Month: December 2024

New Year’s Resolutions No Matter How Many Kidneys You Have

Every year before I make new new year’s resolutions, I look back to see how I did on last year’s. Alas, they’re almost always still relevant. I don’t think I’m unusual in that respect. I know that in a few weeks, for example, my Zumba classes and the workout area of my gym are going to be jammed. I used to be alarmed about overcrowding but soon saw that in a matter of weeks, the crowds invariably start to thin, and by late February they’re always back to near-usual levels.

So, once again I’m dusting off my old new year’s resolution blog post with a few updates. They’re relevant for everyone–if you’re a donor or never plan to be one.

Whether you’re already being evaluated as a living donor, or just thinking about it, here are a few suggestions that will benefit you and your kidneys–wherever they happen to be.

1- Take good care of yourself (and your kidneys). That means

–Exercising regularly. My friends all seem to like pickle ball, but I’m sticking with Zumba and strength training.

–Getting plenty of rest. Alas that’s a hard one for many of us. We can at least follow the simplest rules: no screen time a couple of hours before bedtime, no late meals, and avoid caffeine and alcohol late in the day. Also be sure to factor in some quiet downtime before bed.

–Staying hydrated. This one was reinforced for me just recently when I had a scare about my kidney function.

–Eating a healthy diet. Mostly that means a balanced diet with fresh foods–no extremes on any component. And avoid ultra-processed foods!

2-For your safety and your future recipient’s, be sure to get the latest Covid booster. Many people who were vigilant about that earlier have slacked off, but Covid is still around. The boosters are still important! Also, transplant recipients and anyone else who is immunocompromised, such as people with cancer or autoimmune diseases, can’t count on full protection from the vaccines. It’s all the more important that the rest of us add that extra layer of protection.

3-Avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. They’re hard on the kidneys for anyone—particularly important if you’re a donor or recipient.

4-Learn about kidney function and get yours checked. Kidneys are amazing!

5-Read up on all facets of kidney donation. For example, order a copy of The Insider’s Guide to Living Kidney Donation.

To all of you and your loved ones: a happy and healthy new year!

For related posts and information on my book, The Insider’s Guide to Living Kidney Donation, be sure to explore the rest of my website.

A Cautionary Tale about the Importance of Being Hydrated

After eighteen and a half years as a living kidney donor, you’d think I’d know better.

I’ve always been justifiably proud of my “numbers”: my creatinine (level of toxins in the blood) and my eGFR (estimated kidney function). Whenever I talk to legislative staffers or podcast hosts, I boast that at 76 I’m healthy and active (Zumba classes two to three times a week!) and have normal kidney function–results that would be enviable for someone with two kidneys!

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

Until October, that is.

That’s when I went for my annual check up and routine lab work. I was stunned at the results. For years I’ve always had normal kidney function (60 or up) and creatinine readings consistently under 1.02 (normal upper limit for women). Last year was much higher than my usual .85 but still “normal” at .94.

In October, for the first time in at least 10 years, my kidney function was a shocking 52. I conceded to my doctor that I don’t drink as much water as I should. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I was always a little disdainful of donors who obsessively measure their fluid intake when I’d just been natural about it and always had good results. Apparently, I was getting sloppy. Last year’s .94 should have made me think twice about being so casual.

I know that creatinine readings can jump around a lot, so I was glad that my doctor suggested we retest after I came back from an upcoming trip. Let’s see if this is an anomaly, she said, adding “but be sure to be well hydrated when you test.”

We’d been back from our trip for about three weeks before I had the nerve to redo the test. I was waiting for optimal conditions. Uh-oh I wasn’t as consistent about drinking yesterday–better not test today. Uh-oh tomorrow I’m going to be out a lot and may forget to hydrate–better not test tomorrow.

I was obviously hoping for a big improvement but decided that I’d be relieved if my creatinine were down by even a little so that it would be clear the higher reading wasn’t part of an upward trend. I thought the new results could be available that evening so I watched anxiously for an email. Finally, the alert came during dinner. I raced to the computer.

Nervously, I clicked on the test results.

Drum roll please: It was .80–that’s even lower than it’s been in several years! And my eGFR? A whopping 76!

Whew. So, no, I still won’t start measuring my fluids–but will try to be mindful of always having a water bottle nearby and remembering to drink. Drink. Drink.

In addition to being reassuring, the lesson was empowering. It was a reminder that we can often still affect our health with simple daily habits. Whether you have one kidney or two (or three like my son, who has mine too), being hydrated is important for healthy kidneys.

Don’t give yourself a scare, like I did.

For related posts, resources, and information on The Insider’s Guide to Living Kidney Donation, be sure to explore the rest of my website.