Lost faith completely now .....

I think after 75 it is more usual to have stage 3 kidney disease than not to have it. All my elderly relatives did and in none did it require treatment or impinge on their other co-morbidities. Its important to distinguish between kidney disease & kidney failure. Disease means that there are signs on your blood tests or biopsy that your kidneys are not functioning perfectly. Failure means that your kidneys cannot quite cope with their job & are not removing waste as they should. Failure is more worrying. Drink plenty even when you feel unwell or you're temporarily immobile, & be very alert to any signs that a cold or virus going round is making you feel rotten (temperature, lightheaded, breathing more laboured) and also remind the GP if you're prescribed new medicines, that you have stage 3 kidney disease. These are things (dehydration, sepsis, nephrotoxic drugs) that could send you into kidney failure,which does need prompt treatment.(rehydration usually, not dialysis) & is usually reversable back to your current stage 3.

That's just not acceptable, I know cardiac consultants are in short supply but that's disgraceful. Could you go to another hospital with a shorter wait? It's about 26/32 weeks where I am and that's far too long.

I am not worried about the conditions I have ... just have to live with them.
My concern is about the collapsing health service and this text message is just a part of what is wrong. My surgery is falling apart with a constant flow of new doctors who stay for a few months and then vanish. Communication falling apart, no continuity, no follow up ...... it really did used to be different.
There are some things the NHS does well ... stenting my blocked coronary main artery for instance ... but since then I have had endless conflicting information, poor communication and failed follow up .... the wait for follow up after a stent is now 65 weeks!!!

Unfortunately these days information like this comes at us via electronic messaging. When you need a human to talk about these things or answer questions, you’re talking to a robot.

I would book a consultation with your Doctor to have a one-on-one conversation so you can ask questions in person. They really are there to help you. Or, if your hospital system has a messaging portal that you can text your concerns (here in the U.S. we have something called MY CHART), that is very helpful to have - as long as you’re not having an emergency.

There are many health issues we live with that are not so critical and not deemed terminal. But with meds, diet, hydration, exercise you can control your symptoms.
I hope you can communicate soon so you can alleviate your anxiety.

My mother lived to 104 with chronic kidney disease.

I am sure this is a worry for you . On a lighthearted note we had a GP who was always cheery and nice to consult. One day he remarked on the raft of pills I was prescribed and wondered what would happen if he stopped them all .... After thinking about this he remarked " of course you might die " .
I came away with a smile on my face that day . Sadly this GP has not retired .

I was suffering with a terrible bad back and couldn’t get out of bed. Rang the surgery for advice and a GP’s ring back was arranged. She spoke about my back then just casually dropped into the conversation “ you know you’ve got stage three kidney failure”. My husband and daughter were in the room and they were as shocked as I was. Her advice was drink plenty of water.

biglouis

I wasnt given a prognosis by the medical people. I looked up the prognosis for fibrosis stage 4 - and took an average from several websites. They bury these things deep in your medical notes and imagine that the "average" patient will not bother to plough through all the test results. But being a retired academic I am used to reading dense prose and research notes.

So Im going to run my heating and be comfortable this winter regardless of what Mein Furher Starmer and his jack booted minions decide to announce. That my bills will die with me is a source of pleasure.

I don’t subscribe to this sort of “conspiracy theory”
As a retired academic you should perhaps have more respect for the medical profession and have a conversation about your medical condition with a consultant who is a specialist in this area.
Averaging stats from assorted we sites is about the least scientific approach I can think of.

You should be having regular blood tests anyway.

The text you received invited you to make an appointment to discuss it. Why don't you do that and ask for an explanation? You might get more sense than you will on a social media site. Ramipril improves the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. It's prescribed as standard after a heart attack.

Have ..... occasional blood rests for kidney function when on it.

Well I am certainly confused!!! Goodness knows what the GP message was about. I have emailed to ask about this.

The ramipril for me is to protect my stent apparently. Not sure how that works, but down the neck it goes!

I think you are supposed to have

Why are you worried Caleo? ACE inhibitors, of which Ramipril is one, have been proven to protect the heart and kidneys, unless the patient already has chronic kidney disease, in which case they should be monitored.

There are some recognised side effects of ACE inhibitors, such as persistent cough. I had this and it was a simple matter to change me to an ARB.

Luckygirl has now said that she doesn't have CKD Stage 3, so the initial prescription of Ramipril was correct. Confusing, eh?

I am a little worried as I am on Ramipril, low dosage, and have heart failure . I must asap consult Dr Google.

So far in life I have found medical care to be balancing the evils. Seldom is there a straightforward CURE with drug therapy.

Vaccinations are reliably safe , whereas humble aspirin has its bad side effects, also wondrous morphine has bad side effects.

Big Louis,
I am entirely sympathetic re your prognosis and like others believe your feisty attitude will keep you alive for far longer than you expect. But your extreme and nasty categorisation of Keir Starmer and his MPs took my breath away. I believe inflammatory language has caused havoc round the world and cannot understand why an educated and well-informed person such as yourself would choose to deploy it, even in this forum.

Recently scanned for kS, I was told I had fatty liver. I asked receptionist at gps to print of my meds to take on holiday- gave me all my history back to my 20s, reading through it, it said I had fatty liver in 2011, yet no gp bothered to tell me- so I have probably been walking round for years with the condition causing god knows what damage. I think they should have brought me in for a pep talk.
Hopefully your husband will be ok 🙂

Just a thought Luckygirl. Do you have access to your patient records. If no, you should request them. You will be able to access all test results and can double check for yourself. If something isn't accurate, let the practice know.

Have you had a recent blood or urine test? The relevant result will be under Creatinine/Electrolytes + Urea. Look for your estimated GFR. If you've had a urine test, look for the albumin result. You can Google for yourself what they mean.

grannybuy

Yes, this may well be the way things are going. I sent an econsult to my surgery, with pictures of a blistery patch on my nose, and of the burst blister with a scab. It was the third, and worst, incident of this. An email from a foreign physician associate arrived saying, “ Yes this is suspicious. A referral to dermatology is made”. I called dermatology and was told that I was on the urgent list - waiting time seven months. I asked if it was safe to leave it that long. She said that the word
‘ melanoma ‘ wasn’t actually mentioned, so obviously not on the very urgent list. Still waiting to hear.

Why is the fact that the PA is foreign relevant?

Luckygirl3

OK .... get this .... I have just seen the private cardiologist who has taken me through all my blood test results on screen from the NHS. There is nothing wrong with my kidneys at all ...... !!!
Which begs the question .... why did the GP send me that text!!??

Write a letter to the GP Practice Manager marked URGENT and demand an explanation. Ask to see your actual test results.

How the hell is that the sort of thing to send in a short text message. I would definitely make an appointment to 'discuss'. What an unbelievable thing to send to anyone. Sorry I have no advice for you, but am so angry for you.

biglouis .... I am sorry that you have these problems with your liver function and am hoping that your life is more comfortable off the medication and that you are able to enjoy life to the most. Sending supportive thoughts. The battle with aging bodies is such a challenge.

I wasnt given a prognosis by the medical people. I looked up the prognosis for fibrosis stage 4 - and took an average from several websites. They bury these things deep in your medical notes and imagine that the "average" patient will not bother to plough through all the test results. But being a retired academic I am used to reading dense prose and research notes.

So Im going to run my heating and be comfortable this winter regardless of what Mein Furher Starmer and his jack booted minions decide to announce. That my bills will die with me is a source of pleasure.

buffyfly9

biglouis

Im sorry you had to hear this way. It can come as quite a shock and nothing can prepare you for it. I imagine you feel quite angry and distressed. I did myself.

Earlier this year I was reading my medical notes and I have been diagnosed with an advanced form of liver desease - fibrosis stage 4. That means cyrosis which is incurable and my liver is not going to recover. It seems my immune system is attacking my liver and the prognosis is 1-2 years.

Its treatable but not curable. Unfortunately the treatment produces such horrible side effects (stomach pain, weakness, depression, headaches) that I have abandoned them.

I passed my 80s birthday last month so I reckon Ive had enough and am now doing what is known as "putting my affairs in order".

biglouis, I have just seen your post and send you my heartfelt best wishes for a longer life than you imagine.
A prognosis is just a guess; I worked for a GP who was lovely but made the mistake of telling a patient how long he had to live. The Consultant the patient was under found out this and sent the GP a volcanic letter telling him that nobody can say things like that with any certainty and to not do it again! Lead your best life, eat well, take care of yourself and prove them wrong.

It sounds a very inappropriate prognosis to make to you Biglouis and given how strong ,spunky and independent you are, I bet you will prove him wrong...

I have CKD stage 3, but I am not diabetic and my blood pressure is low to normal. I drink plenty of water.
I think the way this is put across can be frightening, usually by a practice nurse or a PA, and sounds worse than it is.

Yes, this may well be the way things are going. I sent an econsult to my surgery, with pictures of a blistery patch on my nose, and of the burst blister with a scab. It was the third, and worst, incident of this. An email from a foreign physician associate arrived saying, “ Yes this is suspicious. A referral to dermatology is made”. I called dermatology and was told that I was on the urgent list - waiting time seven months. I asked if it was safe to leave it that long. She said that the word
‘ melanoma ‘ wasn’t actually mentioned, so obviously not on the very urgent list. Still waiting to hear.