Tag: chronic kidney disease

Posted on

Level 4 Kidney Function: A Gout-Friendly Diet Update

Written July 2, 2025

Hello Dear Readers,

I had my regular rendezvous with the nephrologist this week. And guess what? My eGFR has officially slid into Level 4 territory. Ah, kidneys—always keeping life suspenseful. Suddenly, the mystery of my marshmallow feet makes perfect sense.

Armed with a list of burning questions (like a medical Sherlock Holmes), I peppered my doctor with inquiries. One lab glance later, he asked me a lot of questions. I showed my bios, I told him what dietary changes I made.  “You’re probably riding the sugar train a little too hard.” Now, aside from a slight uptick in ice cream over the past month—okay, maybe more than slight—I haven’t exactly been swimming in syrup. 

Weight management came up (as it always does), and my doctor gave me a surprising green light: I can have a bit more protein! The catch? Sugar’s gotta go. So, farewell to frosty treats, and hello again to yogurt and fruit. It’s not a tragic breakup—I happen to love our homemade yogurt, courtesy of my wife. It’s just the right kind of bland. Not too sour, not too sweet. Honestly, I think store-bought yogurt has trust issues—it’s either overly tangy or suspiciously processed. Ours? Pure probiotic poetry.

Medication for gout got a little upgrade too—because, let’s be real, that red, angry foot of mine isn’t fixing itself overnight. But I’m hopeful. The pain’s still there, but I’m optimistic it’ll chill out soon, especially now that I’m being kinder to my kidneys. They’re finicky little organs—throw in too much sugar or a rogue meatball, and they stage a protest.

All in all, the doctor and I agreed on a simple plan: keep the hydration goal steady, scale back the sugar, gently boost the protein, and stay vigilant. It’s a delicate dance, but I’m not doing it alone. My wife and I made a pact a decade ago to face kidney issues as a team—and we’re still two-stepping our way through it together.

Posted on

Mow, Sweat, and Labs: A Kidney-Friendly Workout With a Side of Weather Nerdiness

Written Jun 24, 2025

Reviewed 7/7

Hello Dear Readers,

Today’s agenda was brought to you by the letters M (for mowing), B (for bloodwork), and S (for sweat. So. Much. Sweat).

It was a race against the sun this morning—me versus the jungle formerly known as our lawn. I usually take my time trimming the terrain, but today, I had a hard deadline: a date with a phlebotomist. Nothing says “productive morning” quite like pushing an electric mower up a steep hill, then heading off to donate a vial or five of blood.

Let’s rewind a bit. My kidneys and I have a bit of a complicated history. Back in 2015, my function had dipped so low that I made the transplant list. Dramatic, I know. But through some dietary ninja moves, medication management, and sheer stubbornness, I climbed back up to stage 3. Some days I flirt with stage 4 (I like to keep my nephrologist on their toes). Hence the quarterly blood draws—my body’s version of a quarterly report card, minus the spreadsheets.

Exercise has become non-negotiable for me. Not just to stay fit, but to keep my kidneys pumping (or filtering?) as best they can. Ever since my stroke, I’ve realized that motion isn’t just medicine—it’s mission-critical.

Until 2022, my wife was the queen of the lawn. She’d spend hours on weekends battling the grass while working full-time during the week. Eventually, I took over. Now I handle both cooking and mowing—basically, I’m evolving into a domestic ninja with a touch of yard warrior.

Our lawn, by the way, is no gentle meadow. It’s steep enough to make you question your life choices mid-mow. Even with our electric mower, I need two battery swaps—and usually still don’t finish it all in one go. Today, I gave myself three hours and managed to tame the front yard and half of one side before calling it quits. Thursday, the saga continues.

I was drenched in sweat by the end, having chugged a full liter of water like it was my sidekick. Honestly, I might need a medal. Or at least a Popsicle.

On a brighter (and cooler) note, we’ve gone full nerd and ordered a fancy weather station! It has a remote sensor that sits in our bedroom, while the main display lives in my office. Now I can spy on the upstairs temperature without even standing up. Efficiency, thy name is gadget.

The new system should help us decide when to fling open the windows or turn on the fan, because let’s be real—when your body doesn’t regulate heat so well post-stroke, indoor climate control is a tactical operation.

Posted on

How I Balance My Fitness Goals in a Busy Season

Written December 8, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Since I started running 10k more frequently than ever, I have been experiencing body exhaustion. This morning, I woke up pretty sleepy and succumbed to tiredness by sleeping an extra half-hour. Luckily, there were no time-sensitive demands on me this morning, so my lateness has no lasting consequences. The volatile weather made my work harder.

Undoubtedly, the more frequent 10K runs have impacted my energy level. I did a few 10k runs last week. I have chronic kidney disease, so I cannot eat even an average man’s protein amount. The food restriction impacts me when it comes to exercising. My body doesn’t seem to recover as fast as I would wish. The sudden change in exercise goals affects me more than I would like. Too much exercise can lead to muscle loss since I cannot eat enough protein. So, I must be extremely mindful of how much I work out.

I just have to sleep more than expected on days like today. I take this as a signal from my body that I need to rest more than usual. The year is about to end anyway, so I will only work on adjusting my goals now. I am nearly hitting the target, and I know it is doable. I still take a rest day on Sunday. I canceled everything that was occurring during the Christmas holiday.

We started to plan what we would eat for this Holiday. My family in Tennessee decided to spend Christmas Holidays at my sister’s house in Virginia. My wife can only take a few days off since she is the sole accountant at her company. There is so much year-end prep work she has to do. She has been automating so many tasks that she runs the finance department alone. Her company is still publicly traded, and the office where she works has nearly $50 million in sales. She says they are hoping to get one more accountant, which will ease her workload in the future. I support my wife however I can, so I will stay in Tennessee to spend our holidays together. 

Hopefully, the extra half hour will be enough to rejuvenate me, and I’ll be able to resume my desired schedule.

Posted on

A Day of Health Priorities: Balancing Life with Kidney Care

Written November 4, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Today was one of those irregular days. I had an appointment with my nephrologist later this morning. On such days, I adjust my morning routine around the doctor’s appointment. The doctor’s appointment was an absolute priority for me as I have a kidney issue. So, I had to cram my morning routine elements into a smaller amount of time than usual. 

I create a mental list of to-do tasks each morning. This is the time I had to tweak my schedule for a day like this.  I wanted to get my run still before I went, so I didn’t have extra time to spare. 

My schedule was packed, but I managed to finish my run and shower before getting ready to go. I even got there a little earlier than the requested 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment and had to wait nearly an hour before I saw my doctor. 

He reported that the labs run on the blood I submitted last week revealed an uptick in kidney function, so I have more than fully recovered from the summer’s kidney lab report. We calculate our food intake carefully every day. My wife selects many and sorts out all the ingredients for the week we eat every week so we don’t accidentally overeat something wrong for my kidney. I’ve also been drinking enough water not to overstress my kidneys. 

Being healthy means we have to commit. Our eating habits are much more restricted because I have many food restrictions. I wish I had been mindful of my lifestyle way before I had the health problems. However, what happened has already happened. I want to make my future right. Being healthy is a life-long journey. Of course, I have my day when I get the temptation of slacking with my routines. On a day like that, I try to remember the time I had a lot of problems recovering from a brain stroke. 

I know I was fortunate. I had family who took care of me when I was in trouble. I managed to recover my kidney conditions from stage 5 to stage 3. So, I will keep my commitment to retaining my kidney function.

Posted on

I Improved My Kidney From Stage 5 to Stage 3

Written on July 7, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Reflecting on the strategies my wife and I implemented to improve my kidney health, I recalled a piece of simple yet profound advice: “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” For my kidney health, this meant addressing the issues causing harm. My primary problem was high blood pressure. A nephrologist explained its impact on kidneys by comparing it to spraying water through a paper filter at high pressure, which can tear the paper. Although kidney filtration involves more chemical processes, the tissues involved are delicate.

The hole was my blood pressure in my case. To manage my condition, we made some changes to my medications, selecting ones less harsh on my kidneys and organizing them in a medication box to ensure I wouldn’t forget a dose.

Our approach was threefold: medication, diet, and exercise. Regularly monitoring my blood pressure helped us evaluate the effectiveness of these methods and make necessary adjustments.

We worked with our doctor to adjust some of the medication I was taking after the brain stroke. Some of the medication I was taking was invasive to my kidney. 

Dietary adjustments were crucial. My wife, who usually uses minimal salt, helped reduce our sodium intake further. We also cut down on store-bought processed foods, opting for homemade meals. I needed to carefully monitor my intake of proteins and phosphorus, frequently consulting food lists to avoid them. Cheese and chocolate, which I love a lot, are also included. It is not that I cannot eat them completely, but I have to be mindful about eating them. Although this required some adjustments, it was more manageable than anticipated.

Exercise also played a significant role. After experiencing a brain stroke, my wife, a runner, encouraged me to take up running. She had recommended me before, but this time, she was very adamant about it. She loves digging into neuroscience books way before my stroke. She thought the key was some cardio that used my legs. This was in 2016.

Starting with just over a mile, I gradually increased my distance. We went to pick up a pair of good Nike running shoes that year. That was my first serious pair of running shoes. My wife said it was like a ritual. Surprisingly, the pair of good running shoes motivated me. I was surprised to find out how much shoes impact your running. I gradually increased my running, and now I can run 10km without problems. In the beginning, I did not initially enjoy running, but now I enjoy running. I grew to appreciate it as it aided my brain’s recovery.

When I suffered the brain stroke, I was diagnosed with stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease, indicating severe damage with almost no kidney function remaining, necessitating my addition to the transplant list and starting peritoneal dialysis. However, nearly a decade later, with persistent efforts and lifestyle changes, my condition has improved to stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease, and I am no longer on the transplant list. This journey has taught me that kidney health can be restored with dedication.