NEED HELP WITH FOOD CHOICES WITH MOUTH SORES

[drmind]

I need help in finding something I can eat and drink given the mouth sores I now have.i also need some information on how much the meds I took will effect my kidney labs. About 2 weeks ago, I did my monthly labs and GFR stable 3 xs at 25, creatinine down several points, all other numbers in normal range.

(1) 19 to 11 days ago developed metal taste, pain with swallowing. Kidney doctor said to get back on my usual dosage of Prilosec and if not better in 2 days , then go to ER. (2) went to ER one week ago because of escalating pain, trouble swallowing food or water. (3) ER did several tests plus a CT scan. (4) ER diagnosed me with strep throat and a throat tumor! Prescribed a prednisone pack, amoc-cav(500mg), and referred me to an ENT specialist. (5) saw ENT specialist on Wednesday. He was able to scope area of alleged tumor. Right now, he wants to see it as a large inflammation area with further evaluation in 2 weeks after o finish all my meds. (6) experienced intense pain and ongoing problems with eating and drinking. (7) Less intense pain but I seem now to have mouth sores. Have been using extra strength tylenol [2] for pain relief.

I need to eat and drink for my kidneys. Everything I put in my mouth now hurts. Help. I am also worried about what these meds have done to my lab numbers. Any suggestions or information will be greatly appreciated.

Stasie Wells

[Hidden]

First some of the bad news. Be very careful of overdoing the Tylenol. Too much over a period of time can lead to issues with your liver. That will affect some of your numbers. Sometimes you have to take a medicine that will help with a more severe problem but harm your kidneys. It's a tradeoff and only you can decide. If it's short term it may harm your numbers initially, but they may be able to bounce back after a short course.As to what your eat or drink it may come back to having a liquid diet for a couple of days until you can get ahead of the sores. Which is worse, hot or cold items? Whichever is the better of the two options go with that for a bit. If it's hot, go with warm broth only. It will give you nourishment and allow your mouth to begin to heal. If you can handle soft foods after a few days switch over to something soft like mashed potatoes. Leech the potatoes first and mash them up. There are a number of low sodium broths available like chicken, vegetable, and even beef broth. I had to have all three after my surgery a couple of years ago and it didn't harm my numbers.

If you can handle some vegetable soup, homemade, then you can soften the vegetables, eliminate the salt, and get some nutrition from that. Carrots are very easy to get soft enough to get past your mouth. Avoid any canned soup as the sodium will cause your mouth pain. If you can make some stuffing, without the turkey, chicken, and other fixings, it's soft and easy to get down and it is filling.

If cold stuff is easier on the mouth, keep up your water intake by drinking room temperature water. Also, pineapple or cranberry juice for something different. Use a straw if that will help. There are sugar-free jellos available that will also give a little nutrition and get something soft into your stomach.

In the recovery room after my surgery they offered me some rice pudding and it wasn't enough to do any harm to other issues and it was somewhat filling.

Initially, you aren't going to eat anything that will severely tax your kidneys, but you will get some nutrition and be able to swallow it.

Best of luck

[drmind in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much. I have some low salt chicken broth and will use it soon with noodles. i was able to eat some Yogurt if its at room temperature. Rice pudding is another great idea and I'll have family get some soon. The tylenol was a must. The pain was incredible. No longer taking it, but I almost had to go back to ER. As the day passed, mouth sores seem to be very slightly better. Thank you. Never had strep throat but this one was a total zinger along with the alleged throat tumor and/or massive inflammation on right side of face.

[Jayhawker]

Stasis,

First, I’d just concentrate on taking the meds as prescribed. Clearly you’ve got to be able to eat and drink fluids so those issues must be treated.

Second, a word of encouragement. I recently had very severe Vitamin D toxicity which lasted a minimum of 10 months. My data was extremely high. This was very hard on my kidneys and my cardiac system. Of course, I felt miserable. This can cause permanent damage to kidneys and hearts. I was very stressed out. Mid December the toxicity had resolved. My Feb labs showed the highest creatinine I’d seen in many years. It was one point better in Match and yet another point better in April. My creatinine is now 2.3 with eGFR of 21. Prior to the toxicity episode it was 3.1 and 14, respectively.

I’m not suggesting this could improve your renal function; rather, I’m suggesting that we just don’t always know. Frankly, our nephrologists don’t always know either. So, stay the course. Do your best to keep eating and drinking fluids. And hope for the best...

Food ideas:

1. Eat very small portions continuously throughout the day. (Track total intake though.)

2. When I've got throat pain I prefer cold food, so high protein smoothies would be my choice. Davita has recipes for renal-friendly high protein smoothies. Many use liquid egg whites or powdered egg whites. Both are ideal protein sources for kidneys according to my renal dietician.

3. High protein jello cubes may be another option. davita.com/diet-nutrition/r...

4. Cold high protein soups may be an option too.

davita.com/diet-nutrition/r...

Hoping to hear that you’re feeling and doing better soon🐶

Jayhawker