In more good news, I think I passed the kidney stone that was giving me problems/pain the last few days. Kidney stones are terrible and anyone that has them knows how much it sucks to have one causing you constant pain.
Kidney Stone Prevention
So that part of this terrible, awful, no fun journey of kidney stones is over. But it’s far from over for me really. I still have two more kidney stones hanging out in my kidney. As long as they are hanging out and not moving then I don’t have a problem. They can stay there forever and cause me no pain. But if they decide they want to make the journey out then the pain will come back.
And now that I’ve had kidney stones, specifically multiple kidney stones, I’m at a much higher risk for developing more. Lucky me, right?
That increased risk has made me realize that I need to make even more changes. It’s not enough that I’m trying to be healthier to lose weight. Now I need to do the things that make me lose weight and also prevent kidney stones.
After reading a lot about kidney stones and kidney stone prevention, and talking to the awesome Nicole who is a RD, I learned that I have to make changes to my diet.
While it is not terribly exciting to learn that you have to change the way you eat because of an illness, it is good to know that you can take control of the situation. Changing how you eat and following the right diet tips to prevent kidney stones is a great first step in preventing kidney stones.
Any anyone who has ever had kidney stones before knows that preventing more from developing is very important!
Diet Tips For People With Kidney Stones
The following are guidelines for eating to prevent kidney stones and in parenthesis my thoughts about them.
- Drink more water. Lots of water. 8 to 10 glasses day, or about a gallon a day and at night too. (I’m a big fan of water luckily. This one won’t be too hard for me. But there have been days in the past where I let myself get relatively dehydrated. This can no longer happen. I HAVE TO DRINK MORE WATER.)
- Limit food high with oxalates. Foods with oxalates include: rhubarb, spinach, beets, swiss chard, wheat germ, soybean crackers, peanuts, okra, chocolate, sweet potatoes [high content]…as well as, grits, grapes, celery, green peppers, raspberries, fruit cake, and strawberries . (This is the part that makes me sad. All of this stuff is “healthy food” for the most part. I can still eat it obviously, but now need to limit it. I love spinach and sweet potatoes and chocolate and everything on the medium content list. These are things I eat pretty often, so now I need to completely change what I eat a lot of as I limit these items. Hard.)
- Limit animal protein (beef, pork, poultry, seafood). From Nicole: Because animal proteins can cause a build up of uric acid, decreasing meat and seafood intake helps prevent kidney stones many times (~15% of your calories from protein). This will probably result in an increased mono and polyunsaturated fat intake – nuts, seeds, nut butters, etc, and carbohydrates should comprise 50-55% of your intake. (This one is hard for me too and something I’ll have to work on over time. I’m used to eating a ton of animal protein – most of my meals are based off of it. So I need to learn how to eat less/cut back/make some vegetarian meals. Once again this isn’t something I have to eliminate entirely, but do need to cut back on. It’s another thing that will be hard.)
- Limit sodium intake. Sodium should be limited to 2,300 milligrams (1 teaspoon) or less each day. (This won’t be the hardest. I don’t add salt to my food. Just need to be more conscious about sodium content in food products. Junk food is bad!)
- Eat more fiber, at least 25 g a day. Fiber includes oat bran, beans, whole wheat breads, wheat cereals, cabbage, and carrots. (This is fine since I try to eat more fiber anyway. Now I know that it is really important.)
- Eat a moderate or high amount of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products. Getting your recommended amounts of calcium – at least 1,000 milligrams a day. Recommended between 1,200 and 2,000 milligrams. (I can do this. I like dairy and love to drink milk. I was worried I’d have to cut it out, but I’m thinking I just need to switch up the vitamins I take to make this work out.)
And there you have it. Thanks again to Nicole! Those are the changes I have to make if I want to do my best to prevent more kidney stones and pain. And I do want to prevent them. I do want to be and stay healthy. I suppose it’s just one more reason to do this. One more reason to follow through with all the healthy behaviors and beat back the bad habits that caused me to become obese.
In theory it seems so easy. You have a list of rules and you know what you need to do. But sometimes it’s just so much to think about. That’s what leads me to get frustrated and just give up and eat complete and utter crap like I have the last two days or so. There are so many things to keep in check each day when you are the one preparing your food and trying to keep everything straight (and when you are bad at math like I am). It seems so easy and so hard at the same time. But just like losing weight is something I have to do, so is this. It’s not really an option. It’s what will keep my body healthy and pain free. So I have got to learn how to live with it and how to make it work.
Have you ever had to change your diet due to medical issues beyond just losing weight? How did you do it?
I had gallstones last year, ending up with a surgery to have my gallbladder removed, but in the interim, I was on a strict low (almost no fat) diet. It’s amazing how motivating the avoidance of pain can be to maintaining a healthy lifestyle! Glad you’re feeling a bit better and hope this whole ordeal is behind you soon.
.-= Chad´s last blog ..Nutrition Monday: Review of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution =-.
Yikes! I guess you don’t need your gallbladder, eh? Avoiding pain is a huge motivator! Probably the best!
I have a thyroid condition, and after I did more research into my diagnosis, I found soy products listed in numerous sources as something to avoid. I also had some secondary stomach issues I was trying to figure out, and cutting out dairy really helped my stomach. I still crave cheese, but I try to avoid it because I know I’ll be fighting pain a few hours later. I was also a big fan of soy products – tofu, tempeh, edamame, etc. Giving up edamame was the most difficult soy product to give up, but the lack of stomach pain is worth it.
I’m only a fan of edamame, but I understand how that would be hard to give it all up if you like it. But at least it helps you feel better!
Another challenge thrown your way, but you can do it. Like everything else, it will take awhile for you to get eating this new way, but soon it will become second-nature. You are stronger than you know, empowering others to become healthy and motivated. Hope you’re feeling better!
Yep. Yay challenges? Just another thing to work with and get past. Will do it!
Because of my heartburn issues I can’t have any caffeine, alcohol or fried stuff. Also things like citrus, tomatoes and onions really bother me a lot. Of course I still slip-up and have these things once in a while, but it definitely isn’t worth it for the pain afterward.
You can do it! And the best part is you will feel so much better that it will all be worth it.
.-= Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..veggie queen =-.
I think everyone who has a strict diet slips up. When you have a huge list of things to avoid it’s unavoidable, right? Hehe. But you are right that the slipups aren’t worth it. I’ve got to remember that because my pain won’t be instant like yours!
I’m trying this new water thing this week…I drink 2 ounces every time I get an e-mail at work. Considering I get 40-50 emails a day this should be interesting. It’s not even lunch time and I’ve already tapped 50 ounces (and hit the bathroom 5 times). I’m hoping my body adjusts eventually. I fortunately don’t have any significant dietary restrictions, aside from the fact that I HATE fish. I’m mildly lactose intolerant but I just pop a lactaid whenever I’m eating anything ubber creamy.
Good luck!
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Monday Weigh-In #4 =-.
That’s a cool idea! I don’t check my email that often but I could figure out another similar thing. But I’m already drinking so much water. And I will have to keep that up for sure. Dehydration is NOT my friend (really it’s not anyones).
Thanks!
Isn’t it incredible how having a list of “rules” to follow just makes you want to run screaming from them and do the exact opposite??? You’re doing amazing things right now and I’m incredibly impressed with your attitude and how quickly you’re getting on top of the challenges and educating yourself! Best of luck as you work all of this into everything else on your plate – you can absolutely do this!!!
.-= Lillian´s last blog ..You Might Think I Would Have Quit By Now =-.
It’s crazy. Sometimes I can set my mind and will and I can do it easy, no problem. But that is when I CHOOSE the changes. When I feel like they are being forced upon me (like now) I just want to do the opposite. I know I can’t do that forever, but I allowed it for a couple days. I guess mentally I needed time to get used to the idea of eating differently with the idea of prevention in mind.
Last year, I had an unknown GI condition that was causing me to gain weight despite the chronic diarrhea….the worst part was them trying to diagnose. Because I have many allergies, I was at a high-risk for food allergies. I had to go to almost an entire raw food diet (no gluten, lactose-free, no eggs, no soy, etc) and then start adding things back in. I was so miserable! I knew it was better for my health but everytime I had to even go to the grocery store I’d become overwhelmed and cry in the parking lot. I made sure that someone supportive went with me to the grocery store to help me stay positive and look for foods that I could have. I also tried to keep thinking about how much better I’d feel and I tried really hard to eliminate being near “temptations” until I got comfortable. Hope that helps!
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Weekly Weight Update! =-.
Aw, sweetie, that sounds so terrible! I’m sorry you had to go through that but at least now you know what’s going on with your body and what you can have! That’s great! I’m going to try my best with this but it’s going to take a while to get used to. Thanks for your tips and encouragement!
Thanks, these are good things to know! I had to have tests done when i went for surgery this year and they said i have 4 kidney stones, but so far they have never given me any problems. They said when they do i’ll definitely know it!
.-= suzanne´s last blog ..I did it!! =-.
You will most definitely know it. I’m pretty sure I’ve had mine for a few years and one just decided to start moving last weekend. Bum timing and all, but as long as they aren’t moving you are golden! But those guidelines are good for anyone who has or has had kidney stones. Since you’ve had multiple ones you are at a higher risk to develop more. So definitely DRINK YOUR WATER!!!!
I’m nursing a broken ankle right now — doing a lot more upper body workouts while it is healing.
.-= Seth@1010in2010´s last blog ..More Comparison Pics & Busted Ankle Workout =-.
I actually saw that on your blog. :( I can’t imagine having a broken limb… that must be hard! At least you are still exercising while it’s healing!
congrats on passing the lil bugger! one down, two to go. Good luck on passing it as well as the diet changes :)
.-= Craig´s last blog ..The Final Perfect Ten Update! =-.
Haha yeah. It’s nice to be awake without pain or pain meds! The diet changes are going to be hard but it will work out. :)
Woot, glad that stone passed.
I’m not good with rules, I need to think of them differently or I will rebel, even against my own rules, childish? perhaps but its definitely true for me.
When I was a pre teen I developed a milk allergy (in addition to corn and lots of other foods). The dairy was so bad that a child I was babysitting had had a glass of milk and kissed me and I got welts on my cheek. I loved dairy this about crushed me and not being able to have ice cream (think mostly before the days of stores having non dairy options like soy milk, sorbets etc) was killer especially as the rest of my family continued to eat. When coke changed from new coke back to classic they failed to label that they still had corn syrup in it, that was a fun trip to the emergency room (real classic coke had no corn syrup, new coke did, new classic has sugar and corn syrup). I was so glad when I outgrew most of the food allergies, still have to do dairy in moderation but at least I can have it :)
Moderation is key for me, they don’t seem like rules then and I don’t feel deprived…
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Ran a mile at 5mph (slow for all but me :P) March 24th Food and Exercise Journal =-.
If it’s childish then call me a five year old. Because I do the same thing. I’m so super rebelious against any rules (why I want to work for myself, why I don’t do diets, etc).
Woah. Those are some severe allergies. I would think that would be easier though. If you eat those things you get an immediate negative reaction. With this it’s not immediate. It takes time. So the negative consequences are harder to remember.
Moderation is good! I will never ever give up sweet stuff entirely. That’s like a life not worth living. So I just have to stick with the moderation for chocolate and then cut out entirely the other stuff I can live without.
oy that sounds not so fun.
.-= Lola´s last blog ..Puttin’ on the Big Girl Panties =-.
Yeah. I love chocolate. And animal protein. But it’s for the best.
Holy crap! That is a lot of rules & things that would be really hard for me BUT if my health were at risk than I would do it. I probably would even give up my beloved bread if somebody told me I would die or have bad health things happen to me if I did not.
I am glad you are better & we will be supporting you in your new food program.. one for life! :-)
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Pounds Count From Confessions of an Overeater; Happy Bdays’ again! =-.
It is a lot. It’s too much to change at once really so that is my GOAL and I’m going to work my way towards eating that way. For now I’m focusing on the WATER drinking and the low sodium and cutting out the most high oxalate stuff. The rest will come in time as I practice and learn what to eat. It is for life, like you said, and for that reason I’m okay with not doing it all today.
My husband has gout (I know totally bizarre. I thought this was a disease in books about old people and kings but I guess not).
After reading your dietary stuff it seems to be really really similar in what triggers it (though I think stress triggers gout too? or at least for him).
That said he is nonetoogood in following his new rules.
dont be him.
.-= Miz´s last blog ..MizFit’s Muscles in Minutes =-.
Yeah, stress is a trigger too. But stress is a trigger for LOTS of things. That’s why I try to live relatively stress free.
Haha. I am going to try not to be like him. I really want to eat in a way that prevents them, because OMG WORST PAIN EVER. If I can prevent, I want to.
You are most welcome! I do NOT think that this is simple in theory, at all! Kidney stones are 1) the most painful thing in the world (from what I’ve heard) and 2) so complexly related with the diet! If you have any other questions, you know where to find me. And good luck with all of this…remember, though…water, water, water!
.-= Nicole, RD´s last blog ..::sniffle sniffle:: =-.
Thanks Nicole! Definitely not easy. Until I had one and started researching I had NO idea how closely it was related to diet. It’s fascinating how the food we eat affects our bodies and how oblivious we can be until something goes wrong.
Hey babe!
I am sooo glad you are feeling better! I absolutely loved meeting and hanging with you but I HATED seeing you in such pain !
I hope you follow your new rules the best you can!
keep on keepin’ on!
J
.-= jen (@jeninRL)´s last blog ..weigh in wednesday 3.24.10 =-.
Yeah, binge drinking is bad. For everything. So is the red meat. Very similar.
Exactly, my super smart boyfriend, it’s hard in the beginning. A lot of thinking before eating… but eventually it will be second nature. I’m willing to put in some work until that happens.
I love you too!
Yay!! Glad its out!! If it had been me, I would have been examining the toilet after each time I peed, looking for it. Lol but I guess im gross. You said in theory it seems so easy. Well it does not look easy at all to me! Having to think that much about what you can eat or not, especially when half that stuff is good, healthy food. Im sure over time it will probably become second nature but till then..
The only changes ive had to make are about nuts. When I was little I loved peanuts and then couldn’t eat them. And later, couldn’t eat peanut butter either, when I used to eat a fairly lot of it (pb&j sandwiches, or with crackers..) and just checking that certain nuts arent in food at restaurants, etc. But that’s so easy really, because nut allergies are pretty common and its only a few nuts to avoid. Oh, and not eating too much dairy, because it gives me a stomach ache. Other people in my family have had to change their diets more, because of heart conditions, blood clots, diabetes, etc, but usually they don’t do very well at it. It is hard…
.-= merri´s last blog ..Pretty is as pretty does: Part 2 of 3 (why towns arent all that) =-.
The funny thing is that I did when I was paying attention. But a lot of the time when I was all doped up I forgot because I was just peeing sooo much that it got easy to forget to look because I didn’t think it would happen without me knowing it. Oh well!
Yeah, it’s hard. So much thinking about food now…as if I didn’t think about it enough!! I’m sure it will get easier over time when I just keep at it.
Nut allergies are common. And everything gets labeled if it contains nuts or was made with something that touched nuts. That’s not fun, but it’s doable.
I hear that a lot of people who need to change their diet do a crappy job. I really don’t want to be like that!
I think kidney stones are my number one concern with eating more protein in my diet.
I do everything else you have on the list there.. but I eat a ton of protein.. at least 140 grams a day and I’m NOT looking forward to any kidney stones. I have never had them nor do I ever want them. I shall increase my water intake even more now. That’s about all I can do. Grr why protein! :(
.-= Jay´s last blog ..Eating Better Foods for Weight Loss =-.
That sounds…uh…taxing. (More looking at the list of limited foods) But I’m sure you’ll find a way to incorporate the healthier options while still enjoying some of the foods you love. As we all know, it’s dangerous to limit chocolate intake at certain times of the month! ;-)
We changed our habits when the hubby was diagnosed with a fatty liver, which is reversible with weight loss and can be very damaging if habits don’t change. (Of course waiting for the results over the weekend from an emergency MRI for a “spot on the liver” is what really scared the heck out of us!) While neither of us has high blood pressure, we still watch sodium very carefully.
I joke that I became a vegetarian about 10 years ago, and a healthy vegetarian about 3 years ago. But seriously, consider looking at Peta’s website. I disagree with many of their methods, but the bottom line is I love animals and it seems wrong to kill them when they’re healthy and we have plenty of cruelty-free alternatives. It might help make that switch easier for you. There are still times when I crave a particular kind of meat (a few weeks ago I was thinking about a hamburger, and back in October I was seriously considering roasted chicken at Oktoberfest), but when I really think about blood and slaughter and stuff, it’s just not worth it. Too sad.
I am lactose intolerant so I need to avoid dairy unless I want a lot of unpleasantness for me and my Westley (and anyone else in my near vicinity – sorry for the tmi). I unfortunately have a love for cheese and ice cream so I weigh the discomfort versus the taste. There are pills out there that are meant to help, but they make me just as ill as if I have the dairy so I just have the dairy without the supposed help.
Oh – I nominated you for something on my blog – check it out:o)
I’ve had to change my diet several times – I used to have acid reflux and an underactive thyroid. I have also been working on healing my eczema with diet.
When some illness is causing pain or disrupting my life, I find it much easier to want to make the changes. And thinking about how better my life will be if I make them – instead of feeling like I’m missing out on something if I can’t have it – makes it a little easier, too.
.-= Christy´s last blog ..Review of Food Rules by Michael Pollan =-.