Improvement of GFR

[lulubelle6766]

My GFR is at 33. I am now 78 years old. I have tried for 2 years to increase my GFR but it only flucuates a little up and then back down. I am trying hard to give up most ALL dairy products, red meats, and fish. I have now learned that salad greens are not good for the kidneys due to potassium.

Does anyone know what foods would help the GFR to increase?

[Bassetmommer]

Hi Lulubelle,

I would highly recommend that you see a renal dietician who can create a menu and diet plan you can follow. Each person is different and so it needs to be just for you.

As far as the salad goes, that's not completely true. Certain greens are high in potassium such as spinach. However, leaf lettuce and iceberg are not. I eat a salad almost everyday. I grow my own leaf lettuces. I eat cucumbers and red and green peppers in the salad. All of these are low potassium.

[Majent]

Hi Lulubelle,

I have an inherited CKD and my GFR is much much lower than yours and I am also much younger than you.

Despite what I have listed above, my Consultant does not consider it necessary for me to see a Renal Dietician as my blood tests overall do not require it.

I assume you are having yearly blood tests done, if not quarterly blood tests done. In which case, you doctor/Consultant will be able to advise you if your potassium or phosphorus levels are too high but if they are normal (which I am assuming they are as you make no mention of your Dr commenting on it), do not stop eating your greens or any other foods. You need potassium & phosphorus and too little of either in your diet is as bad as too much. One time my potassium levels did go up & my Doctor advised me and I cut back on tomatoes and potatoes and I went overboard and then my Doctor told me to stop as I had gone too far the other way. He had only intended for me to hold off on the bananas or tomatoes, I never eat bananas except for maybe once a year having a slice of banana cake.

Basically, it is being mindful of what you eat and everything in moderation.

I am a vegetarian but my Consultant has never advised me to follow this diet and I would advise going vegan unless you are doing it for ethical reasons. You need calcium especially when you have kidney disease.

The difference between the kidney and the liver is that the kidney cannot recover in the same way as the liver can so what you describe above is pretty common with kidney readings.

The only way kidneys could go from 33 GFR to 40 GFR in a short space of time is if you had an infection and the infection got cleared up and your kidneys are no longer fighting the infection.

The best thing you could focus on at the moment is stabilising your kidney function to remain at 33 GFR for as long as possible. There are a few things that could help:

Blood Pressure - keep your blood pressure stable 120/80 or in that range. If you do not have a blood pressure home kit, then buy one, retail price £35 approx. Take your blood pressure meds as advised.

Water - I cannot emphaise enough how important water is and how necessary it is to keep hydrated.

Infection - ensure you do not get a UTI, bout of IBS or any other kind of infection and get a urine test done the minute you think you may have an infection. Take the antibiotics as instructed and drink lots of water.

Exercise - I cannot do yoga, pilates as I get dizzy but I can walk.

Sleep - get good quality sleep.

Hope this helps.

Magent

[Gorsemoor]

Eat more cabbage,blueberries,apples and have a glass of red wine every other day .Avoid bananas,oranges ,grapefruit and avocados and you’ll be fine.Finally what ever the cause of your kidney decline get it under control.

I’m 75 with gfr 31 I’ve followed those rules because five years ago I was on gfr31 then dropped suddenly to 26 but I’ve regained lost ground and held it.