I have stage 3 kd..im clueless ...what should i be doing and not doing .kidney dr has told me nothing .just watch my bp.im 58 fem.150lb..

[Adden]

Stage 3 kd

[ElmPark]

Exactly the same here. Ive been diagnosed with CKD stage 3 and the most Ive been told is we'll see how it goes and keep an eye on your blood tests.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to ElmPark]

Hi, See my answer below to Adden.

[Jenkea in reply to ElmPark]

I’m stage 3, when I was diagnosed my Gfr was 45, within a year I’m up to 52, didn’t change much, just eat blueberries, (frozen from Costco) cut out red meat and soda, that’s about it, I do more lab work in January so fingers crossed I have stayed the same.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

You might want to ask your Doctor if you should watch your sodium, phosphorus, and/or potassium intake? I was diagnosed at stage 3b and blood work indicated I needed a renal diet. It has slowed down the progression. I am male age 77.

[Fluuux]

I made a thread about diet some weeks ago if you want to check that out

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Good morning Adden.

You are so wise to come here as you will get a lot of advice. First of all, being aware at stage 3 CKD is a good thing because there is a good chance you can arrest the decline of your kidneys at this point. It is not say that you won't lose more function, which is measured by your labs (GFR, creatinine and protein) but you can slow down the progress for years.

1. Become your own advocate. Learn all you can about CKD. I will list some websites at the end of this post.

2.Take any kidney classes you can. Check the websites listed and there may be others in your area. I took one from the local dialysis center, even though I am not going for dialysis (yet).

3. Get a referral to a renal dietician. If you can not, get educated on the foods you can, should and should not eat and why. There is a lot involved with that but it is your best defense to protect your kidneys. Again, do the research on the Internet. But a renal dietician will specify according to your labs recommendations for intake and food types.

THIS to me is your best protection. There are a lot of stories from this community about how people have done miraculous things for their kidney health just by changing their diet. You can search through our site using "diet" as a key word.

4. Check your medications. Again, you can do the research yourself on the Internet. Or you can take you med list to a pharmacist who can review them. Make sure you speak with your doctor about any and all your current medications and prior to any new prescriptions to make sure they are kidney friendly. If not, ask to either get off of them or find a substitute. Do not stop taking them without speaking to your doctor. Be careful with any over the counter drugs and supplements. Ibuprofen is not your friend. Learn about what these drugs can do to your kidney kidney.org/atoz/content/pai.... Some people manage their pain with other drugs and some members use aspirin for cardiac issues. But talk to your doctor about the risks of NSAIDS.

5. Destress your life the best you can. Stress is a culprit that can wreak havoc on your body. Seek ways to mitigate your stress levels. Meditation or even a walk in nature are simple ways to calm and strengthen the body.

6. Stop smoking. Watch your alcohol consumption. Lower your salt intake, which can help with BP. And especially if your diabetic, restrict your sugar intake. Some folks, me included, have helped their numbers by losing weight. These are all things that in general will help your health.

7. Continue to ask questions and communicate here. We all are walking your walk in a manner of speaking and are here to help and support you.

Best of luck.

kidney.org/

davita.com/

kidneyfund.org/kidney-disea...

webmd.com

medlineplus.gov/kidneydisea...

[Kbressler NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

What type of kidney disease do you have as there are several and most act differently in each individual. Have you had a biopsy to confirm your diagnosis? If you know your diagnosis you can zero in on what to do. Keep it simple first of all accept the fact that you have Kidney Disease and will need to know everything about it. The good the bad and the ugly. The basics of caring for kidney disease are, maintain a normal blood pressure, maintain an optimum weight, lower your salt intake and most of all exercise. My recommendation is to see a Nephrologist who will do more then “watch it” and start early to learn about your options. Progressive kidney disease at some point will require transplant or dialysis, these options will be your choice, so learn about it. I was transplanted 31 years ago and have never looked back. Just remember you are in charge of your own health. No one has all the answers just keep it simple and live in moderation. My prayers are with you. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Sulyn]

My husband has had 2 transplants in the past 20 years - my son and I were donors. I feel it is crucial to find a nephrologist at a "medical center" that does kidney transplants if needed and where research is continually being done. These centers also have renal dietitians. We travel an hour and 15 minutes to see his nephrologist rather than going to our local Dr. and it has been well worth the effort. Best of luck to you.