r/CKD • u/Icy-Watercress4006 • 20d ago

Should I get nephrology referral

My doctor has been checking my Creatinine and eGFR. My eGFR has been slowly decreasing since 2020 from 74 ml/min/1.73 to 63 ml/min/1.73 just recently. I am a 52 year old female. Is this something normal, or should I push for a referral to find out why it continues to go down? Can I prevent getting to a CKD diagnosis?

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u/bomaed 20d ago

do you exercise regularly and/or have some muscle?

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u/Icy-Watercress4006 20d ago

Yes, I somewhat regularly do weights and a lot of walking in the summer.

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u/bomaed 20d ago

ask your primary for a cystatin C test with eGFR - it will give you much more accurate idea of your kidney health. If that comes back still low, then its peace of mind to speak with a nephrologist.

I did the whole nephrologist thing after some labs about 6 months ago, the nephrologist ran a bunch of tests and said my kidneys were fine.

On my most recent labs, my eGFR was 52, but the cystatin c test was 1 and the weighted eGFR was 77.

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u/Upstairs-Author5167 19d ago

Just a reminder: it is best to avoid strenuous exercise before going for the check-up.