Weight Training with 3a kidney disease

[jnmurphy]

Hi everyone! I’ve been on this site for a few weeks now and have found it incredibly helpful—thank you all for your support! If it wasn't for this group, I wouldn't have been so proactive in getting the extra resources I needed!

Quick backstory: In 2018, I noticed a decline in my kidney function during my yearly bloodwork at age 41. I had been dealing with horrible back pain after running a marathon and was taking Advil regularly. Over the years, my creatinine levels have slowly crept up, though my GP didn’t seem too concerned, even though my numbers fluctuate each year. In November 2023, my eGFR was 66, and creatinine was 1.05. I had my first eGFR test at that point.

In February 2024, I started high-intensity workouts with F45 and really loved them. In May, my bloodwork showed an eGFR of 63 and creatinine of 1.09. My doctor dismissed it as "normal," but I became worried and decided to stop the F45 workouts. Then, on October 3rd, my eGFR dropped to 52 with creatinine rising to 1.29. October 23rd, my eGFR was 59 with creatinine 1.15.

I pushed my GP to order additional tests, including a urine test, ultrasound, and referral to a nephrologist.

I saw the nephrologist last Friday, who mentioned that my kidney function is fluctuating between stage 2 and stage 3a. He believes the damage may be due to medication use and dehydration. He said it's okay to resume high-intensity workouts but recommended I avoid lifting heavy weights that could potentially damage my muscles (which is a core part of F45 workouts). He also suggested following the DASH diet for hypertension or the Mediterranean diet, along with proper hydration, to help manage kidney function while being active.

So, I’m hoping to hear from others who have experience with weight training and kidney function. Have any of you had negative results from lifting or high-intensity workouts while managing kidney health? I’m also planning to run another marathon—most likely my last one—and am on the waitlist to run with the National Kidney Foundation. My nephrologist said we would monitor my kidney function closely and stop if needed, but I’d love advice or stories from others who’ve balanced exercise with kidney concerns.

Thanks so much in advance!

[allene7]

I do not weight train, but did your nephrologist tell you to stop taking ibuprofen? Just wondering because that can be hard on your kidneys, because it decreases blood flow to the kidneys. It isdn't even a very friendly thing to take on a regular basis if you don't have kidney disease.

[jnmurphy in reply to allene7]

Yes, he told me to stop the Ibuprofen and only take Tylenol if needed.

[Ballspinner]

I don't know anything about weight training, but you must stop taking Advil. It is hurting your kidneys. If you have chronic kidney disease you can only take Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain. Ask any nephrologist, please . You should also drink more water and avoid getting dehydrated during workouts. I have PKD, a genetic form of kidney disease, and I have been through 4 years of dialysis and then received a kidney transplant 4 years ago. Try to learn and follow a diet based on your blood and urine tests. For example, you should eat low sodium foods and fid out about your phosphorus and potassium levels ( if they are in normal range) and eat accordingly. Also, no dark sodas like colas, it's high in phosphorus. Learn to read food labels, too. Good luck on your journey!

[jnmurphy in reply to Ballspinner]

Hi, thanks for your reply and your suggestions! I will definitely follow doctors' orders, he suggested the DASH diet and Mediterranean Diet. Which will be a completely new way of life for me. I hope you are doing well with the transplant and living with this disease. Good luck to you also!

[allene7 in reply to Ballspinner]

Good. I wish you well on this journey.

[userotc]

My mum (stage 3 for 14y, single kidney >7, aged 69) weight trains albeit unlikely as much as you. She does other exercise too eg pilates. We believe all good for her general health and not damaging to kidney, with which her nephro is happy.

I agree with allene7's indication that the NSAID could well be the cause of your kidney damage.

[CuriousCKD]

I can unequivocally say that taking too many NSAID’s of ANY kind and being dehydrated for years contributed to my stage 4 CKD. Also, Intense exercise can create creatinine waste from the muscles and contribute to inflammation of the kidneys. I completely quit Advil, Alleve (Naproxen), etc. 8 years ago. Even any creams or lotions that contain these ingredients should be checked with your doctor before using, as they are absorbed through the skin. Hydration is imperative! Barring any unforeseen issues, if you are proactive now, you can go a long way in protecting those precious, vital kidneys.

[jnmurphy in reply to CuriousCKD]

I didn't even think of anything absorbing into the skin. Thank you for that suggestion! It's so hard for me to drink water, but I wish I would've taken all this more seriously earlier in life. I hope you are able to manage this disease at stage 4. Good luck to you!

[Ballspinner in reply to jnmurphy]

Also, a few suggestions about water - if you drink tap water, you can pour some in a bottle and chill it in the fridge to get rid of any chlorine taste or smell. You can also add sugar free flavoring to give it some taste. Gatorade or Powerade have electrolytes added, so are maybe not a good idea. Even bottled water seems to have electrolytes added these days - I chose Smartwater when I was at the hospital cafe because it seemed to have the least additives. Also, there is a wonderful renal dietitian available on Zoom once a month, who you have to sign up for on rsnhope.org. Check out the website, it's a really good one I've used for years!

[jnmurphy in reply to Ballspinner]

I really appreciate it! I'm so picky about my water. I find that the water from my fridge is the only water I can tolerate. My nephrologist suggested that I put lemon and orange in the water. I did not like that at all. I'll have to try the sugar free flavoring. I'm desperate at this point. He wants me to drink 80oz a day. I'm struggling to drink even half that.

[CuriousCKD in reply to jnmurphy]

Thank you. It was also very difficult for me to drink water for most of my life. I compensated by drinking copious amounts of coffee and diet soda. Currently, I allow myself around 16 oz of coffee per day, and I have not touched any kind of carbonated beverages for around 8 years. I do drink a can of natural sparkling water with a wedge of lemon a few times a week. I also drink green tea and around 40-50 oz of water daily. I have maintained a GFR of around 24-29 since 2019.

[jnmurphy in reply to CuriousCKD]

Thats great that you have been able to maintain your GFR for that long! I'll have to try green tea. Do you drink iced or hot? I love regular soda too but will have to completely cut that out too.

[CuriousCKD in reply to jnmurphy]

Thank you. It is hard work, and I have trouble in controlling sugar and carb impulses. 😩 I’m 78, and sometimes mistakenly think I’m entitled to enjoy them, until reality brings me back to center.

I like hot green tea with lemon, but I enjoy iced tea with lemon in Summer also. I do try to drink herbal teas that are decaffeinated, because my coffee is not.

I really wish you well.

[Snoopy53]

Yes Advil ruined my kidneys. I am at Stage 3A because of my daily advil consumption for pain. I also took Advil Cold and Sinus for allergies for years. I had no idea this was harming my kidneys.

[jnmurphy in reply to Snoopy53]

I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I can relate. Hopefully we can be proactive and maintain at 3a. Good luck to you!

[Snoopy53]

Thank you. Best to you as well.

[honey006]

Hi,I had the same thing. In March 2024 I started training intensively at the gym, including weights, and I loved it. I'm from Poland, 34 years old and my stage is 4, my creatinine in March 2024 was 185 umol/l, GFR 29. I had further tests at the beginning of December 2024 and creatinine increased to 265 umol/l, GFR 19. I got scared and consulted my nephrologist who said that heavy exercise may cause this and I was probably dehydrated. He also said that I can do kinetic exercises at the gym and exercise until the so-called "first sweat" and drink plenty of water. I took a break from the gym and I'm waiting to repeat the results and see if they have improved after I stopped exercising 🥺

Greetings from Poland

[jnmurphy in reply to honey006]

Hi. thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sorry to hear that this has happened to you. Its frustrating that we are trying to make ourselves healthier by exercising, yet its putting a toll on our kidneys. How much water were you drinking when you were doing the weight training? Did your doctor suggest that you aren't supposed to sweat?

[honey006 in reply to jnmurphy]

Thank you for your reply. During the training, which usually lasted about 1.5 hours, I always had a 750 ml bottle of water with me but I did not always drink it all. The doctor suggested that during heavy training, when you sweat, you should immediately drink 500 ml of water to replenish fluids, which is difficult to do. That's why he said I could exercise until my first sweat so as not to get dehydrated. The second nephrologist I consulted said that kidneys hate physical work and that I can ride a bike, go for walks and things like that. I don't know who to listen to anymore. It's very frustrating when you love to do something and you can't. But I know that health is more important.