I was diagnosed with RA 14 yrs ago and diagnosed with stage 3a kidney disease last year. Until I read these answers I didn't know that it was related to my RA. Of couse it is probably related to my diabetes which I was diagnosed with 2 years ago.

Hi Wanda,
Yes, I was diagnosed with RA 6 yrs ago which came after my first encounter with only one RA flare several years prior. Autoimmune diseases are not fun, seems if you you have one, another wants to show up. My diagnosis for AKF was almost two years ago now. So far it has been just monitoring and a change to a low potassium diet.

Glad I found this question. Since I have been having this last flare up, blood work has been showing kidney disease. My rheumatologist noticed it when she did blood work after starting methotrexate. Showed up then. Took me off that. Ran another test and said it was improving. No more test until I went for my welcome to Medicare exam. Family doctor see my kidney disease. Now he is running another test this week. I sent him an email about rheumatologist test. We will see this week if I get a call to go to a kidney spec. Thought maybe rheumatoid is attacking kidneys.

I didn't get to that point. My numbers starting improving once my RA was treated. Dr. just stopped treatment, so my kidney function started to go down again. Not as bad as you, but low enough to be considered kidney damage. Hope my numbers start to go up again. Dialysis is a terrible thing to go through! Keep fighting! Best wishes!

yes I have since 2004 and see a kidney doctor regular. I have to do blood work every 3 months pain in the but I have had all kinds of testing for dialysis but so far don't have to do that. He tells e your kidney level has to go below 14 and stay there for dialysis.. I tell him I don't want to do dialysis if I can help it that barbaric..