Daily habits
- Weigh yourself every morning after using the toilet and before breakfast. Use the same scales. Write it down. A gain of 2 kg in 2-3 days usually means fluid retention - call your team.
- Take all prescribed medications at the same time each day. Use a pill box if it helps. Never skip phosphate binders with meals or immunosuppressants after a transplant.
- Check your blood pressure once or twice daily if you have a home monitor. Keep a log to show your team.
- Follow your fluid restriction if you have one. Count all drinks, soups, ice cream, melon and other high-water foods.
- Follow your renal diet plan. Avoid phosphate additives (E338-E452), watch potassium if advised, and keep salt under 6 g per day.
- Do some gentle activity if you feel up to it - walking is excellent for circulation and mood.
Weekly reviews
- Review your blood pressure log for trends. Share it with your GP or renal team at your next appointment.
- Check your medication supplies. Reorder before you run out.
- Plan your meals for the week. Batch-cook low-salt, kidney-friendly meals and freeze portions.
- Review any new symptoms: swelling in ankles or hands, fatigue levels, sleep quality, appetite changes.
- Do a quick skin check if you are on dialysis - look for signs of infection around your fistula, catheter or PD site.
Kidney Vitality is a daily multivitamin developed by a UK Consultant Nephrologist using renal nutrition principles. It contains no added potassium, magnesium, phosphorus or iron, and no herbal blends. See the formulation.
Monthly and ongoing tasks
- Attend all blood test appointments. Early morning fasting bloods are often needed - check with your team.
- Attend all clinic appointments even if you feel well. CKD often has no symptoms until advanced.
- Review your prescriptions with your pharmacist or GP. New medications (including over-the-counter and herbal) can interact with kidney disease.
- Update your dental and other healthcare providers about your CKD. Some procedures need extra precautions.
- Keep your vaccination record up to date. Flu, pneumococcal and COVID-19 vaccines are especially important for kidney patients.
Red-flag symptoms - call for help urgently
Call 111 or your renal team urgently, or 999 if severe:
- Rapid weight gain (2+ kg in 2-3 days) with swelling or breathlessness
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- Severe shortness of breath, especially when lying flat
- Very little urine or no urine for 12+ hours
- Blood in urine
- Severe vomiting or diarrhoea (risk of dehydration and AKI)
- Fever after a kidney transplant
- Confusion or extreme drowsiness
- A potassium blood result over 6.0 mmol/L if you have been told to watch this
Do not wait for your next routine appointment if any of these occur.
Medication safety reminders
- Never stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to your doctor first.
- Check every new medication with your GP or renal pharmacist - including painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and herbal supplements.
- Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) unless specifically prescribed by your renal team - they can worsen kidney function.
- Take phosphate binders with every meal and snack as prescribed.
- If you have had a transplant, never stop immunosuppressants - even if you feel well.
- Keep an up-to-date list of all your medications with doses and timings. Bring it to every appointment.
