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ebmick1973 Asked February 2020

GFR 10; what should I expect?

Does anyone have any experience with end stage renal disease ESRD in a loved one? My 81 year old mom’s glomerular filtration rate GFR has been declining over the past few years. Just found out it was 10 (was about 16 a year ago). This is from years of uncontrolled hypertension. She has lost weight over the last year, sleeps a lot more and her dementia is pretty bad (at times). Itchy dry skin too. She has no intention of doing dialysis. Seems (now I don’t know exactly) to be urinating about the same?


Just wondering if anyone has some stories of what to expect in addition to some of these symptoms. I am in healthcare so I know the “data” but wanted possibly some real life
experiences.
thank you all!

golden23 Feb 2020
Can you have home hospice called in without specifically telling her? Could you explain to her that someone is coming in to assist you? It could be very helpful to her in easing pain/discomforts and also to you. Sometimes we have to tell a little story to get the right thing done.I presume you have POA medical and financial. What a difficult time for both of you. Please do keep us updated.

There was a gal on here about a year ago whose mum passed from renal disease. She had been on dialysis but eventually it wasn't able to sustain her. I believe she passed peacefully. That gal is not on AC anymore or she could relate to you. (((((((hugs)))))

JoAnn29 Feb 2020
Here is a booklet discribing this.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/11-10-1813_gfr.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjl_ruvsrvnAhWBMd8KHS9fBrIQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw2LE4jotbFi8kt9D_S8ogTZ&cshid=1580939725278

Seems Mom is in failure. If she won't do dialysis you will see her cognitive ability to be effected. They get Dementia type symptoms caused by the toxins in the body. Once this starts to happen, death is close. You may want to get Hospice in to keep Mom comfortable.
ebmick1973 Feb 2020
She I believe qualifies. But she has ALWAYS hated talking too much about her health stuff. When I did explain her kidney numbers she said, so I’m dying ...just ugh. But that’s how she responded back almost 3 years ago with stroke symptoms and we found out her kidney numbers were bad. She refused to see a nephrologist. So anyway, here we are.
Id LOVE to call in hospice as I know it isn’t an imminent death sentence and in fact they can live longer. But she just doesn’t handle stuff like that very well.
and her cognition is very much affected now. Short term is shot.

thank you so much for your message! I’ll try to keep this updated

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golden23 Feb 2020
I am sorry for your mum's decline. I am boosting this up in case someone can answer.

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