Diagnosed CKD Stage 2

syracusa

Oh, good Lord, how I can relate!!!

I remain flabbergasted and shocked (fighting major related anxiety and depression) at how drs. can virtually ignore something their own peers/community decided to label as basically "lethal" back in 2002 when they came up with this classification of CKD.

On the one hand there is an avalanche of doom and gloom on this condition on the Net. Invariably progressive - you die early of a heart attack or end up in ESRD.

On the other hand, you get shrugs from drs. when you ask them about the e-GFR.
Unless it's close to ESRD!

How is this even possible? !!!!

I discovered mine dropped from 98 to 77 two years ago a few months after I recovered from an episode of pneumonia.
I say "discovered" because I am a major health vigilante (suffered from severe health anxiety even when I had a 100% clean bill of health).
I check each and everyone of my labs and compare them to previous year results when they return for the annual check up.

That summer (2015) pcp told me "all labs in range, normal liver and kidney function, everything looks good, have a fantastic day!"

But seeing the change in eGFR from 98 to 77, I was rather intrigued and probed.
She said "it's normal, it can change with age, could be some dehydration too, etc".

And this is how my descent towards horrific anxiety and depression began: with pcp saying I am FANTASTIC!

I started reading and could not understand how come a value of 90 is still a "disease", never mind 60-89 where I now fell!

I read everything and asked her to re-test - she said no.
I ran to the consumer lab to do a spot urine test on my own (to exclude kidney damage) and it came back fine(negative).
I breathed but remained slightly uncomfortable.

I te-tested on my own 3 months later and e-GFR had returned to 86, but still not back in the 90's (normal), where I was supposed to be at my age.
And still stage 2, if kidney damage was present.
I waited another year assuming all is fine, given no sign of damage, but I remained alert.

Next year on my annual e-GFR was now 75. I asked to see a nephrologist, she said "I don't need to" and I said "I do".

Nephrology found some very low proteinuria (around 200 mg/24h) and e-GFR in the low 80's. His verdict:
"Your kidneys are not perfect but they will last you another 90 years (I obviously assumed hyperbole). Recent follow-up with neohro showed normal protein for a split 24 h collection.
Nephro concluded "no CKD, nothing wrong with your kidney at this point" - but he keeps calling me back for follow up (to ensure against progression).

The "at this point" part left me in doubt, horrible anxiety, fear that it WILL become CKD as soon of my protein goes up even a tad bit.

I am no longer the same whole, sane, normally happy human being I used to be before this discovery which, had it been up to my pcp, would have never been identified until eGFR would hit very low levels. If it does - which I pray everty second it never will.

Did you ask how she diagnosed CKD?

Did she identify kidney damage in any particular way? An e-GFR 60-89 does not qualify as "kidney damage" by itself.
Protein in urine or structural damage on ultra sound?
Without these, you cannot be officially diagnosed with CKD.

I now know WAY more about this disease/condition/whatever it is than I ever wished I would.

The fact that they have NOTHING for it is beyond terrifying.

The diet is excruciating (animal protein stresses the kidney, carbs increase blood sugar which is huge danger for the kidneys". Between rock and a hard spot.
Then eat what?

I hope you get more uplifting answers from someone else here - but I DO hope I helped, just in case your dr. did NOT test for kidney damage and labeled you CKD 2 only based on your e-GFR.
Maybe your HBP made her to that - but this is still not a diagnostic criteria.