Celiac Disease And Kidney Transplants

[teeterbabe]

Hello, I am writing to see if there is anyone out there with celiac disease that has had a kidney transplant. My dad has celiac and they are considering a kidney transplant. I am wondering if there are some things to look out for. My mom is a nurse and would like to know more about someones experience. Thanks

[RiceAddict]

Unfortunately, you probably won't get many responces to your query.

Fortunately, you will get at least one. I am awaiting a kidney transplant, but I am not on dialysis. I was diagnosed with the kidney disease in March of last year and my function wsa tested at 22%. I was evaluated for transplant and put on the waiting list in August. I was diagnosed with celiac in November. In january I began feeling the wonderful effects of a gluten-free lifestyle. At the end of Jan I had another kidney function test and was at 26%. The Dr was totally stunned that I had actually improved a little. Plus I felt like a million bucks. So for me, going gluten-free helped a bunch in both the lab tests and in overall well being.

Are you looking for help with the diets, is that it? I'm happy to talk anytime about anything I can. There are a few others on this list with kidney issues but none that I know of who require a transplant or dialysis.

[blueeyedmanda]

Rice- that is good to hear that you are improving. I hope you continue to have great updates for us.

I am sorry I couldn't help answer the actual question.

[franky]

Unfortunately, you probably won't get many responces to your query.

Fortunately, you will get at least one. I am awaiting a kidney transplant, but I am not on dialysis. I was diagnosed with the kidney disease in March of last year and my function wsa tested at 22%. I was evaluated for transplant and put on the waiting list in August. I was diagnosed with celiac in November. In january I began feeling the wonderful effects of a gluten-free lifestyle. At the end of Jan I had another kidney function test and was at 26%. The Dr was totally stunned that I had actually improved a little. Plus I felt like a million bucks. So for me, going gluten-free helped a bunch in both the lab tests and in overall well being.

Are you looking for help with the diets, is that it? I'm happy to talk anytime about anything I can. There are a few others on this list with kidney issues but none that I know of who require a transplant or dialysis.

Rice - Fascinating to hear your story, and I do hope you have continued to improve over the past year. My wife has had kidney dysfunction for a decade with gfr (globular filtration rate) now down to the 25-30%. Her nephrologists have been saying she will eventually need a kidney transplant (3-10 years). In early January she was diagnosed as gluten intolerant and is now following a gluten free diet.

The nephrologists seem to know little about celiac disease and discount any connection to kidney deterioration. Have your kidney filtration numbers stabilized, or hopefully improved, since last March? Anything else you have learned about the interaction between these two problems.

Thanks much.

[YoloGx]

Rice - Fascinating to hear your story, and I do hope you have continued to improve over the past year. My wife has had kidney dysfunction for a decade with gfr (globular filtration rate) now down to the 25-30%. Her nephrologists have been saying she will eventually need a kidney transplant (3-10 years). In early January she was diagnosed as gluten intolerant and is now following a gluten free diet.

The nephrologists seem to know little about celiac disease and discount any connection to kidney deterioration. Have your kidney filtration numbers stabilized, or hopefully improved, since last March? Anything else you have learned about the interaction between these two problems.

Thanks much.

Oh wow. Dear Franky, in regards to your wife's condition--as I have written to Gluten Wrangler elsewhere, I was rapidly losing my kidneys when I was 23 years old. In less than a year I lost 1/2 of my right kidney to pyeloneprhitus. This is a condition that is rampant apparently both on my Mom's side and my Dad's side. My father in fact died from kidney disease as did his brother and his mother. All of them went on dialysis.

My mothers mom however was clued in by her homeopathic doctor from England to change her diet--and her inflammation and spontaneeous infections stopped. She lived to be over 100! It obviously worked for her as it did years later on for me!!

I am now 58 without major kidney problems (apart from the old scar tissue which may be lessened by now) since I figured out I needed to go off citrus and wheat, rye, oats etc. etc. after my grandmother suggested diet might help. I still get kidney inflammation if I go off my non gluten, non sugar, non alcohol etc. diet or if I am under a lot of stress or am exposed to gluten or harsh chemicals. When I get the inflammation, I take the herbs and the inflammation always goes away almost immediately.

That's it--the inflammation is first, the infection second!! It seems celiac disease can cause this in suceptible individuals. Try reading Dangerous Grains by Dr. James Braly and Ron Hoggan for general research references on this and other conditions as well as more understanding of celiac in general.

My docs wanted me on antibiotics forever but they weren't helping me esp. since the antibiotics made my ears ring and my mind feel like I was on something strange. I found instead that herbs helped me substantially--and really in many ways saved my life. Please check out my past posts on this subject. Uva Ursi, Marshmallow Root, Dandelion Root, Yellow Dock etc. Its major stuff. You can Google info on this on the net. If you want to know more please ask and I will try to help.

I just hope its not too late.

Along that line, I suggest looking into nattokinase and bromelain/papain combo to get rid of scar tissue. They have been well researched as fibronylitic agents. I have found the combo to be effective personally for this and other scar tissue issues as well as clearing out blood vessel plaque etc. Don't take however if you are taking coumadin etc. or are a bleeder.

Yolo

[Welda Johnson]

My mom had a kidney transplant in 1971, but I don't know if I got Celiac from her. Stephen CujoCaro or whatever his name is has written a book about his two transplants that would probably be helpful.