Introduction

[Uralmom]

Hello
I was born with only one kidney, discovered by accident when I was being tested for something else as a child.

For the last 20 years i have had gout attacks several times a year, and now have chronic gout.

I am glad to have found this group. My last blood test showed my eGFR  at 14. It has been going down about 4 or 5 points a year for quite a while but is starting to accelerate  now.

Other than seeing my neph every 3 months, I haven't done much about it other than meds for gout and high blood pressure.  Right now I am just exhausted, have bouts of itchiness and crazy leg cramps, and waves of nausea. So I guess things are starting to get real.

I am scheduled to visit the kidney clinic in January to discuss diet, which is pretty close to a renal diet anyway, and dialysis options.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you.

[iolaire]

Other than seeing my neph every 3 months, I haven't done much about it other than meds for gout and high blood pressure.  Right now I am just exhausted, have bouts of itchiness and crazy leg cramps, and waves of nausea. So I guess things are starting to get real.

Welcome to the group, many of us were told that the numbers only mean so much and you will know it when its time.  The symptoms are some of those signs - is your nephrologist aware of them?  Likely some of those issues will be resolved when you move to dialysis but other worries might replace them.

[MooseMom]

Welcome to our group!  I am very sorry to hear about the gout.  Oh, that is so incredibly painful!  Which meds do you take for it, and do they help you?

[Charlie B53]

I also have gout. Google 'purines' and learn the difference in animal and vegetable.  Vegetable isn't near as bad on the body with the exception of those found in beer.

I also have pseudo gout, when my chronically high calcium levels wack further out and start crystallizing in the joints exactly like the high uric acid does.

Diet plus the correct meds can make a huge difference.  I was very surprised when my Rheumatologist prescribed Prednisone.  But the steroid worked, within a week the crystals dissolved and the the pain resolved.  It still took more than a month to taper the dose down and eventually stop taking it, and during that time I eat and added 40 pounds back on.  But over the last year I've managed to lose half of it so far.

I hope you get this under control soon.

Take Care,

Charlie B53

[Paul]

Hello Uralmom. Welcome. I've only been here about a week, and in that short time have found the site helpful. I think you will do so too.

 

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site Uralmom


   


If you haven't already done so, and feel up to it, read up on the different D's and diets.


Take care, Cas

[kristina]

Hello Uralmom and welcome to this site.
I send you my kind regards and best wishes form Kristina.