Found A Little Hope: My Pat On The Back

My next step was to figure out, well, my next step.  My nephrologist was laid back, easygoing and very friendly which made my transition somewhat easier (if you want to call it that).   I didn’t understand all the terminology and the meaning behind it but I figured I better learn quickly.  I did a little recon to try to grasp the information he was explaining in our sessions.

He explained how it was determined that my kidneys were failing.  I’m not going to get too much into the technical terms because a lot of it I’m still a little fuzzy on.  There were some urine and blood tests that I had to take every couple of months to monitor my progress.  I also had to get a kidney biopsy (it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be) so the nephrologist could see how serious my condition was . 

1. They will put me to sleep (so that it would be pain-free).
2. Then he will make a small incision on lower back.
3. Insert a thin needle through my skin into my left kidney to take a small piece of kidney tissue.
4. Send it to the lab for analysis.
5. Then stitch me up.

He said the procedure would take about an hour. When it was done, I was told to do the usual:

• Go home and rest.
• No strenuous activities.
• Take a pain reliever for soreness (it may be a couple of days).
• Avoid any heavy lifting.
• Remove the bandage from the biopsy site 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.

During our discussion there was another test I remember he kept mentioning, my creatinine level, so I kept an eye on it.

Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the digestion of protein in your food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is removed from the blood through your kidneys.  High levels of creatinine in the blood or urine can be a sign that the kidneys are not filtering the blood effectively.

The normal creatinine level of a woman is 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dl, mine was at 3.5 mg/dl.  When the level is 5 and above, there is quite a bit of kidney damage.  Although there are several other factors that are involved, high creatinine levels will most likely lead to dialysis and/or kidney transplant.  Determined that I could bring that number down, we discussed ways that I could keep my creatine levels low. 

I hadn’t been to church in a while but I definitely remembered how to pray, so that’s what I did.  Since I found out that this disease was irreversible, I wanted God to help me accept the situation and do what I could to keep it from getting worse.  I did a lot researching and found some natural herbs and recipes I could use.  By August my Nephrologist said my levels had gone down to 3 mg/dl and to keep doing what I was doing.  When I wasn’t working, I was on my computer trying to find new things to incorporate into my diet.

I discovered that antioxidant-rich foods are good at protecting the cells from toxic injury and can also help lower creatinine levels.  I tried some different herbs, recipes and redesigned my diet.   I felt like these changes helped in bringing my levels down.  Here are some of the things I tried (please remember to consult your nephrologist before trying anything I mention in this blog):

• Teas – Potentially improving kidney function and reducing serum creatinine levels

•  Meat intake – Less protein less stress on kidneys

•  Vegetables – Helps regulate creatine levels

•  More fruits – Not a problem, love them also and they lower creatine levels

•   Supplements – Healing properties

Like I said, please consult you primary care physician or your Nephrologist before trying anything I have mentioned in these posts. These are only thing I have tried and thought they worked for me. We all should be eating healthy anyway but it is especially crucial for people with health problems.

Up next…Dialysis

#creatine #kidneybiopsy

This is a recommended book from a person in one of the kidney forums I am a member of. She said it was recommended to her from her nephrologist and it helped her tremendously.