Hi Natalie I use Eurax with Crotamiton and it sorted out my itchy skin really well. It is an over the counter product, and under £10. Best wishes B
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Hi, my other half Robert is has been on a real roller coaster since September last year. He has had reduced kidney function for a while now, but although having bloods done was missed by his GP at stage 4 CKD. This only came to light around June 2025. He went to his GP with an infected foot which was found at the chiropodist. The Doctor he saw did his bloods at that visit. At the same time he said he had a sore throat which was examined and the doctor noticed a lump on his tonsil. The next day we received a phone call from the doctor to go back straight away. His EGFR was 12, his Haemoglobin was noted to be low too. He was admitted via A&E with AKI. After fluid challenges the medics were flummoxed so referred him to Renal, where he was diagnosed with stage 5 CKD. Things escalated massively from there. Within a week he was seen by Head and Neck team and diagnosed with Tonsil Cancer. Of course he wasn’t a candidate for surgery due to his CKD so was given radiotherapy. Meanwhile having a fistula fashioned in preparation for dialysis. Radiotherapy finished 5th Dec 2025 Dialysis started 10th Dec. This continues now at our local unit, he wasn’t travelling well as the unit initially was 40 miles away so was out sometimes 6-7 hours three times a week. His radiotherapy has had a good response however, but all the areas that showed up on PETCT have been shown as benign thankfully. Needless to say we are looking for dietary tips due to his high Phosphate levels, on Renacet but not always compliant. Thanks for reading
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Hi Jan . Wow that is some story, it must have been a nightmare. I cannot begin to comment much asd this is way beyond me. All I can say is that Phosphates are largely water soluble, so as my wife does for potassium food like potatoes a soaked/boiled a couple of times and the water discarded before final preparation or serving. This removes a large amount of potassium and I think would remove some phosphates. I would think that given the complexity of your husband’s condition , your consultant should recommend the dietary team make contact with you. If this has not occurred please chase him/her. My thoughts are with you. Best wishes B
Thanks so much, the dieticians are involved and have asked what sort of foods he eats, he was on Fortisip compact due to him being unable to swallow solid food post radiation and they said up to 4 a day but these have been cut down to one now as his swallowing is back to normal. Being Scottish his diet is not the best but he is now accustomed to low salt, but he eats porridge with salt so that is one of his loves put in the bin now. I’m going to try the water soaking/ draining thing as potatoes are one thing he enjoys, this is the difficult part for me, trying to get him to eat more healthily. He has list 6 stone since his cancer diagnosis but he was overweight so this wasn’t too much of an issue, but now the fluid is coming off at dialysis it is becoming one with the dieticians, hence the Fortisip to supplement the calories.
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Pleased to hear that. I am not he easiest person to cater for, my wife struggles a bit between what I should eat and what I want to eat. I think we re all a it like that. Good luck going forward and there is always someone on here if you need a chat.Best wishes B
I’m Andrea and unlike a lot if you I’m here because I have acute kidney injury caused by sepsis. I’m currently on 3 times a week dialysis.
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I am Robert2. I have no health problem related to kidney disease. I am a volunteer from Peterborough Lions Club.
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Morning,
I am Chris. I was diagnosed last September with stage 3 ckd. it was a surprise to me as I don’t have any symptoms.
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Hello Chris. Welcome to our forum. It is not uncommon to have no noticeable symptoms, I do not think that I did early on. It is easy to carry on as normal , I think that now is the time to start watching your diet to try and slow down any progression. Watch your consumption of high potassium foods and try to keep yourself well hydrated, flushing toxins through your system. Good luck. Best wishes B
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Hi my name is tracey,I have had kidney problems most of my life,I had a kidney removed in 2006.just yesterday I found out that my remaining kidney is now only working 25%.it wasn’t the news I expected but as my granddaughter said,put your big pants on nanny and don’t let it beat you.so that’s what I’m going to do.
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Welcome Tracy, That is the attitude. Has your GP/Consultant given any dietary advice to you or are you lready up to speed on that? The elastic went in my ‘Big Pants’ so I am off to M&S. Best wishes B
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Hi chris welcome to the community it must have been a big shock to be told you have ckd but you are very lucky not to have any symptoms at the minute and may it long continue that way.but if you have any questions on what symptoms could happen or you just want to ask anything about ckd were always here to help x
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Good for you. One step at a time
Toooooo funny! What you buying from Sparks… anything nice
Chris i was diagnosed in Jan with stage 3.. total shock! No symptoms either… trying to take each day as it comes. Holding on to my Faith in Jesus.. to see me through! What’s helping you with it?
Thanks for the advise. This is the first bit of advise I’ve been given. My medication for blood pressure was changed to aid my kidneys that was all I was told.
Hi Andrea welcome to the community I’m sorry to hear you had sepsis its a terrible thing to get.im not on dialysis so I can’t help in that regard but many of my fellow friends on here can so welcome aboard x
Thank you for invite
At CKD4 but scores are more or less the same for 2 years. Just recovering from a high anxiety period which meant stopping work. Amazing support from my team at Hospital. Anxiety levels are so much better.
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Glad to hear you’re feeling better Barney! And welcome to the forum!! 
My name is Charlotte and I have been a bit blindsided by my diagnosis - I went to GP six months ago for blood sugar test and was given a pre diabetes diagnosis along the with news they had also picked up a potential kidney issue. Six months and subsequent tests have put my GFR around 48 - but the Dr seemed pretty blase and said I will now be in a recall system for blood tests. But that’s it, no other info. I was last tested 10 years ago so it’s developed at some point in that time but I have no idea why or how. Ultrasound revealed nothing.
I subsequently found that my father has had GFR in the high 40’s since his 40’s (now in his 70’s) and has never really been aware of what that even meant! He just said ‘oh yes I have some kidney thing - I think I take pills for it now’
I’m not really sure what I should be doing other than eating well and keeping hydrated. But it’s good to be here and hear other experiences because I’m a bit clueless.
thanks for reading.
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