Hello there, my 67 year old sister has CKD and will have to go on dialysis at Easter. Are there any alternative medicines/complementary medicines/diets that could help improve kidney function and thereby avoid or at least postpone the requirement for dialysis?
Thank you.
Unfortunately not that could stop the need for dialysis. I'm in the same boat, starting (again) soon. If there were an alternative, the creator would be the richest person on the planet! I wish her all the best.
Thanks matt, I'll keep seaching. What amazes me really is that she is so well, in general. She certainly leads a 'normal' life. I'll have to find out the latest blood test results from her.
Good luck!
Hi,
To be really blunt if there were such medicinces we would all be taking them don't you think, and there would be no need for anyone to have dialysis or transplants. You also have to be careful what prescription or non prescription medications you take with kidney failure as it can speed up the loss of function. I was fine until I had about 12% function you wouldn't of even know to look at me, then at this point people who knew me could tell. I started dialysis at 9% and felt much better after 3 weeks. There is your magic medicince right there in the form of dialysis, I am greatful for this as 60 years ago nothing could of been done. So embrace the fact that your sister has the option of dialysis.
Take care x
Thank you for that helen,
I do 'take on board' what you say. I like the idea of a vegan diet though, but knowing my sister there is no-way she would stick to that regime (you can lead a horse to water etc.)
She is resigned to the idea of dialysis - she had the fistula done quite some time ago, so she knew it was 'on the cards' one day.
It's just me you see. I'm 62 and haven't visited a doctor in over 20 years as I like to look after myself, but of course I know that CKD is a whole different ball game.
Kind regards,
Ray.
Hi Ray,
I understand where you are coming from its your sister and you want to help her. Hopefully in the future they will be able to make kidney's for us with the 3D printer but I promise there are no majic cures. None of my posts have been deleted and anyone who claims to have had CKD Not accute reanl failure) stage 5 and been suddenly cured is not being truthful. I hope your sisters dialysis goes well, there is a good comunity of people that are willing to help each other and there are always people ready sensible advice (this does not include eating bicarb of soda from your kitchen cupboard!). let us know how your sister goes and shout if you need any support xx
Thanks Helen,
I spoke to Sandra today and she's okay about starting dialysis.
I mentioned, um, 'alternatives' but she wasn't interested 
She is under Kings College Hospital in London and received a letter from them saying she may be starting dialysis before Easter which was the original date for it.
I will let you know how things go.
Kind regards,
Ray.
I've received my sisters latest bloodtest results and they are:
HGB 106.
Urea 39.4
Creatin 5224
Bicarb 17
Phos 1.90
AlkPhos 77
BP 130/80
Bicarb and Urea have risen since the the last test.
Ray.
Hi Ray,
Do you mean 524 for creatinine not 5224 as I don't think she would be here anymore if it was the later? the first one is quite high mine was around 480 when I started dialysis its about 300 now I am on it so its works. What is Sandra's GFR (kidyey function) at thge moment. The time dialysis starts differs from person to person, GFR and creatinine are some of the factors but how the person feels is also a consideration. The fact Sandra feels well is good and should she make a quick decline her fistula is iin place so she is good to go. She will be fine x
Hiya Helen,
I'll have to double check on that creatinine figure
And, I did ask Sandra for the GFR actually.
I'll be back
Ray.
Here we go then Helen,
The creatinine is 524 and the GFR was 9 on the 4th Feb but is 8 now.
Best regards,
Ray.
Hi Ray,
Sandras creatinie is quite high and GFR quite low, I have known people to have a GFR of 5% before dialysis starts. We are all different and as long as she feels well they will leave her for a bit. She is all preped and ready to go so try not to worry. Has she had any issues with her iron? we can't make enough so may need a little help. Do keep me updated on her and your journey people often over look family and how they feel about the situation, mind you people used to say to me "god you wouldn't think you were that ill you look ok to me"!. If you need to chat let me know x
Hello Helen,
Thank you for your reply. I do believe Sandra did indeed have some meds for her anemia at one time.
All this couldn't have come at a worse time really as she is due to exchange contracts on her 1 bed flat in East Dulwich, London, and move to somewhere near Taunton in Somerset.
Presumably they know what they are doing down there 
All the best to you,
Ray.
Hi Ray,
Could Sandra pop into the unit she is going to use before hand and have a look round so its less daunting for her when she does start dialysis? How lovely to live by the sea, once she has got through the stress of moving oh and there will be that one box that never seems to be unpacked lol. The care does differ from place to place and I believe it makes a difference if it is a private unit (some are) I visited our renal unit and it looked ok but haemo wasn't for me, she will be fine I am sure x
Hello Helen,
I do believe Sandra is going to have home dialysis, is that common?
She wont be living by the sea though, mores the pity. She has the tiniest 1 bedroom flat in East Dulwich, London, which she has owned for 28 years!
Like a lot of home owners in the SE of England, she is selling up for barrow loads of the green folding stuff, and moving to the countryside.
I don't think it's really a good idea tbh, because she knows loads of people in London, our other (88 year old) sister lives in Lewisham, and she is part of the furniture at Kings College Hospital.
It will also be a big upheaval for her of course and, I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear she has called the whole thing off
Kind regards,
Ray.
Hi,
My geography is pants I thought taunton was by the sea! never mind I live on the side of a mountain its nice and I sleep sound in the knowledge I will never have to worry about being flooded. I do dialysis at home just not the type with the fistula, she will need to go to the unti for a period of time first, I doubt she will be able to do haemo from home straight away, its very strict the diet and fluid allowance, they won't allow that typw to be done at home until all is well in the unit wouldn't imagine. I do peritoneal dialysis (PD) I do this overnight while I am asleep so it doesn't interfere with my day as I still work and still have everyone to help look after. I have a special tube in my stomach (catheter) that was put in under general then I had two weeks healing, a weeks training and off to go at home. You don't realise how bad you have got as at each point you adapt and get used to the lowered function. Your Sandra sounds like a feisty one taking on dialysis and a big life changing move. She will make friends, will you be far away from her? Is that what is worrying you?
Thanks for all the info Helen.
Your PD sounds like the right idea to me but presumably it's not for everyone.
Taunton is in Somerset, and the county does suffer from the most horrendous flooding, but it's confined to the Somerset Levels, away from Taunton. She is married btw, but David has his own health problems with his back which he broke a few years ago doing something stupid in the kitchen! His spinal cord wasn't affected, thankfully. And ... there's more - David's mother is in her 90's and is in a care home in London, makes you wonder if they've thought this one out, doesn't it. 
I live about 3 hours away from Taunton, in Cornwall. Sandra does have some friends in Somerset whom she has known for some years, it's just that, in my mind, moving from the fast-pace of London at age 67 to some Westcountry backwater, could possibly turn out to be a no no. You're right about her being feisty though, a typical Gemini
Ray.
Hi,
Your right PD isn't for everyone but neither is haemo, whats important not to loose sight of that if one doesn't suit you can always try the other. They sold PD to me as something you can do at home, however I may be young but I am not stupid by any means and think that the selling of PD is more to do with the fact that I wouldn't be clutting up their hospital 3 times a week! PD suits me and my family. Now you mention it I heard a lot about somerset on the news, very sad for the people. The BP meds make me a tad blonde at times . Regarding the move perhaps the pair of them are just tired of city life and need a bit of peice and quiet? Just something to point out with any home dialysis there is lots of equiptment and stuff you need to find a home for, that was my issue as all my bedrooms are full of us and our children! no problem though the NHS in wales have a solution you have renal failure here have a shed every cloud and all that ha ha. If she is going to do the treatment at home and is using a whole room (she will need this) she can apply to the council to have a reduction in council tax as a room is used for treatment, she can also apply to the water company for a reduction and electric company. If her doctors signs the form I beleive in England if you have a fistula you can get prescrition releif so its worth asking about this and if I were her I would get her application in for personal independance payment (PIP) this is not means tested and anyone can apply it just takes ages have a look at direct.gov for the numbers etc hope this all helps x
Hiya,
I spoke to Sandra this morning and mentioned PD, she said she does know all about what that entails but, she had a hysterectomy in 1988 and there are doubts about whether the catheter would be suitable for her as there may be some damage done to her stomach wall.
She was eating a bacon sandwich when I phoned and getting ready to go to the pub for Sunday lunch, surely that isn't a good idea for someone with her condition!
"The BP meds make me a tad blonde at times"
Same with Sandra actually, she's always been a difficult person to deal with at times (Gemini!) but she's even worse now
Re: the move, she had absolutely no intention of ever moving out of London but, the value of her tiny flat kept going up, and up, and up, so she took the money in the end. She will miss London though because she's one of these people who are always out & about - every-single-day. She's always been a 'gadabout' though, when she was younger she worked as an au pair in Italy and South Africa, she has loads of friends all over the place who she often meets up with.
One thing I will say is that she's not at all good when it comes to following strict diets, she said to me once "ya gotta live" and I can well understand that but, if it was me, I would be able to follow any strict regime to-the-letter, but then I'm a Virgo
Re: the equiptment required for home dialysis, yes, her bedroom is on the small side, and I hear the unit have got to go along to check that out.
I like the shed idea 
Thanks for the heads up on the council tax and utility Co's, I'll tell her about that, when she is less-likely to 'jump down my throat for the slightest reason whatsoever
"have a look at direct.gov for the numbers etc" Thanks for that too Helen, you have been very helpful.
Ray.
Hi Ray,
Yes she is right, if you have had previous stomach surgery it can cause issues.
Which bit isn't a good idea in our condition the bacon butty or the pub I have to confess I do induldge in both these activities.
I have to follow a low potassium diet (its not so strict now I have started dialysis) I had to give up crips and chocolate, the crisps bit was ok as I could have doritos and the like. I used to eat chocolate like malteesers and milkyway as in my mind there was chocolate only on the outside and if I was ever challenged I would simply ask "Are you going to take it off me"? I wouldn;t take food off me needless to say I kept and ate the chocolate.
I am a virgo too but on the border with leo, I'm not very good at being told what to do.
I think they may come and check haemo is a bit diiferent they just all turned up to set up the machine for mine. I know I have read people have lino not carpet as sometimes no matter how careful you are bloods spills so its easy to keep clean and also to prevent infection.
Is Sandra able to have a transplant at all? I have a live doner but you also have to be on the transplant list not nice as my landline rang at 5am the other morning and I thought it was them turns out it was the scam people telling me my computer was running slow!.
My friend has offered me her kidney (my husband offered his but we have 2 children and I think unless necessary to have both parents disapear is harsh) so hopefully that will happen soon and then I just need my op for my trapped ulna nerve from an rtc then I will be fixed I can't wait to get back to normal ish...
Keep my updated with Sandra's journey (and yours) x