Newly Diagnosed at 60

[HorseLuv]

I recently found out that I have Stage 3 Kidney Disease. I'm trying to get educated and figure it all out. I'm eliminating salt and adding cranberry juice to my diet. I ordered a book on kidney disease and ordered kidney vitamins. I want to know if I can keep my disease at stage 3 or even better, make it go away? I am afraid to tell my children and younger sister.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I was diagnosed at stage 3b at an older age. My Doctor put me on a CKD diet based on bloodwork for protein, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. It has stabilized my CKD. Perhaps ask your Doctor about a CKD diet.

[HorseLuv in reply to orangecity41]

Thank you. I see my Dr April 1st. I'm unfortunately recovering from hip replacement surgery and need time to heal. I'm going to write a list of questions for the kidney specialist. I will ask about a CKD diet. I appreciate your response. 🙂

[Nana16]

I was diagnosed with stage 3a at the age of 62, with an eGFR of 48.. I'm now 77, in stage 3B with an eGFR that swings between 32-35. I had 2 visits with a nephrologist. He gave me a list of foods to limit, told me not to ever take any NSAIS again, never drink any colas, but drink plenty of water, and referred me back to my primary. There is not a dietitian in our area who does kidney diet counseling, but my primary care doctor was a big help, as were this site, and the NKF website. I was positively addicted to colas, but finally managed to give them up for good 10 years ago. I watch sodium and potassium in my diet, limit protein to a 2 oz serving for lunch, 2-3 ounces for dinner. I eat a very plain diet, with as few processed foods as I can manage. I try to get 4-5 servings of vegetables a day. I have some food intolerances that limit the overall scope of my diet, but I choose from foods that I know won't make me sick. I also have celiac disease, which makes anything containing gluten off the table. I almost never eat out or order any take out food. I make almost everything I eat from scratch, no convenient ready-made meals, which are loaded with things I don't want in my body. I try to get some exercise every day, have tried to stay as fit as possible, but that has gotten more difficult with increasing back and joint problems, along with congestive heart failure. I am very careful about any OTC medications at all. If I must take something, I take the smallest amount that will work, for the shortest amount of time. As an example, I just recovered from Covid. My primary and I decided not to use the antiviral, because the recommendations on using it with kidney disease are for anyone at eGFR of30 or under not to take it at all. At 32, I'm too close to that line. I used saline spray to help keep up with the nasal congestion, cough drops to help with the sore throat, and used Safe Tussin, with only 2 ingredients in it, to help when the cough got to be too much for me to handle. Over all, I'd just like to encourage you to make any changes you can that move in a positive direction, make that lit of quetions for your visit with the nephrologist, spend a little time letting your mind adjust to your new reality, and when you're ready, just move forward with as much positivity as you can. Also, please ask your nephrologist about kidney vitamins. It's very important to make sure you're not taking something that could build up in your body with your reduced kidney function. All the best to you as you embark on this journey.

[HorseLuv in reply to Nana16]

Hello, thank you so much for the information and encouragement. I ordered a kidney book on Amazon. I did buy kidney vitamins and take 1 a day but will be asking about them and other supplements at my appointment. I have so many questions for the nephrologist. I am trying to stay positive and hope/pray for a successful outcome. Sounds like you are doing well! Take care.

[JamesFromVenice in reply to HorseLuv]

What "kidney" vitamins?

[HorseLuv in reply to JamesFromVenice]

Hi, I just heard about them by Googling and ordered them on Amazon. I chose one with good reviews. I am bringing them to my Dr, but I don't see him until April. I read that I'm not supposed to take my women's multivitamin or my vitamin A, hair/skin/nails vitamins until I talk with my kidney doctor.

[Evelyn22]

Hi, I'm 68 now but was diagnosed at stage 3A at 63 when my eGFR was hovering at 56. Recently my eGFR was 46 due to stress and lapsing a little on my water intake. After watching my diet and making sure I got 64 ounces of water daily I brought it back to 51 in 2 months.

I'm not going to lie, it's a struggle. I measure all of my water and try to get 64 ounces everyday. I never eat red meat or use salt. I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure and I'm not overweight. No kidney issues show up on ultrasound, no family history. I do take a baby asprin and 10mg statin but my cholestrol is only 142 down from about 300.

So a couple of tips, your fluids should mainly be water, 8 ounces can be something else. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, avoid salt, cut back on protein, cheese is my downfall. I eat turkey, chicken, and fish. I cut out sugar and now use honey as a replacement. I only eat whole grain bread.

My doctors recommend daily fiber, I use Citrucel, and I've read some people have luck with probiotics, so I recently started to take a synbiotic which is a combination prebiotic and probiotic. I'll see if it helps on my next blood test in June.

You could get a Cystatin-C blood test which is more accurate than eGFR and there are online calculators that give a better GFR calculation using those 2 results. You could get a urine test to see if you have proterenia (protein leaking from kidneys). If you have an underlying contributing disease, you need to get it under control and try to find out what is causing your CKD. Mine appears to be age related decline.

Kidneys can't be repaired all we can do is try to maintain the kidney function we have and stay well hydrated.

Good luck.

[HorseLuv in reply to Evelyn22]

Thank you for the information. I wrote them down and will get fiber and symbiotic. I've heard both are good for KD. I will ask my Dr about the tests and Google them too. I'm just overwhelmed right now. Recovering from hip replacement surgery and finding out I have stage 3 kidney disease a month apart. I consider myself a strong woman but we all have our breaking points. Thanks again.

[Evelyn22 in reply to HorseLuv]

It is a lot to take in without the additional hip surgery and recovery. Stage 3 is the only stage that has 2 segments 3A and 3B. 3B is more of a decline. You should ask your doctor for an ultrasound as well. Once you have results from all the tests it gives you a better picture of your kidney health.

The key is to remember to stay well hydrated, cut back on salt, sugar, processed foods, and red meat. I've read a lot people are able to stay in stage 3 for years. That's encouraging.

Good luck on your journey.

[HorseLuv in reply to Evelyn22]

I will ask my Dr when I meet him about the ultrasound, thank you. I'm trying to drink more water. I do drink (lower) protein drinks with/for breakfast and lunch. Do you think that is a bad idea? I'm going to ask my Dr when I see him in April.

[Evelyn22 in reply to HorseLuv]

I think my eGFR has gone up and down too much for me to know what is working best for me. So I'm really paying attention to food and hydration until the June labs. Once I know what works well I can add something to see if I get a negative result. I keep potassium and protein low In the meantime.

I've read that in stage 3 a kidney diet isn't necessary. But I've also read that some who went on a kidney diet and hydrated moved back into stage 2. That would be great, but it's possible that they may not have had kidney decline and were just dehydrated.

You really need to discuss your diet and supplements with your doctor. He really needs to find out what's causing it.

All my best. Eve

[HorseLuv in reply to Evelyn22]

Thank you for the information. I have been making a list of what to ask the nephrologist when I see him in April. Good luck to you. 🙂

[BeachLove]

Hello, so sorry for your news. I am 63 and awaiting transplant. What is your specific kidney disease? If it is slow progressing you may never have to go on dialysis, as long as you can maintain at least 20% functioning. No matter what it is important to tell family and close friends. They would so want to know so that they can support you. This is not something that you want to try to tackle on your own.

[HorseLuv in reply to BeachLove]

I've seen a PA-C once and they told me I had Stage 3 that went from B to A. I have an appt April 1st meeting my kidney Dr, labs a week before. I am hoping/praying the new labs are better. I don't know where this KD came from?! A surprise for sure. I'm sorry you are waiting for a transplant. You are young. Do you know how/why? Such a strange disease.

[WildIris]

I don't drink water or eat foods that contain a lot of water after about 6 hours before bedtime, 4PM for me. I worry whether that's bad for my kidneys, but I still have to pee a couple of times during the night (which I don't like), and my bladder is pretty full when I wake up. My eGFR, in the 4 years since diagnosis, doesn't seem to be affected, though it did come up by about 15 after I went vegan and lost weight, though it was down a bit at the last test, its still over 60. I do eat a big salad with tomatoes and apples in the evening, which probably helps prevent dehydration overnight. Most of the foods I eat are pretty juicy, especially blueberries, and I eat 2-3 cups of those every day plus soup (miso & curry flavored vegetable). I don't mean to say that drinking plenty of water isn't good for the kidneys, just that getting up to pee more than a few times at night is not that healthful.

[KajNybom]

I am not sure it will go away but you can make it better with exercise and diet. Little or no meat, low potassium(no avacado,etc), low phosphorous (tomatoes), low salt and low or no alco hol. You should check all with your dr. My GFR went from a 32 to a 44, which gave me hope that I won't be in a really bad situation if I exercise and eat right. Good luck and get a doctor that can help you.

[HorseLuv in reply to KajNybom]

Thank you, you too!