acute kidney failure due to arteriogram

[Unregistered]

I would like to know how long it might take for my kidneys to improve IF they are going to.
Is there anything that can be done other that to treat the severe anemia with iron and a strict diet? I am drinking lots of fluids because I seem to stay dehydrated. I am not swelling too much, only ankles some. My kidneys have been functioning at 11% for three weeks. The arteriogram was done middle of June 08 and my problem was discoverd three weeks ago. I don't want to waste valuable time and loose viable kidney functioning IF there is any other therapy available that is better. I do live in a small town, so I am wondering If they are doing all that can be done. Please, help.

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Unregistered,

I'm sorry to hear that you have acute kidney failure after your arteriogram--probably due to the contrast dye, which is very hard on the kidneys. That must be very scary for you, and good for you for seeking information.

Here is a U.S. Government website with information about how acute kidney failure is treated: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/000501.htm.

Reading this, it would seem that drinking a lot of fluid might not be the best idea. It may also be wise to limit your protein intake. Hopefully you don't smoke tobacco, which can cause kidney damage. Here is a link to our information about ways you can protect your kidney function--we wrote them for chronic kidney disease, but they are true for you, too: http://www.lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/ckdinfo.php?page=3#A.

Often when kidney failure is acute (sudden) and due to a toxin or poison, the kidneys will recover in a few weeks, if the toxin or poison is removed. It's already been about 12 weeks for you. Sometimes dialysis is needed to give the kidneys a rest so they can recover. If this is the case for you, please think about doing peritoneal dialysis (PD), as it helps preserve kidney function better than in-center hemodialysis (HD). I've heard of people whose kidneys recovered after as long as a year or two on dialysis. Hopefully it will be much faster for you.

Finally, if your anemia is only being treated with iron and diet, ask your doctor about injections of erythropoeitin (EPO), the hormone that tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells. Anemia due to kidney failure is NOT generally from iron deficiency (though this can be part of it), it's usually a shortage of EPO, which is made by healthy kidneys. When the kidneys fail, they don't make enough EPO, so you don't have enough red blood cells. It takes a few weeks to make new red blood cells, but once you do, you'll have less fatigue and more energy.