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This has been an eventful week for me! My new PCP ordered blood work at my 6-month checkup, and I got a phone call a couple of days later, saying that my chronic kidney disease had progressed from level 2 to level 3. I didn't even know I had kidney disease! I spoke to the doctor himself later, and he said at this point we will just recheck after three months, and to stay hydrated and avoid ibuprofen. So I've been reading online about CKD, and the diet we all follow for MC is basically the same for CKD. I've been eating that way for three years now!
Does anyone else on this forum have kidney disease? Do you think it could be connected to, or caused by, my MC?
Pat C.
"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
Pat,
A couple of years ago I had impaired renal function, medium to high level at times.
I saw a renal specialist and he was 'puzzled' by me having it. It was not bad enough to warrant biopsy at that stage. But something that was and still is monitored 3 monthly and I avoid any medication that goes through kidney.
The past 12 months reading about toxins/excess heavy metals (made worse by leaky gut from inflammation in the gut), Ongoing inflammation in the body, linked with methylation issues. I am 99% certain that the kidney issues were because of those things.
At the time of the kidney issues I started CoQ10 (very good for kidney)
In the last 12 months the supplement regime I have been doing, has balanced histamine inflammation, cleared toxins and excess heavy metals, I am fixing the methylation cycle, this process also 'balances the immune system' so it operates as it should (not over active or under active) it also balances the adrenal system so again it operates as it should ( not over reactive or underreactive).
I have not had any renal impairment for the past 9months.
I am reducing the dosage of my bp/tachycardia meds. (Started to protect the kidney a bit)
Our mc eating plan is a very good start.
I know that the methylation thing can all seem a bit full on at first.... Fixing methylation issues, means we are balancing all the nutrients/minerals/metals in our cells, so the body can function 'properly and in balance'
Like the MC journey, fixing methylation issues is not easy per day, there is no quick fix, or one size fits all solution. Each of us have different issues.
In my opinion, doing the dna testing, the getting what we call a methylation report, and tweaking the eating plan, and implementing supp plan to suit your individual needs, is worth the outlay.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
I'm sorry to hear of that diagnosis. I agree with Gabes. As far as I'm aware, kidney issues are not typically associated with MC (though several of us have had kidney issues from time to time.
I've been failing the kidney estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate test myself recently, ever since I had an adverse reaction to an antibiotic (Bactrim DS). My test result seems to be slowly improving, and my doctor decided that since it was headed in the right direction he would wait 3 months before checking it again.
It's interesting that someone can suddenly have chronic kidney disease that has stepped up a notch. That makes you wonder why that information wasn't available to you when it was at level 2. It's always something, isn't it.
I wonder if you might have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Your doctor should have advised you on the importance of vitamins and minerals when kidney function is compromised. In general, you definitely need to keep your vitamin D level up, and you may need some of the B vitamins, and maybe vitamin C, also. In addition, you may or may not need magnesium, and you may need to minimize phosphorus in your diet.
I hope the problem settles down and your kidney function improves.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I'll continue to research this, and read up on methylation issues. You're right, Tex, it's always something! (And yes, I should have been told earlier.)
Pat C.
"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
It is not unusual for kidney function to deteriorate with age.....especially in Caucasian women, according to my internist. Stage 2 was probably not mentioned because it may have been considered to be within expected parameters for your age. (BTW, I am considered to be stage 2 myself). There is a study that shows that drinking/excreting a large volume of water each day helps to protect the kidneys. More specifically, it has been shown to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease. My internist calculated that I should drink at least 80 oz. of water a day (I am 5'5" and 115 lbs.). Of course, we would need to drink even more as MCers if we are having active D. I have been doing this for the past 5 years and my kidney function has remained stable. If you want to see the article, I can try to track it down for you.
If you decide to go the supplement route, keep in mind that certain vitamins can worsen kidney function and cause outright damage. For example, high doses of the B vitamins can damage the kidneys further in people with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD)......not to mention increase the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Supplemental vitamin C has been associated with kidney stones. A number of minerals can affect kidney function adversely - potassium, magnesium, calcium, chromium. In general, I don't think there is a problem with a multi-vitamin or with amounts not exceeding the RDA - it is usually high doses of supplements that can cause damage in CKD.
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Thanks, Polly, that makes me feel a bit better. I'm only taking a multivitamin supplement now, and I think I'll stick with just that, unless the doctors tell me otherwise. And I'll work toward more hydration (that was what they told me, too.) I appreciate the moral support, everybody!
Pat C.
"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
Well, I've had more blood work after seeing a nephrologist. My kidney values are slightly better (the GFR is no longer dropping), so that's good news. But the interesting thing was that my B-12 was over 1800, when normal values are 200-900. Gabes is right about methylation issues, I think--I must be a non-methylator! My body can't use the B-12 in the multivitamin, so it just builds up in my system. I'm going to have to ask about the MTHFR genetic mutation and if it's possible that could be my problem. In the meantime, no more vitamins until they are approved by a dietician or doctor.
I'm just getting over a two-month flare caused by lactose-free ice cream. I should've known better. Today, though, I finally had Normans again!
Hooray!
Pat C.
"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
I'm glad that you're finally over the flare; that was a long setback to have to deal with. Back when I was trying to figure out how to sort out my food sensitivities (12–13 years ago), I wasn't aware of the EnteroLab tests, so I used Breyer's lactose-free ice cream to verify that I was sensitive to casein.
Many of us here take the active forms of certain B vitamins (B-12, B-9, and B-6), to help deal with methylation problems.
And it's good to see that your kidneys are doing better.
Thank you for the update.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
