Creatinine Level Rising

I have had Type I Diabetes for 25 years, and in the last several years have been diagnosed with kidney disease associated with the Diabetes.  My creatinine level has been slowly rising the last two and a half years...baseline was 1.4, most recent was 2.8.  Aside from seeing the kidney doctor regularly and taking prescribed medications (Toprol, HCTZ) are there any other effect ways of lowering the creatinine level, perhaps naturally or any suggested supplements?

[MSKshelly]

The only things I have found naturally to help with your creatine levels, are to eat much less meat and only 6 oz of it a day.  It is the hardest on your kidneys to process!!

Keep well hydrated too!  Mine went up to after my recent surgery but the surgery is supposed to lower it once I healed.  We are to recheck ti and I will let you know how it turns out!!

Shelly

[Maverick1818]

I appreciate your comments.  One thing I have been trying to do consistently is drink plenty of water, which can be hard but it has to be done.  If you don't mind me asking, what surgery did you have recently that effected your creatinine?  I also had surgery about a month ago (angioplasty with stents) and I noticed that my creatinine went up afterwards, but has come down slowly.

Michael

[MSKshelly]

I have Medullary Sponge Kidney disease,   We actually have an MSK forum on this med help board.  MSK, does not allow my kidneys to drain properly, and I have a metabolic defect where I do not process calcium correctly.  The calcium goes into my urine not my blood stream like it should, so there for also does not go into my bones.  This has cause numerous problems including, both of my kidneys being full of calcifications, stones and chronic infection.  In Aug.  I went to Dr. Wolf at the University of Michigan and he performed a procedure, where they put a small hole over each collecting duct in my kidneys and released all the stones within each pocket.  18 out of 20 of them were calcified, and the blasted 2 larger stones.  My doctors here and I thought he got all the stones, but we were shocked and saddened to learn by my KUB, that the procedure simply took off the type of the iceberg, as Dr. Wolf explained.  This has given me a remission, from the chronic pain, and at least for now the infection seems to be under control. They usually do not do this procedure on both kidneys, because it can increase your creatine rate but we had to drive a long etc. so they did both at the same time so, it is understandable why the creatine rates would go up.   I am hopeful that it will go back down since everything should be healed.

Sorry so a long answer.  I do know that your heart and kidneys are closely related, and your surgery could have effected your creatine rate.  I would mention it to your doctors and ask them about it too.

Since before the surgery my creatine rates were slowly increasing every test but my URO seemed unconcerned, I started reading nephrology books.  I was surprised to read in there that limiting the amount of protein in your diet, especially, meat. can help your kidneys a lot.  The information I read  said that meat is really hard on the kidneys to process.  I am a meat lover by the way... unfortunately but have found with my MSK that large amounts of meat cause me more kidney pain!

Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Shelly

[Maverick1818]

No need to apologize for a long answer, I appreciate the information.  With your condition, what is the long term prognosis?  With mine, my nephrologist has said that I may eventually need a kidney transplant.  Obviously, that is something I would like to avoid at all costs, or at least delay it for as long as I possibly can.  What you said about limiting intake of protein is interesting...I wasn't aware that too much would increase the creatinine level.

Michael

[MSKshelly]

I can't find the articles I found on the protein levels quickly I do a lot of research...., however I did a search on nephrology and started reading.  I was surprised that my URO agreed with me about watching my proteins etc.and it helping my levels.
I did find a report called Renal Injury due to environmental, toxins, drugs and contrast media etc.  If you pm me an e-mail address I will send it to you.  This could explain the increase with the procedure you had done etc.  I would post the link but I don't know where I found it, I just have the whole article.

We were making some antibiotic decisions, and so I did some research to find the ones that would have less risk of damaging my kidneys, when I found this article

The prognosis, in my case... hmmm since my case is a little drastic in that the infection started when I was scoped with unsterile, yes unsterile instruments in a hospital surgery 13 years ago...,(no law suit we had no idea what we were getting into,) so the bacteria are pretty resistant. well I have lost count of the doctors other then mine including my pharmacist, who have told me eventually the infection will take me if the calcifications don't(The infection would attack a transplant too), but I am continually encouraged that new answers are found!  I don't give up and focus on learning, helping and trying to find answers.  I have a peace about eternity, so just don't worry about it much.  I am only 44, and have teenagers etc.
I just keep fighting to be as well as I can to be here for them... and try to help others along the way!

I would be glad to send you that article if you think it might help you to know what to watch for and maybe buy you some time as well!

Shelly

[justtobesure1]

One reason for the increase creatinine level could be the angioplasty as the die is very hard on the kidneys

[Maverick1818]

Thank you for responding...I was actually told this by my nephrologist prior to the angioplasty...due to the dye, my creatinine spiked to 4.8, but has come back down to 2.8.

[MSKshelly]

That makes sense, at least now you know, and why the dye causes it to spike!!

However 2.8, isn't great either, but maybe with more understanding you will be able to limit the stress on your kidneys!  I would encourage
you to keep seeking answers, and do what you can to increase your kidney health!
Best Wishes, and again if I come across the other articles I will send them your way!

Shelly