stage 4 kidney failure

[greatest]

My name is Sally. I am in Stage 4 Kidney Failure -

Could you please help me with a diet that is meant for this.

[Hidden]

Ask your physician for a referral to a Renal Dietitian and bring your last year's worth of lab values and together you will develop a kidney-friendly meal plan. Is this the first time you've heard that you had CKD?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I couldn't find a renal Dietitian in my area. So disappointing.

[greatest in reply to Hidden]

Do try to search the Web to find one and if possible and it is agreed between you send your counts by email and possibly Skype with whoever you may find and pay by EFT. That is what I have done and I have found a super lady who is such a help and I can email her anytime if I get stuck. Hope this is helpful...... Mr Kidney advised me about this and I was successful in finding this lady. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to greatest]

thank you!

[Philipjm]

Hi Sally,

You need to speak with your renal dietician, we are all different and will have differing requirements depending as ckd is individual to each of us.

Are you in the Uk and seeing a renal consultant, if so a regular meeting with the renal dietician is standard practice.

There is no special diet, good healthy food, do try to avoid processed foods, I stopped eating processed foods a while ago with the exception of bacon which I have as treat once a week.

There may be certain foods yiy may be told to avoid to ensure yiur potassium levels stay in the right parameters. I subscribe to Patient View in the Uk, renal patients are advised to use this as yuy can see your blood results on line within 24 hours.

Please check with yiur renal dietician

Ckd can be managed to give an excellent quality of life.

I am 72 and work full time and have a good active life.

Best Philip

[greatest in reply to Philipjm]

Hi.... Ever since I read your advice I have been up hill and down dale looking for a Renal Dietitian. I live in Pretoria South Africa. We have dietitians here but not Renal.

I have been following everyone's advice about the low protein etc..diet but one question has come to mind. Where is the calcium coming from to keep bones strong?

Can you or anyone out there help me?

Thank you

Sally

[Philipjm in reply to greatest]

Hi , Calcium for the bones,

Calcium sticks strongly to proteins in the blood, especially albumin. This means that if albumin is low, calcium levels will be measured as low, even though the level of 'free' (ionised, or unbound) calcium in the blood may be normal. The adjusted calcium value aims to compensate for this. (Details: the usual formula is to add or subtract 0.02 mmol/l for each g/l that albumin is over or under 40g/l.). Measuring an IONIZED CALCIUM (normal 1.16-1.31) gets round this problem, but isn't such an easy test to do.

Calcium in kidney disease

Low calcium is usual in people with untreated kidney disease, mostly because the healthy kidney is involved in processing of Vitamin D. Low calcium causes an increase in PTH, which then moves calcium out of bones and thins them. Special types of vitamin D are used to treat this (alfacalcidol, calcitriol). However these, and some phosphate binders, and parathyroid hormone may cause high calcium levels. So calcium needs to be checked regularly in people with kidney disease. Normal = 2.1-2.6 mmol/litre (8.4-10.4 mg/dl).

Mixed up calcium, phosphate, and PTH are the cause of renal bone disease, and probably of some other troubles that occur in kidney failure.

hop this helps

Philip

[greatest in reply to Philipjm]

Hi.... Thanks for the reply. It has been a great help. And can you believe it this afternoon I managed to find a private Renal Dietitian about 30 miles from here so quess who is going on a small trip!!

Thanks again

Sally

[Philipjm in reply to greatest]

Hi Sally,

Glad it has helped, I am sure your renal dietician will help put you as ease.

As my consultant informs me there is no “special” renal diet but to eat good food . There may be some items to miss depending on your particular renal needs.

Philip

[greatest in reply to Philipjm]

Thanks Philip. Apparently this lady I am going to see works in the dialysis unit in a hospital on the far side of Johannesburg. If she has any tips l will post them on the group..... But everyone seems so clued up. I thought I was eating a pretty healthy diet but after joining I now find out so many things contain potassium etc....

But it is never too late to learn!

Sally

[Philipjm in reply to greatest]

Hi Sally, if you have ckd and kidneys not working well, you kidneys will not produce vitamin D which is needed for healthy bones, I am prescribed 25 nanograms daily of activated vit D (alfacalcidol)

Philip

[greatest in reply to Philipjm]

Hi Philipjm. Thanks for the advice. Yes I have been put on Vit D. Here in South Africa they give a Vit D called One-Alpha. It is a schedule 4. At the moment I am having a pity party (!!!!)... Have just had 2 bones removed from my left hand near the wrist next to the thumb and they have sort of sewn the ligaments together. Caused by arthritis that made the bones collapse. It will be about 4 months and then I have to have the other hand done as the same thing is happening. Just kidding about the pity party.... So many folks are so so much worse. Sally. Sorry just wanted to add that this is happening to the bones because I can't take anti inflammatory drugs for the arthritis because of the kidneys the specialist has told me.

Sally

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Sally,

Welcome to our site. There is a ton of information on diet for all types of CKD on this site. If you look to the right of the page, you will see a list of topics. One is Diet and Nutrition. It is a good place to start to see what has been discussed. I too am at stage 4. For me, I try to limit protein such as meat, chicken and fish. I also have to watch my potassium and phosphate intake. If you can, see a renal dietician to tailor a diet plan specifically for you.

[greatest in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you for taking the trouble to respond. I am completely new to this site so I still have to find my way around. But I will certainly look at what you have advised. Thanks.

[music61]

You have found a great place to learn and get support. Welcome

[greatest in reply to music61]

Thank you so much - Sally

[saifomar]

Easy!

No fast food.

No soda's.

No alcohol.

No red meat.

No dairy.

No coffee.

No chocolate.

Reduce sugar (eliminate if possible).

Reduce salt intake (do not eliminate).

Reduce chicken & fish intake (good protein source).

Increase fruits. (avoid high potassium ones)

Increase vegetables. (avoid high potassium ones)

Increase daily brisk walking, preferably in the evening time.

[greatest]

Hi Saifomar -

Thank you - that is a perfect diet in a nutshell and I shall watch all those things and stick to it. We have no renal dietician where I live so I am grateful for the advice.

[Hidden in reply to greatest]

Actually, a renal diet should be developed for you by a Renal Dietitian. While you were given good advice your lab results may require more or even fewer restrictions. Travel where you need to see an RD and make arrangements for future appointments to be handled online. I have this arrangement with my RD and it works well. I met with her twice and all follow-ups are done through e-mail. I do send her my current lab results and if she thinks any changes are needed we make them.

[greatest in reply to Hidden]

That is an excellent idea. As soon as I can ask for a couple of days leave I will do that. Having just had leave over Christmas as the office was closed I will have to ask for special leave. Thank you for your reply.

[Hidden]

Hi I have stage 4 kidney disease. I have iga. My doctor told me to cut out meat and stick with veggies and my lab improved in 30 days. It does fluctuates for me but when I stopped all animal proteins my GFR went from 15 back to 20. Creatinine was 2.6 in July, then 3.26 in oct back to 2.6 in Nov. He told me if it didn't get better it's time to contact the transplant team. I got checked again end of Dec, creatinine was 2.8 and Gfr is18.

My dr told me limit eggs to 1 a day but I Only eat eggs when I'm in the mood so it's not hard to stay away from it. My appt is next week so I am going to talk to him about the transplant evaluation appt.

in the mean time I just have to watch what I put in my body and hope for the best.

[greatest in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I am too old for a transplant.... 73....the cut off date in South Africa is 55 I am told as there are so many people waiting so they take the youngest which is only fair. My GFR was 19 and with my latest tests has climbed back up to 26. It really does seem to be a yo yo affair doesn't it. Are you drinking enough water? I am very new to this site but since I joined I have been following a very strict diet like you are doing. I must admit I had been a bit lax but now I am really trying. I have for a long time been drinking rooibos tea and cranberry juice... Half half but now I have changed to drinking water. What is iga? I wish you all the best.

[Rene70]

I was told by a very good nutrition is at st. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis Indiana to do the vegan diet that is no animal protein no Dairy strictly vegetables and veggie diet that died was a good diet because I guess your kidneys can't take all the Protein that's what I was told

[greatest in reply to Rene70]

Hi Rene70. Since I started looking at diets I have changed mine a great deal. I have mostly salads and fruits. Not all of them because some still contain things I shouldn't have. I eat a bit of chicken and a bit of fish. I eat Oats for Breakfast but that is the only milk I have in a day. Trying so hard to cut down on sugar. In South Africa they grow a tea called Rooibos.... I don't know if you have heard of it..... But I drink that with Cranberry and then water.... And water!!

Thanks so much for your help.

[Rene70 in reply to greatest]

My boyfriend is African so I'm going to ask him about this t but I know a certain things that you could drink and certain things you can't drink that your kidneys can't filter so I'll ask him to file adjust tomorrow thank you for the information though I'm glad I joined this community of support because I need all the support I can get