help for new CKD vet

[thomasmb777]

I am a navy vet of the gulf war 1991 to 2001 i have CKD stage 2/3 my d3 is very low is there any one that has any thing that can help with is i am sared to death as i the only one to take care of my mom who is in her late 60

[Melirm]

Hi, first thing I would suggest is to not to worry (too much) I know it’s hard, but the treatments that are available are genuinely amazing. We all tend to only take notice of people’s horror stories and not the ones where all goes well.

CKD is a disease that can go very slowly and there are simple things you can do to help yourself. Diet, exercise and all that.

But don’t bottle up all your worries, do you have someone close you can talk to? If not your medical team I’m sure will be happy to talk you through your concerns and if you need it refer you to an expert.

Chin up. YOU CAN DO THIS.

Sounds like you have been through much worse in your life. Your clearly a brave person.

There are plenty of people to support you. Look through this group and you’ll see! Take care of yourself. xxx

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Firstly Thank you for you service to our country. Now, take a deep breath. There are several things to keep in mind as you go about your life.

1-No NSAIDS like Aleve, Ibuprofen, Aspirin. Stick with Tylenol if you need to or consult with your nephrologist

2-if you smoke stop

3-exercise daily to keep your weight at a healthy level

4-drink plenty of water and consult your physician about the amount you can safely consume. Stay away from sodas or juices if possible. Its just extra sugar and calories that have no value to your well being or your body as a whole

5-treat any and all infections ASAP. Be sure to finish all meds as directed

6-keep your blood pressure within normal range. If you need meds be diligent about taking them.

7-if you're diabetic keep your blood sugars tightly controlled.

8-Ask your nephrologist for a referral to consult with a renal dietitian. At stage 3 it is a good idea to start lowering daily protein intake to preserve the kidney function. This can be done by utilizing vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs and small weekly amount (if you want) of red meat but poultry and fish are better. Many at this stage choose a vegan diet but it is entirely individualized choice.

Make sure to ask your Dr. what you need to do to help your low levels of Vit D3. You don't say what the cause of your CKD is so all the items I've listed should be okay. Many people have been able to preserve their function for many years sometimes 2 or more decades. It really depends on the cause and how well you're able to self-manage your health and care.

Take a deep breath. It will all be okay. Read, research, try other social media sites and get to know more about CKD. This should help to alleviate the fear. You are not alone. Blessings

[Jayhawker]

Thank you for your service to our country

I won't repeat what they others have said. I would stress the importance of pulling together a strong medical team. And, you need to learn as much as you can about CDK so you can take appropriate care of yourself on a daily basis at home.

I grew up with a father who had CKD. He lived all of his adult life with CKD. His progressed very slowly. Hopefully, with an appropriate treatment plan and a strong medical team, your experience will be similar to my father's. And, statistics clearly note that many persons with CKD never reach renal failure. Therefore, the majority of people with CKD never need dialysis or a kidney transplant. They live well with CKD for the duration of their lives.

The initial diagnosis is without a doubt a huge shock and tends to trigger lots of stress and anxiety. But, as the others have said, you can do this

Jayhawker

[mhawk123]

I congratulate you for caring for your mother throughout the years despite your life now with CKD. I had low D3 ( cholecalciferol ) levels less than 12 as I do not consume milk and is vegan which puts me also at risk. My doctor recommended the eggs and fish with mushrooms once a week and started me on loading dose of Vitamin D then daily dosage of Cholcalciferol 25 mcg daily. Since I do not like to take a pill daily I was switched to D2 50,000 IU once a month. The most important is to talk to your doctor about what is best for you and to take the medication faithfully with rechecking of levels. YOU GOT THIS.