Polycystic kidney disease, kidney transplant, kidney disease, liver transplant, enlarged liver, pkd, pld, adpld, adpkd and polycystic liver disease : PKDiet

SWELLING or EDEMA

WHITE FLOWER
All with PKD have a glitch in the aldosterone system which causes us to retain salt. Anything which one can do to cut down table salt is really helpful. Working with my doctor, the things which I have tried that were successful in relieving edema in my legs, ankles, thighs:

EXERCISE

FOOD

WHEN THE SWELLING GOT REALLY BAD ...

JUICES & VEGETABLES & DIURETICS

EXERCISE
daily walks	Continuous exercise for ten minutes or more allows enough time to elapse for lactic acid to be eliminated through the lungs.
water	Keep yourself well hydrated to dilute any acids which are created.
stairmaster	It was not until I used a machine called the stairmaster that I was able to coax my body to lay down new blood vessels and to widen the lumen of existing vessels.
foods	I ate foods which stimulated the body to lay down new blood vessels such as chilies, saffron, and cabbage.

FOOD

low sodium diet

For a week (a short duration) I ate only brown rice, sweet potato, chicken broth, beef broth, squash, vegetables,and fruits. I prepared everything myself so I knew there was no added salt. I eliminated all other foods (for only one week). I avoided milk, dairy, breads, tortillas, rolls, cakes, prepared foods, meat, eggs, wheat, corn, soy. These are common allergic foods. This is a variation on the allergy elimination diet and the Duke Rice diet for lowering blood pressure. I eliminated all sugars,
honey, fructose, etc. After a week all swelling disappeared without the use of diuretics.

albumin

Chicken broth, beef broth, and cabbage juice were foods I consumed to assure that I would get adequate amounts of daily essential amino acids. When my liver was a bit wonky, it was not manufacturing sufficient albumin. Albumin is a protein that is necessary to keep the (blood) fluid contained within the walls of the vessels so it does not seep into the tissues causing edema. I would now take essential amino acids from Gambro or Calwood pharmaceuticals as these will raise the serum albumin to normal limits. I remember following my liver resection I could not eat most animal proteins except for broths.

WHEN THE SWELLING GOT REALLY BAD ...

Rocking

While sitting, I would alternate by pushing off on the tips of my toes, resting on the balls of my feet, rocking back and forth, and raising up on my heels. This stretches the Achilles tendon and squeezes the calf muscle forcing the blood back to the heart. I have a footrest that helps me to do this when sitting at my computer.

walking

I get up and walk every hour for a few moments.

leg elevation

I was told to elevate my legs above the level of the heart. Initially I would drape my body across the couch with my head and shoulders resting on the floor and my feet stretched high around the back of the couch.

Zero Gravity chair

This is a massage chair which tips you backwards so your feet are elevated comfortably above the level of your heart. It provides heat and a gentle massage. Available through Sam's Club for $199 or through the Relax the back store. While traveling I find a relax the back store and try out this chair for an hour or more.

JUICES & VEGETABLES & DIURETICS
I drank vegetable and fruit juices which had a diuretic effect.

parsley

parsley (carrot beet) juice. Available at airports from Jamba Juice.

nettle

nettle juice. Available as a non-alcoholic organic extract. High in potassium and has diuretic properties while lowering uric acid (elevated in PKD).

grapefruit

grapefruit and orange juice which is freshly squeezed have a diuretic effect in my body. I drink this before air travel. I avoid bottled juices due to the yeast effect. I drink mineral water with a lemon slice.

diuretics

There are certain diuretics that cause the creatinine to rise due to the dehydration effect. This is a temporary decline and will correct itself once you come off the diuretics. I had asked my doctors if they could not push up the dose of the diuretics to help get rid of the fluid? They told me no. My creatinine climbing was an indication that I was at the maximum dose of the diuretic.

last updated Wed November 22, 2006

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FOOD
low sodium diet	For a week (a short duration) I ate only brown rice, sweet potato, chicken broth, beef broth, squash, vegetables,and fruits. I prepared everything myself so I knew there was no added salt. I eliminated all other foods (for only one week). I avoided milk, dairy, breads, tortillas, rolls, cakes, prepared foods, meat, eggs, wheat, corn, soy. These are common allergic foods. This is a variation on the allergy elimination diet and the Duke Rice diet for lowering blood pressure. I eliminated all sugars, honey, fructose, etc. After a week all swelling disappeared without the use of diuretics.
albumin	Chicken broth, beef broth, and cabbage juice were foods I consumed to assure that I would get adequate amounts of daily essential amino acids. When my liver was a bit wonky, it was not manufacturing sufficient albumin. Albumin is a protein that is necessary to keep the (blood) fluid contained within the walls of the vessels so it does not seep into the tissues causing edema. I would now take essential amino acids from Gambro or Calwood pharmaceuticals as these will raise the serum albumin to normal limits. I remember following my liver resection I could not eat most animal proteins except for broths.

WHEN THE SWELLING GOT REALLY BAD ...
Rocking	While sitting, I would alternate by pushing off on the tips of my toes, resting on the balls of my feet, rocking back and forth, and raising up on my heels. This stretches the Achilles tendon and squeezes the calf muscle forcing the blood back to the heart. I have a footrest that helps me to do this when sitting at my computer.
walking	I get up and walk every hour for a few moments.
leg elevation	I was told to elevate my legs above the level of the heart. Initially I would drape my body across the couch with my head and shoulders resting on the floor and my feet stretched high around the back of the couch.
Zero Gravity chair	This is a massage chair which tips you backwards so your feet are elevated comfortably above the level of your heart. It provides heat and a gentle massage. Available through Sam's Club for $199 or through the Relax the back store. While traveling I find a relax the back store and try out this chair for an hour or more.

JUICES & VEGETABLES & DIURETICS I drank vegetable and fruit juices which had a diuretic effect.
parsley	parsley (carrot beet) juice. Available at airports from Jamba Juice.
nettle	nettle juice. Available as a non-alcoholic organic extract. High in potassium and has diuretic properties while lowering uric acid (elevated in PKD).
grapefruit	grapefruit and orange juice which is freshly squeezed have a diuretic effect in my body. I drink this before air travel. I avoid bottled juices due to the yeast effect. I drink mineral water with a lemon slice.
diuretics	There are certain diuretics that cause the creatinine to rise due to the dehydration effect. This is a temporary decline and will correct itself once you come off the diuretics. I had asked my doctors if they could not push up the dose of the diuretics to help get rid of the fluid? They told me no. My creatinine climbing was an indication that I was at the maximum dose of the diuretic.