Kidney function at 51 percent

I have stage 4 CKD. I have a low salt diet so no ready meals or take aways. After reading this post, while at my regular appointment with the renal consultant, I told him I was very concerned as I do not drink litres of water and nor do I exclude many foods mentioned here, like tomatoes, cheese, avocados peppers etc. His answer was that my body will tell me if I am not drinking enough and any liquid is fine and most fruit and veg are mostly liquid. As long as I eat the less favourable foods in moderation and that my stats remain OK, to enjoy life! I am in my eighties and have been diagnosed with failing kidneys for 25/years. I have in the past been very strict with my dilate but I cannot say my function improved. Go with what you are happy with but do not get it out of proportion. Many people live all their lives with one kidney and all of us lose function as we get older- don’t panic.

Banana skins make an acceptable curry curtesy of Nigella Lawson. I personally don't bananas but I made and enjoyed the curry. It's not difficult give it a try.

Hello Jeannie,
Mine was 48 last time. I was worried, but the doctor reminded me that it had been 48 before, a couple of years ago, and had gone down after. The results do tend to fluctuate, my doctor only worries if the result remains steady over a series of blood tests.

Both line (67) and my husbands (70) six monthly bloods show up kidney issues.

Mostly due, I’m told, by slight dehydration.

We both need to drink more water, especially on these hot days. Xxx

Oldfossil

Fancyflowers, do not despair. Three years ago, following sepsis, I suffered Acute Kidney Injury my kidney function was 17%. However, it gradually improved until a few months later it was 71%. This is more than enough. Kidney function generally declines with age anyway, and mine was 80% before sepsis, when I was in good health. I hope that your kidney function improves as mine did.

Thank youOldfossil

monami

Really ? You're asking about gravy ? Google it

Rude! Why answer like this?

We often come here to ask what some may consider trivial questions.

Really ? You're asking about gravy ? Google it

I recently had a stay overnight in hospital as a blood test showed my kidney function fell to26% but I didn’t feel ill at all and was caused by a combination of antibiotics and blood pressure medication. I was told kidneys can completely recover. I also recommend the low salt Kallo stock cubes but tend to make my own stock these days so I can watch the salt.

Oldfossil

Fancyflowers, do not despair. Three years ago, following sepsis, I suffered Acute Kidney Injury my kidney function was 17%. However, it gradually improved until a few months later it was 71%. This is more than enough. Kidney function generally declines with age anyway, and mine was 80% before sepsis, when I was in good health. I hope that your kidney function improves as mine did.

I also had kidney stones/ sepsis, but after recovering up to 20% I was told by the renal consultant it was impossible to get any better, that kidneys don’t cure / improve much . .? I’m 80 in 4 months.

You’re lucky, my kidney function is 20% . I have chronic kidney disease. What I wouldn’t give to have my kidney function that high!
I was hospitalised in 2021 for 4 weeks due to kidney stones, on coming out I eventually recovered and requested a diet sheet/ what to avoid eating from the hospital dietician. She blustered then admitted they didn’t really have much but would send me what they had.
Along came an A4 sheet with about 10 items listed. One of which was ‘beans’ …which beans? Kidney beans, baked beans, B-road beans? I still don’t know?
I then resorted to the internet… there were so many different food advice sheets available on different sites, that if I stopped eating everything on those sheets, there was nothing left to eat, not to mention contrary advice! Eventually I worked out what suited me to eat ( I have IBS as well) …avoid too much salt. But a doctor once told me just eat anything you fancy but smaller portions, cos you still need all the vitamins and minerals etc.
Bananas are apparently both good and not good depending on the varied advice, but I also read that the Mayo Clinic was doing experiments on mice re kidney disease and fed then not just the bananas but the skins as well and the mice recovered.
So ever since I eat bananas with the INSIDE ‘strings’ as well, can’t bring myself to eat tbe actual outsides, and so far I have remained stable at 20% for 5 years… here’s hoping…

Don't worry. Hilda will pray for you!

I found out that mine was about the same level a few years ago. GP at the time could give me no advice apart from to drink plenty!
A lot of people are totally unaware they have chronic kidney disease, as surgeries often only let you know when you have a significant drop or levels ho much lower.
I paid for a private renal dietician session which was really helpful. She suggested drinking at least 2l - 2.5l a day ( preferably water) and keeping my blood pressure within normal limits. She also said to cut out all colas and dark soda drinks, and not take any non steroidal painkillers eg ibuprofen as they are harmful to kidneys. I’ve never added salt to my food anyway, but she warned about addded salt in processed food and when eating out. For me she also said to steer towards fish and chicken rather than red meat as the kidneys find such meat harder to process, but it seems everyone gets different advice.
It felt quite overwhelming at first,but I have got used to it and have managed to keep my levels pretty stable. With regard to salt, gravy is notoriously salty … Kallo do low salt stick cubes in different flavours if that helps. Available at most supermarkets I think.
I wish you all the best.

Janussi

About three years ago I was told over the phone that I had kidney failure. No advice re possible treatments.
I eventually spoke to the most senior doctor in our surgery and he explained to me that a blood test was showing too much creatine. He said it was normal for kidneys to deteriorate with age and blood pressure medication. A year later my kidneys were supposedly fine and this year, no sign of problems. I hope this helps put your mind at rest a little.

It's funny, I've just bought a big tub of creatine online to take before I go to the gym!

Don't panic. I simply reduced salt & for 10 years or more its been 42 or 43. Recently it went up to 47. Many older people have this without ever knowing. You don't say how old you are.

Fancyflowers, do not despair. Three years ago, following sepsis, I suffered Acute Kidney Injury my kidney function was 17%. However, it gradually improved until a few months later it was 71%. This is more than enough. Kidney function generally declines with age anyway, and mine was 80% before sepsis, when I was in good health. I hope that your kidney function improves as mine did.

I am also puzzled as I don't know how this has happened.

My kidney function has dropped dramatically in the last week or so. I was stable at 26% and now I have dropped to 15%, with acute kidney injury stage 1.

I have to drink 2.5 litres of water a day until Friday when I will have another blood test to see if the kidney function has improved.

I am feeling very stressed by it all, and worried about DH as I can see that he is worrying about me.

A quick base without blending individual spices - maybe Knorr Zero Salt Stock Cubes or Marigold Reduced Salt Organic Bouillon Powder?
Or what about using say, onion garlic, thyme, mustard and pepper in a roux?

This is guesswork really - but I did just find this;
kidneycareuk.org/get-support/healthy-diet-support/kidney-kitchen/recipe-index/vegetable-toad-in-the-hole-with-charlies-gravy/?hl=en-GB

I have CKD I soak dried mixed mushrooms and use the water they soaked in. A nice savoury flavour for gravy thicken with cornflour potato starch or rice flour to your taste.

Make your own gravy with flour and stock abd a bit of gravy browning, it doesn’t take long with practice. I have a low salt diet and that is my solution. I do not use a stock cube as they contain a lot of salt.

About three years ago I was told over the phone that I had kidney failure. No advice re possible treatments.
I eventually spoke to the most senior doctor in our surgery and he explained to me that a blood test was showing too much creatine. He said it was normal for kidneys to deteriorate with age and blood pressure medication. A year later my kidneys were supposedly fine and this year, no sign of problems. I hope this helps put your mind at rest a little.

Often an adjustment of medication can help kidney function.
My husband attended for a pre op assessment prior to surgery to repair a rotator cuff injury. His kidney function level was 23 and the surgery was delayed. His diabetes medication Metformin was changed I think another drug was added, his kidney function level rose to 29 which was sufficient for the renal specialist to approve surgery.

I cannot answer your specific uestion. I just thought I would tell you that your kidney function could improve.

I was diagnosed with poor kidney function about 15 years ago. I did not need treatment or anything, just annual check-ups. I had a couple then I realised that one had been missed. When the next one was missed as well, I contacted my doctor about it and I was told that I hadn't been called in because my kidney function was now back to normal so further checks were unnecessary.

That’s a heck of a lot to cope with. I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for you but wonder if this organisation would be able to help.

kidneycareuk.org/