I received the following letter from my kidney doctor (nephrologist) today:

“…I have received a copy of your labs drawn on November 7.  These showed your serum creatinine to be 2.1.  This is in the same general range that we have observed over the last six years of so.  This corresponds with kidney function that is approximately 35-40% of normal. …”

Funniest thing.  This doctor’s former partner, Dr. Ling (since killed by the angry parent of another patient), told me that my serum creatinine was 2.8, or about 20-25% of normal, and that it would never recover from that level.  His job, he said, was to monitor my kidney function to make sure it did not deteriorate further, and that I was on the edge of requiring dialysis.  I remember levels of 2.6-2.8 regularly, might even have had a 2.9 or 3.1.  (Values are in mg/dL)

So now that I have a 2.1, it is not a significant decline?  35-40% is not better than 20-25%?  The fact that I am having none of the signs of kidney disease means nothing:?

Go figure.  Doctors just can’t allow themselves to be wrong.  I did take it upon myself to write the good doctor a letter outlining the differences between his statements and his predecessor’s.

If you’re wondering what I’ve been doing for the improvement, it involves taking an extract of stinging nettle seed.  The label instructions say to take 30-40 drops 4 times daily (in water), but due to my poor financial situation I’ve been taking 20 drops 3 times daily.  If I could get access to a field of stinging nettle (I know people with them all over their property, just don’t have a vehicle to get there), I could make it cheaply.  Buying it online is not cheap, about $42 for 120 ml.

Hugs,
Me