Wondering about CKD3

[PastorJeff]

This may have been written about already.  I apologize if I overlooked it.  I donated 4.5 years ago.  Since then my creatinine has remained a steady 1.6.  As a result my egfr puts me in the category of CKD3.  That's now on my medical record.  i was wondering if the fact that this is the result of donation is a factor in interpreting it.  In other words, is it less of a concern that it's not the result of disease? I do remember my personal nephrologist saying that with aging my kidney function will dwindle by age 90 to a need for dialysis.  I am not alarmed by that since I am not aspiring to live here that long  :)

[elephant]

Dear Pastor Jeff,

So then isn't 1.6 your 'new normal'?  Of course there is a difference between kidney donors and non-donors.  We only have one kidney, so creatinine is higher than pre-donation.  But we also do not have kidney disease, so the higher level tends to be stable.  The CKD3 thing would only work if you were not a donor and had declining kidney function. 

I'm not sure about your nephrologist telling you scary stories.  Who can make a prediction like that about 30 years down the road? 

I do think donors (and everyone!) should maintain a good weight and blood pressure, get plenty of exercise and stay away from NSAID's.  These things will not hurt your future 90 year old self's kidney function!

Love, elephant

[RKEM]

I've been told something similar, that late in my eighties or nineties I may need dialysis but I figure by then xenografts or dialysis will be much improved or this will simply be an easy ticket out if I make it that far. I don't aspire to reach 100 and at that point, kidney disease will likely be the least of my problem. Like I told the evaluation team, if this costs me a few years of life in my 90s but gives someone many more years in the prime of their life, then it's a more optimal use of that kidney function.

[PastorJeff]

Thank you Elephant for your good words.  I've always appreciated reading what you've had to say. 

[PastorJeff]

RKEM i agree with your sentiments completely.  In spite of the good medical folks and extensive testing, I never thought I would come through this completely unscathed.  Just glad to help. 

[Fr Pat]

     I'm 71 now, 15 years after kidney donation. I'm optimistically presuming that if I reach 90 things will have progressed so much by then that I will be able to pick up a spare mechanical kidney or two at Wall-Mart.

[RKEM]

Or dialysis machines will have shrunk down so much you can wear them like a wrist watch.  ;)