Kidney Check

I have learnt a big lesson from this - IT'S YOUR LIFE; TAKE IT INTO YOUR OWN HANDS!
If I had waited for medical professionals to come to my rescue, I would probably be near dead in 3 years time.

My urine pathology came back and I'm investigating it. I see something that raises a red flag: GFR=65 ml/min.
I got the FAQ from the National Kidney Foundation about GFR Estimates, and here is some vital information:

"1) What is GFR? {My notes: it's the basic measuring of kidney function}
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is equal to the total of the filtration rates of the functioning nephrons in the kidney.

3) What does GFR indicate? {My notes: my GFR is less than half of what it should be. ALARM BELLS!}
GFR is usually accepted as the best overall index of kidney function. A clinician or medical laboratory can estimate GFR from a person’s serum creatinine level and some or all of the following variables: gender, age, weight, and race.

Normal GFR varies according to age, sex, and body size; in young adults it is approximately 120-130 mL/min/1.73 m2 and declines with age. A decrease in GFR precedes the onset of kidney failure; therefore, a persistently reduced GFR is a specific diagnostic criterion for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the prevalence of complications of CKD increases, as does the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

This is very interesting, taken from http://mydepuyhiprecall.com:

Nine-Year Incidence of Kidney Disease in Patients Who Have had Total Hip Arthroplasty. 

Chandran SE, Giori NJ. J Arthroplasty. 2011 Apr 18. [Epub ahead of print]

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Abstract

Metal-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) is contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function due to increased metal ion output relative to other bearings and renal excretion of metal ions. Although one can avoid a metal-metal THA in a patient with renal disease, a patient may be destined to develop renal disease later in life. In this study, we sought to determine the incidence of newly diagnosed renal disease in the 9 years after THA. Using the Department of Veterans Affairs national database, we identified 1709 patients who had a primary THA in 2000without preexisting renal disease. We found the 9-year risk of developing chronic renal disease after primary THA to be 14% and severe or end-stage renal disease to be 6%

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What a difference 3 years make!  Very interesting indeed."

I have made an appointment with a nephrologist, and will update again on progress, results and findings.