Dr Sue has been. The lung infection has cleared and Vic’s saturation is back up to 98%! What a little trooper she is!
She is however in Stage 4 renal and liver failure.
Chronic Kidney Disease is diagnosed by the eGFR and other factors, and is divided into five stages:
| Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease | eGFR ml/min/1.73 m |
| Stage 1: the eGFR shows normal kidney function but you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. For example, you may have some protein or blood in your urine, an abnormality of your kidney, kidney inflammation, etc. | 90 or more |
| Stage 2: mildly reduced kidney function AND you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. People with an eGFR of 60-89 without any known kidney damage or disease are not considered to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). | 60 to 89 |
| Stage 3: moderately reduced kidney function. (With or without a known kidney disease. For example, an elderly person with ageing kidneys may have reduced kidney function without a specific known kidney disease.) | 45 to 59 (3A) 30 to 44 (3B) |
| Stage 4: severely reduced kidney function. (With or without known kidney disease.) | 15 to 29 |
| Stage 5: very severely reduced kidney function. This is sometimes called end-stage kidney failure or established renal failure. | Less than 15 |
Only last week Vic complained to one of her siblings that she is battling with hiccups. We laughed about it and reminded her of the old wives tale that if you steal you will get hiccups… We wanted to know what she had stolen… If any person in the world told me then that hiccups is a symptom of kidney failure I would of thought they were taking the Micky out of me!
Renal Failure Symptoms http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kidney-failure/DS00682/DSECTION=symptoms
- Nausea CHECK
- Vomiting CHECK
- Loss of appetite CHECK
- Fatigue and weakness CHECK
- Sleep problems CHECK
- Changes in urine output CHECK
- Decreased mental sharpness CHECK
- Muscle twitches and cramps CHECK
- Hiccups CHECK
- Swelling of the feet and ankles CHECK
- Persistent itching CHECK
- Chest pain, if fluid accumulates around the lining of the heart CHECK
- Shortness of breath, if fluid accumulates in the lungs CHECK
- High blood pressure (hypertension) that’s difficult to control NEGATIVE
- Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema)
- A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia), which could impair your heart’s ability to function and may be life-threatening
- Heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease)
- Weak bones and an increased risk of bone fractures
- Anemia
- Damage to your central nervous system, which can cause difficulty concentrating, personality changes or seizures
- Decreased immune response, which makes you more vulnerable to infection
- Pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac-like membrane that envelops your heart (pericardium)
- Irreversible damage to your kidneys (end-stage kidney disease), eventually requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival
Treating the cause of kidney failure
- High blood pressure medications. High blood pressure medications can initially decrease kidney function and change electrolyte levels, so you may have frequent blood tests to monitor your condition. Your doctor will likely also recommend a low-salt diet. Not possible. Vic has low sodium levels.
- Medications to lower cholesterol levels. Your doctor may recommend medications, called statins, to lower your cholesterol. People with chronic kidney failure often experience high levels of bad cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease. We are not going to stick another unneccesary needle into this poor child. If she has high cholestrol so be it!
- Medications to relieve anemia. In certain situations, your doctor may recommend supplements of the hormone erythropoietin (uh-rith-row-POY-uh-tin), sometimes with added iron. Erythropoietin supplements can induce production of more red blood cells, which may relieve fatigue and weakness associated with anemia. Done
- Medications to relieve swelling. People with chronic kidney failure may retain fluids. This can lead to swelling in the arms and legs, aswell as high blood pressure. Medications called diuretics can help maintain the balance of fluids in your body. Done
- Medications to protect your bones. Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent weak bones and lower your risk of fracture. You may also take medication to lower the amount of phosphate in your blood, which increases the amount of calcium available for your bones. Not possible – Vic has Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- A lower protein diet to minimize waste products in your blood.As your body processes protein from foods, it creates waste products that your kidneys must filter from your blood. To reduce the amount of work your kidneys must do, your doctor may recommend eating less protein. Your doctor may also ask you to meet with a dietitian who can suggest ways to lower your protein intake while still eating a healthy diet. Vic is on a soft diet
CONCLUSION: Vic’s kidney failure is irreversible. There are no drugs to reverse the process. The question can only be whether Vic will go onto dialysis…. The decision will be her’s to make.
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Vic's Final Journey 