Stage 3a kidney disease: looking for info

Posted by Ryman @ryman, Jul 2, 2022

I just learned today I have stage3a kidney disease. All my doctor told me was that my kidneys showed dehydration. I am clueless and I remembered I used to come here often. So right now I am just looking for basic info. Thank you. I recall this being a very helpful forum.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

@charlie1234

It seems you have been doing the right things for such a great outcome. My mom just got diagnosed and I am learning things for the first time. I am the one that has been hands on and preparing her meals. Would you care to share your daily diet? I know it is as important as drinking water and keeping hydrated. Are you on any medication? It is important to know as many medications as possible so I can make the right informed decision which one works for her. Which foods do you stay away from? Anything you will share will be greatly appreciated.

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Diet is very important because you do not want place any undue stress on your kidneys. My diet consists of high quality proteins such as certain fruits, vegetables, and fish. Also, monitoring salt, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus intake is important as well. You should consult your nephrologist to determine the correct daily intake. When I was first diagnosed with CKD I met with a renal dietician and learned a lot about the correct foods to eat, developing a good diet plan and how to read labels. Fresh foods are a must. No soda, no junk food, and no fast food restaurants.

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@collegeprof

Last year, I was prescribed a diuretic called Torsemide. As I understand, it is popular among nephrologists. After some time, I ended up in the Mayo ER because of dehydration. My GFR dropped significantly to 28 or Stage 4 from Stage 3A, and I stopped the diuretic, and fortunately, went back to Stage 3A. So the problem may appear to be not drinking enough water, so consider checking with your doc on your prescriptions and water intake for episodes of dehydration.

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Hi. I also was initially prescribed a diuretic by my PCP ( Triamterene) when first diagnosed CKD 3a. It wreaked havoc on my kidney numbers and she called and told me to stop taking it immediately.

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@flow

Hi. I also was initially prescribed a diuretic by my PCP ( Triamterene) when first diagnosed CKD 3a. It wreaked havoc on my kidney numbers and she called and told me to stop taking it immediately.

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Thank you so much for replying back. Your input as another person going through CDK3 is very helpful. I can't thank you enough. Doctors here in the US just give you a template of veggies, fruits and water intake but don't go to details. For example someone here was mentioning soup. It is good to have actual everyday people's menu that they make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I can get my mom excited about meals and not demoralize her. She has the renal dietician appointment coming up of course too. I have been as per nephrologists instructions serving her 1 egg in the morning with veggies and a strip of chicken cutlet. Lunch: Chicken cutlet or salmon and broiled string beans and carrots and cucumber. Dinner: yogurt with zucchini. The doctor was trying to have her take Forxiga which works almost like a diuretic to flush out all bad sugar. I am not sure that that will work out because my mom is drinking 6-8 glasses a water a day and using the restroom constantly. That will have her blood sugar drop I am sure too. her blood sugar runs normal now. Did your doctor change you to a different medication or just only took you off Triamentrene?
Thank you so much! You have been extremely helpful.

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@charlie1234

Thank you so much for replying back. Your input as another person going through CDK3 is very helpful. I can't thank you enough. Doctors here in the US just give you a template of veggies, fruits and water intake but don't go to details. For example someone here was mentioning soup. It is good to have actual everyday people's menu that they make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I can get my mom excited about meals and not demoralize her. She has the renal dietician appointment coming up of course too. I have been as per nephrologists instructions serving her 1 egg in the morning with veggies and a strip of chicken cutlet. Lunch: Chicken cutlet or salmon and broiled string beans and carrots and cucumber. Dinner: yogurt with zucchini. The doctor was trying to have her take Forxiga which works almost like a diuretic to flush out all bad sugar. I am not sure that that will work out because my mom is drinking 6-8 glasses a water a day and using the restroom constantly. That will have her blood sugar drop I am sure too. her blood sugar runs normal now. Did your doctor change you to a different medication or just only took you off Triamentrene?
Thank you so much! You have been extremely helpful.

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@charlie1234 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Yes, having a community here is important, and learning what others do, how they manage everyday sure can help us. We are each different, and what works for one may not be advisable to another. But it helps to see what is out there, doesn't it?!

I just read up on Triamentrene and see it is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which can be a good thing. One thing that may help you look at the diet aspect of kidney disease, is to wander through the existing discussion here in the kidney and bladder support group. A new feature is going to the main page for this group, and type in "diet" in the search box, which will allow you to chooses discussions or comments. This link here is the result of doing that: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/kidney-conditions/?search=diet&index=discussions

Diet is critical in managing our kidney disease. For some reason, many doctors downplay the importance of it, but we patients know it is a very real way to advocate for ourselves. And if we have other health concerns, sleeving all of the best ways to eat for our conditions together can be quite the challenge! If your mom is up to cooking and making her meals, make it a way to do the best she can, finding out tasteful pairings.

Do you have any questions for me?
Ginger

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@goldsba

Diet is very important because you do not want place any undue stress on your kidneys. My diet consists of high quality proteins such as certain fruits, vegetables, and fish. Also, monitoring salt, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus intake is important as well. You should consult your nephrologist to determine the correct daily intake. When I was first diagnosed with CKD I met with a renal dietician and learned a lot about the correct foods to eat, developing a good diet plan and how to read labels. Fresh foods are a must. No soda, no junk food, and no fast food restaurants.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for replying back. Your input as another person going through CDK3 is very helpful. I can't thank you enough. Doctors here in the US just give you a template of veggies, fruits and water intake but don't go to details. For example someone here was mentioning soup. It is good to have actual everyday people's menu that they make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I can get my mom excited about meals and not demoralize her. She has the renal dietician appointment coming up of course too. I have been as per nephrologists instructions serving her 1 egg in the morning with veggies and a strip of chicken cutlet. Lunch: Chicken cutlet or salmon and broiled string beans and carrots and cucumber. Dinner: yogurt with zucchini. The doctor was trying to have her take Forxiga which works almost like a diuretic to flush out all bad sugar. I am not sure that that will work out because my mom is drinking 6-8 glasses a water a day and using the restroom constantly. That will have her blood sugar drop I am sure too. her blood sugar runs normal now.
Thank you so much! You have been extremely helpful.

REPLY
@charlie1234

It seems you have been doing the right things for such a great outcome. My mom just got diagnosed and I am learning things for the first time. I am the one that has been hands on and preparing her meals. Would you care to share your daily diet? I know it is as important as drinking water and keeping hydrated. Are you on any medication? It is important to know as many medications as possible so I can make the right informed decision which one works for her. Which foods do you stay away from? Anything you will share will be greatly appreciated.

Jump to this post

I not only have CKD stage 3, but I also have diabetes and diverticulosis. I have lowered my CKD from 1 number away from being stage 4 to almost stage 2.
My diet is Turkey, Chicken & Fish. Absolutely no beef or pork unless maybe 3 oz every 3-4 months. My veggies is steamed frozen green, beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. I have went from a 220 lbs down to 150 lbs. I bake or air fry my meats. No batter and use Mrs dash seasoning.
1000mg of phosphorus, 2000mg of sodium and 2000 mg of potassium a day. You can look all this up on Google. Some says you can eat beef, but my doctor said it’s better if I don’t. No process food at all. Hope it helps. Good wishes for all and God Bless

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@charlie1234

Thank you so much for replying back. Your input as another person going through CDK3 is very helpful. I can't thank you enough. Doctors here in the US just give you a template of veggies, fruits and water intake but don't go to details. For example someone here was mentioning soup. It is good to have actual everyday people's menu that they make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I can get my mom excited about meals and not demoralize her. She has the renal dietician appointment coming up of course too. I have been as per nephrologists instructions serving her 1 egg in the morning with veggies and a strip of chicken cutlet. Lunch: Chicken cutlet or salmon and broiled string beans and carrots and cucumber. Dinner: yogurt with zucchini. The doctor was trying to have her take Forxiga which works almost like a diuretic to flush out all bad sugar. I am not sure that that will work out because my mom is drinking 6-8 glasses a water a day and using the restroom constantly. That will have her blood sugar drop I am sure too. her blood sugar runs normal now. Did your doctor change you to a different medication or just only took you off Triamentrene?
Thank you so much! You have been extremely helpful.

Jump to this post

I highly recommend keeping a detailed list of your mom's daily eating habits for a week before seeing the renal dietitian. That list was a great help to my dietitian when I last saw her and she was able to tell me exactly what I needed to cut back on and/or drop completely. She was also able to see what I liked to eat and make suggestions for alternatives so I wouldn't feel disappointed to drop certain foods. Water intake is extremely important, as is both getting enough sleep and exercising. I wish you and your mom a productive appointment with the dietitian!

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@dks

I highly recommend keeping a detailed list of your mom's daily eating habits for a week before seeing the renal dietitian. That list was a great help to my dietitian when I last saw her and she was able to tell me exactly what I needed to cut back on and/or drop completely. She was also able to see what I liked to eat and make suggestions for alternatives so I wouldn't feel disappointed to drop certain foods. Water intake is extremely important, as is both getting enough sleep and exercising. I wish you and your mom a productive appointment with the dietitian!

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Very valid points great suggestions. I will check with dietitian.
Thank you so much! All the best!

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@littlebit71

I not only have CKD stage 3, but I also have diabetes and diverticulosis. I have lowered my CKD from 1 number away from being stage 4 to almost stage 2.
My diet is Turkey, Chicken & Fish. Absolutely no beef or pork unless maybe 3 oz every 3-4 months. My veggies is steamed frozen green, beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. I have went from a 220 lbs down to 150 lbs. I bake or air fry my meats. No batter and use Mrs dash seasoning.
1000mg of phosphorus, 2000mg of sodium and 2000 mg of potassium a day. You can look all this up on Google. Some says you can eat beef, but my doctor said it’s better if I don’t. No process food at all. Hope it helps. Good wishes for all and God Bless

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Very detailed diet. Thank you for sharing!

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@charlie1234

Very valid points great suggestions. I will check with dietitian.
Thank you so much! All the best!

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It’s great you’re going to renal dietician. Will clarify much for you. I’ve read that new research needs to be established for about ten years in this country before Drs to start passing it on to their patients. I can understand this to some degree. Need to be as certain as possible about it first. Newest research since 2018 or so seems to indicate plant based diet can be very helpful to many in slowing CKD progress. Keep reading and try not to get discouraged. Their is a lot of good information from reliable sources and great connections like this one.

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