Chronic Kidney Disease

Question: How to know if chronic kidney disease is getting worse? I was recently diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease and see my nephrologist every 6 months for blood work and check-ups. She said to come back earlier (next appt. is in March 2010) if I start feeling worse, but I'm not exactly sure what that means. I have been more tired and urinating alot more lately, but I'm not sure if that is considered "feeling worse"? Is there any way that I can test my GFR at home first?

Answer: You are lucky to have caught this problem so early! First of all, for as much as doctor's visits cost, your doctor should let you call in and ask her what exactly she meant by that. Hopefully she is a kind person and discusses this with you over teh phone. If not; You can't really test your GFR at home since it requires Techetium-99m DTPA to be injected into your veins and then multiple blood draws. However, there are other things to watch for. For example, blood int eh urine is NEVER ok! If you ever see blood inyour urine it means that the permeability of your kidneys has increased enough to let in blood cells. This is very serious and you should call your doctor immediately. When you say you been urinating a lot more, this could be good. If it is more in volume then it is a good thing but it is only more in frequency (and not volume) then it is not good. So, any blood in your urine, pain when urinating, or cramps before or after urinating are signs that you shuold go in earlier.

Question: Can I have another child after being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease? I am 22 with two children and was just diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. My husband and I would like to have one more child down the road but I can't find any info on this. I of course will ask my nephrologist when I see her next but thought I'd get some answers on here until then. Thanks in advance!

Answer: Chronic kidney disease probably requires medication -- correct? You need to find out if there is such a medication which is compatible with pregnancy. If you don't want to wait until you can talk to a doctor, try calling a 24-hour pharmacy and asking a pharmacist.

Question: Do you have any eating plans for chronic kidney disease patients to gain weight? My mother has a chronic kidney disease and she do dialysis twice a week, i can see that she is losing her weight, how can i make her gain weight?

Answer: There should be a renal dietician where your mother goes to dialysis. You should make an appt to see her. You can get general info on recipes/diet info for renal patients at www.davita.com; look for the recipe section. As an FYI, I was on dialysis, and never had much of an appetite during that time. It is a side effect of kidney disease.

Question: The effects of chronic kidney disease on your skin? I have stage 3 chronic kidney disease and wondered if the build up from my kidney not functioning correctly has anything to do with the condition of my skin? I only have the one kidney too.

Answer: You never said what skin condition you have and there a number of skin conditions associated with chronic kidney disease. You can go to the link below and read about some of them yourself. Your nephrologist should have warned you. http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Skin-Problems-Kidney-Disorders

Question: kidney failure or chronic kidney disease there are foods you cannot eat is that true? And some one was saying if you have kidney failure or chronic kidney disease there are foods you cannot eat is that true.

Answer: Yes, it's definitely true. The one that seems to be hardest for people (and all patients with renal failure must adhere to this) is strict restriction of sodium; basically, no more salt in foods. Your kidneys are responsible for getting rid of excess sodium and water to maintain the proper volume of body water, so when they don't work, there has to be strict sodium and fluid restriction to prevent fluid overload. Phosphate generally must be limited too, so no colas/"dark" sodas, certain meats and dairy products, etc. Potassium is also restricted, and finally, the amount of protein is regulated depending on the stage of renal disease. The kidneys are incredibly important to the body, so it unfortunately is really tough to manage, both medically and on a day-to-day basis, when they fail.

Question: how likely is it to be misdiagnosed by doctors as having chronic kidney disease? how likely is it to be diagnosed by doctors as having chronic kidney disease and told you only have 6 months to live and then two years later be told it was a misdiagnosis and that you have a milder, non-terminal form of kidney disease? is this possible?

Answer: I can't imagine this happening. To be diagnosed with CKD, doctors need to monitor lab tests for at least several months to determine kidney damage. Even in end stage renal disease many people can live for many years with dialysis, so the "six months" thing is ridiculous. This situation is really unthinkable and if it really did happen I hope a lawyer is involved.

Question: My mom has a kidney infection, hence her kidneys are not functioning properly. Is it chronic kidney disease? My mom's kidneys are infected. She takes regular blood tests and the doctor keeps track of the WBC, urea and creatinine level. There is fluctuations in her creatinine level but the doctor pays more attention to her WBC readings, which are normal. He says that as long as her WBC levels are normal, she has no infection and no need to worry about fluctuating creatinine levels. HOWEVER, the internet mentions about the importance of elevated creatinine levels and kidney damage. It says that high creatinine levels need dialysis ! It mentions about the importance of creatinine clearance in chronic kidney disease patient. My mom's creatinine level is around 2.9, which is high. Does my mom has a chronic kidney disease too? Does she need dialysis? I am getting confused about this. Someone please help!

Answer: hello there! her nephrologist can only tell you that final analysis. if your mom ends up with ESRD (end stage renal disease) she will need dialysis 3 times a week. but here are some signs at home to monitor: SWOLLEN ANKLES, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SHE CANNOT LAY FLAT IN BED, SHE LOSSES HER APPETITE, SHE COMPLAINS OF BACK PAIN, SHE HAS HEADACHES, CHANGED MOODS, CONFUSION. yes her level 2.9 is very high she must avoid high phosphorus foods and watch her potassium intake. no bananas, chocolate, sodas, avacado things that are high in potassium. do you have family history for renal failure? yes creatinine levels must be watched with her as well. i hope she doesn't need dialysis but only her nephrologist can clear that up for you. if you have any questions about dialysis please feel free to contact me.

Question: what is the link between chronic kidney disease and sex or sexual marriage life ? one of my friend has a kidney failure disease, his kidney function is almost 21% ~ 25% and now he is worried about his sexual life that he is planning to getting marry so please suggest to guide him

Answer: Tell him to go to his doctor, there are no doctors on this forum.

Question: what are the chances of my dog "shih tzu" surviving from chronic kidney disease? my dog has chronic kidney disease, what are the chances of my shih tzu surviving when its at the advance stages with a BUN of 50.0??

Answer: How sad. Over many years I've lost 3 dogs to Chronic Renal Failure. What I have learned is that every dog is different and you treat the dog and not the lab result numbers. Some can live for years, others for months and others may die quite quickly. So it all depends on how your particular dog is reacting to the disease and how amenable it is to palliative care measures aimed at making it feel more comfortable and keep the biochemistry within certain limits. Some dogs get treated at home with subcutaneous daily injections to help flush the build-up of toxins from the blood, some have anti-nausea medications, some have medicine to re-line an acid sore stomach (Sucralfate/Antepsin or Slippery Elm Bark), some may have Calcitrol to keep the chemistry in balance. Sadly all will fail in the end when the dog loses the urge to eat and you'll end up trying just about every kind of food imaginable and finally syringe-feed them in the hope of keeping them going. As nasty diseases go, this is definitely a nasty one. There is an excellent information resource at http://www.dogaware.com (look for their kidney disease section.) You can also join the excellent support group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Kidneys I have always chosen not to let my dogs go too far down the path which will lead to seizures and and death because, having spoken to people with end-stage kidney disease I understand that they feel really ill and that life is barely worth living. Perhaps after your dog hasn't eaten anything meaningful for a week or two would be the time to let them go; but it all depends upon their qulaity of life. Your dog may actually be one of the lucky ones that responds to treatment and gains months of quality life. I would urge you to give it that chance; and there is always euthanasia if things get too bad. I don't think there is any blame in letting them go at any time after a firm diagnosis has been made. Sorry I can't be more positive.

Question: Can a kidney infection turn into something more serious like chronic kidney disease? I have a kidney infection. Well my doctor diagnosed me with a UTI but I have the symptoms of a kidney infection any how, I have never had any problem like this before and I am really scared. I took antibiotics and am drinking cranberry juice and taking cranberry pills like crazy. I am very healthy I exercise and eat right and I dont even drink soda. I just need to know if this can get worse and how long dose it take to get rid of a kidney infection? Please Help!

Answer: Make sure you see a doctor for a follow up to make sure this kidney infection is gone! I went to school for nutrition, and we did major work in a dialysis center, and several patients there had low grade kidney infections that started with one simple kidney infection, and it never went away fully, although they thought it did. This wears down the kidneys over a lifetime, and can end in kidney failure (end stage renal disease). When the antibiotics that were prescribed for you are gone, I would call the doctor and tell him you want a follow up to ensure that your infection is cleared up. Thats not to say that all kidney infections end up as renal disease, this is just to remind you that kidney infections aren't something to play around with, so make sure you get it properly taken care of! (Which is sounds like you are).

Question: Wondering if any who has been overseas for military reasons suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease? He spent 20 yrs in the military. He served several tours in Iraq and has been all over the world. He was recently diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. He thinks it is related to something he may have been in contact with overseas. We were wondering if anyone knows of a situation like this.

Answer: I did 2 tours in So. Korea 1991-1992 and 1995, U.S. Army active Duty. I don't have any problems with my kidneys that I know of.

Question: if you are using a juicer whats the best tonic to treat diabetes or chronic kidney disease? what can a person do for a diet or herbal remedy for kidney failure before going to dialysis..whaherbs and veges lower blood sugar.

Answer: Natural Home remedies for the treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease Orange: Taking one or two oranges before breakfast in the morning followed by a glass of hot water or taking orange juice cures kidney problems or protects one from kidney ailments. Oranges keep the kidneys clean. Apples and grapes are also equally beneficial. Fruit juices keep the kidneys healthy if taken in the morning before breakfast. The use of honey is beneficial in kidney problems. Carrots: Boil 2 tsp. of carrot seeds in a glass of water and drink it. It will increase the flow of urine. Radish: Taking half a glass of radish juice provides relief from burning sensation and pain at the time of urination. Bathua : It is beneficial in kidney problems. It relieves hesitancy and strangury micturition and restores the flow. Arbi : Eating the vegetable of arbi is beneficial in kidney diseases. It makes the kidneys strong. Water-melon: Eating water-melon is beneficial in Nephrites. Long cucumber: Taking mixed juice of carrots and long cucumber or carrots and turnips cures kidney diseases. Potato: A patient suffering from kidney problem should eat potatoes. It contains lots of sodium and very little of potassium. Too much of potassium causes excessive secretion of salt from the kidneys. Mango: Mango is shaped like a kidney. Eating mangoes regularly strengthens kidneys. Fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere we look this time of year. Potassium is found in all foods, especially vegetables and fruit, so it is easy to eat more than your body requires. Potassium Levels: Normal blood potassium levels for adults are 3.5 to 5.0mmol/L. Critical levels for people on dialysis are 5.5mmol/L or greater. Here are some tips to keep your potassium level in the normal range: * Choose 4-5 servings of low and medium potassium foods per day (ask your dietitian for a list of these foods). * Remember, serving size counts…even if the food is low in potassium, you still need to watch how much you eat. Generally, a 1/2 cup is an appropriate serving size. * When treating yourself to a high potassium food, only buy enough of the food to make one or two servings. This way, you can't over do it! * Cooking some foods, such as potatoes, in large amounts of water allows potassium to move out of the food and into the water. Peel vegetables and cut into small pieces. Boil in a large pot of water. Drain the water after cooking (ask your dietitian about soaking potatoes to further decrease the potassium). Fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere we look this time of year. Potassium is found in all foods, especially vegetables and fruit, so it is easy to eat more than your body requires. Potassium Levels: Normal blood potassium levels for adults are 3.5 to 5.0mmol/L. Critical levels for people on dialysis are 5.5mmol/L or greater. Here are some tips to keep your potassium level in the normal range: * Choose 4-5 servings of low and medium potassium foods per day (ask your dietitian for a list of these foods). * Remember, serving size counts…even if the food is low in potassium, you still need to watch how much you eat. Generally, a 1/2 cup is an appropriate serving size. * When treating yourself to a high potassium food, only buy enough of the food to make one or two servings. This way, you can't over do it! * Cooking some foods, such as potatoes, in large amounts of water allows potassium to move out of the food and into the water. Peel vegetables and cut into small pieces. Boil in a large pot of water. Drain the water after cooking (ask your dietitian about soaking potatoes to further decrease the potassium). Healthy Eating for People on Dialysis Adding healthy snacks to your day's intake can give you extra energy and help you get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy on dialysis. Eating several smaller snack-size meals during the day can be helpful during those times when your appetite is poor. It can also help people with diabetes with their blood sugar control. Remember to keep your dialysis diet guidelines in mind when planning your snacks ; eat more protein, less salt, potassium, phosphorous and fluid. Here are a few tips and snack ideas to help you out: Try a high protein snack to help meet your higher protein needs. Remember to take your phosphorous binder with these snacks. * Leftover roast meat on a bun * Hard cheese (1oz.) or peanut butter (1 tbsp.) and unsalted crackers * Cream cheese on a bagel Lower potassium fresh fruit or vegetables: * Grapes * Apples * Berries (blueberries, strawberries etc.) * Cucumber or celery sticks Choose low salt snacks to help control fluid intake. Salty snacks and foods make you feel thirsty and may cause you to drink more. * Unsalted popcorn or lower salt tortillas or pretzels * Rice Krispie squares * Graham wafers, vanilla wafers * For more snack ideas and suggestions, ask your Renal Dietitian

Question: Due to chronic kidney disease ,both the kidneys of my friend failed and she is undergoing dialysis? twice a week. What are her chances of recovery.Her blood group is O+. She is not getting a donor among her blood relations .Can she get a donor elsewhere

Answer: She can definitely get a donor. In fact, more and more transplants are being done with non-related donors. What makes a transplant most likely to be successful is how genetically similar certain areas are that have to do with immune system regulation. Dialysis is much better nowadays than it used to be. People can survive on dialysis for years.

Question: How long do you usually stay in the hospital after being diagnose with Chronic kidney disease? I'm in the hospital right now im only 14 im on the computer in there teen room. How long will i be in the hospital? i've just bein diagnosed and was officially admitted at like 10:30. If you need more info just ask me to edit and check back in like 5-10 min.

Answer: Well once they get your stabilized and on a dialysis and a regime going they will probably let you go. It depends on what caused it in the first place. Plus every hospital is different. We don't know your whole health background and how you are feeling and your stats. You would need to ask your doctor those questions and ask them to give you a timeline.

Question: Has Anyone with mild chronic kidney disease recovered or at least halted the progression of the disease? By mild renal damage I mean a GFR of 85 in a female (38 years old, creatinine 0.8, BUN 14) I'm very worried and anguished and I would like to know if there's hope for me to at least stop the progression of the illness.

Answer: For now there is no cure for kidney disease. When I went in for my kidney transplant I was recommended for a clinical trial for a type of transplant that might be. The way it works I think is you start taking kemo before the transplant. Then you get bone marrow from the donor. This makes a chimeric immune system so your body doesn't reject the kidney. This treatment is still in trials but your creatinine is pretty low, you probably don't have to worry about kidney failure yet.

Question: I have chronic kidney disease. Can anyone tell me the natural healer? I was diagnosed 10 yrs earlier with IgA nephroapthy that now progressing rapidly. My creatinine level is 2.5 mg/dL. Can anyone tell me the natural healersthat stop progress of disease or if possible revert. As I am using ACE inhibitors and low protein diet.

Answer: look up ceragem center in your area that place will heal you and God designed our body's to heal up by them self but this heated bed is made to help are body's heal faster I have already had it help me!!!