with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
I’m asked often what a plate should look like that’s geared toward weight loss. We need to know how many fruits and veggies we should eat per day (the goal is one fruit per day and three cups of veggies per day), how much meat, etc. Today, I am going…
Today, we’re taking a brief look at the most commonly prescribed medications for kidney stone prevention, why doctors choose them, and the medical conditions that can make them necessary. Here’s how each medication works, the conditions it treats, and how lifestyle changes can enhance its effects.
The goal of sharing this information with you is not to scare you but to inform you of what is typical with stents and what isn’t, as well as how to manage them and what to expect. Being informed about these factors can help you feel more in control of…
Kidney stone disease is complicated and difficult to manage if you’re not getting the proper guidance. It’s NEVER one thing—there are usually many reasons you’re still making kidney stones despite the fact that you gave up spinach and almond products and your doc says everything “looks fine.”
Hi! Happy November. I am ready for it! So, I have been meaning to write about the correlation between bone and stone disease for a while now and figured today was the day. Dr Coe, my mentor, has always said, “Wherever you see a stone clinic, a bone clinic is…
This week, I’ve seen patients who suffer greatly due to kidney stones. So it was a typical week filled with painful stories and familiar tales of people lowering their oxalate intake as their doctor had told them only to produce a new stone anyway.
I get lots of emails from people asking about nuts and how they stopped eating them after getting a kidney stone. You don’t have to take nuts and seeds out of your diet. Let’s talk about it. Enjoying Nuts Without Worrying About Kidney Stones – Yes, You Can! If you’ve…
Last week, I gave 100 tips for lowering sodium, so let’s tackle sugar for all my sweeties. It’s not quite 100, but it’s pretty close. This week, I organized them for you into categories. Breakfast Swaps Beverage Adjustments Snacks Desserts Baking Substitutions Dining Out Sauces & Condiments Sweet Tooth Satisfaction…
This week and every week, my private patients tell me how difficult it is to lower their sodium on the Kidney Stone Diet®. I’ve written blog posts explaining how to do this, but lowering sodium remains a big challenge so let’s review the many ways we can reduce our intake. While we…
Upon first meeting, many of my patients have already given up all nuts and seeds for fear of the high oxalate content. However, there are only a few nuts you should give up to lower urine oxalate.
Welcome to a day in my life filled with private consults. I find it a true joy and privilege to help you navigate your kidney stone journey. Whether reviewing 24-hour urine collections or helping someone integrate the Kidney Stone Diet® into their current lifestyle for weight loss, diabetes, or food intolerance, each…
Dear You, I have been thinking a lot about illness this week. You might think, “Well, that makes sense. People are calling you all week talking about illness.” While this is true, it’s not the reason I am writing you. When we think of illness, we think of the physical pain…
A common topic on my private Facebook page for kidney stone formers is, “Should I see a urologist or a nephrologist for kidney stone prevention?” This article will explain the role each may play in your kidney stone prevention journey. Urologist: The Surgical Specialist Focus and Expertise: Education and Training: Approach to…
Let’s talk about your total protein needs per day. Eating meat (anything that flies, swims, or runs) will play a part in your total needs. Go to my Meat Protein Calculator to determine how much meat protein is okay for kidney stone formers. Here is an article to help you understand meat and its…
If this is your FIRST urine collection, you should be eating and drinking like you did before you knew anything about stone prevention. I know you’re thinking, “There is no way I am going to eat spinach and almonds ever again!” Fair, but do everything else like you did.
A widespread problem I see with my patients and students regarding oxalate is that they take away so many foods because they fear it.
Last week I wrote about two common surgeries: Lithotripsy and Ureteroscopy. Today, we discuss a third type of surgery, PCNL, and why and how it is done. What is PCNL? PCNL stands for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. It’s a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove kidney stones. This method involves making…
Hi! Today, we will discuss two ways doctors can help people with kidney stones. This will be a longer article because I want everything about these procedures in one place. Buckle up, my loyal friends, and let’s discuss each kidney stone surgery and questions for you to ask your doctor…