Potassium

[kevno]

Amber I go back for over 30 years now. The renal diet is unbelievable to the way it used to be. The renal diet used to be worked out in protein grammes. 20,30 up to a 90gramme protein renal diet. When I first started on haemo. I was put on a 20 gramme protein diet. You had to look under a pea to find the meat. Plus a lot of high cal supplements. Now you can eat as much meat as you like. Then no bread. The only bread I could have was a special bread made in a TIN. Every point of the diet as changed, and I know it keeps changing. Now it is more for phosphate and potassium. How much you can drink as changed too. When I went back on CAPD just 18 years ago you were only suppose to have 500mls a day. Now at the unit the nurses are not to bothered as long as you are not over 3kg up. You used to get moaned at being 2kg up over the weekend In the 70's on haemo all the children on the unit run potassium over 6. Mine as been as high as 8 thats when they gave me some sandy stuff to lower it. Now never have a potassium lab result over 4.5.

All as changed and is still changing. They give with one hand, and take twice as much with the other. But if you were on the renal diet in the 70's you would be wondering what to eat. The answer was Sugar and more Sugar. Until they found out all those calories damages your heart.

[Panda_9]

When I was on it as a teen, I had to have only white bread/crackers, not multigrain or wholemeal, minimal milk, no cheese, no salt, no this no that. I was on a 750ml restriction. Being only young and having very supportive parents, I did really well with sticking to it. Sometimes I did get up during the night and have a big swig of milk. Its strange though, it only took me one slice of cheese and my knuckles would swell and the pain was so great I had to wear a glove to stop them even moving slightly.
This time round on PD, I ate pretty much whatever I wanted, within reason, but because it was ineffective I wasnt eating hardly anything. It took me not eating or drinking for 3 days til they put me on hemo. With hemo I mainly had trouble with potassium, phosphate, and Hb, and my diet was extremely limited. Meat wasnt a problem, it was most any fruit or vegetables. Now with nocturnal I eat whatever I like, and have only had high K if Ive gone back in-centre for whatever reason. I just had a whole grilled tomato for breakfast, before hand I could only have 1 or 2 slices.
There is one lady at unit who could eat whatever and it didnt make a difference to phosphate at all.

[BigSky]

In 86 they started giving me medication for renal failure, never started dialysis until 87.  They never said anything about diet to me.  Only gave me half gallon containers of bp medication and half gallon containers of aluminum binders and told me to keep taking them until told otherwise.

[Panda_9]

Diets not too important if you arent on dialysis, unless its reflecting in your blood levels. While I still had some function on PD, my fluid wasnt restricted, and my diet wasnt too bad.

[angieskidney]

Ya exactly! Back in the 80's when I was in renal failure but not yet on dialysis I didn't have to worry about diet so much .. except to not have a lot of protein and watch my salt intake. And then when I went on PD I still didn't have to watch my fluids at all since I still had one of my original kidneys and was still peeing a lot. Then when I had my transplant I had to watch my weight because of the Prednisone.

I never had to watch my Potassium honestly til just this past year once I started HD for the first time in my life.

The diet is harder now than I have ever known but upon reading how it was in the 70's on Hemo .. I am glad I chose PD back then and am glad I didn't have to start dialysis til 1990 and had my transplant soon after

[sandman]

Certain brands ADD Phosphate!! READ THE LABELS!!

Safe Rootbeer in MY area (Canada .. ontario):

• A&W
• Mug

NOT Safe rootbeer:

• Hires
• Barq's

Umm, I remember reading the labels on Barq's rootbeer and there is a difference between canned and bottled softdrinks.  I can't remember if it was canned or bottled but one had phosphate and the other didn't.

[angieskidney]

sorry I feel bad I took this thread off topic.

[Epoman]

Goofynina .. can you move this post by sandman to the phosphate thread because it is more relevant there and he knows I am asking you this. Thx. (After that you can delete this post of mine saying this thx!)

Angieskidney, the ADMIN team does NOT delete posts on this website (only for extreme circumstances, even then only I can make that decision, however a mod is free to delete their OWN post.). Also if you have a request that a post be moved, locked, deleted, etc. All requests should be sent to a mod or admin via email or PM or at the very least in the "Site Requests, Comments, Technical Help." section. Thank you. 

[angieskidney]

All requests should be sent to a mod or admin via email or PM or at the very least in the "Site Requests, Comments, Technical Help." section. Thank you. 

Oh I didn't realize the correct procedure .. thx for correcting me.

[Ohio Buckeye]

I don't know why my case is different but I am on PD and my potassium
runs on the low side. I have to eat potassium rich foods and even have to
take a potassium supplement daily.  I'm new to all of this, (since mid-April) but it sounds like a
lot of you are on potassium restricted diets. But I do have to take Phoslo and watch
the phosphorus. 

[Rerun]

Everyone is different.  It also depends if you are still urinating?  Do you usually eat high potassium foods?  There are various factors.  But, too low of potassium is just as dangerous as high potassium.  It can stop your heart.  "Good News For The Day."  So, keep taking the supplements.

[angieskidney]

I don't know why my case is different but I am on PD and my potassium
runs on the low side. I have to eat potassium rich foods and even have to
take a potassium supplement daily.  I'm new to all of this, (since mid-April) but it sounds like a
lot of you are on potassium restricted diets. But I do have to take Phoslo and watch
the phosphorus. 

on PD I didn't have to worry about Potassium like I do now on HD.

[Panda_9]

Ohio Buckeye what is your appetite and food intake like? While I was on PD I was barely eating much and my K did get low and went on supplements whilst in hospital. I chose not to take them when I was discharged as they can be dangerous. I just tried to eat some bananas, grapes etc too keep it up. If yours is low and you eat normally and dont urinate, well then thats a good thing I reckon. As long as you are closely monitored in case it creeps up. Its also important to know the signs of a high or low potassium, so you can get help quickly.

[Ohio Buckeye]

I need to eat more protein as it is a little low and as I said more potassium.
I really try to eat more but I am a diabetic and try to keep sugars under control and
also do not want to gain weight.  I get some of the low carb protein bars and
drinks to help. I still urinate.   I don't know what the signs are for low or high
potassium.  That is scary.  I will start on cycler soon. Training 8/9-10.
I desperately want PD to work for me.

[Mom3]

I love this point system. It is so simple. We've never been given anything like that--just told a few foods to cut out! That is a much healthier approach in my opinion.

I need a lot of potassium for PKD and my son needs low potassium so that is a real pain!

Mom 3

[angieskidney]

Just like bananas, potatoes are high in Potassium as well. French fries! Most of us can't have hardly any of those Just like potato chips! Most of us have to stick to Corn Chips

[Panda_9]

Ohio Buckeye, that would make it pretty hard having diabetes as well. It really doesnt take much to eat more potassium. Fruit is probly the best way, even if you just have a couple of peices in the high category a day. Have some sliced tomato and low fat cheese on crackers as a snack. If you need some help dont be afraid to ask for ideas.

Mom3, I love the point system too, it does make it so much easier to be aware of what your eating. When I was on dialysis the first time round (before transplant), I wasnt given any real detail on the diet. So I pretty much just cut out alot of things, not realising it its actually ok to have a little bit of the high K group. I have a very hard time trying to please my partner with food as most of what he likes I couldnt eat, so I didnt want to cook it. It must be awful with two opposites to cook for. I am greatful for nocturnal for that reason. I am now able to eat normally, and my partner and I can have the same meals.

6 hot potato chips is equal to one serve (5mmol)!!!

[Ohio Buckeye]

I am not familiar with the point system. Are points regarding potassium only or other
things too like phos.?  Where do you find out about the point system?
I do try to eat fresh fruit a lot. Love it.  I was trying to eat enough to not have
to take a supplement but it did not come up enough so I take a rather large supplement
now.  I did not know that they are dangerous.  What are the symptoms of high or
low potassium.  I know there can be an irregular heartbeat and heart can stop but are
there others?
 

[Panda_9]

Sorry I did start explaining the points system in my initial post but I must of wiped it and forgotten about it. Your dietition should be able to tell you how many "points" you can have per day. Its not the same for everyone. Phosphate is completely different.

1 point = 1mmol of potassium
1mmol  = 39mg of potassium

For example, if you are allowed to have 100 points per day, this means you can have 100mmol or 3900mg. To calculate points/mmol into mg, its simply mmol x 39.

The points system makes it a little easier as most foods are listed in mg (they are here anyway). You generally should stick to foods that are 200mg or less per serve. One serve is equal to 5 points.

[angieskidney]

Sorry I did start explaining the points system in my initial post but I must of wiped it and forgotten about it. Your dietition should be able to tell you how many "points" you can have per day. Its not the same for everyone. Phosphate is completely different.

1 point = 1mmol of potassium
1mmol  = 39mg of potassium

For example, if you are allowed to have 100 points per day, this means you can have 100mmol or 3900mg. To calculate points/mmol into mg, its simply mmol x 39.

The points system makes it a little easier as most foods are listed in mg (they are here anyway). You generally should stick to foods that are 200mg or less per serve. One serve is equal to 5 points.

Wow that is a great post! I was not aware of the point system neither.

I am not familiar with the point system. Are points regarding potassium only or other
things too like phos.? Where do you find out about the point system?
I do try to eat fresh fruit a lot. Love it. I was trying to eat enough to not have
to take a supplement but it did not come up enough so I take a rather large supplement
now. I did not know that they are dangerous. What are the symptoms of high or
low potassium. I know there can be an irregular heartbeat and heart can stop but are
there others?
 

http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw202677.asp

http://www.womens-health-club.com/minerals/potassium.htm

A deficiency may result in fatigue, cramping legs, muscle weakness, slow reflexes, acne, dry skin, mood changes, irregular heartbeat.

Excessive potassium can be toxic and will affect your heart, but is mainly a problem when you suffer from a problem such as kidney failure.

[Panda_9]

Thanks, Im glad someone reminded me as that was the whole point of me posting the lists. When I was on 3x5hrs I was allowed 90 points per day. However, I was still having a high K regardless of the fact that I was sticking to that 90 points too a tee, and alot of the time not even having that much. Im pretty sure I was measuring things wrong, like a medium tomato on the list might be alot smaller than I thought. I did read somewhere that you can have 1mmol per kg of body weight, but dont quote me on that!

The dietition said I was the first person that had asked about specific mmol's in relation to diet. I found that weird, as the only other thing you get is a little pamphlet that doesnt go into great detail.

[BigSky]

Never heard of the point system.

Here we are given our allowances and just say under that amount you are given.

Some may differ but mine are:

2500 mg of potassium
2000 mg of sodium
1200 mg of phosphorus

I can eat anything I want as long as I stay under that amount for the day and maintain my protein intake of 120-130 grams a day.

[angieskidney]

I have only been told "watch what you eat and stay away from these high content foods..." 

[Panda_9]

I guess they say that because if you were to eat say banana, you can only have a small amount. I found I had to steer clear of tomato all together. After a few trips to ER I wouldnt touch tomato, bananas, chocolate, or anything really high.

[Zach]

Is anyone on a  0 K bath?  It's used with patients who always have a high potassium.

Some of the patients at my center are on this bath for either part or all of their treatment.

It's lower than the "normal" 2 K bath.