Sunday, April 5, 2009
Progression of CKD
I found a useful explanation of the mechanics of chronic kidney disease and why it tends to worsen over time:
Mushrooms (Agaricus Bisporus)
A lot of naturist sites say that Mushrooms (Agaricus Bisporus) help people with kidney failure by purifying the blood. By chance one of my staple foods has become portabello mushrooms, which I find to be one of the tastiest foods still on my permitted list.
UpToDate.com
This post is just to recommend a very informative and well-written medical website I've found:
Drugs: Cozaar (Losartan)
Here is a decent description of Cozaar, the anti-hypertension drug I stopped taking a couple of weeks ago:
In general my blood pressure has been good without any drug treatment (yesterday as low as 120/75) but occasionally I have peaks of around 140/90 and the day before yesterday I read as high as 145/95 so I have been wondering if I should start taking the drug again because I keep reading that maintaining low blood pressure is the most important factor in slowing the progression of kidney insufficiency (even though the drug really didn't seem to have any effect when I was taking it and I had even higher blood pressure then).
It also seems that the drug, which is an ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) can specifically help with certain kidney conditions (caused by type II diabetes). Some websites suggest that they are beneficial to retard kidney disease progression of all types and especially when there is proteinuria (which is my case):
I also read that it is recommended that blood pressure be maintained below 110/80 when there is proteinuria, suggesting I should lower my blood pressure still further.
If my next tests don't show a dramatic improvement, I may start taking Cozaar again, for proteinuria benefits if not for the hypertension.
Reduction in kidney function
I did read that Cozaar can REDUCE kidney function, so this could explain my higher serum creatinine reading (indicating reduced kidney function) two weeks after starting to use the drug. One document said that an increase of 20% of the serum creatinine level should be expected after administering the drug. This is quite a relief as my big jump (from 2.1 to 2.5mg/dL) in serum creatinine had been worrying me. The nephrologist did indicate that it was normal that the serum creatinine level should rise "with the drugs" but I wasn't sure which drugs he was referring to as I am not taking the anti-immune system steriod he prescribed.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Watermelon seed tea
I'm going to try drinking watermelon seed tea. Supposedly it helps get rid of kidney stones and with kidney problems generally (and I have a LOT of watermelon seeds as I'm eating about a kilo of watermelon for breakfast every day).
The recommendation comes from "Edgar Cayce", who it turns out, what was a psychic who discovered cures through psychic readings! Very interesting, though, that I've come across many sources recommending watermelons for kidney problems. I suppose trying the tea is unlikely to cause any harm.
WATERMELON SEED TEA
Watermelon seed tea is a diuretic recommended in the Cayce readings, particularly as a stimulant to cleanse and purify the kidneys and bladder.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Watermelon seed tea was specifically recommended by Edgar Cayce for kidney stones. It was also suggested to simulate underactive kidneys.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
No known contraindications.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
At least once a day, three days a week, take watermelon seed tea prepared by pouring a pint of boiling water over a tablespoonful of watermelon seed (ground or cut) and allowing it to steep. Let it cool, then strain and drink. If practical, the tea should be made fresh for each use.
The recommendation comes from "Edgar Cayce", who it turns out, what was a psychic who discovered cures through psychic readings! Very interesting, though, that I've come across many sources recommending watermelons for kidney problems. I suppose trying the tea is unlikely to cause any harm.
WATERMELON SEED TEA
Watermelon seed tea is a diuretic recommended in the Cayce readings, particularly as a stimulant to cleanse and purify the kidneys and bladder.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Watermelon seed tea was specifically recommended by Edgar Cayce for kidney stones. It was also suggested to simulate underactive kidneys.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
No known contraindications.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
At least once a day, three days a week, take watermelon seed tea prepared by pouring a pint of boiling water over a tablespoonful of watermelon seed (ground or cut) and allowing it to steep. Let it cool, then strain and drink. If practical, the tea should be made fresh for each use.
Juicers
As an aside, I bought a new juicer: a Moulinex Juice Machine but unfortunately I was a bit disappoionted. I bought it as I thought it would save time because it automatically pushes out the juiced pulp (whereas with my current antiquated juicer, you have to open it every glass, or so, to scrap out the pulp by hand). Also the basket lifts out by hand for cleaning, where with mine you have to unscrew it and then force it out bit by bit.
Unfortunately the Moulinex has so many pieces, and much bigger pieces (allowing you to process more fruit or vegetables at a time), that I'm not really sure there is any time saving at all:
Moulinex: Pusher (about 20cm long), adapter tube (about 20cm), top with input tube (20cm long) plus pulp extraction channels, blade, basket, base piece, pulp collector.
Old juicer: Pusher (about 10cm long), top with input tube (10cm long), blade, basket.
I also felt after that the Moulinex extracted less juice because it generates a moist (sticky - uck) pulp, whereas the old juicer has a dry pulp. However after closer examination, I think the juice output is about the same (but the Moulinex juice has less air in it).
Unfortunately the Moulinex has so many pieces, and much bigger pieces (allowing you to process more fruit or vegetables at a time), that I'm not really sure there is any time saving at all:
Moulinex: Pusher (about 20cm long), adapter tube (about 20cm), top with input tube (20cm long) plus pulp extraction channels, blade, basket, base piece, pulp collector.
Old juicer: Pusher (about 10cm long), top with input tube (10cm long), blade, basket.
I also felt after that the Moulinex extracted less juice because it generates a moist (sticky - uck) pulp, whereas the old juicer has a dry pulp. However after closer examination, I think the juice output is about the same (but the Moulinex juice has less air in it).
Parasitic causes
Someone suggested Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, as a possible cause of my kidney insufficiency (due to the antibodies that the immune system produces to attack the parasite), and reading about it, it is plausible.
http://renalfellow.blogspot.com/2009/02/schistosomiasis-and-renal-disease.html
In any case, this study suggests that anti-parasitic medicine is ineffective at preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease:
http://www.nature.com/ki/journal/v35/n5/abs/ki1989114a.html
Also, I think the fact that my immune system tests were negative (no antibodies in my blood) means that the cause is of my condition is not due to something external to the kidneys.
http://renalfellow.blogspot.com/2009/02/schistosomiasis-and-renal-disease.html
In any case, this study suggests that anti-parasitic medicine is ineffective at preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease:
http://www.nature.com/ki/journal/v35/n5/abs/ki1989114a.html
Also, I think the fact that my immune system tests were negative (no antibodies in my blood) means that the cause is of my condition is not due to something external to the kidneys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)