The Day I Decided to Fight for My Kidneys

Welcome to Sacred Musings, a space where I share reflections from the heart on love, life, caregiving, and the lessons that shape us into who we are. My hope is that these words bring comfort, perspective, and inspiration to anyone walking their own path of healing and growth.

My journey from stage 3 chronic kidney disease to reclaiming my health, one decision at a time.

By Kimberly | Sacred Musings

In 2022, my life looked very different from the one I am living today.

I weighed 287 pounds. I had hypertension, prediabetes, hair loss, and depression. I was also recovering from the end of a relationship, trying to rebuild my life emotionally and financially, and doing my best to find my footing again.

Then came another diagnosis: Stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

I remember sitting across from my physician as she explained my diagnosis. My understanding of that conversation was that there wasn't much that could be done to reverse the condition.

I looked at her, nodded politely, and listened.

But inside my head, I was having an entirely different conversation.

"Woman, I'm curing myself. You don't know who you're talking to!"

Now, before anyone gets too excited, let me explain something.

I'm a registered nurse. I understand that chronic kidney disease is a serious medical condition. I understand the importance of laboratory monitoring, medical treatment, and evidence-based care.

But I also understand something else.

A diagnosis is information. It is not an instruction to surrender.

And I wasn't ready to surrender.

My Recovery Started With Gratitude

Looking back, the first thing I changed wasn't my diet, my weight, or my supplements.

It was my perspective.

Despite everything that was happening in my life, I still had so much to be grateful for.

I had survived difficult circumstances. I had a career I valued. I had people and things in my life worth living for. And I still had the ability to make decisions about what happened next.

Gratitude didn't make my problems disappear. It didn't repair my kidneys or pay my bills.

But it gave me somewhere emotionally stable to begin.

Instead of looking at everything that was wrong, I started asking myself what I could do with what I still had.

And what I had was curiosity, determination, a nursing education, and a willingness to learn.

The Website That Started It All

After that appointment, I went home and began researching stage 3 chronic kidney disease.

Not casually. Not for twenty minutes.

I mean hours of reading.

I wanted to understand what was happening inside my body, what influenced kidney function, what current research suggested, and what other people living with CKD were doing to improve their quality of life.

During that search, I discovered a website called Kidneyhood.org.

That website became an important part of my personal journey.

I spent hours exploring its discussions of kidney health, research, nutrition, personal experiences, and approaches to managing chronic kidney disease.

I found literature, cookbooks, supplement information, and structured wellness protocols that encouraged me to think more comprehensively about kidney health.

For the first time since receiving my diagnosis, I felt that I had something practical to investigate.

I wasn't simply waiting for the next laboratory result.

I was participating in my own care.

And that distinction meant everything to me.

A Note About Kidneyhood and Supplements

I want to be responsible about sharing this resource, especially because I am a nurse.

Kidneyhood was meaningful to me because it encouraged me to learn more and take an active interest in my health. However, my experience does not establish that its protocols or supplements treat, reverse, or cure CKD.

Supplements can affect kidney function, interact with medications, or accumulate when kidney function is reduced. Some can be harmful to people living with CKD.

I encourage anyone interested in the website to approach it as a resource for further exploration, not as a replacement for medical treatment or individualized advice from a nephrologist or renal dietitian.

Research, ask questions, verify claims, and involve your healthcare team before beginning any supplement regimen.

Then Something Interesting Happened

Over the following years, I continued learning about kidney health and following a personal wellness routine that included elements I had researched.

I also continued having my laboratory work monitored.

And gradually, I began seeing improvements.

Not overnight. Not after one miraculous week.

Over time.

Multiple laboratory results showed changes in my kidney function that were encouraging to me. Eventually, the values being monitored were consistently within the laboratory's reported normal range.

I was thrilled.

My physician, however, remained unconvinced that the supplements I was taking were responsible for those improvements.

And from a scientific standpoint, I understand her hesitation.

Improved laboratory results can have multiple explanations, including changes in hydration, blood pressure, medications, metabolic health, and other factors. A supplement routine cannot be identified as the cause simply because improvements occurred while someone was taking it.

Still, I knew something meaningful was happening in my life.

I was paying attention to my health in a way I hadn't before.

And I was seeing results that motivated me to continue.

The Weight Didn't Come Off Until Later

Here is something important about the timeline.

When my kidney-related laboratory results first began improving, I was still significantly overweight.

I had not yet experienced the dramatic weight loss that would eventually transform so many other aspects of my health.

That journey didn't really begin until the latter part of 2024.

By then, I had already observed sustained improvements in the kidney-related numbers I was following.

My weight loss came afterward.

And what a difference it made.

As the pounds came off, I began seeing improvements in other areas of my health, particularly my blood pressure and blood sugar regulation.

Conditions that once seemed to be lining up against me were becoming more manageable.

I began to feel as though the different pieces of my health were finally coming together.

Of course, weight loss is not a guaranteed treatment for CKD, and my experience cannot tell us precisely what caused each laboratory change. But maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure, and managing blood glucose are important parts of protecting kidney health.

For me, losing weight felt like the final piece of a much larger puzzle.

What My Nursing Background Taught Me

Being a nurse gave me a certain advantage during this experience.

I knew how to read medical information, follow laboratory trends, and recognize the importance of chronic disease management.

But being a patient taught me something nursing school never fully could.

There is an emotional difference between understanding a diagnosis and living with one.

When you're the person sitting on the examination table, everything feels different.

You're not thinking only about pathophysiology.

You're thinking about your future.

Your family.

Your independence.

Whether you'll need more medications.

Whether your condition will progress.

Whether your life will ever feel normal again.

I learned that patients need more than information about what might go wrong.

They also need to understand what they can do, what can be monitored, what can be improved, and what questions deserve further investigation.

They need realistic hope.

Not false promises.

Not miracle cures.

But hope grounded in knowledge, partnership, and action.

Am I Cured?

This is where I want to be especially careful.

My laboratory results improved, and I am grateful for that. I continue to monitor my kidney health.

But normal kidney-related blood test results do not automatically mean chronic kidney disease has been cured or that a previous diagnosis no longer applies.

CKD is assessed using factors such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin levels, the persistence of abnormalities over time, and other clinical findings.

Someone may have an eGFR in the normal range and still have evidence of kidney disease, depending on their medical history and other findings.

My personal experience is one of significant improvement and renewed health. I am not presenting it as proof of a cure.

I believe that distinction matters.

Especially when sharing my story with people who may be frightened, newly diagnosed, or searching for answers.

What I Would Tell Someone Newly Diagnosed With CKD

First, don't panic.

Second, don't give up.

And third, become an informed participant in your healthcare.

Ask what your eGFR means. Ask whether your urine has been tested for albumin. Ask what may be contributing to your kidney disease and what treatments have been shown to slow its progression.

Understand your blood pressure. Understand your blood sugar. Review your medications and supplements with your healthcare team.

Ask whether seeing a nephrologist or renal dietitian would be appropriate.

And please, be careful with anyone promising to cure your kidneys through a supplement, cleanse, or special protocol.

There is a difference between supporting your health and purchasing a promise.

I also encourage people to explore reputable educational resources, including the National Kidney Foundation and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

The more you understand your condition, the better prepared you are to participate in decisions about your care.

Sometimes Recovery Begins With Refusing to Stop Asking Questions

When I think back to that woman sitting in the doctor's office in 2022, I feel tremendous compassion for her.

She was carrying so much.

Excess weight. Chronic health conditions. Financial stress. Heartbreak. Depression. Fear about the future.

And yet, somewhere underneath all of that, she still believed she could build a better life.

She started with gratitude.

Then she started reading.

Then she started making changes.

Then she kept showing up for herself, year after year.

Today, my life and health look remarkably different.

And although I cannot scientifically isolate every factor that contributed to my improvement, I know that becoming actively engaged in my health changed the direction of my life.

That is what I want people to take away from this story.

Not that you can cure every disease through determination.

Not that supplements are the answer.

Not that doctors are wrong.

But that you deserve to understand your health, ask thoughtful questions, seek appropriate care, and participate meaningfully in your own well-being.

I am still learning. Still monitoring. Still taking care of myself.

And I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to keep doing so.

Because sometimes the beginning of recovery is simply deciding that your story isn't finished.

With gratitude,

Kimberly, RN, BSN, MSN
Sacred Heart Nursing Services

Resources for Further Reading

• Kidneyhood — The website that inspired my personal exploration of kidney health. Its supplement recommendations and protocols should be independently evaluated with qualified healthcare professionals.

• National Kidney Foundation — Kidney disease education, prevention, testing, and treatment.

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) — Evidence-based information about chronic kidney disease.

• National Kidney Foundation: eGFR — Understanding kidney function testing.

Medical Disclaimer

This article shares the author's personal health experience for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual outcomes vary, and improvement in laboratory values does not necessarily indicate that chronic kidney disease has resolved. No supplement, product, website, or protocol mentioned is endorsed by Sacred Heart Nursing Services as a cure or treatment for CKD. Consult your physician, nephrologist, or other qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medications, supplements, diet, or treatment plans.

Disclosure: This article contains informational links only. No affiliate relationship or financial compensation is associated with the links unless otherwise disclosed.