Hi, my introduction

[martinfa]

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well 

My name is Martin and I live in the UK. Not on dialysis yet and hope I don't get there but suspect being in my mid 40s and with my reading as per the attachment it is inevitable.

If anyone can offer any help or advise on how I can stay healthy that would be very much appreciated. I have given up smoking but still overweight, I am looking to increase my exercise and eat better as I know this is the next must.

Nice to not be on my own and looking forward to getting to know you all

[Charlie B53]

Hi Martin, glad to have you with us here at IHD.

You will find a lot of answers here to many of the questions you willl have.  Learn to use the Search as much as possible.  Of course Post questions as you need and we will try to help explain anything we can.

Unfortunately kidneys rarely get better.  There are cases of shock/injury where kidney fail and do heal/recover function.  But normally once damaged scar tissue makes kidney function steadly decline until dialysis become necessary.

There are a few things you can do to put this off much longer.

Google 'Renal Diet'.  Reducing the workload placed on your kidneys by diet and excessive fluid intake will make the biggest difference.  Soda, specifically cola's, are NOT good.  Clear or root beer, but you still have to watch the total volume of liquids daily.  Remember to count 80% or more of foods as everything contains water.

Questioning your Dr's about every med you take as some can cause stress on your kidneys.  If you are taking anything like that definitely ask if there is some other med that may be less stressful to your kidneys.

Reducing excess weight isn't easy, but I managed to reduce carbs by cutting out much of the flour in my diet.  Breads, pasta, peeling the skin off fried chicken, trimming the amount of fat in my diet.  Above all start looking at serving sizes.  Generallly we tend to eat far more than we really need.  It's an ongoing process.  I did manage to lose 100 pounds but it took me two whole years.  I still have a ways to go.  I was pretty big.

It isn't easy.  But the harder you are on yourself the longer you will live.

Take that daily walk, even if it isn't very far, it adds up to better health.

Take Care,

Charlie B53

[Marilee]

Hi Martin and welcome to the group.

It's a tough road to watch the numbers progress ever onward toward total failure. My hubby's kidneys did stabilize for several years at about 25% functionality (just enough to get by), but then he got dehydrated and his kidneys took a nosedive. In his case, his kidneys had stabilized once his blood pressure got controlled well enough - I don't know what is causing your kidneys to falter, so I don't know if that applies in your case.

Congratulations on stopping smoking! Fantastic!!

Good luck getting the rest of your health in line: That will really help! I second Charlie's thoughts about low-carb (or at least low-starch) eating to shed unwanted pounds: It's simple, effective and healthful. I had the best luck using advice from the book "Protein Power" http://a.co/16y99RT about 18 years ago. I also think it's helpful to avoid as much man-made chemistry (processed foods, preservatives, drugs, etc.) as you can because it's more work for your kidneys to get that stuff out of your system, and they're under enough stress as it is.

[cassandra]

Hi Martin welcome to the site


   


Take care, Cas

[MooseMom]

I spent 8 years in your shoes, and I can certainly relate.

In my experience, a renal patient should focus on diet to stay healthy.  Losing weight, stopping smoking...those are certainly good things to do.  But in CKD 4/5, it is essential to watch your dietary intake of phosphorus and potassium.  Have you seen a renal dietician?  What are your labs telling you about your phosphorus and potassium levels?

There are all sorts of discussions/informative posts on IHD regarding diet.  And of course, there is a lot of good information online.  If you have not already, ask your nephrologist where to start in keeping healthy by amending your diet.

Thank you for joining us!  Where in the UK do you live?

[martinfa]

Thanks everyone for your really helpful comments.

Diet hasn't been mentioned by my nephrologist so I will be bringing this up on my next visit which is in a couple of weeks and ask to see a renal dietitian. To be truthful I've been in a state of denial but finally seen the light and acknowledge that I must now take action.

High Blood Pressure has been the cause and I do take many pills a day to keep it down and until this year it did look like my kidney function had stabilised. My BP is generally pretty good.

I have also always drank a lot of fluids (over 3 litres a day) as had gout in my early 20s and was told this is good to flush out the system, I wonder if all this fluid has been a contributing factor. Usually drink no added sugar squash and fizzy water.

Plenty to bring up in my next meeting and thank you all.

p.s. MooseMom in Poole

[MooseMom]

No, I don't think drinking that many units of fluids would contribute to kidney failure.  In fact, most people are not as well hydrated as they should be.

Yes, PLEASE do speak to your neph about diet and DO find out what your current serum potassium and phosphorus levels are!  That will help you figure out which kinds of foods to avoid.

Poole?  Dorset is a lovely part of the world!

[Charlie B53]

It wasn't the fluids, it was the prolonged high blood pressure that damages and grows scar tissue in the kidneys.

I have a long history of chronic pain fro permanent injuries.  Despite massive amounts of blood pressure meds my BP's often spike  from simple body movements.  Cumulative effect is massive scar tissue and kidney failure.