Hi, I am new on here, but wondered if anyone could help with a worry I have? I had a blood test result eGFR of 59 two and a half months ago, and have a second test in two weeks time. My first test was a fasting one, so I wondered if people generally found non fasting tests to show a higher or lower eGFR? My test is at 9.45am, so only talking about a cereal breakfast and a cup of tea, but wondered what other peoples experiences were? Thanks!
I have about that much eGFR too. I met a nephrologist today morning. He says that I should not worry as long as the cause of the chronic kidney disease is under control (mine being hypertension). My eGFR worsened from 1.3 to 1.5 recently. But he says that I should follow kidney-friendly diet, keep hypertension under control and exercise. According to him, I have a long way to go before dialysis may happen (may be10-20 years from now) but event that if I do not follow a good lifestyle. Thankfully my hypertension is fine now.
Hi Jayne
An eGFR of 59 is only so very slightly below the range they consider as normal so I don't think you have any worries at this stage especially if your next test shows that your kidney function is still stable at 59 (although it can vary at different times for anyone having their eGFR measured.
As for a fasting test specifically for eGFR, I have never heard of that so I'm assuming your test was a fasting one for other reasons, eg blood glucose levels or cholesterol?
When I was first diagnosed with reduced kidney function/chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 some 9 years ago (eGFR 54) as a result of an eGFR test being carried out as part of my routine blood tests, I was told by a Dr that it was a recently introduced test that the Government had requested be carried out on the general public to try and discover how much kidney disease was due to a disease mechanism and how much was due to ageing. I don't know how old you are but it can be quite common for our kidney function to reduce slightly as we age. Before the eGFR test, the medics relied simply on the electrolyte readings (creatinine, urea, potassium). Those tests had always remained normal for me even following having a kidney removed aged 12 (I'm now 73 - a tiny bit older!).
If your blood pressure is normal and your next test shows a stable reading, then I doubt your Dr will be concerned - they don't start getting concerned until the reading is heading downwards fast, and apparently since the test was introduced they have discovered that a high proportion of the older generation have been diagnosed with CKD3 as a result of this test.
I do hope this helps.
Hi, I agree with Mrs O. The only time I've had a fasting test was to check cholesterol. My Gp wanted to monitor this, as with having hypertension and ckd it needs looking at. The fasting test has never has an effect on the result.
Hi, that is a great help, thanks! I am 40, so will speak to the doctor after next test about diet etc. I am average weight, not under or over weight, and don't have high blood pressure, but do have very low ferritin. Thanks for your reply, it does make me less worried 😊
Thanks for your reply, I do feel less worried now, and will be speaking to the doctor soon.
Thanks, that makes me feel better, it was a general blood test as I was a bit unwell, it picked up the egfr59 and low ferritin.
Jayne, you probably already know that lots of iron-rich foods may help to increase your ferritin levels, including meat (red and poultry), spinach, watercress, nuts, beans and dried fruits. I believe Vit B12 can also help if you have iron-deficient anaemia - worth looking it up.
Hi, yes doctor recommended a general vitamin supplement with iron, and having test again after 3 months. To be fair I don't feel any better, so not holding out for much change really, but have to wait and see. Definitely going to speak to her about diet good for iron and kidneys, and about B12 as well. Thanks for your reply, it does help! Do you think 40 is young for a eGFR of 59?
The only reason I can think of for a fasting test is because meals rich in protein can cause creatinine levels in your blood to rise, hence possibly leading to a falsely lower GFR. In practice though I don't know how much difference this will actually make unless you're taking protein supplements/body building !
Tarun (pharmacist)
Haha, no nothing like that! I had a general blood test, so they also checked sugars so it was a fasting test. I just wondered if a non fasting test would likely be different, doesn't sound like it affects it too much though. All that showed up on the test was egfr 59 and low ferritin. Thanks for replying!
Hi Jayne I'm new to here also. I've been feeling unwell with Migraines, no energy, tired and bad back pain and doctors sent me for a blood test. They phoned me and said something in my blood and mentioned efgr rate and I've got to do another blood and urine test in 4 weeks time. It's been working me a lot. Doctor didn't say my efgr rating. I put back pain down to my spinal operation I had 10 years back but could it be kidney pain I'm having. I also have fybromyalgia and Hypothyroidism so a lot of symptoms could be from that. My blood test for my thyroid are normal. Hopefully put my mind at ease after next blood and urine test. Only got 2 weeks as last bloods was 2 weeks ago. If have ckd and the doctor asking for another blood and urine test in only 4 weeks what level do people think.I'm already on. Good luck.with yours.
Hi Wayne, don't worry about having the test again in only four weeks, sometimes the results are unclear so they re- do them,you might find out that they come back as normal so try not to worry.
Your back pain could like you say be a number of things. I only get back pain when an infection starts.
Hi Wayne, sorry to hear you're not feeling great, I also get very tired and have headaches and general achy ness all over, my last egfr was 59, and I do get aches where my kidneys are, not that painful, just a dull ache, but I guess it is probably different for everyone. I have low ferritin also, which has similar symptoms, so difficult to say what is causing the problems, bit like yourself! I am 40 years old, so a egfr of 59 does worry me, how old are you if you don't mind me asking! Hope all goes well for you 😊
Hi Louise, thanks for your interest! I have been getting a dull aching feeling in my back, mainly right side for a while now, in your experience would you expect that with a egfr of 59? I also get sore eyes, like at the top like my eyes are being pushed down, ever had anything like that?! It comes and goes, it's not all the time, so a bit weird! Mainly it is the left eye. Hope you are doing well.
I'm 47 Jayne. It is worrying
Hi, yes I do get a dull ache sometimes. I find drinking cranberry juice helps but don't know if it works the same on men, worth asking your doctor.
I do get tired eyes and occasional headaches but nothing debilitating.
I have been diagnosed since my mid 30s and I'm 49 now. I have remained the same in all that time and I am not at all worried about it. I've had the occasional blip but nothing to warrant my GP changing my care. I hope you get the answers you need.
Thank you,, I will let you know when had bloods in a week and a half.
Hi Jayne
I have been doing some research on this, and your doctor was being careful doing a fasting test as recommended by latest research, which shows that eating red meat or anything else with high creatine levels (also tuna,salmon) will affect results as the creatine turns into creatinine in the body (increases this) and this is what is used to calculate eGFR (decreases this). Some people have been diagnosed with say, stage 3b CKD when they were only stage 3a just because they ate meat before the blood test.
All the best.