Kidney disease

[Husbandhealthworries]

My husband (recently turned 30) has been unwell for the last couple of months - recurring stomach pain, nausea, headaches, tiredness and fatigue, increased urination. He finally conceded to see a doctor and had a blood test yesterday. The doctor phoned to discuss his results today - he said there is ‘definitely something going on’, probably with his kidneys. He has been referred for an ultrasound and is having repeat bloods next week. There was blood and protein in his urine. No currently diagnosed health conditions eg diabetes or high blood pressure.

Having looked at his blood test results, I’ve turned to dr Google and diagnosed him with kidney disease (using the guidance on the NHS website in terms of normal results). His EGFR is 51 and albumin:creatinine is 46. There was a laboratory note on the albumin result as his last blood test (from around 10 years ago) was below 30 so a noticeable hike.

I’m just looking for a bit of advice or experiences really. I don’t know anyone with kidney disease and what management/treatment for this looks like. I also don’t know that it definitely is kidney disease but not sure what else it could be.

I’m a kidney nurse. A significant reduction in eGFR needs investigating. It could turn out to be a number of reversible treatable things. If it is something irreversible, then he will need monitoring. If the eGFR drops below 30 he will need to see a nephrologist every few months to try and keep it stable. If the eGFR is consistently below 20 he needs an advanced chronic kidney disease team who will discuss and plan dialysis and kidney transplant. Dialysis starts around eGFR of 7. Kidney transplant is encouraged if a patient is suitable. He is a long way from any of that and will possibly never need it. The scan will hopefully give you a better idea.

Thanks so much for replying. What reversible things could it be? If it were kidney disease, would this only be diagnosed after the ultrasound? Does the age that problems start mean anything? The fact he’s 30 feels really young to be worrying about kidney issues and I’m sort of panicking what things will look like in 5-10 years

Hi there @Husbandhealthworries

May I suggest that you come and join us over on the Crappy Kidneys Thread 2?

We're a lovely community of kidney patients and partners of kidney patients who can offer support and personal experiences.

No medical advice, obviously - like I say, just solid lived experience!

I myself am a kidney transplant patient and understand how worried you and your partner must be. But please trust that renal doctors are generally amazing, and I hope you get some answers soon.

Crappy kidneys thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/4564714-crappy-kidneys-thread-2

Kidney disease can affect any age, including children and there can be many different reasons for a reduction in kidney function. Chronic issues can be diabetes, high blood pressure, genetic reasons. Once these have damaged the kidneys, this damage cannot be reversed, but can be managed to slow down the rate of decline. Some reversible causes can be blockages in the urinary tract like clots, prostate enlargement. Auto immune conditions can cause kidney problems and once treated can sometimes improve the kidney function. I really would try not to worry, it might be something very manageable. If it turned out to be something that will continue to decline, it could be years and years before any treatment is needed, if at all. Also people can still have a very full life with a kidney transplant and even dialysis. You do not know what is the cause yet, so please don’t get ahead of yourself and thinking of the worst potential outcomes. The scan might clarify, but sometimes further tests are needed. I would keep away from Google too as some info online can be very misleading. Wishing you both the best of luck.

I'd just like to make a slight polite adjustment to the PP.

As a kidney transplant recipient of nearly three years, I haven't 'managed to live a full life'.

I live a wonderful, normal life. You'd never know unless I told you.

Hi all. Thanks for all your responses. He has had repeat bloods now, with EGFR at 53, creatinine at 132 and serum urea at 8.3 (was 7.2 last week). Saw a GP today who said not to do anything differently for now in terms of eating, and that he was putting the referral through for an ultrasound today which he anticipated would take ‘a couple of months’. He said they would not be monitoring anything between now and then, and to return to the GP if my husband starts to feel worse.
This doesn’t really feel good enough? We have no idea what the cause of his kidney problems is so have no way of knowing it’s severity, or even when the damage started occurring. Leaving him for 2 months with no monitoring seems really dangerous to me? I want him to make another appointment with the GP tomorrow to ask for further clarification and advice. Is this a normal way of dealing with it? They haven’t actually mentioned chronic kidney disease to him but it is listed on the notes for the consultation on his record as ‘noted: CKD 3a - low for age’??

@Husbandhealthworries resurecting the thread

How is your husband now OP? I'm going through the same at the moment, although I'm older that your DH