Lost faith completely now .....

My Mum has had this for years. It goes up when they change her meds, it goes down when she doesn't look after her diabetes.

Don't worry about the way the NHS is doing things. Keir Starmer is going to fix it all! He's been on tv this morning telling us.

Disgraceful way to impart such information, something is drastically wrong when serious health news is forwarded via email/text. I do hope you're able to get some sort of resolution. My late DH and I always grumbled about different consultants for different problems never getting together to discuss a patient and their meds. as a whole.
In a similar vein I found out recently when looking at 'results' on my surgery's website that I have an almost 20pc chance of a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 yrs - nobody thought to mention this to me!

Kidney function does decline with age, but one of the risk factors is high blood pressure, which is presumably why Ramipril has been prescribed. However, there are a number of alternative drugs available for high blood pressure and it's quite simple to switch. Incidentally, Ramipril can protect kidneys.

The ramipril was prescribed for me routinely following a cardiac artery stent in spite of the fact that I was known to have a problem with LOW blood pressure, which I had been asked to monitor as it was causing so many problems.

I queried the use of Ramipril and was told it was to relax the arteries and help the stent. Fine - I obeyed and took it. Then discovered that my kidney test result meant that it was contraindicated and something else should have been used.

I do not think they are numpties - but I do think that something very fundamental in medicine has been lost and that is joined up thinking and communication. Oh - and caring about the patient. This is why GPs in particular are burnt out - they are not able to do a proper job, there is no room to care for the patient as they might wish. I have never seen the same GP twice in 4 years with my practice and a succession of medical problems. No-one there is taking an overview - they can't because they are unable to get to know any patients and to be aware of their history and social circumstances - these are the things that my GP OH knew and that informed his practise. It is a sad state of affairs.

Over the last year, my surgery has had 4 successive young Nigerian doctors who have left after a few months - this is not a racist comment, but an observation. Each struggled dreadfully in this rural setting where they were not able to make themselves understood and they in turn could not understand the social context of isolated farming communities. They had a rough time, as did the patients. I felt very sorry for them. In addition over the last 2 years there have been 4 more GPs who have come and gone. Patients do not get to trust a particular doctor, and doctors cannot get to know their patients. Under these circumstances poor communication thrives and important information slips through the net.

I am not particularly worried about the kidney test result. Hopefully I will be taken off the Ramipril and something more suitable will be sorted - and I am not in the first flush of youth so do not expect my kidneys, along with the rest of my body, to be functioning as it once was - and I have no other symptoms of kidney failure. But I do not want to nudge it into further deterioration with the wrong medication.

My biggest concerns about the text message were that important information was conveyed in such an inappropriate manner and that the message indicated that my kidneys could fail - not a great piece of sensitive communication I feel.

I worked in the health service for decades and watch my OH dedicating himself to his surgery - I feel sad about the important things that have been lost.

About 10 years ago, I was told I had kidney disease at a low level and was told I would be called in for tests every year. Come about year 4, I wasn't called in and in Year 5 I queried the check. Whoever was on the phone, presumably looked at my notes, and just said, your test results are OK so the monitoring has stopped. They clearly saw no reason to inform me of this.

Still, on a cheerful note, I had a carpal tunnel surgery today, privately, and the nurse looked at my notes and said, 'Ah, yes, it was misdiagnosed as a stroke. One tiny step to getting the local NHS hospital to record this on their system so that the cost of my travel and car insurance are reduced. I now need to talk to my GP about coming off the plethora of drugs I was put on when the (mis) diagnosis was made.

Please make sure that every test is completed for your kidneys including one that tests whether there is protein in your urine. They said I had CKD at Stage 1 and it turned out that my normal kidney function was lower than the norm but that they were working perfectly well. If you can get them tested privately or from a kidney specialist hospital, please do. Our kidney function can vary after different events and illnesses.

Lucky. I’ve been stage 3 chronic kidney disease since my early 40’s, 35 years ago. I’m fine. Don’t worry

luckygirl please do not panic it sounds worse than it may be. My DH could slip in and out of this stage simply by the amount of water he drunk prior to the test. If her drank enough it was ok if not then this recording of CKD was given. I know a few doctors who think the naming of results as chronic kidney disease is all wrong. It frightens people unnecessarily.
Please try and get to talk to a GP about what it actually means because the wording is totally misleading making you think you’re in a worse state than you are.

Luckygirl I'm more concerned that you seem to be blaming your meds for all sorts of side effects, which could be caused by your general condition. Medics aren't all numpties and will have prescribed various drugs, knowing that on balance the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Your GP probably has an attached clinical pharmacist. You could ask for an appointment and go through all your meds.

Kidney function does decline with age, but one of the risk factors is high blood pressure, which is presumably why Ramipril has been prescribed. However, there are a number of alternative drugs available for high blood pressure and it's quite simple to switch. Incidentally, Ramipril can protect kidneys.

I have no words other than those that aren’t printable but just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you.
This is for the whole F#@£&*g system 🥊

Thanks buffyfly9 ... I am glad to hear things have improved for your OH. I am fed up with having to be assertive and pushing for proper treatment. It is beginning to get me down now. I need a medic who will take a proper overview of all of it and think about interactions et. I wish ....

I had tests many years ago following a medical which raised concerns about my kidneys but was told there was nothing to worry about. About 15 years ago I changed medical practices and was told I was to have 6 monthly blood tests. I just assumed it was part of their usual regime. When I mentioned it casually to thr practice nurse she said "oh no, you have chronic kidney disease and we have to monitor it as you are on medication for osteoarthritis". You could have knocked me over with a feather! I was concerned as my lovely Mum died of kidney failure and was on medication for osteoarthritis ( amongst other conditions) for many years. I have been assured that as I am monitored regularly (my Mum wasn't) I shouldn't worry so I don't.

usa can not put medical issues in emails
no records of any kind

Sorry, I meant issued.

Luckygirl3, I'm sorry to hear that but please don't despair. My husband is a Type2 diabetic and had been on Metformin for years with regular blood tests etc. Then one day he came home following a routine diabetic appt and said he had CKD, the nurse had told him! He was beside himself and didn't understand what was going on. We made another appt and saw a Nurse Practitioner who was frankly horrible. She called up her computer screen and waved her hand at a graph that was decreasing rapidly and said it had been declining for years! I said I think the drug my husband is on is not helping and can cause a decline in kidney function. She said no, it doesn't. I said it does, read the patient information leaflet! We left, sought a second opinion and were told that as we age, everyone's kidney function declines and you usually end up dying of something else. Two days later the GP rang and told my husband to stop the Metformin immediately. (I had complained to the Practice Manager about the attitude of the nurse). The next blood and urine tests showed a marked improvement in kidney function and lo and behold his blood sugars were normal without the Metformin. This long saga is to illustrate that we take the drugs issues to us but sometimes they cause damage. Please check all your prescriptions and perhaps ask to be referred to a renal specialist.

Sparklefizz I am so sorry to hear about your problems and hope things are moving in the right direction now.

I am happy to use my savings to pay to see someone who can take a proper overview of the whole situation .... but who and where to find them?!

Oh Lucky I am so sorry. That text really is outrageous. I've been following your story.

You need a complete and thorough review of all your conditions and drugs and the links between them. Obviously you already know this, and I do hope you can get it. I've discovered with my own recent new health problems that you have to be extremely assertive even when it doesn't come naturally, and if you get nowhere, then to look at paying for a private overhaul. I have borrowed money and also sold some jewellery to pay for an echocardiogram which my GP denied me "because the NHS service is overwhelmed" , plus a follow-up consultation with a private cardiologist who told me I could have had a stroke before Xmas. Now I am back in the NHS system for the necessary drugs.

Without our health, we have nothing. My adult children are both going through challenging times and need me around for a few more years.

Wishing you all the very best