donnagr

Is your mom eating strictly gluten free? You may have celiac disease as well, it runs in families, or a gluten intolerance. I don't know what kind of kidney issues you are dealing with but . . . The kidney disease IGA is related to gluten intolerances/celiac disease and I have a similar situation. I completely stopped eating all gluten foods and my kidney disease has leveled off for many years now. I am in the mid 20's % range for function and am trying to maintain as well as I can. I do not take any drugs that I don't need to, I supplement with B Complex, C and multi and take fish oil capsules. I watch nutritionally what I eat and try to walk. My doctor is really very pleased with the outcome of my results, not to mention you can imaging how I feel about it. I thought I would be in a completely different situation right now about six years ago. At 38%, you have a lot going for you still, you can survive the rest of your life with that, by maintaining it. If you need to, go to a really good naturopathic physician if you are not getting the results you need from your nephrologist alone. I know that completely eliminating gluten from my diet was huge for me and I felt incredibly better very quickly. Let me know if you have any questions.

I forgot, also, very important regarding the anemia. I had changed nephs and the first one and my current one both were beginning to talk to me about going to get procrit shots. I asked because I was trying this diet if I could take OTC iron supplements first, and she said that was ok to try first. For the last couple of years my CBC labs were getting better and for the past year I am now in the normal range again, thank God! I take regular ferrous sulfate iron, not the time release one, cause there is a reason you dn't get as much iron in your system with the time release. I realize you are on procrit now but am wondering if you test positive for celiac or gluten intolerance, your body may be able to re establish itself with the iron counts and possibly come off procrit? I am not a doctor, but I know what has worked for me and both my doctor and I are thrilled with the results.