Stage 3 Kidney Disease and Diet: What can I eat?

@contentandwell
Eat candy JK, it’ll fix you right up and prevent you from getting broken.
Jake

@jakedduck1 I eat DARK chocolate every day. They say red wine and dark chocolate are both good for your heart. Since I am prohibited from drinking alcohol due to being post liver-transplant I feel that I MUST do what’s right and eat dark chocolate. 😉. It’s a struggle but I do it in the name of better health.
Some days my heart feels like it needs what is probably too much. Thankfully dark chocolate is not high in carbs. Milk chocolate would probably be better for my bones but I’m not a fan.
JK

@contentandwell, I already have been compensated - eGFR up to 35 from 24, BUN & Cr decreasing, A1C normal, etc., etc. Just the idea that someone might possibly benefit from something I've found out makes me giddy with joy. No money could touch that. Besides, I make a teeny bit with my fiction novels, although a world where you pay for entertainment OR for health care puzzles me some. JMHO. Peace and blessings to you and everyone.

Thanks for asking! The nephrologist doesn’t think I have ckd. She ordered more tests to check. I’m getting a second opinion with another nephrologist in October, though. I think my levels run borderline, and with my family health history I want to be proactive. I’ve been staying away from meat and most dairy, and watching my blood pressure.

@teachaero Being proactive and staying on top of health concerns and potential issues, is so important. And I find it makes me really feel like I am part of the decision making! Good for you for getting a second opinion if you are not ready to accept the first dr's thoughts; absolutely nothing wrong with that! Maintaining a good blood pressure is so critical, and is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease. The added benefit is you just feel better, watching your diet and lifestyle, isn't it? I hope you will come back and let us know what the second dr says!
Ginger

Hi, I am new and very scared. I was diagnosed borderline four months ago. My GFR,sorry I don't know all these terms yet., was 56. I was referred to a Kidney Dr. two months ago when it dropped to 47. I read the reviews for that Dr. And so many bad reviews. I was just referred to a good Kidney Dr. that has very good
reviews and will see him Oct. 22. Since then my GFR has dropped to 35 and that was a month ago. Finally was sent to a dietician who gave me a diet but not for kidneys. I have been living on a veggie stew with meat broth and have lost 60 lbs. But loosing way too fast. Gave up all salt and goodies. I am completely lost on the making of meals. I try to read what to eat but I get all mixed up. I am almost 75. I just need to find a few recipes for the three meals a day. My oven went out so no baking. My Kidney Dr., I already found out does not have a dietician. What can I do? I love reading all the positive things you
wonderful ladies say..I also am on a very bad medication for Arthritis and was taken off cold turkey
but couldn't hardly get around without it. So was put back on it until I see the kidney dr. I'm sorry I'm such a novice at this and so scared.

Welcome @jeanice. Diets and lab values and numbers can all be confusing. And diets can be different for different kidney patients, depending on the stage they're in. Let me know when you're ready and I'll send you some of my kidney recipes. Meanwhile, there's good information in this thrad and on certain websites. Here's one: https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/kidney-friendly-diet-for-ckd.html. Another one which i used not to care for but has been udated anad upgraded is: https://www.davita.com/diet-nutrition/articles/advice/top-15-healthy-foods-for-people-with-kidney-disease. And here's another one:https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/eating-nutrition.

By all means see another doctor and seek a second or even a third or fourth opinion. You don't say how old you are but it's normal for eGFR to drop as we age and below 60 is early stage of kidney impairment but people live comfortably with much lower values and even can postpone dialysis by following a renal diet.

I'm not a doctor but I will share what my docs and I did to slow down my renal disease progression. They monitor my blood values and I have a thorough checkup about every three months. We've made a plan for if and when I might need dialysis. I see a nephrologist as well as highly-informed primary physician. My neph suggested I consider a vegetarian diet and avoid meat to take the strain of my partial remaining kidney (the other one has shriveled) and I have found that a vegetarian diabetic diet can be tasty, filling, and fairly easy to follow. Kidney patients need to limit sodium (salt,) phosphorus, and potassium as our kidneys become less efficient at filtering them out.

A renal diet for someone with an eGFR in the 40s is less strict than a diet for someone in, say, Stage Four.

Also lab values can vary from time to time so a drop from 56 to 47 may worry you but may not require immediate action unless further lab results show a pattern and it stays in the 40s or drops further.

You sound like you're being proactive and that's a plus. Take advantage of several oopinions, ask for a referral to a renal dietitian who specializes in kidney diets and if there isn't one in your area there are professionals who can help you online.

Hang in there. We're a grooup of caring people at various stages of kidney impairment and we support each other with encouragement and information. I'm so glad you found us!

Hi. Thank you for getting back to me. My GRF was 56 three months ago, two months ago it was 47 and four weeks ago it went down to 37. I have no idea what it is now as I will see the Kidney Dr. Oct. 22. And guess he will do blood work to see where I am. I would love s

Sorry! I would love some easy recipes please. I have a very tight income and my oven just died. So if you have something I can make in microwave or refrigerate I would appreciate it so much. You are such wonderful and brave ladies. I li ve in a tiny town in the mountains and it's a 100 mile trip to Drs.which I can't drive. We don't have much up here. Looking forward to eating some safe food. Losing 60 lbs.
because of being afraid of eating I know is not good. Thank you very much.

By the way I'll be 75 soon!