Now, I have kidney disease.

[tomas1]

I had pessimistic feelings about my latest labs and there was only a very slight change.
The creatinine came down slightly to 1.90.
That calculates to GFR of 35 vs 33 on the 23d of May.

The doc seemed satisfied that it didn't get worse, but dammit, I wanted more improvement.
Now my sodium level is low and she suggested salt pills.
I told her that I don't eat any salt at all and didn't feel salt [pills was the way to go.
She told me to eat more salt.

Goddamit, does anyone know what to eat anymore?
I am going to eat chips, salted nuts, and even put salt on my salads again.
She did say to eat what I've been eating except for that.

I get more labs next Tue and the sodium had better be back in the normal range.
My BP has been great with the weight loss and reduced sodium. I hope that doesn't get impacted since BP is a big kidney killer.

It is a marathon.

[bldoink]

I'm betting you'll start seeing gradual improvement in the next several weeks.

[Old Guy]

Holy Cow tomas1, one doc says this is good and another says it's bad. All you can do is trust the doc you're dealing with and hope you picked a good one. Salt is included in so much food now days it's surprising your sodium level is low. Balance is the key, and you're right, that's tough. Hope next labs show a big improvement.

[tomas1]

I'm betting you'll start seeing gradual improvement in the next several weeks.

I'm really hoping that will be the case.
I probably expect improvement too soon.
Next labs next Tue, 6/13. I hope I see some improvement.
One great side effect of my new lifestyle is my BP has never been so good.
It' in the 120s over the 60s.

[tomas1]

Holy Cow tomas1, one doc says this is good and another says it's bad. All you can do is trust the doc you're dealing with and hope you picked a good one. Salt is included in so much food now days it's surprising your sodium level is low. Balance is the key, and you're right, that's tough. Hope next labs show a big improvement.

I've always had low sodium. Maybe it was from drinking a lot of beer? I had a previous doctor who said he's never told anyone this, but he said for me to eat more salt.

I've cut off beer either temporarily or permanently.
Since I haven't salted anything and have tried to eat low sodium food, there's no wonder I lack sodium.
I told the doc that I've hesitated seeing a nutritionist because a one size fits all diet could be a problem.

How are doing with your bladder treatments?
Tom

[Old Guy]

I've always had low sodium. Maybe it was from drinking a lot of beer? I had a previous doctor who said he's never told anyone this, but he said for me to eat more salt.

I've cut off beer either temporarily or permanently.
Since I haven't salted anything and have tried to eat low sodium food, there's no wonder I lack sodium.
I told the doc that I've hesitated seeing a nutritionist because a one size fits all diet could be a problem.

How are doing with your bladder treatments?
Tom

I always thought beer had a lot of sodium in it, don't think you can "wash" salt out. I've never put more salt on food like some do, but I do eat a good amount of salty food like chips, crackers, etc. All my labs are normal, but then this bladder thing is happening. Biopsy last month showed no cancerous cells! I start the once a week for 6 week treatments in a couple weeks. Do not look forward to those.

[tomas1]

Sounds encouraging.


I peed last night at 6:30 and when I tried to pee at 11:30, nothing would come out.
I kept trying and we finally went to the ER at around 3:15.

They fooled around and I got very uncomfortable and I tried peeing again. No dice.
FINALLY they took blood and put in a catheter.

They checked the urine and later came back and said I have a urinary infection.
They gave me an IV antibiotic and a prescription for pills to take for a week.

My urine has been very slow to come out, but I always managed until today.
We're home and I still will have the catheter, possibly for a week.

One good thing is my Creatinine lowered to 1.85, GFR raised to 35.

We'll check with the urologist later today.

[Old Guy]

Oh, how I hate having a catheter in. My issue is opposite, when I got to pee it's right now. If I go anywhere can't have nothing to drink for an hour or so before. Visit the bathroom just before walking out the door.
UTI's are no fun. Hope the antibiotics knock that down.

[Martin6469]

My wife had urinary tract infections for years until we saw advice to take two cranberry capsules per day. This was from Consumer Lab (www.consumerlab.com), which is run by an MD to evaluate supplements (which the FDA does not do). They say that "TheraCran One" from Theralogix has the most cranberry active ingredient. This brand is a little pricey, but she says it's worth it.

[tomas1]

Thanks for the tip. I may try it after the antibiotics are finished.