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An excerpt from my new book on chronic kidney disease (CKD)

I used to get up in the night with cramps in my thighs. I had to walk them out, and would sometimes eat bananas or pickle juice to combat the symptoms, but with CKD, I get cramps in my feet, and those are worse. They are harder to walk off, and sometimes they are on the top of the foot, where they are super difficult to assuage.

Now, I can’t take a lot of potassium to fight the cramps due to my kidney disease, so bananas are out, and pickle juice has tons of sodium, so that’s a no-no also. 

The cause for the cramps might be due to metabolic waste accumulating, or to calcium or phosphorus levels being off, and I have noticed that if I eat a lot of red meat, a bad thing for ailing kidneys, or too much salt, the cramps seem to be more prevalent.

I don’t add salt to my food, but sometimes eat packaged or canned foods, and those are not the best. Since I enjoy most of these meals, I don’t curb my portions. I usually only eat the one serving on my plate, but occasionally hold back some of the meal for another time. When I hold back, I seem to be less inclined to cramp up.

If you are having cramps from CKD, you can try the following to ease them:

• Stretching
• Not being too sedentary
• Walking or cycling
• Avoid extreme heat
• Go easy on caffeine and alcohol
• Use comfortable footwear
• Listen to calming music
• Pray

Fortunately, I don’t have cramps every night, but when they occur, they disturb my rest, my wife’s sleep, and are a general nuisance. Still, I’m thankful my CKD symptoms aren’t worse, and that my GFR is still holding.

ꭥ

“All things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

— Romans 8:28