Renal Timing

07/06/2026

Exercise, Activity and Blood Pressure Control – My Unexpected Experiment

For some time now, I’ve talked about the benefits of exercise and blood pressure control here on Renal Timing.

But today, I want to share an experiment I carried out without even realizing it.

For months, my lifestyle had become quite sedentary. Most days I stayed indoors and rarely walked more than 1,000 steps. Even with medication, my average blood pressure was hovering around 144/85.

Then something unexpected happened.

My university football team entered a tournament, and I became heavily involved as head coach.

Suddenly, I was spending 2 to 3 hours daily on the training ground. On match days, even longer. I was walking, standing, organizing drills, giving instructions, and averaging more than 5,000 steps a day.

The surprising part?

Every night before bed, I checked my blood pressure.

Instead of my usual readings, my average BP dropped to around 135/77, with a pulse rate of about 66 beats per minute.

And here’s the interesting thing:

This happened despite using less medication than before.

Now, one week doesn’t prove cause and effect. But the change was significant enough to make me pay attention.

Why might increased activity help?

Regular physical activity can:

✅ Improve blood vessel flexibility and relaxation

✅ Reduce overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system

✅ Improve sodium and fluid handling between dialysis sessions

✅ Improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic efficiency

✅ Lower stress hormone levels

✅ Promote sweating and small fluid loss

✅ Improve sleep quality, which also affects blood pressure

✅ Strengthen the heart so it pumps more efficiently

The lesson?

You don’t necessarily need a gym membership.

Sometimes, simply moving more, walking more, standing more, coaching, gardening, housework, or any activity that keeps you active can make a meaningful difference.

For me, this accidental experiment was a reminder that medication is important—but lifestyle still matters.

The body was designed to move.

And sometimes, movement is medicine.

This is my experience. What activities have helped your blood pressure? Let me know in the comments.

06/06/2026

CKD Stage 3A Is Not a Dialysis Sentence

One of the biggest fears people have after being diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Stage 3A is the thought that dialysis is just around the corner.

The reality is very different.

CKD Stage 3A represents a mild to moderate reduction in kidney function, but at this stage the kidneys are still working and many patients continue to live normal, active lives for years.

What determines the future is not the diagnosis itself, but how well the condition is managed.

✅ Good blood pressure control
✅ Proper blood sugar management (for diabetics)
✅ Healthy diet and lifestyle choices
✅ Taking medications as prescribed
✅ Regular follow-up with healthcare providers

These factors can significantly slow or even halt progression in many patients.

Remember:

🔹 CKD Stage 3A can remain stable for many years.
🔹 Not every patient progresses to kidney failure.
🔹 Early intervention offers the best protection.
🔹 Regular monitoring helps detect changes before they become serious.

The goal is not to live in fear of dialysis.

The goal is to protect the kidney function you still have and maintain the best possible quality of life.

With knowledge, discipline, and proper medical care, many people with CKD Stage 3A continue to do very well for a long time.

Focus on stability, not fear.

04/06/2026

A few years ago, I thought I was fine.

Yes, I had high blood pressure for years, but like many people, I felt okay. No pain. No major symptoms. Life went on as normal.

What I didn’t know was that high blood pressure was silently damaging my kidneys.

By the time I discovered the problem, it had already progressed to kidney failure, and today I am a dialysis patient.

Recently, my family suffered another painful reminder.

My brother passed away from congestive heart failure.

Like many chronic diseases, heart disease and kidney disease often develop quietly. They don’t always announce themselves with warning signs. In many cases, people feel perfectly healthy until the damage is already advanced.

That’s why I’m making this video.

Please don’t wait for symptoms.

Check your blood pressure regularly.

Do your routine medical tests.

Know your blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function, and heart health status.

Watch what you eat.

Reduce excess salt, processed foods, and unhealthy habits.

Stay active.

Even simple activities like walking, Tai Chi, stretching, or light exercise can make a huge difference over time.

Good health is not built in one day. It’s the result of small decisions made consistently.

If my story teaches anything, it’s this:

Prevention is always easier than treatment.

Take care of your body while you still have the chance.

Because some diseases whisper before they roar.

Stay healthy. Stay active. Stay informed.

27/04/2026

There was a time my body felt unpredictable.

My weight fluctuated.
My blood pressure drifted.
My potassium levels were unstable.

And like many patients, I was given the usual advice:

“Watch what you eat.”
“Avoid this.”
“Reduce that.”

But something was missing.

No one explained how my body actually behaved over time.

The Turning Point: From Guessing to Observing

My real breakthrough started when I stopped reacting blindly…

…and started observing patterns.

From March to April ( withing 30 Days), I treated my body like a living system — not a fixed condition.

I tracked:

My interdialytic weight gain (IDWG)
My BP patterns across the day
My response to food and timing
My activity levels and recovery windows

What I discovered changed everything:

The body is not random — it is responsive.

Check Comment For link to the full story

07/04/2026

Tai Chi, Day 15 (Eventually)

Like many people, I started the new year with a list of resolutions.
Fresh energy. Fresh plans. Fresh determination.

One of the things I shared publicly was that I was beginning a 30-day Tai Chi challenge.

Well…

Life — and dialysis — had other plans.

Since January, my Tai Chi journey has been a bit like a patient learning to dance with the wind:
start… stop… rest… and start again.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

01/04/2026

From 200 to 120: A Journey of Discipline, Perseverance, and Determination

There was a time my blood pressure lived in the 200s.

Not once.
Not occasionally.
But persistently.

At that time, I didn’t fully understand what it meant. I felt “okay” most days. I functioned. I worked. I lived life like many others.

But quietly, silently… damage was happening.

The Truth I Learned Too Late

High blood pressure is not just a number.

It is force.

A constant pressure pushing against delicate blood vessels — especially in the kidneys.

Over time, that force:

Damages filtration units
Reduces kidney function
Leads to chronic kidney disease
And eventually… dialysis

No one really explained it to me in practical terms.

So I ignored what I didn’t understand.
That was the beginning of my journey into kidney failure.

Read FULL STORY IN comment

21/03/2026

Differences in post-dialysis weight are influenced not only by ultrafiltration and feeding during dialysis, but also by procedural variation in flush-back volume and non-physiologic clothing artifacts. Therefore, post-HD weight should be interpreted as a composite measure rather than a pure fluid-removal marker.

21/03/2026

Eating during hemodialysis is generally safe and often encouraged to maintain energy and nutrition, particularly high-protein foods like chicken or egg sandwiches,

21/03/2026

Feeding during dialysis still likely explains part of the higher post Dialysis weight, but the full gap should not be attributed to food alone.

The gap may be influenced by:
• food/drink during dialysis
• completeness of flush-back
• clothing differences between sessions

17/03/2026

Potassium is not just about what you eat
👉 It is about WHEN you eat it relative to dialysis