Fistula scheduled, eGFR sinking

[monrein]

An ophthalmologist is also on my roster of specialists and I go to him when sent by my optometrist who sees me every two years or so.  My doctors feel that because of immunosuppression almost everything can be at risk for problems so I maintain these appointments.  Recently I was sent back to the ophthal because the optom was concerned about small flecks within the eye...I couldn't see them but she could.  They are apparently very common in the normal aging of blue eyed people and so nothing to worry about.  At the same appointment it was also discovered that I have very narrow openings where the optic nerve enters the eyes and so they're all bunched up tight which can appear abnormal but in my case is only "normally abnormal" and congenital so no worries.   Another little thing that makes me a lemon.

[malaka]

Moosemom -- according to a bunch of articles I barely understand, and according to my opthalmologist, there is an increased risk for the inflammation ("itis") of the lining of the eyeball (uvela, check spelling)) in CKD patients.  So, while I hate to have to give you something else to think about, it is a good idea to see an opthalmologist periodically and let that doc know you are a CKD patient.  I was surprised that mine asked what my recent creatinine readings were before he started asking whether I had a variety of symptoms. Fortunately, I didn't have these symptoms, but since my vision is getting worse (thank you, corticosteroids for the cataracts) I was happy to learn that for once, I was relatively o.k. 

[MooseMom]

Malaka, that's all really interesting!  I assume that anything and everything in the body is affected by CKD, so when I last saw my opthamologist, I did tell him about my CKD, but I thought the risk might come from hypertension (affecting the blood vessels in the eye) and/or high blood lipids (cholesterol deposits in the eye, perhaps).  But now that you mention it, CKD patients are chronically inflammed, so I can certainly see that any "itis" could be more prevalent.

I saw my optho last year and do see him on a fairly regular basis, but probably not often enough.  Thanks for the very good reminder.

[malaka]

Saw nephro consultant at university medical center today.  The good news is that the fistula surgery wasn't a waste of time after all.  Stage V CKD, prop for dialysis, evaluate for transplant. The remaining issue is, of course, when.  Given my condition at diagnosis with sky high protein in urine, nephrotic syndrome, gender and age, I never thought I'd be one of the lucky ones.  At now, there is reasonable certainty of dialysis.  Unfortunately, she's not sure my fistula will mature in time to use right away, so I might have to have the one in the collarbone area at least temporarily.  Not looking forward to that, but it is possible.   Her guess, and its a guess, is maybe four months.  My endocronologist,  following for diabetes, thinks shorter. Do docs set up betting pools?  They should.

[macgoose]

i'M FAIRLY NEW TO ALL THE RENAL FAILURE TERMS.  i HAVE AN AVF AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT "NEEDLING TO TOUGHEN-UP THE VEIN" MEANS-THANKS

[MooseMom]

i'M FAIRLY NEW TO ALL THE RENAL FAILURE TERMS.  i HAVE AN AVF AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT "NEEDLING TO TOUGHEN-UP THE VEIN" MEANS-THANKS

It just means that repeated cannulation (putting in the dialysis needles) of a fistula and actually using it for dialysis in and of itself toughens up the vein and makes it less fragile.

[macgoose]

Thanks for the information ----very helpful