Hello,
My father is in his late seventies and he recently had a complete medical check up. He's had hypertension since his 50's but other than that, he thought he was extremely healthy. He's very active and exercises, very fit and still works. At the medical appointment to discuss his results, the doctor raised a big red flag about my father's kidney function. It was a routine blood analysis and his eGFR was 38 %. Personally, I don't know my parents medical records so I don't know if he had any signs of falling kidney function before. I know that he's never seen a nephrologist or 'pays attention' to his kidneys. (You guys know what I mean.) It's obviously bothering him because he'd never mention it if it wasn't.
I understand that in his late seventies that there will be reduced kidney function and I guess for his age he is doing well. However, when I heard 38 %, all I heard was "Stage 3! Stage 3! Stage 3!" in bright flashing lights. I don't know if this was a rapid loss or if it has been hovering in slow decline. The doctor hasn't sent him to see a nephrologist; is that because of age or should my father push to see one? The only advice given was to reduce salt, find sources of hidden salt in food (honestly, he makes his own pickles and pickled cabbage loaded with salt: don't think that will change
Besides, my mother does the food shopping for my grandfather so she is hardcore with food labels) and monitor blood pressure at home. A change in blood pressure meds was mentioned but hasn't happened yet. My grandfather on my mom's side began HD in his late seventies also due to age and hypertension of 40 + years.
As the first question stated, should he ask to see a nephrologist? Should he push to have more routine testing done to keep track of his function? Or, since it is his age, accept that it isn't a big deal and be happy he's not in deeper decline? I know that each patient is a case by case basis but when I hit Stage 3, I started experiencing potassium problems, severe anemia and was put on EPO. I'm still wondering if with such function, would kidney-friendly diet issues come into the conversation? For example, would it be a good idea to lay off the drinking? (Whiskey and vodka are his two preferred choices; some studies say moderation helps the kidneys, other say lay off.) I know that all of these questions would be addressed by a renal team. I'm simply looking for opinions on what should be done next.
Truly, at his age with his function, I feel he will not end up on dialysis. This isn't a "is dialysis in the future" question but there is obvious kidney disease going on. Should we be happy with 38 % at this age? And then again, I don't know the future and why things happen; is dialysis coming? Who knows...
Thanks for any input. (By the way, I would have attempted to 'Search' but I'm kind of flustered which terms I should have used!
)
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
