CKD Stage 3b help with diet due to drop in gfr.

[Milko]

I had my regular six monthly blood test last week and have now been told that my gfr has dropped from 44 to 37 so I have to go for another blood test in three weeks. What I would like help with is advice on my diet. All the Dr. has told me is to keep off red meat, dairy products and not to eat the yolk of eggs. I have high blood pressure and am on Ramipril 5mg which is keeping it under control, and I try to exercise as much as I can. I lost my Mother two months ago and am wondering if that may have had some effect. I have never been advised to see a nutritionist and am wondering if other people have by this stage in different parts of the country. I live in the south west.

[lillyrae]

Hi milko...I had gfr at 57 my first test 2 half years ago which i didnt understand it at all my dr was useless...The information i found was online and talking to others...Im on a site called da vita they are good and diet tips good also..I found before i had this blood test that i went of potatoes and dinners ...just didnt fancy them anymore also went of meat i lost 2 stone and am still finiky in what i eat....my latest blood test was 59 gfr which was better im due a blood test anytime now...somedays i just feel so tired also i had i.l.s. all the time before i changed my diet now i dont have it unless i have a binge day which i do now and again.....There should be more help available to us and i feel we should be sent to a nutritionist to help guide us when i asked my dr to refer me he wouldnt we had an arguement and i walked out the surgery...now i just plod on getting info here and there...I hope you find the answers your looking for ..good luck....

[Milko in reply to lillyrae]

Thank you for your help re diet, I agree it would be lovely to have more guidelines about which are good foods and which are bad and those which are allowed in small quantities. Will go on the da vita site, like you I get tired which is so frustrating. I do hope that your latest test comes back with a good result.

Take care

[Hidden]

Hi Milko,

It is important to keep your blood pressure under control to protect your kidney function. Also your cholesterol levels need to be within normal range so you should check this out. Cut out additional salt in your food, if you can, as this isn't good for your blood pressure and can make you retain water. Generally, a healthy, balanced diet including all the food groups in moderation is a good guide with plenty of fruit and vegetables. A high protein diet creates creatinine when breaking down which the kidneys find harder to remove from your blood stream if you have a moderate reduction in kidney function, so just be aware of how much protein you have in your diet, but you do need a healthy balance.

If you would like to receive our CKD Health Check book (free) please ring the NKF

Helpline on 0845 601 02 09 (free from UK landlines).

Stricter dietary controls would be necessary if your kidney function level were to become more severe but you fall into Stage 3 which is moderate. Make sure you have a regular eGFR test and check with your Pharmacist before buying over the counter drugs - anti-inflammatories should be avoided with reduced kidney function.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

[Milko in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your advice so quickly and will give the Helpline a ring re the CKD Health Check book. Will definitely cut down on the proteins and increase my intake of veges and fruit, much easier in the summer with all the salad ingredients available. Thanks again

[nonie2147 in reply to Milko]

BEEN WATCHING PROTEIN INTAKE CLOSELY. RECENTLY WAS INFORMED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI- WHICH I HAVE BEEN CONSUMING A LOT LATELY,-THESE TWO FOODS CONTAIN PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM- WHICH AFFECT YOUR INCREASE CREATININE AND LOWER GFR. SO FRUSTRATING TRYING TO EAT CORRECTLY- ALSO INCLUDED ON NEW LISTS OF DONTS-SWEET POTATOES, POTATOES, YOGURT, O.J.,CANTALOPE, ICE CREAM,BANANAS, PORK, MILK, SALMON NUTS RAISINS AND TUNA,YOGURT, BEANS, COTTAGE CHEESE, WHOLE GRAINS, SARDINES, POLOCK, COLAS AND NUTS. OK- HAVE MY LIST OF DONT EAT. WHAT IS LEFT FOR ME TO EAT. TURKEY AND WATER, CARROTS,CAULIFLOWER, PEAS, STRING BEANS,APPLES- OH, AND OATMEAL ONLY 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. ANY SUGGESTIONS???? ALSO HAVE KIDNEY STONES, SO TOMATOES, LETTUCE AND SPINACH ARE ALSO OUT. GO SPARINGLY ON PEACHES, TOO. ANYONE? HELP

[pluto94]

The stricter diet can also be managed better by requesting to talk to the dietician at your clinic appointments . They will have access to your blood results and will also be able to guide you as to which foods your are over doing by your phosphate , calcium, potassium levels, Oily fish is one not many people point out as not to good for you as has high phosphate levels, Eliminate nuts , dried fruits, boil all potatoes before eating , reduce tomatoes , dairy, salt. maximum 3 eggs per week, no coffee or milky drinks , That is the guide I used pre dialysis and stemmed the reduction in my kidneys to just 3% fall each year .

[Milko in reply to pluto94]

Thank you for your reply, I have not been put in touch with a dietician I just speak to my GP who has given me limited advice. Was most interested in what you said regarding the blood result levels, if my level is still down after the next blood test may ask for an appointment with my GP and ask her what my phosphate, calcium and potassium levels are and for some advice from her as to which foods to eliminate and which to cut down on.

I hope things are going well for you at the moment, many thanks again.

[nonie2147 in reply to pluto94]

HAVE BEEN TO DIETICIAN- UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NON-PASSING KIDNEY STONES, TOO. THE DIETS FOR STONES AND DISEASE TOTALLY CONFLICT. EXAMPLE- CRANBERRY JUICE GOOD FOR DISEASE- BAD FOR STONE GROWTH. DIETICIAN COMPARED DIETS AND JUST SAID- MAYBE YOU SHOULD FOLLOW DIET TO CONTROL STONES. ALL MY RESEARCH AGREES DIETS CONFLICT. CHINA HAS GOOD TREATMENT FOR BOTH- BUT HAVE TO GO THERE! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO CATCH UP TO THEM? PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HOLDING US BACK. TRUSTING GOD ONLY.

[sukki]

Hi Milko, I live in the South West too and find my GP's have little interest in caring for CKD patients. I was told by a GP that we make more work for them! I was also told that if I want to see a consultant I will have to pay for it, which I did.If I hadn't paid to see a consultant I would never have known that I had scar tissue on both kidneys. I am at Stage 3a. I am so grateful for this website as I feel I am no longer on my own. Best wishes to all CKD sufferers x

[Milko]

Thank you for your reply, yes it is strange how the service people receive differs so greatly throughout the country. Like you without this website I too would be feeling lost, it is so nice to know I am not alone and have the support of other members of this community. I do hope that things stabilise for you. Take care.

[poppydolly]

i have asked to see my unit's dieticion three times and all she ever says is that my blood results seem fine so i must be doing ok, this is despite the fact that my grf is now 7!

i was interested about the post saying cut out milky drinks, because my calcium levels are so low i have been drinking a glass of milks each day (also i enjoy it) and i was never told not to - i am rather confused now

[Milko]

I hope somebody else will read your post and give you some advice, all I can say is that in my case I have been told to cut out dairy but that may not necessarily be right for you. If your dietician is telling you that your blood results seem fine it is probably alright for you to carry on drinking the milk especially if you enjoy it, is there somebody else at your unit you can ask for help? Let me know how you get on, best wishes.

[derby24 in reply to Milko]

Regarding blood results I now ask my gp surgery for a copy of the blood results. They are easy to understand as it shows your levels and the normal levels. I am then able to decide for myself what diet changes I can make together with the help of the CKD diet available online.

And I agree gp's are not much help.

[overnighthearingloss]

Your kidneys regulate blood pressure and cleanse the blood. When they are not working properly toxins build up in the body.

I found in my case - following a renal crisis when my egfr dropped to 8, that acid foods were difficult to digest. I found this food advice link on the internet and adjusted my diet to eat a greater proportion of akaline based foods. You dont have to exclude everything but I found that a greater proportion of alkaline foods seemed to reverse things for me. I do not have perfect kidney function now but it is a lot better than it was.

rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalk...

SALT is a definite no no. Unfortunately salt is included in many processed or pre-prepared foods, so the closer you can get to basics is better.Salt is also included in thing like stock cubes, crisps, ready meals, etc so there is a big learning curve.

Its worth at least trying for an improvement as its better to delay or avoid dialysis if you can.

[louise1971]

Hi I was diagnosed in October last year, I am also a type 1 diabetic, so have a limited diet as it is. My GFR was 36 in October, it was 28 in March, it is now at 18, I too have had little to no assistance from the consultant, he just said to stop eating salt, in meals and not to add it in food or at the table, so I went cold turkey I used to eat a lot of salt and takeaway food, but I would have an Indian takeaway occasionally as Chinese has a lot of MSG in it which is sodium. I was told to relax it a bit as I was going on holiday so I did came back 3 weeks ago and had a blood test for diabetic clinic to find I am now borderline stage 4 in less than 8 months!!! at this rate I will be on dialysis, if it wasn't for my diabetic visit and chat to consultant I would have remained the same on the diet. I have come to the conclusion that most clinics don't really care, mine for the kidneys, just says I am doing well, well I feel I am not so I have been on the laptop and found out about the renal diet, basically there is no dairy, no red met no processed foods, no tomatoes, no tea or coffee, no sugar substitutes i.e canderel, no peas, no nuts or seeds, no bread unless it is gluten free, most foods are better if gluten free. So I have brought dairy free milk, decaff tea - which I drink anyway and have 2 cups a day . I have alpro soya deserts for after my meals. fruit is good but batter to have berries, but not cranberries, no chocolate - have carob, no pasta - I have gluten free rice is ok, I was petrified when I saw I cant eat my favourite cheese sandwiched washed down with diet coke...coke is a definite no no, water is better, I have squash in mine, and have brought lemon and ginger tea and a fruit tea for in the day which I sweeten with honey.

I think I am doing the right thing, I am sure if not someone will tell me. but I must be doing better than I was before. I also think and may have said this already but I feel I am on my own, learn what you can yourself, gain info from people on here who lets face it...consultants work from experience and books, we live it everyday.

I wish you luck Louise