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Hi, honestly I just found this my looking things up online! Currently I take potassium citrate four tabs daily for now is what he is using to hopefully slow down the progression of kidney disease because he believes due to frequent stones and surgeries that what lead to kidney disease. I've been maintaining low salt diet way before I ever had kidney disease due to the stones etc and I try to make sure I am drinking 2-3 liters a day if possible. Anyways just looking for advice at times. Has anyone had a kidney transplant before they needed to start Diaylisis? Or do most places or doctor's wait til you are so bad mostly because I struggle dealing with getting out of bed daily to go to work even......since being diagnosed the depression can be overwhelming at times. So if I were to have a living donor would they be willing to even consider it since having the only one kidney makes it life threatening if I get stones anymore at all if it were to become blocked or maybe I am just overthinking everything......well anyone let me know your thoughts thanks
Replies to "Hi, honestly I just found this my looking things up online! Currently I take potassium citrate..."
@tracilynn0418, Hi, Tracy, Like you, I started looking for information and help online when first diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (ckd). It was a wonderful experience to find and join the Mayo Connect group about 10 mos ago. As a result, I've learned so much about how to better manage my life with this diagnosis. Making big diet changes based on my lab reports and learning to understand my labs and becoming much more proactive in dealing with the condition and the docs I see has improved my confidence and helped me past the very scary early diagnosis. I was diagnosed with kidney stones but was told mine were too small to treat at this stage. Of course, your situation is much different and I haven't yet needed to consider kidney transplant or dialysis but I can identify with how overwhelming finding answers can be. Are you a participant in the kidney/bladder forum? Are you seeing a doc or nephrologist regularly? I am so glad Mayo started the COVID-19 forum and the offshoot interest threads because they help keep me interested in things other than my several chronic health issues. I follow the walking, caregivers, just want to talk, and gardening threads. Are any of these of special interest to you? That you are continuing to work even with the discomfort of kidney stones tells me you are one strong individual willing to use the right tools to help your condition. This is a supportive, understanding group so hope you'll post again and that others more knowledgeable about your specific questions will respond.
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@tracilynn0418 It is good to think of all these things, honestly! Any one with a chronic disorder will tell you they have good and bad days mentally and emotionally, so you are certainly not alone there!
Do you know what your eGFR is? That is the percentage of function of your kidney. Talk to your Dr's and get their thoughts on preemptive kidney transplant. I know several people who have received a kidney before starting dialysis. I don't believe it is ever too early to look for a donor, and the search can take quite a while.
Watching your sodium intake is critical, and also watch your emotional health. Remember, we are here for you.
Ginger