps of info , but need to be asked the right questions, and some are better than others. Even a dietitian may be the go also, with letter from doc.   Good luck    Zali Normal eGFR is 60 on my lab results, so its not too bad, just needs extra watching.. well that's what my Dr says when a lab comes back just over.. As for feeling better and getting a high ESR... had my Dr appointment Tuesday and ESR 39, it was 10 the month before after going back on 5mg Pred!! and I was feeling better than the month before.. I gave up a long time ago trying to figure this all out.. I now try and go with the flow ( works sometimes.... sending you a bighelpful comments. A sense of humour seems essential to maintain along with the arsenal of information that this website provides.  I tried keeping a diary to see if any foods or activities made a difference to symptoms increasing or decreasing but cold not detect a pattern. I will just try to go with the flow and enjoy how much better I feel when those times come..and they do!  Hello luckycauk

 
I very seldom post on this forum but just had to respond to you as I, too, was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 just over 3 years ago with a reading of 50 after what was supposed to be a routine blood test to check ESR/CRP.  Unlike you, I was not told that it was related to PMR (I have PMR and GCA).  At the time the CKD3 was diagnosed, I had been suffering with undiagnosed PMR for just under 12 months, at discharge the rheumy informing me that I'd been suffering with some severe arthritic/inflammatory condition!  My ESR and CRP test results were off the screen (92 and 157 respectively.  With the absence of a diagnosis of PMR I was not treated with steroids and purely took Ibuprofen and Paracetamol just to survive (I was totally unable to move a muscle in my body without unbelievable pain and bedbound for 3 months and travelling to hospital by ambulance and wheelchair).  This totally resolved after 12 months.  
 
In view of the fact that I have a sole kidney, the other being removed when I was 12/13, I panicked and saw a Renal  Consultant who explained that the blood test was a new one being carried out on everyone having routine tests at the request of the Government who were trying to find out whether kidney disease was an ageing process or another disease process.  He carried out the traditional tests on the urine such as creatinine etc, which all came back perfectly normal.  I was left wondering whether the Ibuprofen I had taken for 7 months had done damage (I took a very small dose as I knew it could be harmful to the kidneys long term).   I had also been taking Atenolol, a Beta-Blocker for high blood pressure for some 3 years which the renal consultant said he didn't want me to continue with.  At the time my cholesterol levels were showing a higher LDL (bad)  than HDL(good) and he said this would have been caused by the Atenolol.  He switched me to Ramipril, an Ace-Inhibitor - within 10 days I became very ill.......unbelievable head pain, vision disturbance, jaw pain, vomiting and weight loss AND a return of all the body pain.   Four GPs and 4 weeks later I was diagnosed with GCA, prescribed 40mgs of steroids and instant referral to a rheumatologist (I hasten to add I requested a different one to the previous year!).  So I had been suffering with PMR the previous year.  The rheumatologist was of the opinion that the switch to Ramipril had been the trigger for my GCA because of the dormant PMR in my body.
 
Now, 3 years down the line, my ESR and CRP readings are normal, I am currently on 2mgs of Prednisolone, eGFR tests have gone up and down between 40 and 54 since diagnosis - it was 53 four weeks ago and the GP said that now that they are getting more experienced with this test, they are finding a lot of people with variable readings.  Most "normal" people will show a reading of 60  whereas normal eGFR is around 90 (I'm not sure if the test records higher than 60).  Incidentally the eGFR reading of 40 was after switching to yet another BP tablet.  I'm desperately looking for something to lower my BP other than pills that I cannot tolerate one way or another. 
 
To sum up (I'm so sorry this has turned into an essay!), I'm not sure whether CKD can be caused by PMR but it can definitely be caused by Ibuprofen.
 
Most importantly, although I so sympathise with your worries, I agree with LynM's advice to try not to worry.....PMR doesn't like stress.  Avoid coffee, alcohol, additives and too much protein but eat loads of fresh veggies and fruit and drink loads of water.   
 
All the very best to you.
 
Celtic

 Thank you for  the excellent information. I am sure I am not the only one who valued every word in your "essay".  I do hope you will get rid of this PMR eventually. In the meantime I will follow  your suggestions as I learn to cope more successfully.. .miss my glass of red wine though.  Actually I am a Canadian. Luckycanuk is my signature.   My eGFR is also 55. MY creatine clearance test (which you should have it is a more exact indication of the state of your kidneys) was 71 which is also low (88 or over is normal)

 I read that ace inhibitors would be usefull  to help the kidneys but what I am reading from Celtic post above this might not be a good idea with having PMR. 
 I think my kidneys have become this way due use of laxitives as I am terribly constipated. (finally found out I was allergic to milk!) Going to nephrologist 10 jun
Hi Marianne
 
I'm sorry to hear that you, too, have been diagnosed with a low eGFR (CKD3).
 
The creatinine clearance test is a long tried and tested one and I don't believe I have had problems with that in the past.  In fact my reading was 92 recently.
 
As far as Ace Inhibitors such as Ramipril are concerned, yes they are widely recommended as being helpful for controlling blood pressure and hence the kidneys and if you have been diagnosed with PMR and are taking Prednisolone then you would probably not be at risk of running into the same problem as me - my PMR remained undiagnosed for a year until it resolved naturally before returning within a couple of months alongside GCA.  As I said in my previous post, the rheumatologist felt the trigger for the GCA had been the switch to an Ace Inhibitor because the untreated PMR was still lying dormant in my body.  However, there is also a high risk of contracting GCA in cases where PMR is left untreated - I think the ratio is 3 in 10 people on steroids are at risk of contracting GCA whereas it rises to 7 in 10 people not treated with steroids.
 
I have been advised by someone who has the experience of having a transplanted kidney that I should avoid coffee.  That makes sense as it is dehydrating as is alcohol but I guess that as long as plenty of water is drunk alongside then that would counteract the dehydration.  I know it is also important not to have too high a protein diet as this puts an unnecessary load on the kidneys.
 
I do hope this may be helpful to you and that the nephrologist will be able to reassure you on 10 June.  Please let me know how you get on.
 
PS Do hope the discovery of the milk allergy has sorted out the constipation problem
 
Celtic   
I went to my doc and was told the numbers fluctuate and not to worry about a 55 score! Will retest in 6 months.
So............I have decided  not  to worry! I have enough to worry about!
marianne

You might have tried these for the constipation but prunes in prune juice and figs, either fresh or 'syrup of figs'  can generally do the trick.  Failing that  try Senna Pods, steeped overnight and then drink the liquid.  They are all natural products.


Thanks mrs UK but as far as the constipation I am totally ok now. After I stopped drinking milk !! If I only had known then what I know now! 
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