I thought I would share a bit about my kidney function tests.

[Realfoodieclub]

As the bridge to 10km is a slightly more technical forum on the running front I just wanted to share a bit about my journey becoming a kidney donor and how i have had to be careful with my runs around test days.

In the early days of the tests I wasn't running that much or hard as it was just before I started my HM training for last year and then the next lot of tests came after when I was recovering. Then there was a long break as we waited for MrRfc to be ready. In that time I stopped my events as I have found out that I am more prone to colds and things up to 3 months after a HM. Reading some more about this I found that it was not so uncommon, I eat well and look after myself but the HM was body stress on top of emotional stress and I decided with my doctors not to put my body through that as we didn't know when I was going to be needed.

All the tests that I had done in late 2015/2016 had to be repeated January this year so they could check I was still a suitable donor and it was going to be safe for my long term health. When my kidney function came back It had dropped 15 points, still in a nice healthy range but a drop. Four weeks later came the call we have to check it again as they were not to happy even though it's in normal ranges. The call came a week before I was to take the test. After talking to my consultant I realised I had had a really good run two days before the test. A push yourself, PB, come on Here and shout about it sort of run. I still remember coming home from it, high fiving MrRfc when I got in, it was that good. The upshot was the body needed to heal from that. I'm not a doctor or nurse (so if anyone can explain it better please do) but it is something to do with your creatinine levels as this is needed to increase to help recovery of the muscles you have broken down, at this time you also need more hydration to deal with the process, so higher creatinine levels and slight dehydration will drop your Egfr levels which is the blood test they use to look at your kidney function. It's only temporary and in a couple of days it has all come back to normal but boy did it give us a massive scare for a little while.

I stopped running for a few days before the next test and made sure I was properly hydrated and it was fine but it does go to show all the little changes that go on at a molecular level when we run.

I'm aiming on putting my running shoes back on May/June and will have to be very aware of kidney health and hydration as my body learns to do everything it needs to do with one kidney. I have also be told I should stay away from any protein supplements, bars and shakes and things as well as it's a lot for the kidney to process and it won't be good for me.

So when your planning your runs and there are some really heavy ones in there spare a thought for your body that is doing all this work behind the scenes on your rest days. Rest is needed especially the harder you train.

Wishing you all happiness and health

Rfc x.

[Millsie-J]

Thinking of you Rfc. Xxxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you. X

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Really interesting. I have often wondered about the immune system and running certainly and whether there is a balance to be struck (perhaps remembering the hand gel business for the cyclists)

My Dad was really glum about his PSA levels shooting up and then I mentioned that they can be affected by cycling - he does spin classes. (He's still back on the treatment and I don't know if he has spoken to anyone about the spin class issue, but now knows he needs an interval between his class and his monitoring blood tests)

Rest days rock!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to GoogleMe]

Interesting about the spin class, I suppose if we were cars we might give it more thought about maintenance.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

I noticed years ago that I was prone to colds immediately after heavy exertion. Overdoing it with swimming was almost a guarantee to fall ill. And one of my last colds was immediately after graduation here when I went for my first long run and probably overdid it a bit! So there is a lot going on in our bodies that we don't know about. Amazing things!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

I'm lucky in a way, when I had my thyroid radiation treatment the tablet got stuck and burned and now has left me with a weakness in my throat so I get a mild sore throats as a warning and I know to ease off a bit, managed to not activate it too much at all this last year.

[Tomas Graduate10]

I have read that statistically the largest group of people with a common cold you find under normal circumstances is in planes leaving major international marathons. Chock full of people that have worn their immune system down, and all it takes is one person with a few germs, and suddenly they all have it. Your tale gives the scientific reason for the anecdotal story.

You're doing a beautiful thing, and I admire you for it. Hope you can pick the running back again, as you say, once it's all over.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Tomas]

Thank you. Planes are terrible at the best of Time for bugs in my mind. I take strepsils on flights to help. Don't know if it's just a placebo but it seem to help.

[davelinks Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Sipping only water throughout the flight also helps

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

Thanks for explaning that. Quite bizarrely I was telling someone today about how I had enjoyed the LWR and been lucky enough to spot you and scrounge some cake. I mentioned to her that your renal function had been affected by a hard run - we got as far as connecting creatinine to muscles and that was it. Once again good luck.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to ancientrunner]

The thing I don't know is what the stuff the bodybuilders take in powder form to build more muscles that is called something like cretine? I don't know if it's a synthetic substance, not that I would ever add that in to my body.

[ancientrunner Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

No, I wouldn't touch it. I think it affects heart muscle as well and can lead to early death. There was that Olympic athlete, I think it was Donna Hartley who then became a bodybuilder and died at a young age. She also looked dreadful whereas she had been really fit and healthy looking before.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Interesting stuff.

What was the hand gel thing Googleme? do tell

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Thanks.

[GoogleMe Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Oh it was part of the whole 'marginal gains' thing - that very small changes added up to winning a whole lot of medals. Using hand gel to cut down on transmission of minor but mess with your training bugs was one of those things. (I don't think gyms are terribly healthy places!)

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

Yes, very interesting. I came down with a lurgy after my 10K race last year, it was pretty much the first cold day of the year and drizzly. I wondered if I would have fought that one off if I wasn't knackered...

I'm really interested to see how running affects my sleep patterns. As a life long insomniac who never got more than 4-6 hours a night, it's a bit of a shock to find I can/need to sleep for 8-10 hours now, and an afternoon nap too! I was always active, always exercised, it's just running that does that to me...bit of a catch 22, of course I have less time for running when I'm sleeping all the time!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

I think it's time the heavy training before hand as well as just the event. I have a sweet spot on the sleep 5-7km sleep brilliantly 7-14 km can't sleep 14 onwards comatose.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

That's interesting, I shall test that out! Thank you!

[poppypug Graduate10]

Yes, that is very interesting , just shows how how bodies are working " behind the scenes "

I always know when Ive overdone it as I feel as if I am going to come down with something xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to poppypug]

I just get that lititle niggle in my throat. Not to be gored.

[AnneDroid Graduate10]

Very interesting stuff. A couple of times I've overdone it a bit and been just floored. It's a horrible feeling. I hadn't thought to research what was going on.

But apart from that I do hope everything goes well for you both. My friend gave a kidney to her husband two years ago and it has all gone brilliantly but it was a trying time to say the least. God bless you. Xx

[skysue16 Graduate10]

How interesting, thanks for sharing. When I was teaching full time I often got ill at the start of holiday time. I put that down to a sudden drop in adrenaline because the body and mind were no longer under stress. It was annoying!

[PrincessStef Graduate10]

Well done on the donation. My husband has an unknown donor kidney and it changed our lives. He had it 17 years ago. Our daughter was 3 years old at the time. It was hard for about 12-18 months as the docs got his meds regime right, so there will be tough times for both of you ahead but it will get better. Good luck to you both x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to PrincessStef]

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, I've just come back on the site. Thank you, things are going well and it always helps to hear such great positive stories as well. We have a great team getting his meds sorted.