If you have more questions to ask about Acute Kidney Injury you should make an appointment to discuss these with your doctor. Your doctor will arrange follow up blood tests to assess the recovery of your kidney function. You can ask for the blood test results and see how they change. You should also ask to have your blood pressure checked. Your medications should be reviewed and the doses may need to be adjusted. You may be warned about the use of ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Our kidneys are very hard working organs and it is only when they fall below 10% efficiency that they may need help such as dialysis.
There are important things, which you can do at an earlier stage to help them.
This involves healthy living with a healthy weight, avoiding salt or low salt alternatives in your diet and not smoking.
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure having good control can help stabilise kidney function and your doctor or nurse can advise you about this.
If you have been taking regular anti-inflammatory medication this will be reviewed and you may be offered alternative treatment.
If your blood tests show that your kidney function is less than 60% efficient at least 3 months after your illness (known as eGFR less than 60), then this is known as Chronic Kidney Disease. Here Chronic means more than 3 months. Your GP will identify this and you will be included on a register in your GP’s practice. It is important that you have your blood pressure and urine checked at least once a year for this condition. You may also be at increased risk of suffering another episode of Acute Kidney Injury.
If you are unwell and unable to drink properly, particularly if you are losing extra fluid through vomiting or diarrhoea, or you have a high temperature and sweats, then it is important that you discuss your condition with a medical professional. This may be your GP or a specialist nurse, for example a heart failure or kidney nurse if you have one. You may be advised to stop taking medications which lower your blood pressure and a blood test will be arranged to check your kidney function. If you are admitted to hospital for a specialist x-ray or operation, you should make your health care team aware you have had Acute Kidney Injury.
If you are only passing small amounts of urine you may need admission to hospital. Please do not delay calling your GP if this occurs.
NHS England has developed a very helpful website called Think Kidneys. You will be able to read the stories of other people who have had this problem and see what medical professionals are doing to learn more and reduce the risks of this condition.
The British Kidney Patient Association has lots of information and support for kidney patients. It has a counselling service and offers advocacy and direct grants, as well as funding patient-centred research, healthcare professionals and projects.