My Blood work

[Southpaw]

Just got my labs done. GFR is down to 14. Creatinine is up to 4.5. I'm getting worried Dialysis is just around the corner. I still feel well but who knows how long that will last.

[justme15]

You and I are in the same boat.  At last check my GFR was 13 and creatinine was 4.9.  I feel fine too, except my blood pressure is starting to get high again. 
So, all I can say is continue to hang in there.  Hopefully you won't need to start just yet, but if you do, with the help of this site, you will be informed and ready!

[chook]

I've posted this before and don't know if it helps but my experience, on the slide down towards dialysis, was that the dread prior to the event was so much worse than the actual moment of being told it was time and then the big D treatment. I didn't feel sick enough for D but certainly felt the benefits once I settled into PD.
Calmly, calmly. Keep informed. And try to enjoy your remaining pre-D days. It does change your life but it's amazing how your brain, and body, just copes and accepts.
And hugs, for you both.

[Riverwhispering]

Move over and make room for me on that boat.....  My last labs were GFR 12.6 and Creatinine 3.64

[Southpaw]

Im doing my best to hang in there. You are right about the feelings leading up to dialysis. I feel nervous and I dread every time I get blood work; hoping that my numbers will be better. Its good to know that I have the support of brave people like you guys.   

[mamagemini]

I get mine tomorrow....not looking forward to them but will take it as it comes.

[Sue]

Move over and make room for me on that boat.....  My last labs were GFR 12.6 and Creatinine 3.64

Mine are almost exactly the same as yours  Gfr 12 - creatine 3.68 - Hanging in there lol

[Deanne]

Is there room for one more in this room? My labs last month showed a creatinine of 3.89, eGFR 13. I think my appetite is getting a bit flakey, but otherwise, I still feel ok.

[justme15]

Is there room for one more in this room? My labs last month showed a creatinine of 3.89, eGFR 13. I think my appetite is getting a bit flakey, but otherwise, I still feel ok.

my appetite is changing/decreasing as well.  I actually don't mind though, I could stand to lose some weight!

[Southpaw]

I think my appetite is getting worse too. I'm waiting for my feet to start to swell. I think that is next. My fistula gets installed on March 30. I'm so excited. NOT LOL.

[Sue]

I'll be looking out for an update about your fistula, I get mine done on 10th April...........Oh Joy !!

[dparham75]

Hello, can I join?
I go to have my blood work done on April 4 but my last blood work in January my creatinine was slightly up to 3.9 but I don't remember my gfr. My feet swell from time to time and I have no appetite at all. I have been sick in my stomach  everyday since super bowl Sunday and nothing helps me. My skin is dry all the time, I'm dizzy a lot. On a lot of bp meds but my bp is always high 150/98 is an average for me. I'm also a diabetic and have developed anemia so I think its really close to leave pre-D and join the D land. I've been reading as much as I can on D on here and I have learned a lot.

I want to thank everyone on this site for all of the info that's posted it has put my mind at ease. So I'm ready I have gotten my house prepared for my change and my yard has been decreased from 14 acres to just 5 acres something I can manage so just bring it.

[Deanne]

Welcome to the party no one wants to attend.

(moving over to make room, passing the bowl of unsalted, unbuttered popcorn)

[Riverwhispering]

March 30th is my big day!!!!   I have to go to court to get my marriage undone and get his name off of my properties i bought with my inheritance and like an idiot put his name on.    We've been married over 6 years and I found out last Sept on his birthday that he is married to someone else since 1981..... surprise!!!!   He's a bigamist and our marriage isn't legal and never was. 

After that date hopefully I will have a new name and a new life.  I don't need the extra stress at this point of just before starting dialysis.   I'm a mix of being very excited about being free from him and all the lies and kinda scared about starting dialysis.

I love my IHD family so much.  You guys are my rock

[justme15]

Hello, can I join?
I go to have my blood work done on April 4 but my last blood work in January my creatinine was slightly up to 3.9 but I don't remember my gfr. My feet swell from time to time and I have no appetite at all. I have been sick in my stomach  everyday since super bowl Sunday and nothing helps me. My skin is dry all the time, I'm dizzy a lot. On a lot of bp meds but my bp is always high 150/98 is an average for me. I'm also a diabetic and have developed anemia so I think its really close to leave pre-D and join the D land. I've been reading as much as I can on D on here and I have learned a lot.

I want to thank everyone on this site for all of the info that's posted it has put my mind at ease. So I'm ready I have gotten my house prepared for my change and my yard has been decreased from 14 acres to just 5 acres something I can manage so just bring it.

Me toooo. lol.. my blood pressure will not get under control. it also averages about 130-140/90-101...so frustrating. I take 4 different pills for my blood pressure and it still is high.  Right now my doc wants me to keep a log of my pressures three times a day for a week and get back with him. 

[mamagemini]

Well Creat is 3.8, GFR 16, Albumin 2.8 and hallafrickinglula my cholesterol went down from 500 something to 322!!! I hate Lipitor but it did bring it down! 

[MooseMom]

This boat is getting sorta crowded, but I know there's enough room for my skinny, practically non-existent butt...

GFR 14, which makes it official...CKD5.  And, for the first time, my hemoglobin has slipped below 11 (10.7).  Good news is that my K was actually normal which it hasn't been in a very long time, and just as importantly, my bp is "perfect".

Funnily, though, I feel physically better than I have is a very long time, and I think that is because it is springtime in Chicago and I have been extraordinarily busy doing fun things outdoors, so my mood is very much improved.  My neph's nurse told me that I've been doing a very good job in looking after myself, and those few words of encouragement made me feel good.  She also told me that I don't look like a kidney patient, and that made me generally more optimistic, too.  She said that they have some patients at 7 or 8 who are feeling generally well, so I am hoping I may have another year or so before I need to start.  And there is the possibility that by that time, I may be much closer to getting a tx.  I may be lucky and get a pre-emptive cadaveric kidney...you never know. 

Since I have my fistula and am ready to start D at a moment's notice if necessary, and since I am asymptomatic, I have made the conscious decision not to dwell upon all of this stuff.  Now, coming from me, that's enough to make the evening news!  I'm going to enjoy the spring and summer and have some mercy upon myself for once.  I just cannot live with this terror anymore; I've been doing this for 7 years, and I'm not going to do it anymore.  I can be my own worst enemy, and I need to make that stop.  I need to be kinder to myself, and I hope you all will do the same.   

[Southpaw]

Good advice MooseMom, You can't let these issues hold you back. You need to keep living. Getting my fistula installed Friday. Getting nervous. Hope I don't have to use it for a year or two.

[MooseMom]

Good advice MooseMom, You can't let these issues hold you back. You need to keep living. Getting my fistula installed Friday. Getting nervous. Hope I don't have to use it for a year or two.

I let these issues hold me back for literally years.  I have spent more nights sobbing with fear than I care to relate.  This advice is hard come by and is not easy for me to follow, let alone share.  I kept on living, but my emotional quality of life has been appalling.  Many people told me to enjoy my pre-D days, but despite knowing it was good advice, being able to follow it proved to be nearly impossible for me.  I can't just turn off my feelings.  But I've worked through them and have found a modicum of peace.

To be honest, once I had my fistula created, I felt a lot better.  I don't really know why.  I had feared that day for so many years, and it was finally behind me.  And I had survived it.  And you will, too.

[Riverwhispering]

check this out.... stress factor is raising by the minute.  The court date has been postponed because of a murder trial.  I'm hoping I don't have to wait another 6 or more months to get this over with.
dang 

[MooseMom]

Oh, you're joking!!!   Do you have any idea for how long it will be postponed?

[wvgirl]

I am the uninvited guest at the party who ate all of the unsalted pretzels and popcorn!
My last labs show gfr is now 7, creatinine is 6.3, bun 41, potassium 5.9, and albumin 3.6     
After a wonderful evening of potassium binder  I am hoping todays bloodwork was better. So far no dialysis. I still feel OK except some diarrhea, nausea, swelling, I eat maybe one meal a day, and a bit weak. I did managed to get some much needed mopping done today though!
It's funny, I said I feel OK then listed more problems than I realized. I am sure my time is very near.

[lainiepop]

Hi Im new here just joined. My gfr is now 8.8 after being 10 for the past 7 mths. I don't have a fistula as my dad is donating in 8 weeks but i may have to have temporary dialysis through a neckline. Obviously want to avoid this if i can, especially as i have a 4 yr old little boy and 8mth old baby girl, but needs must, just hoping i can stay ok! I don't feel that bad and am still eating well altho do feel tired, not helped by a son who got up 5x last night!!

[justme15]

hey laniepop!
if you don't mind, can you tell me more about your pregnancy while having kidney problems?  I also noticed that your GFR seemed to have worsened after having the baby. did you expect this?

[lainiepop]

Hi Justme are thing thinking of having a baby? What's your function at the moment? I had my son (now 4) when function was around 32% and went full term with him, without much damage to the kidney, went down to about 28%. I had him at full term, he was only 5lbs12 cos had stopped growing in the last month (common in kidney oatients due to risk of pre-sclampsia.) I got pre-eclampsia after delivery, bp went up to 200/150 was a bit scary but i only had it mildly. He's now a healthy boy average sweight and quite tall. However when i conceived my daughter i got the flu and that knocked me down to 23%, it was 17% when i had her in july and then dropped to 10% a mth after her delivery (she was 5wks early). Its now at 8.8% but am not on dialysis at mo im due to have a transplant from my dad in 8 wks so hoping i can last that long. Had i not had elena im pretty sure my kidney wouldve lasted at least 5 more yrs. Ive never had more than about 40% function and have had 2 kids and 30 yrs on when docs said i would die. You must talk to docs b4 getting preg as they'll alter some meds and talk about the risks, everyone is different no one knows how well the kidney will cope till u do it! Can take longer to get pregnant with kidney issues too, even if u have regular periods (as i did!) Took 6mths with Drew, 16mths with Lainie! You'll be referred to an obstetrician who will do growth scans  and you'll have more ante natal checks and blood test to check function. I was 25 when i had Drew and 29 when I had Lainie. Am glad i had them b4 transplant really as i dont wanna put pressure on new kidney. Anything u wanna ask that i left out feel free to ask! But i think if u have some kidney disease u should expect gfr to drop with pregnancy even if only a bit like my 1st pregnancy. Hth x