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Tough Day......Looking For Some Support

Started by Keys Girl, April 10, 2013, 05:37:41 PM

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Keys Girl

Ladies, it's been a rough day.

The pain in my feet is actually due to plantar fasciatis and shin splints (wasn't expecting the second one) according to a specialist I saw a couple of days ago. 

Unfortunately I was also advised today that the results of some blood test done for something else show levels of creatinine more than 20% higher than the normal range.  I need to get myself to my family doctor and hopefully a kidney specialist.

What's also worrisome about this issue is that I went for blood tests 3 weeks ago with my family doctor, for diabetes and kidney stuff.  So far.....nada......no response from her office.  For the last 30 years I've always been told not to call the office, that they will call me if anything is wrong.........I'm not sure if this is the "new" medicine of if my new GP is well, asleep at the switch.  Luckily the other medical professional I saw did some blood tests last week, picked up on this, and contacted me today.

The new GP didn't sign the prescription for the foot specialist but they held the meeting with me anyway.  The GP who forgets to sign her prescriptions? I also found out that she lied to me during our first meeting about the number of specialists for a specific issue in our town, she told me 5 but the internet lists 27........if anyone knows of a decent witch doctor, please send them my way because if I have some serious kidney issues, I'm going to need someone who can remember to sign her own prescriptions and since she's already lied to me once about a specific set of circumstances that are critical to my health, this is worrysome. 

When I was much younger I was told that the reason doctors had offices because 50% of the time you spent in them was to give you a place to cry.  I can't see myself ever feeling comfortable enough with her to need a kleenex or two, despite perhaps even life threatening circumstances.

I'm worried and it's been a rough day.  I don't know what I'm dealing with, don't know anything about kidney disease and don't have any confidence in my primary health care physician.  I've been reading up on the net today on CKD, but if anyone has anything to contribute, that would be helpful.

Tomorrow, I'm going to a nearby swimming pool tomorrow to take some aqua fit lessons to get my feet on the path to healing up and I'm also going to schedule a massage for myself to try to bring my stress levels down.  If I get a minute I'll see if there are any tribesmen left in what's left of the Amazon forest who wouldn't mind having a gringa girl in the canoe down the river to the closest Shaman.  I'll go to the grocery store and buy all the "rabbit" food that a kidney disease diet entails. 

My sense of humor is starting to surface tonight but the last time I shed this many tears in one day was a few years ago when I went online and found Luise and her WW when I realized my son was never going to telephone me ever, despite his many promises to do so.

KG
"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

luise.volta

Oh, Keys...what a bummer. I'd get a new primary physician YESTERDAY! I'm a nurse but I'm so out of date that I have nothing to offer medically. My primary physician is an Internist not a GP and coordinates everything for me!

I want you to know that I have painted my face with highlighter and am dancing around the room shaking rattles and singing, "My Friend The Witch Doctor," probably written before you were born but you can find it online. Very deep and inspiring. LOL!

Hang in there, honey...we're walking the walk with you!
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

nikncon

Hi Keys.I was told by my np before I left for the winter that my GFR is 59 which would mean 59 percent functioning so I too found myself a nephrologist which I will see on 30th.I must be retested though when Igo home.So don't panick.I went on a great website called Kidney Smart.They have a forum and all the stages of CKD.I even went to a meeting last week here in zflorida where a nurse and social worker explained and answered my questions.It can be caused by so many different things.Your meds,your blood pressure,your levels of potassium etc.I have been researching this subject all winter.I should have been retested in zebra but np and gp didn't seem to think that  Going away for close to five months would hurt.lol.So if you can get retested and see a neph. he or she will put you on the right path.Another great website is DaVita .They are a service that deal with CKD.Hope that this helps you a bit.You have to care of yourself because as you can see in Canada it isn't any better.You should be seen by a neph. in stages two and up.I am apparently at 3 I could go back to two hopefully or can stay where I am for a long time..I will hopefully listen to a dietician which I will find myself  .Exercise is also important.Hope this makes you feel better.Finding out what your GFR is will also give you a better idea of what you are dealing with.If you need anymore info I can tell you what I know so far.xx ;)

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Lillycache

Sorry to hear about all this Keys.   I'm a nurse..  Nicncon is correct.  You DO need to consult with a neprhologist.  However.. do not panic yet.  Elevated creatinine can be caused by a whole lot of things that are not even kidney related.  It can be something as simple as dehydration..   Or as was stated, your medications.  This means it's a reversible condition.  Not knowing your numbers, I can only say that 20% increase is a LONG LONG way from endstage renal disease or the dreaded Dialysis.... don't even go there in your mind!  See the proper specialist and let him/her sort it out.   I am sending you good thoughts and hugs.

Keys Girl

Thanks everyone, I was really thrown for a loop by this news.  My eGFR is 41, not sure what that means but I don't think it's great.  I've done a lot to take care of my health all my life, stopped drinking alcohol about 10 years ago, gave up meat 3 years ago and only "cheated" once a month with two pieces of pizza.  I have an appointment with the GP on Tuesday, and hope to get to see a kidney specialist soon.  Will make sure she signs the referral and keep looking for a new GP.

Luiise, I do remember that song, I used to sing it as a kid "Oo-ee-oo-aahh-ahh-ting- tang-walla-walla-bing-bang".......good to have you on the path with me, it's helping to keep me away from the panic button.

KG

"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

Lillycache

Good Grief!!   Now that song is in my head...

nikncon

So Lillycache,since I've only had one set of blood tests done in Nov and I don't  know my numbers could it just be my meds also?? Just wondering and getting nervous about the next tests.

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Pooh

Sorry Keys.  My thoughts are with you as you try to sort through all this.
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

Lillycache

Quote from: nikncon on April 11, 2013, 10:44:05 AM
So Lillycache,since I've only had one set of blood tests done in Nov and I don't  know my numbers could it just be my meds also?? Just wondering and getting nervous about the next tests.

I don't know.. You would have to see your kidney doc and be retested to see if your numbers have changed.  What I do know is that some meds are metabolized by the kidneys and are called nephrotoxic.  Those meds can cause a problem with renal function. That is usually reversible once the medication is stopped.  A nephrologist would kno what was causing your labs to be off.

Pen

Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

nikncon

Thanks Pen.Getting ready for the long drive home.We do it in three days.Still cold back home in Ontario but appointments to go to and taxes for the 30th.xx

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Keys Girl

"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

fangle

Wishing you all the best, Keys Girl! xo

Keys Girl

Ladies, here's an update........I met with the new GP today......the one with the finger nails bitten down to the quick, who was late for the appointment and had brought her breakfast coffee and muffin into the office/examination room. 

She tells me that the blood tests that she did on me 6 months ago and 3 weeks ago show everything is in the normal range which is completely opposite to the blood tests I had done with another physician/specialist during that time.  That specialist has been doing blood tests for almost 20 years so I trust his results over hers.

Obviously there is a problem here, if one lab results show me in normal ranges and the other shows me knocking on the door of Stage 4 CKD someone in one of the labs has dropped the ball over an extended period of time.  I wouldn't be surprised if the lab results are mixed up with the GP, my name is an easy name to get mixed up, I was once discharged from a hospital a couple of days early because they had mixed up the patients because the name was not particularly memorable, like Susan Smith.  My new GP has all kinds of fancy computer systems and there are about 3 women in my town with my name, so I may be getting test results from another patient with my name.

My GP is going to refer me to a kidney specialist......her office has told me if I'm lucky I'll get an appointment in 6 months to a year or even two years.   Whoop-de-doo.....If her blood tests for kidney issues are incorrect does that mean the numbers for diabetes are wrong too? 

She's going to do blood test over the next 3 months and send them to another lab to get another level but is "pooh poohing" my concerns, symptoms I've had over the last 6 months and subtly inferring that I'm making a big deal out of nothing.  All this from a physician whose nails are bitten down so that her fingers are almost stumps.  Anxiety??  I'm going to call my lawyer to find out if there are any malpractice suits pending against her. 

I'm starting to wonder if it's a total waste of time to even have a GP.  If you can't see a specialist for a year or two and you do have kidney disease, you could kick the bucket long before you get to the appointment.  I've changed my diet recently to "kidney friendly" food just in case. and am increasing my yoga and aqua fit exercises to help.

Also got her to give me a proper prescription for the issues in my feet which she should have backdated to the date her records show she gave it to me........There's only so much stupid I am prepared to handle.  I'm going to go for the blood tests for the new 3 months and see what the results are but I've checked the options of another GP and they are beyond dismal.

I'm giving some thought to getting on a plane and going to another country if I can see a kidney specialist and at least find out whether I'm in Stage 3B or not.  That piece of knowledge is literally a critical piece of data I need so that I can find out what I need to do to take care of my health going forward.

Thank you to everyone for the moral support, it's been a huge help.  My best friend has been conspicuous by her absence so that was a tough pill to swallow. 

KG



"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

luise.volta

KG - I would be looking at going elsewhere, across the border, as well. You have one life and losing it because you got "locked into the system" wouldn't be good enough for me, either. You have strong reasons not to respect or trust your GP, from my view. Sending love...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama