Had a urine analysis done since I noticed that my urine was foamy and cloudy and I was concerned about protein issues.
The results show that everything is ok except I have an abnormal level of calcium oxylate crystals.....mucus threads are also present.
LLMD says I am at risk for developing kidney stones and that I must increase water intake, limit vitamin C, and repeat urine analysis in a month.
I'm not on abx right now, but have been taking a-bab and a-bart, as well as cryptolepis (2-3 tsp a day). I have been using these for a few months (took a break in February but restarted a couple of weeks ago).
While doing a little research on oxylates I came across an abstract from the Pharmacognosy Journal which indicates that : "prisms of calcium oxalate crystals" are part of the makeup of the cryptolepis root.
I'm not sure if cryptolepis is contributing to my oxylate issue but this info sure is making me suspicious. I have e-mailed my llmd about this and am waiting for his response.
Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has taken cryptolepis for a while and /or has had calcium oxylate crystal issues.
Any advice or suggestions as to how I can best prevent kidney stones from developing?
Thank you all for your great support!
JJ
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Good question.
First: WATER is the best offense.
Second: The Math.
Many plants/foods contain Calcium Oxalate. Several sites have list of certain foods to limit.
By knowing which foods are high, you can calculate your daily intake and make adjustments to include Crytolepis if it's working for you.
Are you drinking LOTS of water?
WATER is the most important helper. Even before bed and the very first thing in the morning, with a full glass right away.
Bulk, raw herb used for tea, also available by the pound.
Be sure to click onto their "Tropical Plant Database" page for this herb to learn more about its properties and history. Solid third-party research citations.
phyllanthus nirurii, urinary � 32 abstracts -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Also keep in mind that Ibuprofen can stress kidney function, and even cause damage with a normal dose for some people. It constricts blood flow to the kidneys. -
Posted by JJ29 (Member # 5288) on :
Thank you so much, Keebler, for the great links......extremely helpful! You are such an asset on this board!
Anyone else have any experience with this issue?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I know this is going to sound strange, but kidney stones are usually caused by a deficiency in magnesium. The body tries to balance calcium and magnesium and pulls calcium from the bones.
Calcium oxylate kidney stones are the most frequent kind.
Hubby had a kidney stone and needed lithotripsy many years ago before lyme and company.
His doc actually suggested he increase the amount of vitamin c -- there is research showing that lemons especially can be beneficial in decreasing the incidence of kidney stones.
Hubby was always convinced that he got the kidney stone because he was working extra hours that year and had gotten into the habit of drinking soft drinks at the office.
Also you need to be taking vitamin B6 so that you will absorb magnesium.
Personally I doubt that the cryptolepis is the cause.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Bea,
I'm so glad you pointed this out:
" . . . kidney stones are usually caused by a deficiency in MAGNESIUM . . ." & other key details.
JJ29,
Hope some of these thoughts help in your search. -
Posted by JJ29 (Member # 5288) on :
Thank you so much Bea and Keebler.
I'm sure I am deficient in magnesium and B6.
Thanks for the tip about needing B6 in order to absorb magnesium....wasn't aware of this.
What I'm reading correlates with what you're saying Bea, about using B6, magnesium and fresh lemon juice.....one article suggested 4oz. of lemon juice a day along with plenty of water.
The frustrating thing about this situation is that I just started working with a specialist who wants me to follow a biofilm busting protocol (through diet and supplement modifications) which requires lowering my intake of calcium and magnesium......so I'm not sure what the middle ground should be here. How do I address the oxalate issue without causing more biofilms?
Any idea as to how much magnesium and b6 would be ok to take to address the oxylate issue?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
jj29 -- Hubby did have some crystals in his urine one other time when a doc prescribed diamox (a diuretic) when he was having dizziness problems. So definitely I agree with Keebler -- drink lots of water and do not get dehydrated.
Hubby was told to take equal amounts of calcium and magnesium. Most supplement guidelines say to take 2 times as much calcium as magnesium but the guidelines for preventing kidney stones say equal amounts. I think 100 mg of B complex plus maybe 50 extra mg of b6 was suggested but can't remember for sure.
The whole biofilm issue is pretty new to LLMD's and I don't think there are any standard guidelines as to the amounts of magnesium and calcium supplements.
There are actually 2 issues that sometimes get muddled. Biofilms which some say are made from calcium and magnesium and I guess fats (at least according to Dr F). And then there is the issue of hypercoagulation.
Personally I would address hypercoagulation and see if that helps before I would get into restricting supplemental minerals.
Treatment for hypercoagulation can include lumbrokinase and wobenzyme and there are some other herbs or even meds such as heparin that could be used.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby'e experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posted by JJ29 (Member # 5288) on :
Thank you Bea for your very logical and helpful advice.
I drank 2-3 quarts of water yesterday and I included about 4 oz of fresh lemon juice, as well.....this is really a pain! I'm not used to drinking so much water.
What I'm confused about is whether to follow a low oxylate diet in addition to gluten free, yeast free, etc.
I have been eating a diet rich with green leafy vegetables,and poultry, fish, quinoa, brown rice, almonds, walnuts, and a green apple and /or a pear a day, I was also juicing fresh parsley, celery, cucumber, a little raw beet, in the morning......now I'm finding that many of these foods have high oxylates.....so I'm ready to tear my hair out!
Did your hubby follow any kind of low oxylate diet?
Due to a recent article or study that was posted on this board a little while ago which stated that the ratio of magnesium to calcium should be 2:1 instead of 1:2 (I hope someone will be able to pull up that post) I started following this recommendation.......but if the ratio should be 1:1 for oxalate control then I will make this adjustment.
Right now I'm taking 500mg of calcium citrate and 600mg of magnesium glycinate......how much does your hubby take?
I am also now taking 100mg of B6.
I agree that hypercoagulation should be addressed first before biofilms....I'm working on this issue as well.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Just be sure to divide all mineral supplements - never the full day's dose all at once. The kidneys need it divided and a full day's dose can't all be absorbed at once, anyway. -
Posted by JJ29 (Member # 5288) on :
Thanks Keebler, do you have any suggestions how I should divide my mineral supplements throughout the day?
Thanks, Manybites.......are you saying that cryptolepis helped your kidney issues......please tell me more......did you do anything else to heal your kidneys?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
JJ29 -- Hubby has had severe osteoporosis for about 3 years -- found out when a chiropractor fractured a rib during an adjustment. So he does not follow the kidney stone guidelines regarding calcium/magnesium ratios.
Since he has done IV reclast he has to take 3 different forms of calcium and it is still difficult to keep his calcium blood levels in the normal range.
The 1:1 ratio of calcium/magnesium for kidney stones is just a guide. I think it needs to be 1: 1 or higher -- don't think twice as much magnesium would hurt, but it is still important to get adequate calcium.
Take calcium and magnesium at separate meals if possible so they won't compete and each will be absorbed.
Bea Seibert
Posted by JJ29 (Member # 5288) on :
Bea, I'm so sorry to hear about your hubby's terrible experience.
Thank you for the heads up about taking magnesium at a separate meal from calcium for better absorption.......I was always under the impression that they are taken together.