Talking to your doctor about your kidney health

If you have kidney disease or signs that your kidneys may not be working as they should, talk with your doctor about your kidney health.

What should I tell my doctor?

Being prepared can help you get the most out of your clinic visit. Come to your visit with a list of:

• Your symptoms
• How long you have had your symptoms
• Your current medicines, including how much you take (dose) and how often you take them 
• Your recent creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lab test results, if you’ve had those tests
• Your medical and surgical history
• Your family medical history
• Blood pressure results, if you measure it at home
• Recent weight measurements
• Health insurance information
• Your current doctors and their contact information

What questions can I ask my doctor?

You can bring a list of questions to ask your doctor, such as: 

• Questions about your kidneys:
  • Why am I being referred to a kidney doctor (nephrologist)?
  • Why are my kidneys not working properly?
  • What stage of kidney disease am I in?
  • What does this stage of kidney disease mean for me?
  • Could we review my lab tests?
• Questions about treatment:
  • What are the treatment options for my kidney disease?
  • Are there medicines that I shouldn’t take?
  • Will I eventually need dialysis or a kidney transplant?
• Questions about changes you can make:
  • How can I slow, delay, or reverse kidney damage?
  • Should I change what I eat or drink? 
  • Can I exercise or make other changes that can help slow kidney damage?
• Questions about what to do next:
  • What are my next steps?
  • Are there other resources to help me better understand my kidney disease?

Asking questions can help you have a good plan for your health.

Return to Chapter