I'm in Ireland and found out last year from having some routine bloods done that I have chronic kidney disease. Had a biopsy on my right kidney to help diagnose what exactly was up and what may have caused it. It was inconclusive and basically answered nothing. My kidney function (egfr) had dipped to 16 last time I had my bloods done, time before that it was 21. Nephrologist didn't seem overly concerned, said that often they can go up or down a bit. At the moment I'm taking blood pressure medication. Have no question really other that to ask if there are any other people with similar kidney function and have they any advice on things I may do to help improve my egfr. Thanks
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Which BP medication are you taking? Some can be harmful to the kidneys whilst others ma help. All NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen are another medication that can harm the kidneys long term.
Amlodipine 10mg (calcium antagonists) and Ramipril 2.5mg, the Ramipril had to be closely monitored to begin with because it can raise potassium levels. I try not to take anything else as in pain relief but it's Paracetamol mostly if I do. It's good reading the messages from all the other people on here with kidney problems. Where I live is pretty rural and I don't know anyone else I can speak to about this.
Hi Lav1. Welcome to the group! And I hope you will visit it more often. I'm a caregiver to my husband (70 years old) who recently went on dialysis. The medications you listed are okay for your kidneys...so that's good. On the surface, it appears your high blood pressure is damaging your kidneys. So, I think I would ask my physician why you have high blood pressure. Sometimes people have other issues that create the high blood pressure like diabetes or obesity. And if one can fix those situations, it often improves one's medical picture. Going forward, I personally would also would keep an eye on sodium, phosphorus, potassium, etc. in foods. Many have used diet to slow and even improve kidney function. One can find nutrition advice and recipes on the Internet including at the link below. Please stay in touch. And let us know how your journey goes!
Hi Darlenia, thank you for your message. It's good to be chatting with people who are or have someone they care for in a similar situation. I'd never thought to have a look and see if there were an online community to chat to about kidney disease. I am under a Nephrologist and have seen a dietitian. Got lots of leaflets and advice on foods to avoid in my my diet but somehow as time goes on you forget, get a little confused as to what is okay and what isn't. I will have a look at the link you've sent and see if I can pick up some new recipes. I have been reading a bit on here about the possible benefits of a plant based diet. don't think I could ever completely switch but maybe start playing around a bit with it. I'm not overweight, have always been active. My own Dr thinks my CKD could be the result of a bad strep throat that I had a couple years ago. The probability is my high BP is a result of my damaged kidneys, not the other way around but I guess it's virtually impossible to say at this point. It is under control now and I have a monitor at home to keep an eye on it. Thanks again for your message and the best of luck.
I am male 79, in US, and was diagnosed at level 3b, and put on CKD diet, It is based not only on my eGFR but also other blood work results for phosphorus, potassium and sodium. The diet has helped my eGFR level which shows how well my kidneys are filtering. The progression has slowed down. Perhaps ask your Doctor for a CKD diet. The web site given for Davita is a big help once you are put on a CKD diet. It includes recipes. Once your Doctor finds the cause of your CKD, things should be better for self treatment.
Hi orange city 41, thank you for you message. I'm not hopeful at this point that they will find out exactly what the diagnosis is. Glomerulonephritis was what my own Dr suggested after the initial blood works, that left me in total shock and did not help my blood pressure. Part of me was just relieved that it wasn't the big C. I have seen a dietitian who was of some help, lots of leaflets on what to avoid and what was okay. It's good to find somewhere with recipes, it makes it easier somehow. I'm going to check Davita out, a couple people have mentioned it on here. I'm glad that you have improved your eGFR and are able to sustain it. Stay well.
Know what you mean by being relieved not the big C. Hope they are able to diagnose you properly. Keep us posted on your results. There are many on forum with good information and support.
A few of these have virtual (all online) educational conferences of some kind this month. They are all free too. They all provide information for newly diagnosed which may be beneficial for you. There are many online support groups in Facebook and other places for those who live rural and have no support close to them (Lav1). I've always been a talker so if anyone wants to chat would love to do so.
Hello there Lav1! Welcome to the forum! Just let me tell you that you have found an awesome community here. You’re going to find that everyone here has some very wise and sound advice to share.
Unfortunately, those of us with CKD need to follow some of the kidney-friendly diet and exercise routines in order to slow the progression of the disease, which is usually what the goal is after the diagnosis.
As the others have stated, what you’ll need to steer clear of, with regard to your diet, is mainly foods that are high in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, but also, you’ll need to strongly limit your protein intake as well. It is said that a portion size per meal, should be no bigger than a deck of cards. Trust me, this sounds easier than it actually is (for some of us anyway - Lol! 😃)
Also, try to keep away from any anti-inflammatory medications, even over-the counter types such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve and Aspirin. These have actually damaged healthy kidneys in people. If you should require prescribed anti-inflammatories for any reason, try to speak to your doctor about a possible better option. Remember too, that some antibiotics can also harm our kidneys, and, as was mentioned above, some BP meds as well.
You don’t necessarily need to switch to a vegetarian / vegan lifestyle. Even proteins we get from plant-based diets can raise our creatinine levels. After all, as has been said before, “protein is protein is protein.” It doesn’t really matter what the source of the protein is, the effects on the kidneys would be pretty much the same.
Try also, to avoid processed foods, chocolate, dark sodas, alcoholic beverages, smoking, any whole grains (including whole grain breads, pastas, barley, etc.), any protein powders or bars (these tend to be high in creatine which raises creatinine levels also).
With regard to exercise, some plain walking for about 30 - 40 minutes, once or twice a day should be good to keep your heart rate pumping well. Try not to engage in any heavy weight-lifting though, as this can raise creatinine levels as well, (consult with your doctor on what is right for you always). And try to remain well-hydrated. This can help flush your kidneys and entire system, plus may also help to raise your GFR. Dehydration is one of our worst enemies (found that out the hard way - Lol!) Again, ask your doctor what the right amount of water daily would be right for you.
Remember: Always consult with your medical team when you make any changes to your diet and exercise routine. This is very important, as everyone can be different depending on what stage of CKD we’re in.
I wish you all my best dear. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please do keep us posted on how you come along. Once again, welcome to the community! Bye for now! 😊😢✌️🙏
Thanks for your reply, lots of advice in there. I can see that there is lots of advice on here and some of it things that I hadn't heard before. It's good to have a wide array of advice especially from people who have tried and tested things.
I don't think there is any chance that I'll make vegan, love bacon & dairy too much and they're not a good one with CKD. I am limiting the amount I eat though and have introduced a bit more veg and fruit (kidney friendly as much as possible) I have to say I was quite disheartened when I spoke to the dietitian. I've always tried to eat a pretty healthy diet and there she was pretty much telling me that everything that I thought was healthy was off the menu. Anyway her good advice was try to focus on what you can eat and not what you can't. Chocolate too though, that's tough.
I definitely hear ya on the bacon and dairy, believe it! Lol! 😃 I’m so bad when it comes to those things, but as you say, I too, try my best to limit those strongly. I might eat bacon once every 4 or 5 months, but when I do, look out! Lol! I can really pack it down, but then I pay a hefty price for it later (crazy sodium). Most often though, I can be pretty good diet wise. After all, we don’t really have much of a choice, do we? Oh well. Many blessings. 😊👍🙏✌️
Dietary changes are hard. I did switch to turkey bacon but have to watch the sodium. For me I’m in the process of making a chart of acceptable foods and those to avoid. My diet is so confusing that I’ve given up trying to do this several times. What is recommended for one diagnosis is banned for another. So three issues that are in complete opposite of most dietary options. And a dietician wasn’t any help. I’ve tried to stick with turkey for my protein and increased my fruit and veggies. Sodium less than 2gm a day. I’m learning a lot here because we’re people who live with it and not a doctor who knows technically but don’t live with it. Just try to find a balance. If you can find one some companies like Davita have a class to monitor give you some guidance on how to eat at home and dining out. This can be overwhelming. Relax. Take it a step at a time and find your path on this journey.
Yes! I hear you. I have a few health issues myself, that also unfortunately, are diet dependent (type 2 diabetes, chronic gout, and CKD). And yes, it is very difficult to find a consistent dietary plan that can accommodate them all. What a position to be in. Gee. Some days, I truly miss my childhood years, where good old bologna sandwiches were acceptable and harmless. Lol! Well okay, maybe not exactly harmless! 😂😂
I was diagnosed with stage 3 CKD. I drank Flor Essence herbal detox tea 3 times a day for only 2 months. When I had my blood work done again everything came back completely normal. It says in all research I did that stage 3 CKD is not reverseable or cureable and I am telling you this tea can cure it. You can buy it on E-bay.
Mine was an AKI in Oct 2018 at 8% now 24% but its been slow. I still get very tired but no blood pressure as the AKI was due to a prescribed medication. Its often very tiring but a lot better than it was.
Calm down BlackKnight. This post is 2 years old and who knows how things turned out for this person. Keep in mind that this is not doctors posting professional diagnosis or treatments on this site. It is your average Joe sharing their opinions and experiences. No one says you have to believe or use anything that's posted here. If anything, you could get a good chuckle out of some of the things people post and not berate them.
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