I was doing so well, but not eating much of anything, and too hungry. So, I began eating more normal foods again, drinking lots of water and getting a 30-45 minutes of exercise daily, thinking I would be safe. Last night had severe leg cramping and finally just got up and stayed up. I would like to run a few of the foods by you and maybe you can see red flags in any of them: baked chicken with skin, fresh green beans, cranberry relish, cheerios with strawberries, pimiento cheese sandwiches, popcorn, to name a few. These things had some salt, but not nearly as much as in the past.
My doctor said I could eat whatever, so that's what I did. Am seeing a nephrologist tomorrow and he'll refer me to a dietician, but I hope not to go through any more nights like that. I'm 3-a. Do you have any ideas?
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Ladyprudence
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How is your magnesium, potassium and sodium levels? Also do you have diabetes? It could be the start of diabetic neuropathy. You said lots of water? how much is a lot?
Jodaer, I drink 64-72 oz a day of straight water. I am also pre-diabetic. I wasn't looking at my personal m,p and s levels, because I've never been cautioned by the doctor to do so. But I check package labels and research online and I'm pretty sure my meds need to be looked at more closely. One problem is that everywhere I look I'm being given different sets of rules. I think every food I mentioned in my post is something somebody said I could have. One problem is that I'm taking the best of everything I read and making up a plan of action. Bad idea.
Orangecity41, first the nephrologist wants to look things over tomorrow, then refer me to a dietitian if he thinks I need one. That was one reason I called him in the first place; to get a dietitian.
I think I'm being too impatient to give the professionals a chance, so I should wait and see what the nephrologist says, and I should be quiet in here and do more listening. 😉 Thank you both for your replies.
You're definitely getting enough water. I mentioned that and the m, p and s as I have leg pain, cramps too and I know if I don't get my water in during the day, nights aren't that great. It's good you have an apt with neph and hopefully a dietician to help you on this journey. I agree, meds can be a problem when it comes to pain. Statins are bad but so are most of the others. I think every med I'm on has pain as a side effect.
What is underlying cause for Kidney issue -- 3a ?? Also, I suggest not to eat cheerios-- check carbs. How much do you eat -- check serving size. I had checked over 30 cereals, have not found single one with low carbs. I am in Atlanta, Georgia -- USA.
Great you will be getting referral to a dietitian. They will be able to give you an appropriate CKD diet for you based on your blood work for sodium, potassium, phosphorus and protein. Keep us posted on your progress.
It's best to diet to YOUR labs and medical problems. We're all different and it can get complicated if we look for diets on Google. I get leg cramps when my magnesium is off. Others have problems with sodium.. You have to pay attention to what your labs show and I'm sure the dietitian you see will help you with that. Glad you have an appointment with a nephologist. Be sure to tell him about the amount of water you're drinking. It's good that you're doing that, but you may be going overboard with the 72 oz. Good luck and let us know how things are going. What's so important is that you're asking all these questions and doing what you have to do.
I know about that rule, but I can't do that because I have overactive bladder problems due to a medication I'm taking. But, others might comply. If you read the later posts, I believe her nephologist agreed that 72 oz may be too much. We are all so different.
I am 75 in UK ckd 3.tablets for highish blood pressure. Saltless.I get cramp after eating red meat(sometimes spoil myself.....).I use 100% concentrated montmorency cherry juice .Helps by gout and too much excercise(creatinine).try magnesium for cramp at night,see how much you need.I struggle too,going out is a problem.
I hope the Nephrologist gives you the referral to the dietician. Having leg cramp once is not significant, although it hurts like hell at the time. It could be that your mineral balance is off and labs would show that. So ask for them. Look for things like potassium, magnesium and hemoglobin and hemocrit levels and a few others your Neph will know. They will indicate something that might be the trigger. Leg cramps unfortunately are common in CKD but usually in later stage. it might have been just a one time deal for you. I have found that when I overdo it with the exercise during the day, I sometime get a cramp when I fall asleep and let my foot drop. Stretching it out before sleep helps that from happening. The good news, is there are things to do to help.
Thanks to everyone for feedback. My printer isn't working, but I managed to jot down a few of my readings as of 3/2/23: Sodium, 137; Potassium, 4.7; Chlor, 103; Glucose,112; Bun,20; Creatinine,1.00; Bun/Crea, 20.0, Calcium, 9.7; protein total, 7.8; eGFR,53.4.
And yes, my doctor did at one time tell me I didn't have to drink so much water. But all things considered, I don't think my numbers are that bad. Today is the day for the neph. visit. Yaay. I will let you know if he tells me something that might help me or someone else.
My hubby went through kidney failure, dialysis, and transplant. I just want to make a quick note that most of your values seem, to me, to be in a good range. Do let us know what your nephrologist says.
I am going to tell you about my visit with the nephrologist, because I think it was a very good one. First, since we're all under the Baptist Medical plan, I had given prior permission by phone for them to access all my lab reports, and I was told that he went over them carefully before I came in. When I came in today, he just sat and chatted with me for about 45 minutes about my particular situation. He even quoted some of the conversations I'd had with my GP and discussed them with me. (I was pretty scared, and looking back, I think he was taking the time to calm me down.)
He said all my numbers indicated that there was no reason for me to worry about my CKD, that if I do what he says, my kidneys would continue serving me well for a good long time.
For my age (79) my creatinine level is okay. Those levels move around from visit to visit, and he seems to pay particular attention to that more than the other readings.
So I am to stop even thinking about kidneys for now, and concentrate on my blood pressure. This is where I'm on shaky ground, and if we get that stabelized, the kidneys will fall into line. I am to check my B/P every day at home. Also I must STAY AWAY from salt. Eat only what I cannot avoid. Also watch meds. No over the counter NSAIDS. (Aleve, etc). Tylenol is okay for pain. The pain I've been having in my legs is due mainly to salt, and he also mentioned potassium from food and drugs. Kerendia should not be prescribed for me, and that caused him to raise his eyebrows. I am possibly taking too many meds as it is, he says.
As far as water goes, 72 oz is too much, and when I said how much then, 64 oz? He said let your thirst dictate how much you drink. I said I'm always thirsty, and he said If you do everything I'm telling you, that thirst will go way down.
He asked me questions about conditions and surgeries from way back, and particularly any new shortness of breath not especially related to my COPD. This has to do with my heart. He's concerned about that. He gave me a chest checkup.
He sent home with me some papers with instructions regarding foods with sodium, protein and potassium. I was surprised at some of the foods I can eat and some I cannot eat. I am to send him, or give him access to, all my labs from now on so he can moniter my progress. I am also to call him if I ever have any questions.
He was very good not to criticize my other doctor.
I honestly think this one of the best doctors I've ever been to. I think I should say that this appointment and instructions were for my case only, as we're all different. Thanks to everyone who kept encouraging me to see the nephrologist.
You found a winning doctor. Good for you.. I'm happy to read how well and how respectful you were treated. Keep us posted and thanks for sharing your experience.
You should feel good because it seems as if you're in excellent care. Relax and enjoy where you are in your life. I had an experience similar to yours. I met a wonderful nephologist a few years ago who calmed me down and assured me that I could stabilize my CKD and slow its progression. Its been four years now and he was right.
Thanks, Bassetmommer. I thought I would poke around and see if pasta is okay. It isn't on his sheet of DOs and Donts, but maybe that's because of the sodium content. Otherwise, I feel like he's left me some good choices.
Pasta is good carb, but look at labels. Not al pastas are the same. Fresh is best but expensive. We found DeCecco is the best in taste, not floury or gritty and no salt.
Bassetmommer, I just checked my plain old Ronco in the pantry and the values read the same as what you just posted. Unless I missed something. I think I can have some, but just don't add salt. Thanks
I know most cooks will tell you it is not the same without the salt. I stopped using salt in cooking five years ago and now when I go out, I find food too salty.
Me too, Bassetmommer! I made some tuna salad a couple of days ago, and where I use to salt it over and over, I decided to leave it all out. That was an eyepopper.
That's great news. It's important for us to trust our medical team. Now having said that please check out what he tells you, make sure it's the right way for you. I had a doctor once who i felt the same way about. Turns out he misdiagnosed me and if i had stayed with him I would probably be dead now. As for salt, if you stay away from processed foods you can salt a bit of this and that while you cook. One final note at your age and EFGR CKD shouldn't be a problem for you.
I think that's a good idea, jodaer. By the time I relay information from my doctor to all of you, there are bound to be things lost in the translation or completely forgotten; for instance, about the water intake being guided by natural thirst, we both know that that thirst will be there for a while, maybe always, but it won't be as bad. And all that water was keeping me uncomfortable and bloated anyway. I'm thinking I may be needing 6-8 glasses a day for now. Also about the salt, we're bearing in mind that some salt will sneak its way to the table no matter what I do, so there's no sense in adding any to what I cook. That's what I mean by staying away. I'm getting used to being w/o it anyway, and I like most foods better this way! I appreciate what you said earlier. It shows you care.
Ladyprudence, check out foods used by gut bacteria leading to the creation of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by the liver that are associated with kidney failure. In addition, look into causes for loss of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is found in a high percentage of the population and is needed in activating thiamine and vitamin D. Magnesium deficiency may predispose to leg cramps.
My magnesium is 2.1; normal. I didn't understand the other part of your post. But honestly, I think I'll just go with what I have for now. I'm sure learning how to look up lab results, though.
yeah when I was in stage 3 I could eat whatever I want but I really think I could of ate better. I’m sorry you are having cramps . I can truly relate when I was in stage three I didn’t get them much stage 4 I did and now on dialysis I get done really bad one. It usually done electrolytes are low. My doctor said I could take some pedalite when I get really bad but ask your doctor don’t take unless they say so . That has help cramping for me. Usually potassium is low so if that the case if your labs show that you can see if you need potassium foods like bananas potatoes ect But need to look at your labs. I hope you can find relief from the cramps .
Ask Your doctor about topical Magnesium cream that you can rub on your legs to relieve cramps. I was having cramps in my calves (I ride my bicycle 5-10 miles a day) and after starting to use the magnesium cream daily I no longer have cramps.
I am also CKD stage 3a at 74 years old.
Best wishes to you for finding the best ways to help your kidneys stabilize at or above your current eGFR.
I've been hanging back for a couple of days, because I sort of felt under attack about my nephrologist. I know that wasn't the case; I was just in a precarious frame of mind.
He was right when he said concentrate on the salt. My hypertension was out of control with b/p readings in the upper 170s and 180s. I cut out all the salt that I could, and it took me till this morning to see a pretty good change. b/p was 118/67, but that is going up a little during the day, which I think is to be expected. I started drinking only 6-7 glasses of water a day, and I guess it wouldn't hurt to say I've also been eating watermelon and canned pineapple, which added more liquids of course.
There is almost no edema right now. My whopping headache is just about gone, and I'm going to see my cardiologist next week, who in the past has cut back on my meds to alleviate leg pain. It worked then, so I trust him to be smart. My leg pain is gone for now, but I still have some tingling.
He mentioned that I am taking lots of meds, so I'm cutting back on Omeprazole, 40 mgs is too much. I researched Omeprazole and Prilosec, and warnings are everywhere that I should keep a closer watch on my b/p if I have kidney disease. I had no idea.
Also, been taking an Imodium every day, which is too much, 1/2 will do. I've talked with my GP's office about all this. They swear that there has never been an issue with sodium with these two drugs. Maybe they're right, but I'm about to lose that blind faith I've had in them.
For breakfast this morning, I cooked an egg in olive oil, no salt, and made an egg sandwich, omitting about 1/2 of the yolk. It was delicious.
Still learning and trying my best. Thanks to everyone who is offering ideas.
Glad you are feeling better. That's the bottom line after all. I hope I wasn't part of your feeling like your doctor was under attack. If so I'm sorry and surely didn't mean to cause you distress.
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