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 …
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 I …
I want to share some good news—I have created a new safe oxalate list that makes the original Harvard list easier to use by showing only the foods you CAN have! What makes the Simple & Safe Oxalate List different? There are two things that are different from the original list. First, you will no …
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 …
Patients ask me every day what they can do to reduce their risk of kidney stones. Here is a list of 5 things you must do if you want to prevent new stones. Learn WHY You Are Forming Kidney Stones Stone analysis, blood, and 24-hour urine tests are key to finding out why you are …
Click here to read part one. Unbeknownst to me at the time, my cancer journey was far from over. I got through the treatment, the surgeries, and more treatment — that went on until July 2015. It was rough for my entire family, but we made it, a bit tattered and worn from the emotional …
This story starts several years ago in 2009. One day I woke up and I had blood in my urine. As a nurse, I knew that this meant I either had a kidney stone or I had cancer. Turns out, it was the latter. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 bladder cancer. The surgery was …
I have heard this one million times from patients in my practice. Make stones? Drink water. Water, water, and more water. Drink it all day long, all night long. Just drink water. What about other fluids? Are they safe? Are they high in oxalate? Will they count toward your daily intake? Is caffeine a problem? Read the …
Many patients assume that they are forming calcium stones and should therefore limit their calcium intake. That assumption could not be more wrong. Low calcium diet won’t stop your stones and may even increase your risk. Lets not forget that our bones are in desperate need of calcium to avoid osteopenia and osteoporosis. But, many …
You have a kidney stone episode and your doctor asks you to collect your urine for 24 hours. Why oh why is this being asked of you? Isn’t it dreadful enough that you just had a kidney stone? The only way to find out WHY you are forming kidney stones is to complete a urine …
I thought it was time to sum things up, to offer an utterly practical guide to stone prevention. So here it is. You have kidney stones, even one, what next? There are things you need to have your physicians do for you. There are things you need to do for yourself. Then, there are things …
Who doesn’t love dessert? I, for one, thoroughly enjoy cookies, cake, and ice cream, but I keep it for here and there and not everywhere. I know that many of you love it, too, because you tell me everyday that this is the hardest thing for you to avoid. But I am here to tell …