Hypertension, kidney problems & low carb!

Bobbedazzler · 12-05-2011, 01:39 PM

Hi all, hope you don't mind me just diving in and introducing myself.

I'm 39 years old, have a kidney abnormality (although kidney function is currently normal), I am about 55lbs overweight and have been told that I have until next December to get my blood pressure down to 130/80 or I WILL be put on medication that I will then probably be on for life! (today in clinic my BP was 165/95 but I was quite stressed at the time)!

I don't want to follow a way of eating that puts me into ketosis as this will put my kidneys under extra strain, something I really don't want to do....... and I know that Barry Groves has proven that you don't have to be in ketosis to lose weight using a low carb lifestyle ....... so I have ordered Eat Fat Get Thin - I've also already got his 'natural health and weight loss' book and his 'trick and treat' book.

I'm looking forward to 'meeting' you all and am using the next few days as a 'transitional period' so as to not shock my body (and strain my kidneys) too much ........ so I'll probably be a complete and utter nuisance, asking questions all the time until I get my head around it all propertly!!

That's about it really ...... I really want to get my BP down and prove that it can be done the low carb way!

Jo x

CarolynF · 12-06-2011, 01:36 PM

Yes, Jo..Having a good blood pressure is extremely important..Even if you have to take some meds, it is much better than high blood pressure...

Good for you..You can do it..Keep your protein at a decent level, but not overboard and you shouldn't have many problems. Make sure you drink lots of water, too..

Honestly, losing weight will help your bp..

ravenrose · 12-06-2011, 02:48 PM

OK...

first of all, take the blood pressure meds. it's just foolish not to when your blood pressure is too high. it does damage, and you will regret it if your kidney disease progresses when it's not necessary! you can always stop taking the meds or reduce the dosage later if you lose weight and your blood pressure drops. it's just silly for them to say it's "for life." the problem is for life, you can deal with it multiple ways, as time goes on, meds and weight loss and sodium restriction, whatever works for you.

second, why do you think ketosis is bad for your kidneys? I have kidney disease and my kidney specialist has no problem with my low carbing. my creatinine has improved a lot as I have lost weight low carbing. it did NOT do my kidneys more damage, in fact the dr said the improvement was miraculous.

he did recommend limiting red meat to one serving a week though.

Bobbedazzler · 12-30-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenrose

OK...

first of all, take the blood pressure meds. it's just foolish not to when your blood pressure is too high. it does damage, and you will regret it if your kidney disease progresses when it's not necessary! you can always stop taking the meds or reduce the dosage later if you lose weight and your blood pressure drops. it's just silly for them to say it's "for life." the problem is for life, you can deal with it multiple ways, as time goes on, meds and weight loss and sodium restriction, whatever works for you.

second, why do you think ketosis is bad for your kidneys? I have kidney disease and my kidney specialist has no problem with my low carbing. my creatinine has improved a lot as I have lost weight low carbing. it did NOT do my kidneys more damage, in fact the dr said the improvement was miraculous.

he did recommend limiting red meat to one serving a week though.

Just to clarify, I'm not refusing to take meds or anything, they haven't prescribed them yet ...... so I'm not actually being foolish!

They've just said that overall my BP is a little high and if I can't get it down by my next review, then I'll be on meds - Which I'm quite happy to take when the time comes if I haven't managed to reduce my BP through a change in lifestyle!

But thanks for your concern.

gotsomeold · 12-30-2011, 05:44 PM

hello and welcome!

It is excess protein that overloads and sometimes damages kidneys. I did an internet search on 'how does eating fat impact kidneys' and found a few articles that say a ketogenic diet can reverse nephropathy. I encourage you to do some research. You and your doctor may decide you do not need to absolutely avoid ketosis.

That being said, you can certainly lose weight eating low carb but keeping carbs high enough to avoid ketosis.

EFGT keeps protein at a very moderate level. You will obviously have to be careful but this should be do-able.

Just don't fear the fat. It is our friend.

Oh, and run a search on celery and bp. Celery has been used for a looooong time to regulate bp. It has a salt, which name I do not remember, that is apparently a huge help for many people.

Bobbedazzler · 01-02-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotsomeold

hello and welcome!

It is excess protein that overloads and sometimes damages kidneys. I did an internet search on 'how does eating fat impact kidneys' and found a few articles that say a ketogenic diet can reverse nephropathy. I encourage you to do some research. You and your doctor may decide you do not need to absolutely avoid ketosis.

That being said, you can certainly lose weight eating low carb but keeping carbs high enough to avoid ketosis.

EFGT keeps protein at a very moderate level. You will obviously have to be careful but this should be do-able.

Just don't fear the fat. It is our friend.

Oh, and run a search on celery and bp. Celery has been used for a looooong time to regulate bp. It has a salt, which name I do not remember, that is apparently a huge help for many people.

That's brilliant, thanks very much for your help ......yes it was the protein I'd been told can overload the kidneys but after reading more of Barry's books, it would appear that its not a case of eating lots of it, like you say, he seems to keep it quite moderate! Off to do some more research!

jennmc31 · 01-04-2012, 07:57 AM

Wheat Belly by Dr Davis is a fabulous book. You will lose weight, not strain your kidneys and your BP will quickly go down. It is a very good book

Jillzd · 01-08-2012, 05:42 AM

I have high bp and diabetes so I have a higher risk of kidney problems. The dr told me the bp med he prescribed also protects my kidneys. He put me on lisinopril. Meds may help. It's definitely worth a conversation with your dr. I'm not a fan of meds either, but if they help, they help.

Davian · 01-25-2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenrose

OK...

first of all, take the blood pressure meds. it's just foolish not to when your blood pressure is too high. it does damage, and you will regret it if your kidney disease progresses when it's not necessary! you can always stop taking the meds or reduce the dosage later if you lose weight and your blood pressure drops. it's just silly for them to say it's "for life." the problem is for life, you can deal with it multiple ways, as time goes on, meds and weight loss and sodium restriction, whatever works for you.

second, why do you think ketosis is bad for your kidneys? I have kidney disease and my kidney specialist has no problem with my low carbing. my creatinine has improved a lot as I have lost weight low carbing. it did NOT do my kidneys more damage, in fact the dr said the improvement was miraculous.

he did recommend limiting red meat to one serving a week though.

Excellent post.

I, too, have a kidney abnormality and I have been LC'ing for years and years now. My doctor has no issue with it or my eating of red meat. Understand that now that I'm in the 130's I don't eat more than 4 to 6 ounces in a day so that may be why - I don't really know. I rotate between pork, chicken, and beef...I don't care for any other meats. One thing not mentioned here and I was told this was most important over all else was to drink a lot of water. By losing weight, you will see a lot of your health issue go away. Good luck to you!

TheComputerGuy · 01-31-2012, 08:44 AM

BobbeDazzler - Suggestion on managing the BP...
Cut your salt intake to 1500mg per day (from all sources), increase potassium ALOT. You can do this with low sodium V8 juice. I have been down your path. High BP at younger age may be Conn's Syndrome...which is what i have. Meds probably wont work, unless they use Spiranolactone or Inspra to block the effects of Aldo. Have them test your Aldesterone/Renin. If you have high Aldo and low renin, and low or low-normal potassium, it is Conns. Trust me, alot of doctors dont think about it being Conn's. They were taught to think it was rare, but now its believed to be as much as 10% of all high BP patients. Can be cuased by a benign tumor in the adrenal gland. If so, they remove it and you are cured. If it is hyperplasia (meaning no tumor but overactive cells) then they just treat it as i described here. You can save yourslef alot of hell by getting that figured out early on. Anyway, just a thought...

12-05-2011, 01:39 PM	#1
Bobbedazzler Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 62 Gallery: Bobbedazzler Stats: 196/196/140	Hypertension, kidney problems & low carb! Hi all, hope you don't mind me just diving in and introducing myself. I'm 39 years old, have a kidney abnormality (although kidney function is currently normal), I am about 55lbs overweight and have been told that I have until next December to get my blood pressure down to 130/80 or I WILL be put on medication that I will then probably be on for life! (today in clinic my BP was 165/95 but I was quite stressed at the time)! I don't want to follow a way of eating that puts me into ketosis as this will put my kidneys under extra strain, something I really don't want to do....... and I know that Barry Groves has proven that you don't have to be in ketosis to lose weight using a low carb lifestyle ....... so I have ordered Eat Fat Get Thin - I've also already got his 'natural health and weight loss' book and his 'trick and treat' book. I'm looking forward to 'meeting' you all and am using the next few days as a 'transitional period' so as to not shock my body (and strain my kidneys) too much ........ so I'll probably be a complete and utter nuisance, asking questions all the time until I get my head around it all propertly!! That's about it really ...... I really want to get my BP down and prove that it can be done the low carb way! Jo x

12-06-2011, 02:48 PM	#3
ravenrose . Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 9,075 Gallery: ravenrose Stats: lost 130 lb so far, and miles to go before I sleep WOE: low carb controlled calorie Start Date: June, 2009	OK... first of all, take the blood pressure meds. it's just foolish not to when your blood pressure is too high. it does damage, and you will regret it if your kidney disease progresses when it's not necessary! you can always stop taking the meds or reduce the dosage later if you lose weight and your blood pressure drops. it's just silly for them to say it's "for life." the problem is for life, you can deal with it multiple ways, as time goes on, meds and weight loss and sodium restriction, whatever works for you. second, why do you think ketosis is bad for your kidneys? I have kidney disease and my kidney specialist has no problem with my low carbing. my creatinine has improved a lot as I have lost weight low carbing. it did NOT do my kidneys more damage, in fact the dr said the improvement was miraculous. he did recommend limiting red meat to one serving a week though. __________________ Often I don't come back to read threads where I've posted. If you want me to see something, please send me a private message. Thanks!

12-30-2011, 05:44 PM	#5
gotsomeold Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Asheville, NC / Marietta, Ga Posts: 3,287 Gallery: gotsomeold Stats: 175/127.6/GOAL at 128, size six fits! 5'4, 60yo WOE: JUDDD, PHD Start Date: LC/EFGT - 9/15/11, JUDDD - 1/1/12	hello and welcome! It is excess protein that overloads and sometimes damages kidneys. I did an internet search on 'how does eating fat impact kidneys' and found a few articles that say a ketogenic diet can reverse nephropathy. I encourage you to do some research. You and your doctor may decide you do not need to absolutely avoid ketosis. That being said, you can certainly lose weight eating low carb but keeping carbs high enough to avoid ketosis. EFGT keeps protein at a very moderate level. You will obviously have to be careful but this should be do-able. Just don't fear the fat. It is our friend. Oh, and run a search on celery and bp. Celery has been used for a looooong time to regulate bp. It has a salt, which name I do not remember, that is apparently a huge help for many people. __________________ - Nancy GOAL 10/3/12 Still at goal 2/6/13 JUDDD cares about calories. JUDDD does not care what you eat. Your body probably does. Combining JUDDD rotations with PHD foods got me to goal with greatly improved health (and a drive to boogie-boogie-boogie all night long).

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12-06-2011, 01:36 PM	#2
CarolynF Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 36,825 Gallery: CarolynF Stats: 195/141/139 WOE: Eat Fat, Get Thin Start Date: January 2001	Yes, Jo..Having a good blood pressure is extremely important..Even if you have to take some meds, it is much better than high blood pressure... Good for you..You can do it..Keep your protein at a decent level, but not overboard and you shouldn't have many problems. Make sure you drink lots of water, too.. Honestly, losing weight will help your bp..

01-04-2012, 07:57 AM	#7
jennmc31 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: minneapolis,mn Posts: 156 Gallery: jennmc31 Stats: 216/150/120 WOE: atkins/low carb/gluten free Start Date: January 4, 2007	Wheat Belly by Dr Davis is a fabulous book. You will lose weight, not strain your kidneys and your BP will quickly go down. It is a very good book

01-08-2012, 05:42 AM	#8
Jillzd Junior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: PA Posts: 27 Gallery: Jillzd Stats: 165/165/130 WOE: Low Carb Start Date: January 2012	I have high bp and diabetes so I have a higher risk of kidney problems. The dr told me the bp med he prescribed also protects my kidneys. He put me on lisinopril. Meds may help. It's definitely worth a conversation with your dr. I'm not a fan of meds either, but if they help, they help.

01-31-2012, 08:44 AM	#10
TheComputerGuy Junior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 17 Gallery: TheComputerGuy Stats: 246/238/165 WOE: Atkins/Protein Power Start Date: 1/21/2012	BobbeDazzler - Suggestion on managing the BP... Cut your salt intake to 1500mg per day (from all sources), increase potassium ALOT. You can do this with low sodium V8 juice. I have been down your path. High BP at younger age may be Conn's Syndrome...which is what i have. Meds probably wont work, unless they use Spiranolactone or Inspra to block the effects of Aldo. Have them test your Aldesterone/Renin. If you have high Aldo and low renin, and low or low-normal potassium, it is Conns. Trust me, alot of doctors dont think about it being Conn's. They were taught to think it was rare, but now its believed to be as much as 10% of all high BP patients. Can be cuased by a benign tumor in the adrenal gland. If so, they remove it and you are cured. If it is hyperplasia (meaning no tumor but overactive cells) then they just treat it as i described here. You can save yourslef alot of hell by getting that figured out early on. Anyway, just a thought...