My Dad and GFR readings

Dorothy12

Hi there - I was looking for some advice about my Dad. Just over two years ago Dad had major surgery for cancer of the kidney which had spread to his ureter and bladder. He had his bladder completley removed and now wears a stoma bag; he also had his left kidney, ureter, and prostrate removed. He went into the hospital on the 11th April and came out middle of May. He was extremely ill and we thought we might lose him. He turned 80 just recently. Yesterday he told me that his GFR rating is 32 and he has climbing levels of protein in his urine. 32 places him at the top end of stage 3B CKD doesn't it? If he slips three more points he will go into stage 4 CKD. I would like to know what this means for Dad? Should we be worried that he is going to become very ill again or is it possible that the consultants can keep his GFR ratings steady and thus keep his health maintained at its current level? He has been through so much (including losing our Mum at the end of 2012) and I know he wont be able to face dialysis. I just wondered if anyone understood the likely progression in cases like this?

Thanks

MDCinSC

I'm Sorry

I can offer only my sympathy and my support. 

I think there are folks here who can speak to this intelligently.  It is out of my league.  Blessing on your head.

Bon Chance!

Michael

todd121

Nephrologist Consult?

I'm sorry to to hear this.

This sounds like questions for a urologist-oncologist and/or a nephrologist. Kidney function naturally falls with age. I'm assuming he's being followed closely by specialists? It seems to me his other kidney needs to be looked at.

Afraid that's not much help.

Best wishes,

Todd

icemantoo

GFR

Dorothy,

Like you Dad I have stage 3 CKD. My GFR last year at age 69 was down to 41. It is back uo to 45. One 1/2 the population over age 70 has Stage 3 CKD according to my Nephrologist. The number got better as my BP was able to be lowered. He definately needs to consult with a Nephrologist. The concern with a low GFR is not only your Kidney, but your heart as well.

 

Translation: Low GFR's are normal for an 80 year old with 1 kidney. Hopefully with a Nephrologist something can be done to improve the numbers.

 

Icemantoo

Texas_wedge

icemantoo said:

GFR

Dorothy,

Like you Dad I have stage 3 CKD. My GFR last year at age 69 was down to 41. It is back uo to 45. One 1/2 the population over age 70 has Stage 3 CKD according to my Nephrologist. The number got better as my BP was able to be lowered. He definately needs to consult with a Nephrologist. The concern with a low GFR is not only your Kidney, but your heart as well.

 

Translation: Low GFR's are normal for an 80 year old with 1 kidney. Hopefully with a Nephrologist something can be done to improve the numbers.

 

Icemantoo

eGFR

One more close comparison.  I was chatting to my golf partner after a round yesterday.  I'm 70 with one kidney and eGFR that moves about between low fiftites and over 60.  My pal (who used to be an elite athlete, many years ago) is in his mid 70s and mentioned that he couldn't play a particular competition next week because he's going to his renal clinic.  He has two kidneys and eGFR of 32, like your Dad.   He had a stroke five or six years ago and he mentioned that they have been managing to avoid dialysis for some years now and keep their fingers crossed that he can stay that way.  

Incidentally, I 'phoned another golfing pal of the same age, last evening.  He's just out of the respiratory ward.  He has pulmonary fibrosis and lately has acquired blood clots on both lungs, after being on warfarin for quite a while.  In the course of conversation, he mentioned another of our golfing friends who is on dialysis but who has a dialysis machine at home - something I didn't know about - does anyone here know about such machines?

If your Dad consults, e.g. a nephrologist, it's worth discussing whether Dad has enough fluid intake because this affects the eGFR number.  As icemantoo has noted, eGFR can recover a bit and having enough water intake (but not a crazy amount) will help to keep the number up.

todd121

Texas_wedge said:

eGFR

One more close comparison.  I was chatting to my golf partner after a round yesterday.  I'm 70 with one kidney and eGFR that moves about between low fiftites and over 60.  My pal (who used to be an elite athlete, many years ago) is in his mid 70s and mentioned that he couldn't play a particular competition next week because he's going to his renal clinic.  He has two kidneys and eGFR of 32, like your Dad.   He had a stroke five or six years ago and he mentioned that they have been managing to avoid dialysis for some years now and keep their fingers crossed that he can stay that way.  

Incidentally, I 'phoned another golfing pal of the same age, last evening.  He's just out of the respiratory ward.  He has pulmonary fibrosis and lately has acquired blood clots on both lungs, after being on warfarin for quite a while.  In the course of conversation, he mentioned another of our golfing friends who is on dialysis but who has a dialysis machine at home - something I didn't know about - does anyone here know about such machines?

If your Dad consults, e.g. a nephrologist, it's worth discussing whether Dad has enough fluid intake because this affects the eGFR number.  As icemantoo has noted, eGFR can recover a bit and having enough water intake (but not a crazy amount) will help to keep the number up.

Portable Dialysis

TW,

I saw a news program a few months ago about a local radio celebrity who donated a kidney to his sound man. The man had been working there for something like 20 years and nobody in the office knew he was on dialysis. The news program said he had a portable dialysis machine. I didn't know they made them. I thought you always had to go to a dialysis center.

Todd

Texas_wedge

todd121 said:

Portable Dialysis

TW,

I saw a news program a few months ago about a local radio celebrity who donated a kidney to his sound man. The man had been working there for something like 20 years and nobody in the office knew he was on dialysis. The news program said he had a portable dialysis machine. I didn't know they made them. I thought you always had to go to a dialysis center.

Todd

Portable Dialysis

Me too, Todd - thanks for that confirmation.

Dorothy12

Dad -thanks

thanks for your comments - they were useful.

I spoke to my Dad last night and he says he feels well in himself - no swelling or itching - and is getting around and doing things, so that is a good sign.

He is seeing his GP soon and is due for a 20 minute consultation and so I have advised him to ask what can be done to monitor and keep stable his readings. They are watching him very closley.

Thanks again