[lessofsarahtolove]

Originally Posted by KristasMom

You know, all this talk about health reminds me - as much fun as the idea of being skinny is, what I'm really in the weight loss thing for is my health. The medical name for what those of us with over 100 lbs to lose is morbid obesity, and morbid means it can kill me - so I'm glad that we're talking about what's going on in our lives, rather than eating over it.
Have a good day, all, I love being here.

Sue

Sue, I've been thinking the same thing, and also about how there just isn't as much discussion of that here. I am very aware of the impact on my overall health of each pound I lose. I must say, in trying to head off at the pass the onset of diabetes, heart disease, and all the rest of the obesity-related disorders, I consider each pound down to be a gift straight from God!

[SuchAPrettyFace]

Oh, I'm so glad I saw this, I was gonna PM you!

Originally Posted by anagram

SAPF = so sorry to hear about your father. DH also has PDK and had two ruptures a year and a half ago. Because he's also on blood thinners for another condition, he lost so much blood, well -- things are better now.

Is he going to have the cyst drainage surgery? My stepmother is worried b/c it's experimental, but his kidneys (and liver) are so large now b/c of the cysts that they're pushing on all his other organs. He's never hungry, and lost a lot of weight. Except this little belly, which is sensitive to the touch.

Also, they told him his kidneys are functioning @ 38%. I told him that COULD NOT be right--isn't it 59% that they start talking to you about dialysis?

Originally Posted by anagram

But I know your concerns about the future. Because of the strict diet dh is on though I would recommend you not go strictly vegetarian. I'd say eat all the fruits and veggies you can now to make you as healthy as possible. His f/v servings are limited to five servings of a very restricted list. And oh does he miss his bananas and orange juice (we won't even get into the chocolate and nuts part).

No nuts, no chocolate? YIKES! thank you for the advice on the f/v servings.

Originally Posted by anagram

His protein intake is very limited (you probably know all this stuff since your Dad has the problem) and because he is/was a finicky eater, it is sometimes difficult to come up with meals meating all the criteria. For this reason, I'd say keep a taste for various kinds of foods - you don't need to eat a lot of them but don't rule out the occasional.

That's what I'm most worried about. Not being able to have my protein in the mornings. I get hungry by 10am if I don't have enough. Very frustrating.

Originally Posted by anagram

He was on dialysis for four months after that episode and has been able to be off that by following this really strict regimen. He was hospitalized this month for an unrelated incident which nonetheless threw his numbers off and we're waiting now for word on whether his BUN/Creat. are coming down to where he's ok to continue this way. (I must note he's been really good about it all and an inspiration to me in my efforts to eat for health.) Obviously, I wish all the best for you and I'm hopeful medicine will continue to come up with new things so that you never need to even get to the restricted diet point.

Thank you, that means a lot. *hug* I am glad I have you to bounce all this info off of. That is my goal & my plan, to reduce my weight along with my protein, BUN/creatinine, sugars, HBP, etc, so that I don't have to be where your husband is, where my grandmother is, and where my father is when I am their ages.

Maybe we can start a new thread about weight loss for health? I don't think we *purposely* avoid the topic, I just think we all get sick of hearing it from our doctors & loved ones.

[Sheila53]

I think at one time or another we've gotten into quite a few health discussions. It seemed like several folks were/are prediabetic or have a family history of it, and losing weight has really lowered their blood sugar numbers. My problem is that two of the health issues I have that I thought losing weight would help are high cholesterol and acid reflux. Losing weight has not had an effect on either, unfortunately, but I'm still glad I'm almost 75 lbs. lighter! I never had a problem with high blood pressure, however, it is lower than it ever was. So low that I get lightheaded if I get up too fast. I guess I'd rather have that than take HBP medication!

[anagram]

SAPF, no, dh won't be having drainage surgery. What ruptured in his case were two nodules and it was because of pressure from a cyst. Overall, his kidneys are not overly large yet; cyst just in the wrong place. I'm not sure when they start talking dialysis but he had been put on restricted diet before this all happened and I think they said his were working at about one third normal.The situation was being controlled by diet until the rupture which caused what they described as a "heart attack of the kidneys" and that's when he needed dialysis. He's extremely lucky to have been able to go off that. Prior to the rupture, they were still unsure what his problem was - was later told they had suspected cancer. In fact, his urologist had a hard time believing the diagnosis was PKD since he didn't yet have the enlarged kidneys. But you have to trust your nephrologist, no? His is really sharp and caring and we like her partners as well so feel he's in good hands. We're waiting for his last test results (as we do all) so we can see what next may need to be adjusted dietwise.

I recall you mentioning your grandmother's transplant. dh declined to go on list.as he has other problems as well. We have a dear friend who's brother was a donor and he has done well.

Anyway, you'll appreciate how elated we are that our daughter's kidney sonogram last week showed no cysts and they tell us that if she had inherited they would have shown up by now, which also means my darling granddaughters also will should be free of early cysts. Always still a bit leery as dh's apparently didn't show up early either but I'm going to go with what they're telling us now. DS has not had sonogram yet but has no symptoms (DD has had kidney issues) and again is old enough might at least have the high bp.

Please feel free to PM me anytime. I'm far from an expert on this brainnumbing subject but I can exult w/you over a good set of numbers and pray you don't get even borderline ones.

[Sheila53]

My sievelike memory recalls someone on this board who has a parent with Alzheimer's. Whoever you are, would you mind PMing me if you don't mind me asking you some questions? Thank you!