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Mom is 78 and definitely having more issues lately. PCP sent her to a doc to do memory testing and general troubleshooting with this in mind. Got 21 out of 30 on the test, where over 25 is normal. So obviously there is an issue.


Doc put in for B12 and thyroid bloodwork. Both came back normal.


Other blood work for RA meds to make sure liver/kidney function are OK every 3 month, show that estimated GFR is below 60 2 times in a row which, according to one of the kidney organization's website, is an indicator of CKD (chronic kidney disease). Confusion is one of the symptoms as well. So I asked doc to do a urine test to test for protein which can help round out the picture as to if the kidneys really are in bad shape or not.


I'm so annoyed that doc that evaluated the eGFR thought her numbers were stable and nothing to worry about. Geez, let's wait until her numbers hit complete rock bottom then try to get a new kidney?? I mean, seriously! Let's get pro-active and get to the bottom of the situation and see what's really going on and then make some medical and dietary lifestyle changes to try to improve her situation.

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Thanks for your response. I'm sure you're right, BUT I think it's totally bogus if they consider crappy numbers to be "normal" and nothing to worry about, etc. She's increasingly confused and it's just not a good thing. Especially if there is something that we can do about it. Sure, at some point, I'll stop turning over every stone but if there's a simple-ish way to get her some more years of better clarity, I'm all in for that.
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Her numbers show mild to moderately decreased kidney function which most doctors consider 'normal' for the elderly. My mother also has low GFA numbers which nobody worries much about either and her doc says that as we age & continue to take medications, the numbers keep going down but don't indicate real trouble.

Here is a link to a decent website with info on the topic:

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr

Good luck!
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Are you consulting a nephrologist or a primary care physician? I find that PCPs know a little bit about a lot of things, but not much about any one thing.

Go to the experts to get expert-level treatment.
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againx100 Jul 2021
Thanks. Good point. I was going to start with her PCP (who is also my PCP and she's awesome!). If she/we can't handle it, I'll ask for a referral.
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