with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Passing a kidney stone is one of the most painful health experiences a person can go through in their lifetime. There are many pills, powders, and potions sold each year to patients who will do anything to avoid that hell ever again. These “remedies” promise patients that they will break up present stones and/or prevent …
The Hard Truth. I am fully aware as I write this article that it’s not going to win me any friends. But I don’t do what I do to win friends. I do what I do to help people. My goal is to always be honest and frank with all of you. Sometimes that means …
Often patients come to me after being on a high protein diet for weight loss or to control their diabetes. They lost weight or controlled their blood sugar better, but gained a kidney stone as a result of eating too much protein. Most of my patients got a stone because they ate too much of …
I am not a fan of fad diets. I am the ultimate party pooper when it comes to Keto, Paleo, cleanses, juicing, or any other diet that promises quick results. As a matter of fact, my friends have stopped bringing the topic up as they know I will do a quick eye roll even though …
Happy 2019! I want to start out the new year with some good news—I have redone the original Harvard list to show only the foods you CAN have! Download your safe oxalate list! There are two things that are different from the original. First, you will no longer see foods categorized as high, moderate or …
Did your doctor tell you to stop all dairy once you formed a stone? If so, you are not alone. Many doctors tell their patients to stop eating foods that contain calcium. The problem with this advice is that eliminating calcium from your diet can cause stones. Most stone formers, in fact, most adults, are …
Low Sodium Diet Every time I speak to patients about lowering the sodium in their diets the first thing they tell me is, “I don’t use a salt shaker”. That is a good start but there are so many ways for salt to creep into your diet even if you never use a salt shaker. …
Many kidney stone patients come to me after trying to lower their urinary oxalate levels on their own. They want to avoid forming more kidney stones but find the recommended dietary changes frustrating and confusing. They believe they have to limit or eliminate foods they have always enjoyed and considered healthy. As a nurse, I …
Because the pain from a kidney stone is so severe and unpredictable, those who have ever experienced even one stone dread getting another. Patients in my practice tell me over and over again how scared they are of forming another stone. I wanted to learn as much as I could about everything that bothers them …
Most of my patients come to me saying… “I finally started eating healthy, I lost 63 pounds, and then I got a stone.” Now what? It can be very frustrating to realize your “healthy” diet is the reason you made a kidney stone. I often find my job as a kidney stone prevention educator consists …