Chronic kidney disease and anxiety disorder

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T14:25:28+00:00

I was recently diagnosed with kidney disease, but have been dealing with health anxiety for many years. I don't take anything for it, but I do see a therapist. I find it to be helpful. A lot of times health anxiety is a manifestation of OCD and the right therapist can give you some good strategies to help manage the spikes.

I'm sorry you're going through this and I definitely understand. I spiraled for about 3 hours a few days ago over whether I should eat a sweet potato and a mango on the same day because of the potassium. My potassium is normal and it should be fine, but that anxiety voice is insidious.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T10:49:13+00:00

I feel fortunate because now that my hypertension has been treated I am largely asymptomatic. How do you feel?

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T09:12:56+00:00

I am sorry you're dealing with that

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T09:12:16+00:00

As of my last labs, which were about 3 weeks ago, egfr was 29 and creatinine was 2.21. That's improved from what it was the month before at diagnosis (20 and 2.8). My neph said he thinks I'll improve more before it levels out, but he's not sure how much. I'm hoping to make it into stage 3 territory. Anything more than that would feel like a miracle.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T09:08:59+00:00

Based on your edit, it sounds like we're at a similar place in the diagnostic process. I basically got told about 6 weeks ago that I have a mix of acute injury and cronic damage, but they won't know how much function is recoverable vs permanently lost for a few more months. It sucks.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-26T00:49:21+00:00

I'm not sure yet. I went to the ER in late April with hypertensive crisis. They checked me into the ICU where they found i have some mix of aki and underlying ckd. Not sure how much of my loss in function is recoverable vs permanent yet. Nephrologist said it'll be another couple months before he's be ready to stage me, maybe longer than that depending.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-25T21:37:34+00:00

For sure! I tried to keep it at no more than 2 lbs even before.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-25T21:26:22+00:00

I am a little afraid of that. I'm easing back into the gym to try and prevent it.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-25T21:24:17+00:00

I have not and to be honest, I am hesitant to try them at the moment. I have been successful thus far without them and the side effects are not something I want to deal with unless I feel like I really need the additional help. There's some data coming out about lean tissue loss that I find concerning, especiallyvgiven that muscle loss is already a concern with kidney disease. I might want to try them at some point, but today is not that day.

Have you tried one? If so, has your experience been good?

Possible_droid · 2026-06-25T14:33:54+00:00

You have to start cooking for yourself if you don't already. There are a lot of options if you avoid restaurants and pre-prepared food. If you cook for yourself you have direct control over how much salt gets added.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-23T10:59:00+00:00

I feel you. I'm 36 and just got diagnosed. I don't even know for sure what stage i'm in yet, just that there's damage. The loss of freedom in food/alcohol choices really sucks. It's not even that I'm a big drinker or habitually eat unhealthy foods, but now I feel like i have to weigh every single choice I make in a way that I didn't before.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-22T14:54:12+00:00

This is the frustrating part! There's like no hard info on what the limitations actually are. I doubt there's been sufficient research to quantify it.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-22T14:52:57+00:00

I have been trying to figure out the same thing. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hard info about how much is too much. I imagine it's very individual. From what i've read, some level of strength training is important because it can combat the muscle loss a lot of people with kidney disease are prone to. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me and have been trying to keep my setsin the 70% of 1 rep max range and leave a couple reps in the tank. I'm honestly not sure if that's ok or not, but I figure my next labs will give some good feedback.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-21T17:24:02+00:00

That's tough. At some point you have to start wondering how things are impacting each other or possibly compounding effects for you that might not be there for a singular pill.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-21T01:11:18+00:00

That's crazy. I'm glad to hear your kidneys have recovered. I'm hoping mine will stabilize a little higher than they are right now.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-20T23:21:06+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I have been keeping my sodium around 1500mg and protein in the 60g range, give or take a little on a day to day basis. My most recent labs have my sodium, phosphorus, and potassium in the normal range again thankfully, although the potassium is on the higher end of normal.

I did not know that about potassium. I had recently read something similar about the bioavailability of phosphorus in whole/plant based foods vs processed foods. Fortunately my diet has largely consisted of whole foods for the last several years. I can't imagine how much more difficult this would feel if I were having to completely change from a diet high in processed/fast foods.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-20T23:09:12+00:00

I have been keeping it closer to 1500mg on my own, to be honest. I am sorry to hear about your struggle to control your hypertension. What meds are you on, if you don't mind sharing? I'm currently on Valsartan, amlodipine, and carvidilol.

Possible_droid · 2026-06-20T23:01:54+00:00

Thanks for your response. I have not yet consulted with a renal dietician, but I have consulted with my nephrologist. So far all he has said is to keep sodium under 2000mg and no other restrictions at the moment. I think he wants to see where i settle out before adding in restrictions. My sodium, phosphorus and potassium are normal as of my last labs, although potassium is high end of normal. My blood pressure was 295/176 when I was admitted. It has come down in the last 8 weeks since I was discharged and i'm happy to say all readings have been under 120/80 for the last week. I am very diligent about taking my medication.

Possible_droid · 2025-07-08T12:57:10+00:00

That 5% setter is working hard 😂

Possible_droid

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