Kidney gfr

[vandeb]

what is the probability of kidney gfr improving from 28 to 38?

[lindahand]

I am from Saskatchewan so my nephrologist would be a bit of a hike to get to from Toronto!

If you contact the local Kidney Foundation they may be able to help you with next steps.

When my nephrologist talked to me, right from the onset he was positive about how much a difference the kidney diet would make. He didn't offer false hope and was legitimately surprised by how much the numbers went up, but he did say from the onset that following the diet could hold the numbers steady or raise them. A lot depends on why they aren't functioning too though. What he said was the diet gives the kidneys a break from having to process too much, and that can help them heal. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure those are too biggies that need to be controlled. I was lucky not to have either.

So the advice I got was simple. Lower potasium, lower protein and choose chicken or fish more than red meat. I've pretty much cut out red meat - maybe once a week, lower phosphorus (all prepacked foods, colas, and milk products - coconut milk is okay and has no protein in it), and lower salt and cholesterol. Avoid all NSAIDS too (aspirin, aleve, naproxen, ibuprofen). There are some foods like potatoes that you can soak in water overnight and remove the skins to lower the potasium to where it needs to be.

Too soaking your french fries makes them nicer actually. It's a trick the restaurants use to make crispy fries. Toss them in olive oil, throw them on parchment paper, and bake at 400 F. Little Mrs Dash instead of salt. Yummy.

It means changing your diet which is hard. Some things there are just not good substitutes for like tomotoes, but it is reduce not eliminate so you can still have favorite foods just not as often.

Good luck. I hope you have some success.

[doris352]

Thank you for giving me a hope. I am in the 3rd stage having Egfr 34 from 39.6 last year test. Can you kindly give me the name of your kidney specialist doctor? Is he or she working  in Toronto? I need also a dietitian. I am trying to see here in Canada a better doctor because i am not happy to be cured in Italy. Sorry to say that but this is the reality from my experience. I need to know how to stop the kidney damage going to higher stage. Thank you very much hoping God help us.

[warney]

thanks your words reassure me somewhat. due to not having the bladder so ileal conduit, thats probably why i was told cant be actually reversed, but am hopeful, after reading your comments, we can at least prolong longevity :) all the best and be really interested to keep in touch and see how yours (and my) next tests go!!!!

[lindahand]

Maybe stage 3 is seldom reversable but it did happen to me and the only thing I did differently was follow the kidney diet and quit taking NSAIDS (advil, etc.) and it wasn't like I was taking a lot of NSAIDS. I was on the high end of stage three. My decline was 45% reduction in 3 years. I had a test three years ago that was fine and then had a test 2 years ago that was low (but that doctor decided it wasn't important and didn't tell me about it. Yeash) and then a test a year ago that showed even more decline than the previous test. I started the kidney diet shortly after the test a year ago. Got tested at the six month mark and that was when there was so much improvement. I go again in April to see what is happening.

I just know that at the top of the form my nephrologist gave me it said "Kidney diet to reverse or maintain GFR." So they must have some experience with it increasing to put it so prominently on a form. At the very least it can't hurt to follow the diet. The Kidney Foundation of Canada recommends it.

If the problem is structural then it won't be raised, but the diet may still help what is remaining of the kidney to last longer.

Things may not get better. Unfortunately when it comes to health problems there are no guarantees - you can do everything 'right' and still end up in stage 4 or 5. I have some other health problems that are not going away so I understand that frustration. This time it was a combination of luck and hard work that gave me the raise.

So there is hope. If nothing else it won't hurt.

[warney]

Hi i have heard that diet can improve the egfr but more often than not it will continue to decline. Mine is falling very fast, well into stage 3 and progressing still.  I think the actual cause of the CKD is a huge factor. if the underlying problem, with me it is structural, cannot be remedied then improvement is not very likely. Every test i have it has fallen further, by 37 over the last 8 months and 3 tests.  I also, like you,have been told that once it is stage 3 it cannot be improved but, in some cases, slowed down. I havent found the magic slow down answer yet, but will keep looking!!!!!

[rsm60]

Wow from 54 to 69! I was on 50 2 years ago and my nephrologist said that stage 3 ( where 50 is stage 3) is irreversible. Meaning it will not get better anymore. I just have to try to prolong my kidney's life.

You gave me a good shot in the arm! I should strive and work for 69!

Thank you so much!

What was the main reason for such a great achievement?

Rsm60

[lindahand]

I don't know. I went from 54 to 69 in six months so big jumps are possible. I really followed the diet and I think that really helps. I don't know if being at a higher stage makes recovery more difficult.