Nephrologist (Kidney Specialist) Questions

“Kidney failure ”

I’m in stage 4 kidney failure which happened suddenly 8 months ago. I have a multitude of health conditions (27 diagnosed thus far). I have zero quality of life. I am not following a kidney diet and when/if I hit stage 5 renal failure I have already rejected dialysis. I’ve been chronically ill and in major pain pain most my life. If I refuse to follow kidney diet & dialysis (I’m 67) how much longer will I live?

Female | 67 years old
Complaint duration: 8 months
Medications: Carvedilol, nifedipine, benzodiazepines, ambien, CPAP, narcotic painkiller, Xanax, levothyroxine, metformin,
Conditions: Ehlers Danlos hypermobile severe, insomnia, sleep apnea, sjogrens, fibromyalgia, Pots, metabolic syndrome, lichen planus, osteoarthritis in spine & joints (degenerative joints) have had two TIAs, high BP, anemic, migraines, diverticulitis, hypothyroidism, and more

2 Answers

Life duration is a difficult question to answer. However with advanced kidney disease stage 4 more care is required to preserve kidney function. If the blood pressure is continuously elevated >160/100 for even a couple years, this could very well progress to stage 5 kidney disease and need for dialysis. Taking medications to control BP, protein levels in the urine and a following a kidney diet would undoubtedly lead to a longer life lived without dialysis.
Stage 4 patient usually getting symptoms from uremia, such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, increase sleepiness when the filtration function start decreasing less than 15%, which will be stage five. Hard to say longevity with stage five unless one becomes comatose, then it may be within 4-6 weeks. I hope you have discussed & expressed your wishes with your immediate family including your physician. All the best Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>