Help!!! I'm so confused!!!

[zona]

I am so confused and scared right now! I have had CKD for 19 years. I was diagnosed with IGAN. My kidney function was stable for a long time but a few weeks ago I caught a nasty virus and my GFR went from 12 to 9. I was in the hospital over night and they gave me 4 bags of IV fluid and liquid potassiumn. They said I was dehydrated. The next day I was sent home because my GFR went back up to 12. Well I had my labs done this past Monday and again today and my GFR is now 8 !!!! My neph. just called and said to stop my Losarten and we will see if that brings my GFR up. I don't understand!! Is she on the right track here? I would have thought I would be going to dialysis with my numbers like this! Today my creatinine is 5.44 and BUN 100.  What if it declines more and I get sicker here at home! I am alone at night while my husband is at work. I am driving myself nuts here!!

[Traveller1947]

Try to calm down, zona.  Nothing very terrible is going to happen in one night.  If the numbers you've quoted don't improve, you will be starting dialysis soon, but your nephrologist seems to think there's a chance they might improve.  On the other hand, she may just be trying to give you a chance to digest what's happening, so to speak.   Why don't you call her tomorrow morning and ask her outright if you shouldn't be starting dialysis with numbers like these?  Knowing when a person should start dialysis is a judgement call and depends on more than lab values.  That's why it's important to ask the doctor what her thinking is.  I feel for you, there alone at night in an uncertain situation.  Do you have a 911 system in your town?  If you feel really bad, you could always go to the emergency room, but I'm sure you've thought if that.  I wish I had more to offer you in the way of practical advice.  I'll be praying for you and sending comforting thoughts your way.  All the best to you.

[zona]

Yes,When I am feeling bad I am on pins and needles until my husband gets home! My brother took matters into his own hands and phoned my doctor this morning and told her I was not doing well and asked why was I not on dialysis yet. She said since I always come to the doctor alone they thought I did not have a good support system at home and were concerned I would not be able to handle dialysis! This is just not the case! I am going into see my doctor tomorrow with my husband by my side. Thank you for praying for ne!

[Southpaw]

The same thing happened to me about 10 months ago. i got some kink of a virus and GFR went from 16 to 11. My neph said "lets start dialysis" i said give me a couple weeks. He gave me a couple weeks and I got better and my gfr went from 11 to 14 and now its back to 16.  Stay hydrated and eat well.

[Rerun]

To not start dialysis because they think you don't have any help?  That is dumb!  So, just let her die?  What kind of advice is that?

Keep on them!  I hope your GFR goes back up.