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Apparently they are super common for those of us with j pouches and ostomies because we are more prone to dehydration and malnutrition. I had kidney stones and a stent put in back in April/May of this year. Had a 24 hour urinalysis done to determine what type of kidney stone so we can figure out how to treat and prevent them. The results came back and I have an appt with the doc next week to go over them. Of course I'm looking them over, but I'm severely dehydrated most of the time. I only put out 300 ml of urine in one day, which is horrible. I also am pretty sure he'll put me on a low oxalate and low sodium diet. He may even put me on a low protein diet from what I'm reading, even tho I don't even eat any animal protein - seriously. I'm not even overweight. It's so weird.

Anyhow, my question for you guys is how do you incorporate healthy food into your diet, specifically vegetables. I don't eat any right now. None. Literally none. I have a shake in the AM for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and a meal for dinner. For dinner I'll have chicken parm without a veggie, or we'll do a turkey burger without a veggie. I basically can't handle veggies. I don't eat salads, I don't do uncooked veggies as snacks. I just don't have a taste for them or the appetite. I should also add that I'm on a medication for migraines that really eliminates my appetite. I've lost about 30 lbs on that (I'm a petite female as it is). How do I incorporate more healthy food into my diet when I'm not even hungry, or thirsty, as it is? 

I mean from what I'm reading, I'm not absorbing nutrients as it is. And I'm at risk for serious kidney damage if I don't change how I eat and drink. I have to change something. 

Another question -  can you test what vitamins you are absorbing? Is that something you can do? I mean I did get tested when I had UC really bad, for vitamin loss for Vitamin D and anemia, etc. But, I guess I wonder if I'm absorbing everything I need to now that I have a j pouch. What doc do I ask about that? Is that even a thing?

Thanks in advance for your responses. 

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If you aren’t eating nutritious food then there’s no point in worrying about absorption. One part of an approach to this might be to treat reasonable food and fluid like medicine that you really have to take every day. Others may have more effective approaches. The good news is that you know you must make a change.

I got a kidney stone in-between my first and second step (had 3 step surgery).  My GI seemed to think it probably started when I was having all kinds of issues including dehydration before my first surgery.

Since my takedown almost a year ago, I try and drink more to avoid the dehydration.  Usually I by G2 Gatorade and dilute it in half with water.  I don't love the sugar / chemicals but I can't seem to force myself to drink enough water alone when there is no flavor.  

I'm with you on the vegetables.  I pretty much steer clear of fruit and veggies as well.  Small bit of salad here and there, maybe some lettuce and tomato on a sandwich, probably only one real helping a day.  I'm hoping this will get better by time.  I have found that I can tolerate cooked sweet potatoes, broiled asparagus (in olive oil and salt).  I can also do bananas and applesauce.  I take gummi vitamins every day.  - A multi-vitamin and a vitamin D / Calcium.  I know it's not the same as getting vitamins from food, but until veggies  stop trying to destroy me from the inside out, I'm keeping a safe distance.

Hi Bubba,

I had my first and only kidney stones back in the early 90's (I have a K pouch, same pouch and problems just a different exit strategy).

As they wheeled me into ER the intake intern asked me where I live, a normal question I thought but he wasn't asking for my file but for the water I drink. I lived in a hard water area and he figured it out immediately...he told me that he had a lot of kidney stones from there... then he gave me some excellent advice:

1. Do not drink mineral water (it contains minerals that accumulate in the kidneys as stones)

2. Only drink filtered water using a water filtration system (in those days there was only Brita and I am a fan) including for cooking things like rice and soup (it is cheaper than bottled water and pollutes the environment less too)

3. Drink lots

4. Use fresh lemon juice daily. I make homemade sugarfree lemonade daily and drink it at every meal and before bed.

5. Drink vegetable teas (unless you have gout or certain other diseases that forbid it)...I steam all of my veggies in a pressure cooker and then drink the cooking water to get the minerals that would otherwise be lost.

6. Drink more when it is very hot or cold out (you can dehydrate as much in cold weather as in hot and beware of A/C because it dehydrates you but you don't realize it)

As for veggies, use a blender and mix them up with mashed potatoes if you don't like the taste or blend them into hot or cold soups...that way you avoid any fiber problems.

I have not had a full-blown kidney stone since although occasionally I get the twinge in my back when I am out of town and have to drink bottled water or tap water.

Hope that some of this helps

Sharon

@Trey's Mom

Read my post above...it did work for me. I can feel the difference between when I do and do not drink filtered water. Within weeks the kidney pain comes back. They say that fresh lemon helps to prevent their formation but I have no idea if it helps break them down once they are there...it is more a question of lifestyle habits and not just a one-time thing.

@Treys mom There are different kinds of kidney stones, e.g. uric acid, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and a couple of less common materials. J-pouchers are prone to dehydration, which is most commonly associated with uric acid stones, but we aren’t immune to the other kinds. The only thing that tends to be good for *all* kidney stones is plenty of water. The Vitamin D suggested above, for example, could make calcium oxalate stones worse. If possible, try to get some proper medical guidance, so the right thing gets treated.

@Treys mom posted:

Seriously? Ugh! He can drink frig water - its just regularly filtered.

Would definitely recommend to watch his blood levels with the Alkaline, yours too. Alkaline can get raised easily, so be careful.

I would take your son to a Nephrologist if I were you.

I sent you an email by the way, check it out if you would like

Last edited by Lauren Of Emerald City

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