Still confused about Creatinine and GFR

foxhd said:

not kind to your last kidney?

I agree with you digger. My numbers are awesome. So..just maybe....beer is the answer?...hum...I think I'll pop a beverage and think more about this.......

Honestly, I don't think I'll change much of what I do because I still don't know my longevity. So what am I saving anything for? I asked my wife 2 days ago, "Do you think I will ever have to buy a new shirt?" LOL.  As I have said before, "If I had a 3 piece suit, I would wear it to mow the lawn or work in the garden." Save it for what?

Maybe 'excersising' our kidneys results in better kidney function...  though I don't drink beer here... it's all about the Jack Daniels.  

MikeK703 said:

Half full-Half empty glass
Hi Donna,
I don't think I am getting hung up over this issue. I simply want a straightforward answer from my doctors about my condition. Either my creatinine levels are higher because I now only have one kidney (in other words, a normal consequence of the surgery) or it's diseased because of damage done over the years by high blood pressure. The first would indicate a less worrisome condition to me. The second would indicate a disease whose progression needs to be slowed down (which is exactly the term the nephrologist used).
Mike

i tried to send a comment before and it just got wiped away somehow. I would like to talk to you about my dad's cancer, if you have time.

No one told me my GFR and creatinine levels would no longer be normal after my surgery.

my regular Dr is now keeping an eye on it. GFR is 40 and creatinine is 1.38, but my platelets are 465 and my potassium is 5.8 and calcium is 10.4. At this point my Dr is just saying to drink more water. I would like to keep my remaining kidney as healthy as possible. At this point, I no longer know what to eat and am very frustrated that I wasn’t informed about these changes before my surgery. Should I be following up with a Urologist or a Nephrologist? Thanks for any advice. I am just 4 weeks post surgery.

I see my surgeon and nephrologist once a year. My left kidney was removed in 2013 and this is now my follow up schedule.  There is no real answer to why some people's test values are as they are. I am very fortunate that with one kidney my creatnine was 0.82 and my egfr was 71 on my latest results at the end of last month. At the outset my doc said no special diet, everything in moderation. I enjoy a glass or two of white wine but topped with Perrier water. I also drink plenty of water on a daily basis. It just feels like my remaining kidney has stepped up to the plate and compensates for the loss.

In 1995 I had a radical nephrectomy due to renal cell cancer...It is now 28 years and I feel very fortunate that I've been able to live a healthy life with the one remaining kidney. My creatinine is 1.2 and my GFR is 61...I am active and energetic for the the most part. This does not come without work however....I am 71 years old now , and for the past 28 years I revamped my lifestyle, I rarely drink, eat relatively healthy , take supplements and remain well hydrated and walk walk walk!!!....I push a non self propelled lawnmower around an acre of grass and move move move...The supplements I take are a quality multi, D3, COQ10, Magnesium, K2, Circumin, Berberine, saw palmetto, Lycopene, and zinc. I indulge in quality meat proteins such as beef, chicken and turkey. Fish and some beans too... I eat salads galore and try to eat organically. I love nuts and berries. I do not eat spinach, almonds and raspberries due to high oxylates which may result in stones. Again, it's all about lifestyle and consistency...Of course, it didn't hurt that my father, who also had one kidney, lived to 102 and mother to 97.....AND...get a hobby that's a passion, stay socially active , love your family!!

Andy…the post above yours was written in June 2023. I am still doing well in November of 2024. Numbers are pretty much the same. Now, at 72, have resigned ( for many years now) to the fact that having the nephrectomy actually save my life. It gave me a chance to focus better on my health. In my case, my numbers were higher in the beginning. Over the years my creatinine and GFR have improved. My urologist stated that this is a common occurrence since the remaining kidney increases in size to make up for the loss of the diseased kidney. In the beginning my creatinine was in the 1.4 to 1.6 range and the GFR was mid 40's to 50. But, as time went on and I fell into a healthier lifestyle, it has consistenly remained around 60. When I first had the kidney removed in 1995, I was so grateful to many survivors who reached out to me. The internet was new then so there are so many more resources and survivors to help you through this. I know many single kidney survivors who are still flourishing and in some cases remarkable. Also, GFR is actually an estimate. As you get older that number may change, but it's the creatinine I feel that really tells a better story. Love life and prepare yourself for a normal lifespan. It's yours for the taking.