News about my Mother!

[Janet]

My brother took my Mom to the Dr. yesterday. Her kidneys are functioning at 17% so it's not that she is losing blood, she is not producing blood. I take her to the Dr. next month and she starts monthly injections to help her kidneys work better and build up blood. The Dr said that she will probably have to go on dialysis within six months to a year.

Mom still doesn't think that's what is wrong with her cause according to her she pees just fine. She seems to think that's all kidneys are for...

I have to have a good heart to heart with my Mom and tell her that she needs to follow Drs. orders if she wants to live.

[Tink]

Oh Janet, I'm sorry. I hope she accepts the truth and takes care of herself!

HUGS

I'm sorry this is something you're dealing with. It gets extremely difficult as our parents age and we end up taking care of them. Hopefully things will turn around.

[Marilyn]

Janet, so sorry that you are having to deal with this!! Hope she will understand and wants to cooperate. I've never heard of a problem like this. I know there are some really good kidney specialists around. A friend of mine has a transplanted kidney and she has some really good doctors that she sees. Hope all goes well, and keep us posted. You and your mom are in our prayers.

[AngieDoogles]

Janet, I'm so sorry! I truly hope your mother will listen to your advice and do what the doctors say. *hugs*

[Gina]

Janet.. I am sorry to hear this about your mom, stress to her the importance of taking care of herself. Unfortunaley I know to well what the disease does to a person, I lost a brother to kidney disease, he lived on dialysis for a few short years, this was 29 yrs . ago. Today there is so much modern medicine and dialysis is probably improved. I do hope that your mom can postpone the dialysis and that the injections help.

[Mandy]

Oh Janet, i am so sorry you are having to deal with this! I truely hope she will follow the advice you and her Dr. give her, and yes, a good heart to heart chat with her can do no harm. Hope she takes care of herself. Will be thinking of you girl.

[Tink]

In addition to removing wastes, your kidneys release three important hormones:

erythropoietin (eh-RITH-ro-POY-eh-tin), or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells


renin (REE-nin), which regulates blood pressure


calcitriol (kal-suh-TRY-ul), the active form of vitamin D, which helps maintain calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in the body.

You will have serious health problems if you have less than 25 percent of your renal function. If your renal function drops below 10 to 15 percent, you cannot live long without some form of renal replacement therapy?either dialysis or transplantation.

Why do kidneys fail?
Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons, causing them to lose their filtering capacity. Damage to the nephrons may happen quickly, often as the result of injury or poisoning. But most kidney diseases destroy the nephrons slowly and silently. Only after years or even decades will the damage become apparent. Most kidney diseases attack both kidneys simultaneously.

The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. If your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, you may be at risk for kidney disease.

Most kidney problems happen slowly. You may have ?silent? kidney disease for years. Gradual loss of kidney function is called chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal insufficiency. People with CKD may go on to permanent kidney failure. They also have a high risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack.

More info at:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseas...neys/index.htm

A short bit on blood production.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basi...roduction.html

[Forgivenmom5]

Janet my prayers are with you and your Mom.

[Janet]

Thanks Tink for all that information. Mom had to have 2 pints of blood added this morning. She is just gonna take it easy this afternoon. Mom is one of those that just can't sit still for very long....maybe that's where I get it from..LOL Then June 6th I'll take her to the Dr. so she can start the injections. She's not looking forward to it at all, but knows it has to be.

[Marilyn]

Glad she is cooperating!!! Is she seeing a nephrologist?

A nephrologist is a physician who has been trained in the diagnosis and management of kidney disease, by regulating blood pressure, regulating electrolytes, balancing fluids in the body, and administering dialysis. Nephrologists treat many different kidney disorders including acid-base disorders, electrolyte disorders, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), hypertension (high blood pressure), acute kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Nephrology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. In the United States, after medical school nephrologists complete a three year residency in internal medicine followed by a two year (or longer) fellowship in nephrology.

My friend who has a transplanted kidney is under the care of nephrologist.

[rivermom]

I wish your Mom the best Janet. It looks like a lot of good kidney information has been posted. Maybe you can print it off and let her read it to update her on exactly why kidney health is so important. It's nice you are taking the time to talk to her also and help her.