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Stage 3 Kidney Disease and Diet: What can I eat?
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: May 10 2:40pm | Replies (759)Comment receiving replies
Hi panc, I am very new here, this is my first time. So please excuse me if I make some silly mistakes and tell me what I'm doing wrong! I'm so glad that I found this group. It's the first time I'm talking to anybody who is a kidney patient. I feel less lonely and I thank you.
I'm in stage 3 but I don't think my numbers are looking good. I had a telemedicine visit with my nephrologist today who pretty much said not to worry too much about the numbers, same as what he told me previous visit in December. I've only been with him since my first appt in November because I only learned in August that I have kidney disease.
So my egfr dropped 7 points to 31 (was 38 in December) and my creatinine went up. I have been eating mostly according to what I've been reading. A nutritionist visit did not yield much info. I feel so insecure about my diet and my numbers. Really scared. Being able to talk here has been more helpful than anything else during this journey.
I like the helpful list you have included of off limit foods. But I have conflicting info about berries (I do eat blueberries and raspberries), kale (this leafy veg appears on an okay list), I make tuna salad with 1 stalk raw chopped celery and one can goes 5 lunches, and I thought apples and pineapple are okay to eat. Now I'm really worried about my diet. I also have to follow lo carb especially lo sugar, lo fat, lo sodium. (I have had heart attacks and hard to control cholesterol and triglycerides). So now, with the new info from you, I'm so glad that I will have some specific questions for my next nutrition visit.
But I'm concerned about how my nephrologist thinks. (He does have top credentials and he teaches at the university). He seems very relaxed about my numbers, saying that numbers should be looked at as "part of the whole picture" in his words. But since August, my egfr went from 42 to 38 to 31 (3 different blood work dates) and creatinine from 1.32 to 1.44 (missing Dec. number). These number are going in the wrong direction, I thought. Am I all wrong and should just trust what he says?
Thanks and please take care and stay safe, everybody.
Replies to "Hi panc, I am very new here, this is my first time. So please excuse me..."
@aussie I can relate to your concern about your Dr.’s response to your kidney lab numbers. I am a 63 year old with Diabetes and stage 4 CKD. (I had a pancreas transplant in 2005 to try to avoid/prevent diabetic complications like blindness & kidney failure). Over the past 4 years my GFR & creatinine have bounced around but seem to be gradually worsening. My Dr. has told me at most of my appointments that they are stable. It occurred to me that he probably has patients in way worse shape than me. I told him that my condition may not seem all that bad to him but I am trusting him to help me stay as well as I can for as long as I can. We’ve developed a good working relationship. He knows my feelings about dialysis, transplant and even my spiritual beliefs about my Christian faith. I told him I view him as a gift from God to help take care of me since I have put my life in God’s hands. I also asked him if he had a kidney to donate to me! He said most of his patients want that! 😂
@ausie Welcome to Mayo Connect! You no doubt will read several stories from different patients, and it might make you wonder if we are even talking about the same dis-ease. Everyone is different, and how we respond/work with kidney issues is tied in to the rest of our health concerns. For example, I am in Stage 3b, with an eGFR about 32, but I also have underlying co-morbidities like fibromyalgia, lupus, and multiple myeloma. Your labwork may show variances due to how you are feeling at the time to of blood draw, how your hydration level is, even time of day. Doctors have a tendency to look at "trends" in your results, not necessarily each set of tests as their own product, if that makes sense.
@cehunt57 had a very good way of reminding a medical professional that while you might be one of several patients with the same condition, in his practice, you are still an individual, and you are concerned. If you can get a consultation with a renal dietician, that would be great. There are also some websites like davita.com and rsnhope.org that offer a lot of information and recipes.
If I was in your shoes, I would have a frank discussion with your dr next time, and let him know you and he are on the same team, but you would like clear information in order to be as good a patient as he is a doctor! Face it, we gotta stroke their egos every so often!
We're here for you!
Ginger
@ausie You are still very new to your diagnoses and treatments. Please try to follow your doctor's advice and not worry too much. What I have found is that I need to watch my trending more than each individual test. According to your numbers, your egfr is trending down, which is good; while your creatinine is trending up, which is not so good. The good thing about your creatinine is that (for me) normal is 1 and you are still under 1.5. My creatinine, for example, trends between 1.75 and 2.30. Fluids affect my creatinine strongly. My daily fluid intake goal is 80 ounces or more. If I do not get my 80 ounces in for several days, or have diarrhea during that time, my creatinine will be higher.
Please remember that your have also changed your diet and may be eating foods with less fluid in them. A few comments about diet. I do not eat berries because my kidney damage is caused by oxalates and berries have a great deal of oxalates in them. If oxalates are not your problem, berries are a very good food choice for you. I do not eat the green leafies, raw vegetables, pineapple and apples because of the high amount of fiber they contain. I am on the low fiber diet because of gastric issues; again, may not be one of your issues. I do like celery and onions sautéed and often add them (as well as minced carrots) to recipes for flavor.
Please remember how new this all is for you. I see that you are taking this seriously and doing your best, trust that over time you will work into your new life plan with a few tweaks along the way to get to your best self. Blessings on your journey.
Connect
@ausie, Welcome to Mayo Connect. You are among friends / patients from many backgrounds and experiences. We are all patients, and many of us have had similar experiences as you are having. We are here to support you and learn with you. You are not alone!
You have not made any mistakes, and your entry is a good one.
If you want more information about Connect -
Pages>About Connect: Who, What & Why>Tips for Participating in an Online Community
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/3rd-stage-kidney-disease/
Again, Welcome.