Your letters: It’s on our records but no one let us know
I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1990. I took my medication daily and had my progress monitored by my local doctor’s surgery.
Often my readings were raised but this wasn’t acted upon. Instead they said they would see how my next reading was and then perhaps the doctor would change or raise my medication – which never happened. In my ignorance, I thought that if anything was wrong I would be informed and treated as such.
Then, in 2016, I was told that due to persistent high blood pressure my kidneys were in serious trouble: the right one had no function and the left had about 30 per cent.
I am extremely disappointed that I’m in this situation. At no time was I ever warned of the dangers or consequences of high blood pressure on my kidneys. I have effectively had my life cut short.
Robert Brook, Cornwall, 69
I am an active 73-year-old with a healthy weight, stable blood pressure, I’m not diabetic, never smoked and drink very little alcohol.
However, I had a blood test about 18 months ago and was told my cholesterol level was high. I was instructed to avoid pastry and cut down on fats, which I have, and was prescribed statins. As a result, my cholesterol has come down.
In March I had another blood test which I was led to believe went well. A week later I accessed my health records via the NHS app and saw under the category ‘health conditions’ that I have stage three chronic kidney disease. When I asked a nurse why I hadn’t been told this, the response was that the doctor probably hadn’t wanted to scare me. Barbara Jones-Williams, Worcestershire, 73
I’ve had high blood pressure for quite some time but there wasn’t much effort from my doctors to control it until I had a stroke more than a year ago. Now I have regular check-ups and take daily tablets to bring my levels down.
At no point has anyone ever mentioned the effect this might have on my kidneys – until a few weeks ago when I got a text telling me my ‘kidney function has dropped further’.
I had no idea what this meant but when I checked my medical
records on the NHS app I saw that I apparently have kidney disease – a total surprise to me.
I wish I had been told about this risk sooner so I could have taken steps to stop it from progressing. I worry how it will affect my health in the future.
James Hill, Brighton, 76
I have been on tablets for high blood pressure for years but I was never told that there was any risk to my kidneys. So imagine my shock when, after my annual blood pressure check, I received a phone call from my GP telling me I had stage three chronic kidney disease.
I was informed that this was likely caused by the blood pressure medicines I am taking, which apparently can damage the kidneys over time.
I’ve still not seen my GP and I know very little about what this diagnosis means for my health.
Joan Brighton, Lincolnshire, 83
I have type 2 diabetes, which I control with a good diet, and high blood pressure, which is controlled with medication.
I’ve received routine blood and urine tests for some time, and know they can spot kidney disease, but I’ve never been given any cause to worry.
However, last month I got a telephone call from a doctor at my GP practice who said she was very concerned about my kidneys and that I was at risk of kidney failure and could need dialysis in the future.
To say I was shocked is an understatement. This condition had never been discussed in any of my regular reviews.
She said I’d need to send in urgent urine and blood samples, which I did. Four weeks later, I haven’t heard anything about my results. I still do not know whether I am at risk of serious disease or not.
Gary Spence, Midlands, 76
I was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago. Then, four years ago, I had a letter from my doctor listing the conditions I suffer from – and chronic kidney disease was on the list.
When I asked why I was not told about this, he said it was probably nothing to worry about.
But last year I was told my kidneys were not working properly. It makes me wonder whether, if I was told by my doctor when I was first diagnosed, I could’ve taken steps to avoid this.
Danny Gee, via email