It's been almost a year since some salty cod and a couple of litres of water put me in Hospital, so what's going on with all that then?
If you are interested, the 'intro post' on this subject was written in August last year.
I have no problem admitting that last years health scare knocked me back some. Having been active with sports and fitness for as long as I can remember, it was mentally tough coming to terms with the discovery that my left kidney had been suffering the whole time and was now almost useless.
One of the biggest hurdles to jump over in my mind was that things could have been different. I could and obviously should have visited the doctors again following that single visit when I was 19 and first started feeling pain on my left side. Perhaps I'd have been referred for a scan and had the 'minor' ureter surgery before the kidney wasn't really worth risking infection and further complications for?
However, that may have been one of the outcomes but another could have been surgery and instructions not to play contact sports or take part in activities which risk heavy impact - No skydiving, bungy jumps, paddle-boarding, or 20 years of football each week, for a start. And so my memory of the love and enjoyment of these past actions is what I use to make things OK in my mind when those useless and repetitive 'what if' thoughts start to bubble.
Over the last six months I feel I've made progress in finding out what food and drink is suitable for my body and why, which following hospital last year is much harsher on me when I get things wrong. The type of food/drink, the volume, the time of day, what other foods are on the plate, and have I exercised recently or plan to? These are just some of the factors to think about, 3 times a day at least.
I've mostly avoided the recommended painkillers, and so with increased attention on my part the and sensitivity not dulled it's been possible to figure out what I need to avoid. The process was slower than I expected, mainly because it's tough to be a hungry and thirsty scientist - changing more than one variable at a time never worked out well in class!
Coffee has been one drink I have been troubled by over the past year. There have been times my one cup a day hasn't bothered me, and other occasions where I've suffered the whole day with pain starting less than half an hour after consumption. Trial and error has taught me that this diuretic mixed with sugar, or drank following food containing high sugar/oxalate/purines, or drank on an empty stomach, or drank following exercise, is not good. One cup with no sugar following a light breakfast and prior to exercise is working at present, and it feels good to be able to have a little of something I enjoy without hurting.
There have also been the blood tests over the past year which I've been able to compare against each other and keep tabs on some key markers for kidney function. Namely:
- Urea: routinely measured as part of a “urea and electrolytes” (U&E) screen to assess kidney function
- Creatinine: another waste product that your kidneys remove from your body
- Glucose: Low blood sugar levels are common with Kidney disease
- GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate): Provides an estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering blood
And in true sharing is caring fashion as well as for the love of tables:
| Date | Urea (mg/dl) | Creatinine (mg/dl) | Glucose (mg/dl) | GFR (mL/m/1.73 m^2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-Dec-23 | 37 | .94 | 109 | 96 |
| 13-Apr-24 | 22 | 1.19 | 107 | 73 |
| 30-May-24 | 42 | 1.23 | 87 | 70 |
| 07-Aug-24 | 48 | 1.12 | 80 | 79 |
| 19-Feb-25 | 40 | .93 | 89 | 98 |
For a 46 year old with one kidney functioning at < 30%, none of the results have particularly alarming for the docs. However, my blood sugar was reasonably high when tested prior to my Vasectomy (15-Dec) and following the Cod+Water event in mid April 2024. And the April 2024 reading, as well as May 2024's, showed a high amount of Creatinine and markedly reduced GFR.
As you can see, August 2024's numbers looked improved (Creatinine and Glucose down, GFR up), but I was still suffering at times and it's not been until recently that the daily niggles (despite the odd beer and sugary treat) have become far less frequent. And this shows in the most recent results, with all the readings in range and my Glomerular Filtration Rate scoring higher than it did 15 months ago.
I'm pretty happy with how I feel at present and how these numbers look - it's good to know the changes I've made are improving my days and time.
Good kidney, bad kidney
There's still another niggle though - the one that knows that more beer or sugar or seafood isn't really troubling the right kidney, and if the left one didn't exist I'd not need to be as restrictive on the food and drink I enjoy - you know, the stuff that does generally shorten your life.
It's a bit like having an internal Angel and Devil with me in the middle trying to keep them both happy. I'm getting better at doing so I think, acceptance and understanding has helped a lot.
So for now, all is well and the Spring has arrived - I'll be on my Paddleboard soon enough and be able to brighten my blog up again.
Thanks for stopping by,
Asher
It's kinda brutal but you seem to be coping with it well. My brother in law only has one kidney. Some weird birth thing that he had two but one was all atrophied and just stopped working.
Normally I would say always listen to the devil on your shoulder but in this case... Perhaps not!
Not so bad in the grand scheme of things, but my selfish fun-loving self wonders how things would be if the Angel buggered off in peace. At present I have to listen, or else!
Had a few by the sea in Palmanova this afternoon and think we are going to appear on Youtube later as we spotted the local reporter doing the rounds 🙃
You can't beat a few beers by the sea! I almost booked a holiday in Mallorca for the end of April at the weekend! Fortunately I remember my credit card bill and held off!
Top notch those beer taste, even San Miguel 🤭 first round on me when credit permits!
It's tough to be in this situation. My mother has recently been discharged from a 2-week hospitalization due to extremely high creatine and lipase. Her creatine reached as high as 6. We're down to 2.1 and eGFR at 25%, 3 weeks out. The adjustment in her diet has been her saving grace. We'll see her nephro in 4 weeks and by then, I really hope we'll be back to less than 1.
Hang in there. All the best to you! :)
Oh my! Do you know what caused this acute kidney issue? I suspect they will be damaged now but with the right diet I'm sure they will continue to recover. Best of luck to your mum.
It's a combination of a lot of things, wrong medication/antibiotics (which another doctor in our province gave to her), food (she loves to eat dried fish which is very salty) and old age (My mom's 71). The doctors couldn't tell if the high crea was induced by the high lipase or vice versa!
She kept nagging about not eating delicious food. But I guess this will be her reality from hereon. She's been compliant tho.
I just read your intro post and have a few thoughts.
You are young (to me you're young). It's not your fault that you didn't discover this abnormality earlier. I do blame your doctors. All that high protein should have suggested a possible kidney issue.
I looked at your GFR rates...they look good.
My husband had a kidney removed in 2016. I think it's amazing he was given no dietary guidance after that. Amazing and ridiculous. We try here to modify the diet so it is appetizing and does no harm to his remaining kidney. He's 78, so things tend not to work so well at that age anyway.
Psychologically, I think you're doing great. You take the good and try to look past the bad. Who needs beer and salt?
I wish you well.
Hi,thanks for airing your thoughts.
I was expecting some guidance for myself too and nothing arrived. This encouraged me do my homework which perhaps worked out better in the end.
Managing pain and adapting lifestyle (less beer salt sugar boo) seems to be the easiest path to take just as long as there is still joy in food and drink.
Thanks again, wishing you and hubby the best.
Thank you!🌞
I'm so sorry to hear that. But you show so much optimism, and that is one thing that helps you go through the difficult time. I will never forget the words that my husband told me…Tough times never last,only tough people last. From your post, I can definitely say you are a strong person, so keep going. Can I ask if they consider transplantation?
Thanks for your supportive message :)
A transplant no, but removal or re-wiring was considered and could be on the cards in the future. There's a risk and so for now it was decided the best option was to do nothing and manage.
Sorry you're going through this, and glad that you're figuring it all out, especially the coffee :) You look amazing!
Aww thanks Lynds! Great to hear from you!
Its always a bit of a shock when a fit active person like yourself has health issues.
I wish you all the best in recovering and being able to continue your active lifestyle.
I've just back into scuba diving after 28 years absence and have to get a doctor checkup. Not keen on it as I've lost trust in doctors since COVID.
Thank you.
Hopefully the checkup will be fine and you can get back to enjoying the sea. As one of the unvaxed, my trust has been lacking a while.
Well glad to hear it's trending in the right direction. I'd quit coffee if it has that effect. As long as you don't have to give up paddle boarding!
Anything to avoid not being able to do sports with a bit of rough and tumble!
I was moved to see how determined and self-aware you were as you started on the health path of your life. It's great that you're putting acceptance first and focusing on getting something instead of dwelling on what could have been. It's great to hear that your adjustment to diet and way of life are making significant differences. Again, the way you show how the angel and devil inside you are in balance is interesting to read. Keep writing about paddleboarding for your blog! God bless you with good health and strength!
It's sad that you had to stop some of the things you love because of ill health. But am glad you've figured a way to make yourself happy despite the challenges
I admire that you have been able to overcome adversity and that you now have such an optimistic attitude.
Oh sad to hear and learn that you have one kidney left, but you inspire me through this challenging time you are strong and determined to handle your situation. Your recent lab results are good. I hope the creatinine and glucose results will become normal. Take care of yourself.
Excellent.
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Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you good health always
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