9-27-23 update

[WalesPrincess]

Just got back from appt with my new Nephrologist. Went over all my records, test results, current health, etc What a difference!

As all are aware, my egfr dropped from 47 to 33 almost overnight. Have added Resveratrol for 6 weeks & found gfr up to 37 & now the last one is at 41. Creatinine is high though at 1.52 but records reflect wide ranges beginning on 2019. Seems drinking 80 to 102 oz a day isn't helping. I gave up weight training due to increases in creatine & overwhelming fatigue, but I am walking my fur baby 2 - 3 times a day (5k+ to 11k steps a day!). I'm 5'5" and holding at 133-134 lbs at 71 y.o. I'm in good health otherwise.

Doc says I'm doing everything right (little to no red meats, LOTS of water, fruits & veggies, I don't drink or smoke), D3 & B12 but rest of vitamins aren't necessary (though can continue if I find they help).

Next appointment in 6 mo's & says, while there are never any guarantees, but as long as I continue this path he can't see me ever needing Dialysis. OMG, Praise God. I've been so scared these 6 Mo's (and more), not having any guidance is a real stressor & since I have no family, no support.

The Dr. is going to send me to renal dietician for consult and will I'm to cancel using the Pompa Protocol. So, all great news. I feel alive & young again! Will keep you updated as any occur.

Thank you all so much for your wise info and support. It has helped, tremendously.

Wishing you all the very best ❤️.

[Pisces101]

wonderful News! Wishing you all the best and looking forward to updates! I will be seeing a nephrologist for the first time on 10 Oct. looking forward to meeting a specialist!

[CuriousCKD]

Great news! 👏🏼👏🏼

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Good for you. There is lot to be said about lifestyle changes and how it helps protect the kidneys.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

Good news. I too have to take B12 and D3. Keep us posted.

[WalesPrincess in reply to orangecity41]

They tell us our D3 levels drop in winter, so I dropped taking them since it was summer, but mine came back low. Because of dehydration issues I have to prevent over warming so the result is less sunlight. I'm back on it and find I notice my energy and mood both drop when I forget to take it as well as B12. I dtay hydrated and watch carefully to not over work because of higher energy levels. Seems to help me.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to WalesPrincess]

Good your prescribed supplement help you. I know B12 helps me also. I do get B12 shots if needed. I live in Florida and Doctor told me to keep taking D3 all year. My D3 level is better.

[1937em]

I am glad you test results are better. I can't imagine drinking that much water. My feet would look like balloons and I would be going to the bathroom every minutes. I am stage 3b and was told that 42 oz okay for me. But you have to follow your doctors' advice and not mine. I hope things contiue to do well for you.

[Darlenia]

That is good news! I noticed that you're in your 70s. As you age, organs (including kidneys) naturally decline. It's rare for a person to celebrate their 100th birthday for that reason. There's debate in the medical field currently going on how to present the normalcy of this in the aging population and in eGFR figures. (eGFR is an "estimate" based on "variables".) On the other hand there are creatinine and BUN figures, that provide hard data. Interestingly, my hubby, with a kidney transplant, has figures similar to yours and his team is pleased with them. He, too, is in his 70s.

[jcwalker]

Thanks for sharing.. Hope is real.

[phebamom]

Wow, congratulations. My GFR went from 30 to 36 when nephrologist put me on total vegetarian diet. Also stopped the daily Vitamin D as oil soluble vitamin supplements (ADEK) are hard on kidneys . The plan is to test Vit. D levels and only take what I actually need. We raise beef cattle so the vegetarian diet came as a bit of a challenge, I am adapting well and created a recipe for bean/cheese tacos to die for. Hang in there.

[TableTennisMama in reply to phebamom]

feel free to share that bean taco recipe! 😋

[phebamom in reply to TableTennisMama]

Two cans of Moser's Best Choice Sodium free Pinto Beans, or cook your own beans with seasoning, but no salt, enough when cooked equal to two cans of beans. One onion, fresh garlic, one or two cloves. In a skillet, cook onion until translucent, add garlic and cook 2-3 minutes. Add the beans, mash about half of them with a spoon or fork. Add one teaspoon Cumin, one teaspoon Chili Powder, and one half teaspoon of good smoked paprika, not regular paprika, it needs to be smoked. I add Mrs. Dash table blend to taste.

Simmer ten minutes. In the meantime, in a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter, add 3 tablespoons of flour. cook stirring constantly to make a nice roux. Add the roux to the beans. Yes, this is fattening, but it really takes the beans over the top. I use salt free butter. Add the roux to the beans.

I buy either Taco Bell, or Kroger brand taco shells. They have 0 milligrams of sodium. I heat in oven just until the shells have a sheen from the oil melting in them.

Place hot beans in taco shell, add Monterey Jack cheese, or another white cheese. (white cheese is better for kidneys than yellow. The cheese will get melty. Add low fat sour cream, diced fresh tomatoes, finely diced lettuce, and if you are of a brave sort, jalapenos. I forsake the jalapenos, tender stomach. I like diced orange green pepper, and green chilis and black olives. There are several companies that sell low sodium black olives. Yummy, and I do not miss hamburger tacos.

[TableTennisMama in reply to phebamom]

thank you! 👍😋

[phebamom in reply to TableTennisMama]

I forgot two ingredients. I also add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup water to the beans and a couple tablespoons of tomato paste, or tomato sauce. Sorry about that. I am actually making it now. I plan to add veggies, make it into a wrap and bake it long enough to melt the cheese. My local health food store sells

Stacy's brand tortillas. They have half the sodium of regular store brands. This low sodium way of cooking takes a lot of time and patience, but it is doable

[TableTennisMama in reply to phebamom]

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me that recipe! My anemia is so bad that I really struggle doing the shopping, planning, cooking process. I’ll have to try to find those Stacy tortillas. I’ve not seen them in my regular grocery stores but I didn’t think about looking in health food stores. Hope you have a blessed evening. 😊

[phebamom in reply to TableTennisMama]

I also have anemia It is called "Anemia of Chronic disease", and is a chronic condition that goes some disease processes. In my case, Polymyalgia rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis. We have a chain store called "Natural Grocers". They stock the Stacy tortilla shells, both in white and whole wheat. The whole wheat are very good. I also have sleep apnea, and last week's kidney biopsy shows "crystalized protein". I had more blood work done a few days ago. So I should know more next week. The doctor who did the needle biopsy was looking over my medical history. He told me I was a true warrior. I was honored, but some days, to quote a line from one of my favorite support songs: Some days faith means just tying my shoes. Right now my worst problem is my CPap machine. I fight it every night. It's always something,

[TableTennisMama in reply to phebamom]

You do sound like a warrior for sure! Hope you resolve the Cpap issues. Praying that you get the right machine and the right facemask. Good sleep is so essential to health.

[phebamom in reply to TableTennisMama]

Part of the problem is adenoids. Part of the problem is that the technician who monitors the cpap technical side is not allowed to be involved with the medical side. The physician is not allowed to be involved with the technical side. I am stuck in the middle with inadequate care. I tried to explain my issues with the technician. She actually called me "bitchy" to my face.

[WalesPrincess in reply to phebamom]

TableTennisMomm is right. Good sleep is so helpful & is a great stress reliever. You really are a true warrior.I understand your comorbidaties (sp?). Certainly lifestyle plays an integral part in our lives. I was brutal with my body when younger, playing touch football, softball, track & field; tried out for Jr. Olympics, gymnastics, competition. Mid 20s was on Hippy lifestyle, you know: lots of fruits, vitamins galore, colloidal silver, natural health foods... but life happened. 2 back injuries, as a passenger 3 horrible accidents, esophageal cancer, health problems, then neck & back surgery. 2 years ago slipped and have 2 compound fractured vertebrae. Spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, and Valley fever and the CVid too. Guess all the sports strengthened me & the healthy early years didn't hurt. At 71 I'm extremely busy managing my home, property, fur baby & church family.

Sometimes I'm too busy & must force myself to slow down. I walk 3 times a day from 5+k to 11+k steps a day (did need to give up weight training at the gym. Creatine levels kept going up and gfr down.

The new Nephrologist insists I be gentle on myself; hard for me to do, but I am trying. I'm no doctor but certainly know how blessed I am to still feel 39!

I hope you reach this level as well. There are so many new medical ideas and procedures, and promises of medical advancement in the new decade ahead.

Keep the faith. Hope truly is a wonderful thing.

Be strong, warrior. 😊

[phebamom in reply to WalesPrincess]

Back when all of this started I was newly divorced, working a 40 hour week, commuting two hours every day, going to college four nights a week until ten p.m. and power walking four miles a day. So I know all about over-doing it. Pretty sure it all happened from a virus, possibly a tick bite. In 1995 I ran a 101.5 F fever for 5 months. Total hysterectomy for cancer in 2004. two stomach surgeries for reflux. Insertion of hernia mesh for hernia from cancer surgery. Mesh grew through bladder wall. 14 days in hospital for mesh removal. Yep, a freaking warrior. I was also the main caregiver for my mother with terminal cancer, helped my hubby care for his mom with COPD and congestive heart failure, and cared for his aunt for 13 years with strokes and cancer. I am so exhausted, and there are times I wonder how I did it all.

[Hidden in reply to phebamom]

My mom used to make a dish when we were young. It was lima beans in a thick pasty tomato sauce. It was a Slovakian dish.

[phebamom in reply to Hidden]

Sounds yummy. I love lima beans, hubby barely tolerates them. I may look that dish up.

[Pigletmom]

So happy to hear you are doing well!!that’s great news!!

[FelineFandom146]

Good news for you. May I ask the dosage you took of Resveratrol? Thanks and keep going with what you're doing!