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How close is the end?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 5:16 pm
by Henriettab
Once again I am asking a similar question. Dad who is 90 has a GFR of 19 which I realise is still not quite "end stage" but he has a red blood cell count of 9 which is very anaemic. One of the Drs I have spoken to this week says "he is so frail in so many ways" and another says "it is really just a question of quality of of life at this stage".
There is also a history of stroke, leg infections, UTIs and weight loss .

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 9:19 pm
by lashy
Thoughts with you and your family x

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 1:00 am
by Johnylefox
90 is one fantastic innings.
I am 41, awaiting my first TX and I don't believe I will get anywhere near 90.
Hopefully you can comfort and reassure your loved one, be with them and spend time.
The question is not how long. You would not want somebody to be 90 then hit end stage renal disease, and the timescales for going from eGFR19 to 15 or less can be days, weeks , months.
Just cherish the time you have.
I do not mean to sound harsh.
Hold the hand of the one you love. And remember everything that makes you love them so much.
All my love. x

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 8:42 am
by Henriettab
Thank you both. Johny- I wish you all the very best with your TX

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 10:44 am
by SKM23435
Sorry to hear about your dad.
I agree with johnylefox. Tell you dad you love him. I was fortunate enough to tell my dad before he died and I'm so pleased I did.

At his age and with a number of medical conditions it may not be the kidney problems that end his life, it could be others but most likely a mixture of all. There is no way of telling how long he's got (if there was I'm sure your doctor would have told you).

Best wishes.

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2016 3:29 pm
by wagolynn
Best wishes to you and your dad.

90 years is a long time to live, and from what you suggest he may well be glad to see the end.

However, no matter how much we know in advance death is still a shock.

Make sure you have said all the things you want to say to dad now, don't leave it until it is too late.

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:34 pm
by Vivib
Hi

I have the same question. My Mom is 85
Diagnosed wiith ANCA vasculitis that shut down her kidneys.
She is now in pallative as dialysis did not work.
Her creatine after stopping dialysis was 230
One week after it is 294.

How quick does creatine increase?

I couldn't figure out how to post.

Thank you.

Vivian

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:48 am
by MandyV
Hi Vivib

Sorry you have not had a response, probably because adding to another thread means people miss a question. I rather suspect that things have moved on a good deal - I can start a new thread with your question if you like.
BW Mandy

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:43 pm
by Henriettab
Hi Viv

Sorry to hear you are facing similar condition- did you find your answer?

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:46 pm
by Henriettab
Dad- still going- he had acute kidney failure and has been hospitalised since then with leg infection from ulcers. He had 5 days of Antibiotic drip, then his kidneys picked up a little, a further week on oral antibiotics but is now back on a drip again for another 5 days as infection not cleared up. How long can this keep going on and on and on. Poor Dad seems to have been on none stop anti biotics for most of a year and now even drips aren't working.
Is it possible to get back to stage 4 once you've had complete acute kidney failure? I guess so in a healthy person but Dad?

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 4:05 pm
by wagolynn
Hi,
Poor Dad, and you.

It would be very unusual for anyone at his age to come back to stage 4.

Best wishes.

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:26 pm
by Henriettab
Hi Wagonlynn
Thank you for your honest information. I will ask for GFR if I ever get to see a DR in the hospital.

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:38 pm
by Henriettab
Well have spoken to a couple of Drs this week, the first was very encouraging and said that GFR was 19 on admission ( I was told renal failure at the time) but had gone back up to GFR 29 . Tonight I have been in and it has droped right down again- enough to have him back on a drip this evening for fluids although I don't know GFR. Dr wasn't sure why this had happened- either dehydration as Dad won't drink much or leg ulcer infection not responding to Antibiotics by IV (2nd lot in 3 weeks and oral ABs in between)
He was also rambling on about seeing his first cousin this evening who he hasn't seen for over 50 years. I wonder if this is another E of L sign ?

Re: How close is the end?

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:09 pm
by wagolynn
Confusion is a symptom of dehydration.

I hope dad soon recovers. GFR will be up and down if he is dehydrating, and then it is getting corrected.

Best wishes to you, and dad.