Hi all! Some late night researching about CKD has led me to this community, and from the posts I’ve seen so far, it looks very positive, always a good sign.
Backstory: I am a 22 year old female (normally resident in the UK), I have stage 3a CKD, but I was diagnosed when I was 20, the month before my birthday.
I’ll admit, before my diagnosis I’d been living the student lifestyle and drinking far too much, especially with one kidney. (Nephrectomy due to complications at birth)
My GP reassured me that my drinking alone would not have been the sole contributory factor to my diagnosis of CKD, and told me that blood tests done when I was a teen showed signs of the kidney failing that had only been picked up upon diagnosis.
What’s my reason for posting? Right now, I’m facing a problem in that I am about a stone overweight according to NHS guidelines, and I am aware that this could be putting unnecessary strain on my kidney. However, there’s probably some foods I should avoid. So, my question is: How do I maintain a healthy lifestyle and lose weight whilst looking after my kidney and eating what’s right for it?
Sorry for the long post!
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sh0rt96wizard
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My BMI was close to 30 three months ago. Right now, it is about 26.5.
Quick tips:
1. Always, always get a good night of sleep. For me, I try between 10-6, or 9-5. Your body clock works best between these hours as it aids your metabolism.
2. Cut out UNNECESSARY salt, red meat, alcohol; these things elevate your cholesterol, uric acid, and blood pressure which in turn strain your kidney. Add more fibre, vegetables.
3. Exercise regularly. I try to do five times a week; 30 minutes each. I often sprint and run.
4. Be sure to get yourself hydrated. Dehydration stresses your kidney.
5. Very significant: Maintain yourself a local & online support group. Emotional stress isn't good for your kidney. You need someone (or many) to talk to when you are emotionally overwhelmed. It is better to lean a shoulder to cry than doing it alone while covering yourself with blankets.
Welcome to the group. It has been helpful to me since I was recently diagnosed. About two months ago, I went on a low sodium diet. I try to stay under 2,000 mg. per day. I have lost 13 lbs and my bmi went from over 31 to 27 something. My b/p and swelling has decreased significantly. I have had my first normal BUN reading in the last 17 tests. Read every label and make sure your sodium intake is 2,000 mg. or less.
Hi sh0rt96wizard and welcome to this i forum. You will be able to talk to other members of the forum and gain support. I have found the following websites which I hope you will find helpful.
Also, you may like to arrange an appointment to see your practice nurse at your GP surgery to discuss diet. Are there any other members able to help sh0rt96wizard, please?
I too am overweight. Determined to lose weight healthily.
Am concentrating on foods which are healthy but tasty, including all the food groups and cutting down portion size. Eating regularly is the key for me. There's no good in starving myself as this could damage kidneys too. Plenty of water too, (unless you have been advised otherwise.)
I was told by my dietition to go down to 1,000 calories a day and it works for me. Everyone is different and has to find what suits them. There is a forum on here for weight loss where you may get some helpful hints.
Hi. I too have just one kidney. You definitely should address weight, limitation of alcohol, exercise, and all the rest. But of interest to me is your diagnosis. You mention you were just recently given the label stage 3 CKD. In years prior, were your blood test results in the "normal" range? Or being so young, did you even have earlier blood tests? I ask this because you should be aware of how the CKD label is assigned. Surely a lot of people who have a solitary kidney can have "normal" test results. But it is quite common, almost normal, that a person with one kidney will have test results that label them with CKD, when in fact their solitary kidney is not highly diseased. The simple fact that while not true for everyone, but true for most, one kidney can NOT do the work of two. And to have a creatinine level of 1.7 or 1.8 is quite "normal" for just one kidney. However this will classify you as having "CKD". Which is quite different from a person with two kidneys having a level of 1.7 or 1.8, in which case the kidneys are not "normal". The calculation of eGFR does NOT consider such factors as other disease a person may have (i.e., diabetes), the person's actual weight or height, the medications a person takes. I am instructed by my doctors that while the eGFR calculation is not accurate for a person with a solitary kidney (our case), it is an indicator to be watched. To see if it remains stable (of course with minor fluctuations) over time. So it would be interesting to know what your eGFR has been over the previous years, or if your current level is actually your "normal" for having just one kidney. That said, weight loss, diet, salt and alcohol intake, etc., are things you should address.
Hi Rick, thank you for your comment! Well, I had consistent infections and UTIs when I was in my early adolescence and blood tests done then showed a decrease in kidney function, which led to the diagnosis at age 20, but you make an excellent point. I’ve had one kidney since birth so I’m not entirely sure.... got an appointment with my consultant on Thursday, so I’ll be sure to ask him lots of annoying questions to then!
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