Ok, For some of you I know you will understand what I’m talking about here some of you won’t but my question is this: My Mother has been told that her days are numbered and there is nothing that can be done for her anymore medically.
Her Creatinine is 2.3 and her GFR is 19, She is 80 years old so they won’t perform dialysis; I’ve read of some things that can help lower her Creatinine but any ideas from anyone else would be appreciated to help her in her last days with us and also help her make it through Christmas at least.
I did a cursory search of medical sources, and it sounds like her Creatinine is nearly double what it should be, and her glomerular function is less than one-quarter of what it should be.
The websites I found were pretty general, but seemed pretty sure that GFR is inflexible. Creatinine, though… I found pages that said fluid flow needs to be increased and the types of proteins ingested need to be carefully selected. I repeatedly saw the suggestion “beans and nuts” and “green teas”, but these are probably for cases less severe than what you are describing. Nevertheless, it might be worth it to try them. Limit exertions and sugars so that the kidneys are less taxed by lactic acids and particulates.
Most importantly, let her rest. Keep her comfortable, and don’t pressure her to ‘hold on’ until the holiday; stress makes illness worse.
Finally, if dialysis isn’t an option, perhaps a transfusion could be? Removing a pint of blood and replacing it with type-matched healthy blood should reduce the concentration of Creatinine in her system, if only temporarily (phlebotomy therapy).
I’m not a medical doctor: this is not professional medical advice, but rather a cursory input from an impartial party. Please double check this information with your physician.
I’m pretty sure you’d get way better answers on medical issue forums. Asking on a war game forum is…kind of misplaced!
Sorry to hear the bad news about your mom though. My sincere condolences. My Dad lost his battle to an inoperable brain tumor in 1981 after 6 years fighting it.
Thanks Reik; I’m shocked that she can still function, I do however have to change her diapers now. As for the blood transfusion they won’t do that again; She just had a few units last month and that’s all they can do.
Thanks for your input; I just hope that she can make it through the holidays; Lost my Father on December 21, 2003. Just hope she can hang in there until January.
You were more helpful then you think; I had heard from a lady at a local Walmart near me that she drank 2 glasses of green tea a day, One in the morning and one at night and now doesn’t have to take any medication for her diabetes but she still has to follow a balanced diet.
I’ve been reading a lot about this disease and found that the Chinese have ways of using “Traditional Chinese Medicine” to reduce Creatinine levels.
Luckily my (Chinese) wife’s best friend’s husband is a doctor of “Traditional and Modern Medicine” in China and hopefully he can guide me to something to help her as well.
Thanks for your input; I hope that you have a very enjoyable holiday season!
i have a 74 year old uncle who has been on dialysis for the past year in NYC. he does it thru some cheapo medical plan where he has certain time slots where he goes for the treatment, which can be at oddball times like 0430 am,
he had given up smoking around 2009 well before his kidneys failed, i don’t know anything else about his diet and health habits but i do know he walks often as he continues to use public transportation
Good to hear he’s doing so well at that age; I know dialysis is rough on the body; My next door neighbor is in his late 30’s and has to have dialysis 3 times a week and has told me how bad he felt after getting it done; He said all he wants to do is crawl under the covers in his bed for the rest of the day after treatments.
I do hope that your Uncle lives for many years but most importantly that he has a good quality of life.
If she’s able to eat regular food, maybe make sure she’s eating kidney friendly food. Confer with her doctor, of course, but folks with kidney disease often do better on foods that are lower in sodium, potassium, phosphorus and other minerals that healthy kidneys can filter out of the blood but unhealthy kidneys can’t.
Here’s an example of a kidney friendly cookbook with recipe ideas. I don’t know how much dietary changes will help her situation but might be worth conferring with her doctor in case it could improve her quality of life.
Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but maybe run any vitamin, supplement or dietary changes past her doctor. Everything that goes into the body gets processed or filtered by either the liver or kidneys. Too much stuff that needs the kidneys to process it is no bueno for someone with kidney disease. The kidneys also regulate blood pressure, so if she has blood pressure problems as a result, green tea with caffeine may not be a good idea.
I’m not a doctor or medical professional of any kind. Just be careful. So many systems in the body are interconnected that something that seems harmless may not be. Always best to check with a medical professional.