When i had bloodwork done nov 6 my gfr was 40 the lowest it's ever been ... dropping from 53 in january. i decided i would try to modify my diet ... cut back on serving size and what im eating. (Astounding ?! Please keep in mind i live in the wonderful world of duh a lot of the time.)
Anyway ... i walk thru the lunch line at the senior center looking at everything and say yes/yes/noooo ! /yes/ noooo ! in appropriate order. (i even emphatically shake my finger at no.)
I had bloodwork done last week ... same doc/presumably the same lab ... and my gfr was 61 ! the highest it's been since 2009.
Whats going on ?!
It's kind of freaky.
Written by
Betsysue2002
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Thank you 😸 We are SO fortunate at the center since the food is great ! We are waiting for the cook to get lured away.
I never was a soup eater till she came.
She said she doesnt have a degree ... her grandmother taught her. She still has to follow guidelines tho of course.
Anyway ... i eat only at the center or restaurants and seldom eat at home.
At the center i have them cut helpings in half and dont eat rolls and swap off one thing for another.
At home i have A rice cake or 8 animal crackers instead of 16 ... no more chocolate ... at least for awhile.
Kidney doc says im slightly anemic so i have 2 prunes mon/wed/fri but may increase after feb appt ???
Food is so aggravating and confusing ... prunes are good for iron but high in potassium/tomatoes have all kinds of things good for us but theyre all bad for us.
The only constant are a hard boiled egg/2 slices of raisin toast/coffe for breakfast and brocolli/2 small sweet peppers/4 small carrots/6 small tomatoes for snack 5 evenings per week plus rice cakes or animal crackers or another tradeoff.
A very occassional smoothie ... which raised my a1c for the blood test last week ... or a sweet treat.
Im sorry that this is so long and doesnt really give any good suggestions.
None of the foods are Eliminated only *limited*. And since your function is so good please live and enjoy your life including food, just be cautious and limit foods that may not be beneficial like any foods with artificial flavoring, High fructose corn syrup, things with empty calories etc. A1C is indicative of blood results for the previous 3 months, not a week. Anemia goes hand in hand with iron. You may improve your iron with the prunes, but it won't necessarily help your hemoglobin. Make sure your doctor keeps up on that. Blessings
My gfr figures have bounced around some too even on the diet. Mine have been up to 64 and back down to 56 etc. and have blood work every 6 months. Who knows why? I keep a chart and do an average. Original diagnosis was by GFR method and others by eGFR. (Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is a test used to measure the level of kidney function. Basically, it measures how much blood passes through the glomeruli each minute. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is the calculated value based on different GFR definitions.)
Liked your comment about lunch line at retirement community. Also live in retirement community and watch what I eat and wave at what I cannot.
O dear, bet, im sorry i confused you too 😾 My husband ... who is 70 ... and i ... who am 77 ... live independently in our own house. He is retiring in late jan and i am looking for a job.
I eat at a local senior center that serves food and has activities ... no live-in ... no physically disabled unles with a caregiver ... everyone has to be 60 or older ... AND as i mentioned a really good cook !
So im just like you ... only OLD 😸
I found the just-started-in-octber kidney support group plus kidneyschool/davita/this sites.
Maybe if i lived in assisted living i could get even more advice/help but ...
we're all in this together and fortunately have each other !
We are just among the chosen..kidney disorders! So, we talk and stick together!
I am happy to hear that you and your husband own a home and are so vivacious and wonderful!
You will find a job and he will find many blessings in his retirement!
Your senior center sounds wonderful! Good healthy foods, activities and good company. I will voice my big opinion, but Assisted Living is good, but not for everyone. I saw this in my own family.
The food may controlled and good in many places but others are very institutionalized in taste. So don't go there until needed!
I took your advice and enrolled in the davita kidney school on line as it is so much easier to listen and gain information there.
I also saw the renal dietician from the hospital who treats me to seek ideas and choices. The NKF has a great site which lists food suggestions and suggestions when eating out..it is great! Google them.
As I told Newbie, I am a very simple cook, so soups and simple works for me. My husband is a delight and also eats as I do. Pasta made with veggies and salt free sauce..spiced up..soups and salads.
My weakness is hummus and cukes! Lol. Don't miss meat in the least.
I dont feel old till i try to get out of the car or my recliner.
Also ... the funny thing is that we are on the waiting list for three ! assisted living facilities but dont qualify yet.
I really have no interest in staying home and waiting for delivered meals to come if we cant get around easily.
My two preferences have meal service anytime from 7am - 7 pm but they arent the big huge platefuls you can get at restaurants. Theyre more healthy size and tasty.
Ive eaten at my top two choices. There are also snacks available 24 hours a day and of course you can have your own ... there is a kitchen area in each room.
The third choice is a nice place but just kind of ... there. And they have regimented meal times 😾
I bought long term insurance about 20 years ago that covers assisted living/skilled/home health and am really glad i did even if we dont ever need it.
We dont eat a lot of meat either ... except chicken which i prefer over beef ... which is probably good ... tho i do eat a burger every once in awhile.
Thanks for the nkf site ... im going to check into it !
Thanks orangecity 😸 Its nice to know that numbers can fluxuate a lot so that i dont feel like im in a downward spiral like i had been feeling.
Ive had confusion when my gfr has been in the 40s and since i know that it can also go up and just not down i feel more positive and know the confusion may not be permanent 😸
Depending upon your specific kidney issues, diet and exercise can do wonders to prolong and at times improve kidney function. Looks like you're doing all the right things. Good for you. May they continue this way for the rest of your life. Blessings
My gfr had bottomed out after having a baby and does move around depending on how hydrated I am, not 40 to 60 though. It's a point in time measurement, so there are a lot of daily factors that can effect the number on the given day that it is pulled. In any case, how wonderful to have it going in the right direction!!
It is my understanding that GFR can be affected by hydration and the only way to evaluate a trend is to do it with same parameters each tie it is done ie same hydration level at similar time of day.
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