Kidney obstruction

(Terry Engelmann) #1

This is crazy but i just need to visit with someone about this. I have been Keto for a couple of years now. Suddenly in July my blood pressure increased to a dangerous level. Long story short it was discovered that my right kidney had basically flopped over on itself cutting off the outflow tract (ureter) to the bladder. This caused significant damage and nw the kidney is only working at 18% capacity. With all the blood work involved with this it was found that my cholesterol had increased significantly and MD said statin. I’ve been resisting this forever as some of my relatives developed dementia after starting this medication. I acquiesced for about 5 weeks but stopped due to the severe muscle pain. I live in South Dakota and there are no integrative or natural path practitioners. I’m not sure where to turn and am basically scared to death.
Thanks

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

Do you have your lipid panel results so you can post them? It’s hard to give an opinion without knowing that and more about you and your medical history. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Terry Engelmann) #3

Total Chol. 363
Trig. 67
LDL 256
HDL 94
This was this summer
I have been running total chol in the 230’s range since my 30’s
Last years total chol wac297
Trig 124
LDK 183
HDL 89

(Terry Engelmann) #4

Also been healthy all of my life. Non smoker. No real bad habits except work

(Full Metal KETO AF) #5

Your LDL did jump up but HDL also rose and your triglycerides improved greatly.
All in all the healthy ratio of total cholesterol to HDL is <5.0 which you are well under. I see absolutely no reason for concern over the lipid panel numbers.

That sucks about the kidney damage. I had renal failure in 2006. Ten years on dialysis and now a kidney transplant. I believe KETO will help preserve what kidney function you still have. Most kidney damages are related to high BG and insulin levels.

I wish you the best. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Terry Engelmann) #6

Thanks so much fir your input. I felt the same way. Wondering if the LDL jump was due to the damage to the kidney.
Again, thank you

#7

Terry, Is it a blood lipid concern or a kidney concern?

I agree with @David_Stilley that the important ratios are fine in the lipid panel.

You note you have been keto for a few years. Did you ever have a creatinine blood test and eGFR done along the way? Before the kidney flip.

What caused the kidney flip? Kidneys are quite well supported by ligaments and fascial tissue. Usually it is a physical hit like a motor vehicle accident or similar.

My understanding is that people only need 25% of one functional kidney to maintain overall normal kidney function. That’s why we can donate kidneys to people who need them.

There are some kidney precautions to consider on the ketogenic diet, especially if the keto eating includes a lot of spinach, nuts (in particular almonds and almond flour), dark chocolate, raspberries, blackberries and (trendy) tumeric (e.g. tumeric latte with almond juice). More so, if these keto foods are eaten in a low dairy style of the diet. The clincher is if the person eating as above experiences rapid body fat loss on the ketogenic diet. Or, if seeking to break a plateau, moves from keto to ketocarnivore.
It’s just a precautionary note, for the rare combination of factors that may lead to oxalic acid crystal formation inside the tubules of the kidneys.

(Terry Engelmann) #8

Hi FrankoBear.

Thanks for your questions. The cholesterol thing has been an ongoing question with my annual exams. Up until now i have declined the lipitor due to mom and gmom getting dementia after starting it. Now witht the kidney obstruction i’ve been seeing other specialists and they have hones in on that. The kidney obstruction as i understand it occurs in 1:500 people. Due to the damage my right kidney is only functioning at 18% wholr my left kidney is at 82%. Family and friends ate concerned about the Keto but I’ve never felt better and all other labs are fine. I’m just worried i guess and without medical professionals to visit with that see the health benefits i just needed yo visit. I am a nurse practitioner but my specialty is women’s health, internal medicine or nephrology
Thanks

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #9

My dad (and half brother) have familial hypercholesterolemia (genetic, not dietary) and he has been on statins his entire life. One after another because of the side effects. He basically lost most of the musculature in his legs, sleeps in a separate room due to the screaming attacks from leg cramps nightly and has other side effects, but this one is the worst. I’m sorry about your parents. My dad says now he would rather have heart problems and heart surgeries if it meant he could have time in between where he wasn’t suffering in pain. He’s also old school and lives by what doctors tell him (that he’ll drop dead one day after his first missed pill so he had better not even think about stopping–at least, that’s what he thinks.)

If the consideration for statins is in regard to your kidney and not just cholesterol, maybe a short term round of them is needed but if it’s strictly because of your cholesterol numbers and you are otherwise healthy, I would carefully consider if they’re worth it.

(Terry Engelmann) #10

Thanks for your input. I’m sorry to gear about your dad. I agree with him. Id rather have the heart attack than the pain a d the risk of Alzheimer’s. Best wishes to you and your dad