Could our kidney failure by a direct cause of what we ingest?

[gothiclovemonkey]

I was talking with a friend of mine about diet... and she brought up the fact that all the pesticides and hormones and perservatives arent good for us but are in pretty much everything we eat.
She is a health food person, makes all from scratch now days, and she says she has become healthier by doing so, and even "cured" her athsma...
It got me to thinking about my own health, and eating habits...

I have FSGS, and they have given me no definitive reason for having it. Growing up we did not eat healthy at all, and we drank pop like it was going out of style... And junk food was always at the ready. (dont get me wrong, im not blaming my parents by any means, but we werent healthy eaters!!)

When I first started getting sick, I was fairly young, and it was due to a tumor, so I know that some of my health problems are a direct result of that, BUT....

It wouldnt be too far fetched to think some of it may be from the foods we eat.

ANd perhaps the reason some of us do better than others on dialysis could also be linked to that. I know of some people who seem rather "healthy" and do really well on dialysis, still leading active lives, then there are people like myself who are pretty miserable. I know I dont eat the most healthy and pure of foods still, mostly due to convience and price...
Think about it, normal people have trouble ridding themselves of the toxic crap in those foods, i imagine having kidney failure makes it that much harder. Maybe I feel like crap all the time because of all the pesticides and such im ingesting from not eating the organics...

That being said, I am going to attempt to slowly teach myself how to lead a more natural lifestyle. (its going to take time! i am a terrible cook!!)
And I am going to see if it makes any bit of difference in how i feel... I mean, why not? the only thing ill be losing is the extra cost for the 'good stuff'

and who knows, maybe ill have some kind of awesome breakthrough that could save some people from ending up with the "FSGS-I-have-no-idea-why-your-kidneys-failed" diagnosis!

[willowtreewren]

GLM,

I have been taking a course on healthy living and the first 15 lectures have been on food choices and how they affect our health. I certainly think there is much to what you are saying. When Carl was first diagnosed, he immediately started eating a kidney friendly diet (he has amazing self control). He staved off dialysis for years. His sister (little self control) started dialysis years before him, even though she was younger. She did not do as well on dialysis either, because she just didn't watch what she ate.

When I came down with Lyme disease I had another lesson in how important nutrition is. They told me to eat a diet low in added sugar and fats. Well, any time I have gone astray, the symptoms have gotten worse. When I have been "good" I have felt much better.

Aleta

[brenda seal]

Whilst I believe a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are important , I do not think it has had an impact on Laurie's health . Until he was struck down with rheumatoid arthritis at age 34 - he was a strong , healthy and active man . Both his sisters also have RA but neither of them have the serious issues with their health . Neither of them have needed joint replacements , while Laurie has had both knees and both hips replaced in his late 30's . He has not been able to take most of the potent drugs they use for RA , his sisters have both been on methotraxate for years and they are both quite heavy drinkers . One of them virtually lives on take away food and smokes like a chimney .
While you can only help yourself by making healthier food choices and leading a healthier lifestyle , I think for the most part it is just the luck of the draw . I have watched people who have abused themselves for years with alcohol and so on that are still walking around with nothing wrong with them .
The most frustrating thing about a chronic illness for us is the fact that you seem to have no control no matter how hard you try to be compliant with diet and following medical advice .

[amanda100wilson]

Doubt it. None of my family are ill  I too have FSGS. I won't discount it, but I am not going to dwell on it, until there is a proven causative link.  In the meantime, I try to eat as healthily as I can and do the best dialysis that I can to maintain my life to the best of my ability. I am a good few years older than you, and growing up I ate a good few home grown veg. Although not  a lot of fruit. 

[MaryD]

I am a good example of healthy living not necessarily leading to good health.

All my life I have been passionately interested in nutrition.  I have grown my own fruit and veggies, often killed our own meat, chosen organic wherever possible, never smoked, rarely drunk alcohol, ground our own flour, been very picky about chemicals etc. etc.  This was not done for any goody goody feeling, but because it seemed sensible.  It always felt like a game or a challenge, rather than a chore.

At 65 when kidney disease (no known cause) was on the horizon I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (DLBC), had 15cm of small bowel removed, and I went through a very severe chemo treatment, ending up with no lymphoma (touch wood) and severe peripheral neuropathy.  I started PD at 68.

I sometimes wonder if I hadn't been so health conscious, if all this would have struck sooner.  Now as I'm cooking for one I take short cuts - dried pasta instead of making my own, that packet of frozen beans in the freezer.  I still roll my own oats, grow my own veggies and choose my food carefully, but I don't have the energy to do all the rest.

[gothiclovemonkey]

Dont get me wrong, im sure some people who live greatly healthy lives still end up with something going on, especially in the older years... but i do wonder if SOME people have problems just because we eat these chemicals...

i mean, i am JUST finding out about some of this... (some I knew, some i assumed) but most of it is news to me!

[Rerun]

When I was little, my Mom would give me a floride pill everyday.  Well, I thought they tasted good (kind of salty) and I'd go get more. 

I often wonder if I did something to my kidneys......     

[Whamo]

It's not just the chemicals in our food; it's the type of food.  A heavy protein diet seems to cause the kidneys to fail sooner rather than later. 

[Rain]

i believe in thge saying "You are whgat you eat" a year into dialysis i changed how i ate.  no prepackaged foods, no pop, etc.  more on the traditional foods.  i started eatibg fermented veggies,  and making everything from scratch. 
i also got rid of all toxic products in the house like teflon pans, and bought natural soaps and deoderant as well as shampoos.  in a few monthd my mood changed, i was more happy and out going. i felt better and had more energy. 

iand then slowly i added in exercise.   and now 4 years later i feel great.  i still get crappy days but they are far and few between.  in a week i start noctunal dialysis and will be interested in see how much better i could become.


the only thing you can do is self experiment and see for yourself if it makes a difference.  but give it a few months.  at the beginning i wasnt a good cook but the more i learned and tried.  i had lots of failed recipes.  i was able to become a better cook. i i love watching the foodnetwork to get recioe ideas and learn tidbits.  my favorite chef to wzatch to learn how to cook are Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Michael Smith.  they teach you the bvasics and tips and tricks.