Introduction

[Yumaguy]

My name is Mike in Yuma, Arizona.  I was diagnosed with stage 4 and then 5 in 2009 and Spring 2010.  At 21% function I refused dialysis.  At 14% I refused dialysis.  Instead I turned to strenuous exercise and stricter nuitrition, supplements, attempting to reverse the condition.  At the same time I sought a transplant, just in case I could not reverse it. In the fall of 2010 my good friend Cindy offered her kidney to me.  By then I was at 10%.  Had to lose 70 pounds to qualify for the transplant.  And I wanted the transplant before I was forced into dialysis or death.  January 2011 I reached the necessary qualifying weight of 250 pounds.  My kidney function was 7%.  At 7% function I was walking 7 miles every other day, lifting weights every day, and juicing vegetables.  My doctor was very spooked.  She's never seen anyone do that well that low. 
April 19, 2011 the transplant between Cindy and I happened.  It was perfect.  It has continued to be perfect.  I was able to completely avoid dialysis. I hated the thought of it and the sight of walking into a dialysis center.  Peritoneal dialysis was scarcely better then hemo. 
My transplant was done at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.  I couldn't have asked for better.  I recommend that everyone turn to diet, exercise, supplementation, to increase the body's capacity to compensate for lost kidney function. 
I know they all say "NO" to supplements and herbs. Here is what I listened to.  When I asked my lead surgeon if there is any thing known to slow down or reverse chronic kidney disease, the answer was no. Nothing in Western medicine exists.  You can live with that or try everything you can get your hands on.  I did. Though I did run my herbal products by my doctors to make sure I wasn't doing myself more harm. 

[willowtreewren]

Hi Mike!

 

It sounds like you were VERY proactive (and active!) Good for you.

I spent a summer in Yuma back in the early 80s. Whew! Not something I would recommend for the faint of heart!

Aleta

[MooseMom]

My goodness!  Which fruits/veg did you juice?  What were your potassium levels like?

[Rerun]

That is what I'm thinking?     That is like a diabetic eating more sugar to force his pancress to work.  Why would I force my body to exercise which produces toxins and eat fruits and vegetables which would raise my potassium which my already shot kidneys would have to try and clean out.  Like did you also drink lots of fluids? 

I'm glad  your new kidney is working well.   

Rerun, Moderator       

[billybags]

  to the site Yumaguy

[kristina]

Hello, Mike and welcome to IHD. 

I am in a similar situation as you were before the transplant
and I am trying very hard to slow down my kidney-failure...
my kidney-fucntion has been fluctuating between 10 – 12.3 % for almost three years,
I do my exercises and walks (mind you, I could not, like you, walk 7 miles...),
and I keep a very strict vegetarian diet.

I have no weight problem (I am 53.5 kg and very slim) and I am still without ESRF-symptoms,
and I very much look forward to learn more about slowing-down the process of kidney-failure.

Kind regards and best wishes from Kristina.

[looneytunes]

Hi Yumaguy and welcome!   

Sounds like you may have a lot to share with us.  Congrats on the transplant! 

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Mike, & Glad you found us! Lots of support here.

lmunchkin

[RichardMEL]

Welcome to IHD Mike!

I'm so glad you got your transplant from your friend - what a dear friend indeed and now you are forever linked by this act of generosity.

I am also very pleased you staved off dialysis. Doing so much at 7% is indeed pretty amazing, though I was still working full time when I started at 6% so I do understand that *some* people with that low GFR can still perform some normal tasks.

One thing I would like to caution on is the suggestion to slow/halt/reverse/stay CKD is your exercise/juice/herbs/suppliments regeime. Yes, it worked for you and that's fantastic, but you have not indicated what caused your kidney failure, what your diagnosis is. There are many forms of CKD and causes, and some things like this could literally be deadly for other conditions. I am not trying to poo-poo your suggestion at all, just that folks need to be aware that one size most certainly does NOT fit all when it comes to this kind of thing.

Even exercise, which I totally support - even though I am not a gym junkie and do not lift weights or anything, but do do a lot of walking and stuff, and did when I was on D, that this may not be possible for everyone either at pre-d, on D or even post-D. I did it to keep my body in reasonable shape for the time I could get a tx, and for general fitness, and because I enjoy it, but I also knew not to push myself and if my body said "no, not today" to listen to it.

Again I'm REALLY happy you've avoided dialysis thus far, and hope Cindy-bean keeps you going for years, decades to come!!

Welcome again to our community!

RichardMEL, Moderator

[Traveller1947]

RichardMEL, you are always the voice of reason.

[Poppylicious]

  Mike!  I'm so pleased you found something that worked for you, and that you had an amazing friend who helped keep dialysis at bay!

 

[Ang]