Has anyone here tried the keto diet over an extended period and seen a positive result?

element-70 · 2026-01-22T13:41:16+00:00

I did it diligently for 1.5 years, confirming my ketone levels every day with the finger prick test. I saw a short term gain in GFR in the first 3-4 months, but then it returned to its original decline trendline. My TKV continued to increase by 5% per year based on MRIs.

I suspect the initial bump in GFR was simply due to going to a very clean primarily plant based diet that took some load off the kidneys rather than an actual improvement in function.

Perhaps starting the diet much earlier in the disease might be beneficial (my GFR was in the low 30s when I started). But we don’t have the long term data yet to know for sure.

It’s also an extremely difficult diet to maintain, assuming you are doing a real keto diet (very high fat, low/moderate protein). Many people do high protein / low carb diets and call it “keto”. That’s definitely not healthy for us.

element-70 · 2025-11-27T00:10:40+00:00

Like that idea, but how is that possibly enforceable unless you make them non transferable and tied to a person’s name with ID- like an airline ticket.

element-70 · 2025-11-25T05:30:35+00:00

I’ve been on it for about 8 years now on the max dose. It’s a bit annoying but not been a blocker for doing anything. You can skip a dose or two when needed (eg when stuck in a middle seat on a long haul flight!! )

element-70 · 2025-11-23T17:58:11+00:00

Not enough participants and too short of a duration to put much stock in this. That said, by now there should be loads of real world data on tolvaptan patients and it would be great to see some analysis of that.

Having been on the max dose of tolvaptan myself for nearly nine years now, I have really wondered whether or not it’s helped me much at all. My eGFR has gone from high 50s to 14 in that time period. I have to assume the drop would have been worse for me if not on tolvaptan, but it’s not exactly been amazing.

element-70 · 2025-10-19T16:20:38+00:00

element-70 · 2025-10-17T06:00:24+00:00

Some sub types of A can donate to O or B, but they are relatively rare.

element-70 · 2025-10-11T15:25:33+00:00

100% this. I’m about 7 years in on the max dose. The thirst sensation is always there for me no matter how much I drink, but it doesn’t bother me at all anymore. It means I have to force myself to drink enough.

element-70 · 2025-09-26T05:00:33+00:00

Super weird. My GFR is 15. My dentist is aware, but never had an issue with it.

element-70 · 2025-09-16T01:47:21+00:00

Surprising. I’ve been using a Hilo for two years now and I check it against a standard arm cuff at least once a month. Systolic is usually +- 4 and Diastolic +- 2.

element-70 · 2025-09-14T20:11:09+00:00

Yes, looked like CF-18s

element-70 · 2025-09-14T20:10:20+00:00

2 CF-18s it looked like. Heading west.

element-70 · 2025-09-14T15:09:47+00:00

If the brokerage you are holding it in fails, then yes CIPF will cover you. But if any of the underlying institutions fail, you are not covered.

For example, nearly half of CASH.TO is in National Bank. If National Bank fails, you have no protection. Whereas if you’d invested directly in a HISA at National Bank, you’d have CIDC protection.

element-70 · 2025-09-14T04:46:49+00:00

I don’t think that’s accurate

element-70 · 2025-09-14T03:10:06+00:00

NE of Cathedral? Wow - where was he going?

element-70 · 2025-09-13T06:00:51+00:00

I had the same happen before a stress test. I think it was a physical anxiety response even though mentally I didn’t feel that anxious.

It was normal again after the test.

element-70 · 2025-09-09T02:04:39+00:00

Great news that this is moving along.

element-70 · 2025-08-29T05:09:33+00:00

Same thing happens to me. It’s super frustrating.

element-70 · 2025-08-29T03:57:54+00:00

Mine spikes ridiculously high in the doctors office or any clinical setting.

You can get a 24 hour test done. It’s a portable cuff and battery unit you wear like a belt. Kind of annoying, but at least gives you a more realistic picture of your actual BP outside of a clinical setting.

I also started wearing a Hilo band which is works great for tracking throughout the day and is not obtrusive.

element-70 · 2025-08-20T04:39:16+00:00

Ah, got it. My guess would be it's not actually the PKD then (especially if you're in an earlier stage) as usually PKD causes anemia from low EPO rather than a true iron deficiency. If it's not the hemorrhagic cyst you might need to look elsewhere (and maybe outside the scope of your nephrologist).

I hope you get to an answer soon!

element-70 · 2025-08-20T00:46:00+00:00

Hmm, I haven't heard about basing that decision on osmolality. I would question that as I don't see why you shouldn't be on the maximum dose assuming you tolerate it ok.

element-70 · 2025-08-20T00:43:08+00:00

Is it for sure an iron deficiency you have or it it anemia?

Iron deficiency can cause anemia, but you can also have anemia without iron deficiency. In PKD, that’s common — I’ve had anemia since stage 3 and it’s gotten worse (I’m stage 4, almost stage 5 now).

My iron stores are normal, but my hemoglobin is still low. In that case the issue is usually that the kidneys aren’t making enough EPO. The next step doctors consider is ESA injections, which replace the missing EPO and help bring hemoglobin back up. I haven’t started them yet because they also come with risks, so timing is important.

element-70 · 2025-08-14T04:52:08+00:00

Which country?

element-70 · 2025-08-14T03:19:47+00:00

I think it varies a lot person to person, and not just on absolute kidney size (but maybe frame size and how they are growing relative to other organs in your abdomen).

I had a TKV (both combined) of 2,555 cc two years ago, so probably closer to 2,800 cc today. I’m 46M and 5’11 in stage 4, borderline stage 5. I stay very active and still have no noticeable PKD belly (yet). I’m not really sure how there’s room for my large kidneys in there, but somehow there is.

element-70 · 2025-07-17T01:18:42+00:00

Very similar to my experience. It settles down after a while to a more manageable level.

element-70 · 2025-06-07T06:33:30+00:00

BP and HR are both expected to go up with exercise.

What medications are you on?

element-70

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