Is there anyone who has experienced...

[kristina]

Is there anyone who has experienced,
or knows someone who has experienced the following:
Complete kidney failure, going into coma, (for me, at 17½ years old),
followed by a very slow recovery without dialysis where
kidney function plateaued out to 40%-45%.

This state continued for over 28 years and then in 1999 my kidneys began
to deteriorate very slowly again. Seven years later I was diagnosed
with ESRF and only six months to go with my kidneys.
Theoretically my kidney function was supposed to have seized already
in January 2007, but they still function.

My question is this:
Has anyone else experienced that kidneys survive again
after yet another flare-up?
I am at present “hanging in the balance” at 10% kidney function
and I am unsure which way my kidneys will decide to go.
I am not too well and try to keep going, hoping,
my kidneys will pick up once again.
Has anyone knowledge of this type of experience?

Thank you, Kristina.
 

[Sunny]

Kristina,
In 2001 when I had Goodpastures Disease my kidney function went from 100% to 5%. They treated me with prednisone and chemotherapy and I recovered with 33% kidney function. Then in 2004 my kidney function again went down, to 15%, but after a few months it went back up again to about 1/3 again. No explanation or understanding of why my kidneys regained more function the 2nd time around. I personally think it had something to do with learning how to deal with my diet and cutting way back on stress levels. Since then my kidneys have slowly decreased in function, nothing sudden. I keep hoping for a rebound, like you. I personally know it can happen. But for me, at this point, I think my kidneys are failing due to wearing out, which is what my doctors told me would happen eventually.

[kristina]

That is so kind of you to answer me because you are the first person I have come across
who has had a similar experience with kidney survival, albeit the nature being somewhat different.
(Mine is chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis & hypertension with Lupus/SLE/MCTD).
Like yourself, I believe too, that stress and diet are key factors in keeping the kidneys going,
and “warding off” possible flare-ups which might reactivate, or continue, the downward trend
of kidney disease. I am very thankful that you have answered this question I have put,
because I was in the dark about what was going on with my kidneys.
Furthermore, doctors had always told me that nothing could be done about my kidneys,
except the very first Doctor, who was a Professor of Medicine, whom I had met
when I had first had kidney failure in 1971, who suggested very firmly
that my (vegetarian) diet was very important, and that I should also keep stress levels to a minimum.
Just imagine how lucky I was in 1971 after which time I never met another doctor who
mentioned similar advice. Although I have been told, like yourself, that the present kidney decline
is due to age, and nothing can be done, I nevertheless do as much as I can to try and proof the doctors wrong.
I am determined to see if I can keep my kidneys’ function going and do the very best for them.
Wishing you all the best of luck, Kristina.

[jennyc]

I suffered acute failure due to blood loss, i went to 0% within moments and up to about 3-5% within a month. after almost 12 months i was upto 23% and came off dialysis. sadly only lasted 18 months and it deteriorated back to 12%. Now sitting at under 4% (just lost most of my residual function over holidays)

[kristina]

Sorry to hear about your recent problem, Jennyc,
I keep my fingers crossed that your kidneys may pick up again.
All the best of luck and thanks for sharing with us.
Kind regards from Kristina.