Dr. Hive: If you wanted to maintain kidney health what would you do?

[PrincessMommy]

My mom lost a kidney to stones back in the 70s and in the early 90s her remaining kidney malfunction for no known reason.  She was a long-term transplant recipient (yay) but kidney problems have always been in the back of my mind. I had a check up (sono, blood work)  done about 15+yrs ago and the only thing that came out was that one kidney is smaller than the other.  The dr. didn't seem to freaked out about it, so I figured that might be normal.  Obviously, it's been a long time and, now that I'm in my 50s, I'd like to take more preventative steps. She was about my age when she had the transplant.  I've also developed some mild symptoms that could be anything, but could also be kidney related so it's on my mind.

 

In looking around the internet there's a lot of information available, but not all is trustworthy.   I've known for years that nettle tea is good for stones, but that's not a problem I've ever had before.   What, if anything, are some positive things I could be doing now to help with kidney function?

 

I drink a lot of water already.  I rarely drink alcohol.  I have decaf tea 1-2x per day.  I stopped using artificial sweeteners last fall, otherwise I follow a lower carb diet. 

[hornblower]

You need low protein. Protein is the major stressor on kidneys.

 

Vegetarians and vegans have an advantage wrt kidney health because even at the same protein level, the kidneys function better. 

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/treating-kidney-failure-through-diet/

 

 

[PrincessMommy]

You need low protein. Protein is the major stressor on kidneys.

 

Vegetarians and vegans have an advantage wrt kidney health because even at the same protein level, the kidneys function better. 

 

http://nutritionfacts.org/video/treating-kidney-failure-through-diet/

 

interesting.

 

I forgot to add that I am vegetarian (with some fish - is that a pescatarian??? ) about 1/2 the year due to religious fasting. 

 

I wonder if protein from nuts is better than meat protein? 

 

off to watch the video now.

[hornblower]

yes, that's a pescatarian :) 

i'm out of likes so have to reply LOL

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

I would see a nephrologist and if it has been 15 years since last blood work I think that is way too long. I think at your age they recommend at least annually. Monitor blood pressure and get checked for pre-diabetes since high blood pressure and higher blood sugars contribute to kidney disease. Avoid ibuprofen and NSAID in general but ask your doctor.

[SparklyUnicorn]

My dad has almost total kidney failure.  He is one toe in the door to have to get dialysis.  This is due to long term medication use for a mental illness.  Anyhow, he is currently keeping things at bay by eating a low potassium diet.  He was never told to worry about protein.  A low potassium diet is rather tricky to follow.  A lot of healthy foods are high in potassium.  This is what he was told to do by his doctor.  So far it is helping.  It doesn't have to be zero potassium though.  Just low.  They check his levels on a regular basis.

 

 

 

 

 

[PrincessMommy]

I would see a nephrologist and if it has been 15 years since last blood work I think that is way too long. I think at your age they recommend at least annually. Monitor blood pressure and get checked for pre-diabetes since high blood pressure and higher blood sugars contribute to kidney disease. Avoid ibuprofen and NSAID in general but ask your doctor.

 

Those are checked more regularly and, so far, I'm fine in those areas. 

 

[Laura Corin]

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Edited May 17, 2016 by Laura Corin

[PrincessMommy]

My dad has almost total kidney failure.  He is one toe in the door to have to get dialysis.  This is due to long term medication use for a mental illness.  Anyhow, he is currently keeping things at bay by eating a low potassium diet.  He was never told to worry about protein.  A low potassium diet is rather tricky to follow.  A lot of healthy foods are high in potassium.  This is what he was told to do by his doctor.  So far it is helping.  It doesn't have to be zero potassium though.  Just low.  They check his levels on a regular basis.

 

how long has he been working to avoid dialysis? 

[GailV]

Nettle infusion helps with general kidney health, not just kidney stones.  For example, it's also anti inflammatory, and helps lower creatinine levels.

 

Steep 1 oz of dried nettle in 1 quart of water for 4 hours or overnight.  Using tea bags doesn't accomplish much.

 

(Oddly, I was just thinking about this today.  No clue why nettles were on my mind, but I had a sudden urge to read about them.)

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

I forgot to add that from what I recall ideal blood pressure is less than 120/80 or at the least less than 130/80. Many docs seem to think it is ok to let higher blood pressures go and to try lifestyle but IMHO I would not let higher blood pressures go untreated for to long. My brother's doc let his blood pressure stay significantly above 130/80 until he was hospitalized with emergency high blood pressure. :cursing:

[purplejackmama]

I'm following this thread closely. My BFF has horrible problems with stones. She's currently got 12-15 in one kidney! She annually has them "blasted" out but they keep returning, with a vengeance. Her Dr. claims there is nothing preventative she can do.

[SparklyUnicorn]

how long has he been working to avoid dialysis? 

 

Close to 2 years I believe.

He gets checked for other issues and doesn't have diabetes.  He does have elevated blood pressure and takes something for that.

 

He is on a newer med for the bipolar that isn't as rough on the kidneys.  Too bad that wasn't around sooner.

[hornblower]

I'm following this thread closely. My BFF has horrible problems with stones. She's currently got 12-15 in one kidney! She annually has them "blasted" out but they keep returning, with a vengeance. Her Dr. claims there is nothing preventative she can do.

 

 

If they're calcium oxalate stones that's not my experience at all.  I had kidney stones in my first pregnancy & was told by my urologist that there was nothing I could do & would have to deal with stones for the rest of my life and most definitely if I got pregnant again.  That turned out to be not true at all. 

 

First line of attack was limiting or eliminating animal protein. 

 

Second was limiting or eliminating pop (phosphoric acid) 

 

Third was using supplemental magnesium (not cal-mag; just magnesium) at the right dose. 

 

Fourth was using some herbal preparations which flush & support kidney & bladder health. 

 

 

 

It took me a bit of time to finesse my approach & I did consult with a certified herbalist here (as well as some from Europe -- which is where my herbal remedies come from). I've been stone free for almost 2 decades now. More to the point, I know very early on when my kidneys are getting sluggish and need extra support/care. 

Edited May 17, 2016 by hornblower

[marbel]

After a kidney stone that caused a blockage and infection 3 years ago, I am still seeing the nephrologist twice a year. 

 

I don't have high blood pressure, but I take a blood pressure medication (chlorthalidone) to keep it on the low side of normal and to keep fluids going through.  My doc told me the main thing for me was to drink loads of water, preferably with lemon juice in it.  I just cut a lemon in half every morning and squirt some into my water all day long.  I also have to take a potassium supplement because even with eating an orange every day and leafy greens often, I wasn't getting enough.   He said there was no reason to follow any special diet or avoid any particular foods or beverages.   But that is based on my chemistry and the composition of my stones.  I get 2 blood tests a  year and have done several day-long urine collections for testing. 

 

My doc said a lot of information that's out there is wrong, or wrong for some people.  It took a long time for him to get my chemistry right for my type of kidney stones.  But it sounds like you are not that worried about stones, OP?   Or have no history of them? 

 

I'm not sure that a visit to a nephrologist is in order if you are not having kidney issues now, or are not sure the symptoms you're experiencing are kidney-related at all.  Maybe I'm misunderstanding. When did you last visit your primary care doc?  You could discuss your symptoms (and of course your mom's history) with that doc and see if that leads you to the kidney specialist. 

[Rachel]

My 10 year old nephew has very low kidney function due to a severe E. coli infection which caused quite a bit of kidney damage. The biggest thing they monitor with him is his blood pressure.

 

For what it's worth, one of my daughter's kidneys is normal size and the other is twice normal size, the nephrologist was not concerned at all. The larger one functions as if it is two separate kidneys which I find facinating. It happens often enough that it is considered a normal variation.

[SparklyUnicorn]

My husband gets kidney stones.  He was told to avoid tea.  After reading about it, there isn't a ton of evidence that is a cause of the problem.  He happens to really like tea. 

 

But maybe he gets them once every 10 years.  Problem is he has no clue when they will come on. 

 

 

[PrincessMommy]

I forgot to add that from what I recall ideal blood pressure is less than 120/80 or at the least less than 130/80. Many docs seem to think it is ok to let higher blood pressures go and to try lifestyle but IMHO I would not let higher blood pressures go untreated for to long. My brother's doc let his blood pressure stay significantly above 130/80 until he was hospitalized with emergency high blood pressure. :cursing:

 

interesting.  Mine is always on the low side of normal, so with that I'm pretty safe.   At least I've got something going for me :thumbup1:

[PrincessMommy]

After a kidney stone that caused a blockage and infection 3 years ago, I am still seeing the nephrologist twice a year. 

 

I don't have high blood pressure, but I take a blood pressure medication (chlorthalidone) to keep it on the low side of normal and to keep fluids going through.  My doc told me the main thing for me was to drink loads of water, preferably with lemon juice in it.  I just cut a lemon in half every morning and squirt some into my water all day long.  I also have to take a potassium supplement because even with eating an orange every day and leafy greens often, I wasn't getting enough.   He said there was no reason to follow any special diet or avoid any particular foods or beverages.   But that is based on my chemistry and the composition of my stones.  I get 2 blood tests a  year and have done several day-long urine collections for testing. 

 

My doc said a lot of information that's out there is wrong, or wrong for some people.  It took a long time for him to get my chemistry right for my type of kidney stones.  But it sounds like you are not that worried about stones, OP?   Or have no history of them? 

 

I'm not sure that a visit to a nephrologist is in order if you are not having kidney issues now, or are not sure the symptoms you're experiencing are kidney-related at all.  Maybe I'm misunderstanding. When did you last visit your primary care doc?  You could discuss your symptoms (and of course your mom's history) with that doc and see if that leads you to the kidney specialist. 

 

This is what I mean about finding information on the internet.  One says Potassium is bad for kidney function, another isn't getting enough.  I just saw news report saying that LowCarb (high protein) diets show a lot of promise for *replacing* dialysis... that would be great if it's true.  My mom was on dialysis before her transplant.  It was pretty awful... enough that she said if she ever had to go back on it she'd rather die.

 

I go to the dr. about once a year because of my thyroid... but I haven't discussed my kidney issues with them since I had the sono done 15yrs ago.  I do plan to discuss it with them.  I think they can check creatine (sp?) levels with a urine test.    I have no history of stones, but my mom and several of my friends have dealt with that.  I know about nettle tea from them. 

 

[Ali in OR]

Two people I know of with kidney issues need to follow a low sodium diet--not sure why. It's a healthy thing to do anyway.

[PrincessMommy]

Nettle infusion helps with general kidney health, not just kidney stones.  For example, it's also anti inflammatory, and helps lower creatinine levels.

 

Steep 1 oz of dried nettle in 1 quart of water for 4 hours or overnight.  Using tea bags doesn't accomplish much.

 

(Oddly, I was just thinking about this today.  No clue why nettles were on my mind, but I had a sudden urge to read about them.)

 

where do you get your nettles from?   They grow wild around here, but harvesting is going to be painful!