Keep being you

That’s why we set up IgAN Friends – to be here for you. Because between us, we have a wealth of knowledge about what it’s really like to live with IgAN. All you need to do is ask. Here are some things we can discuss and help each other with:

Eating well and staying active

Regular movement and a good diet can boost energy and help support your kidney health at any stage of your condition.^1-5

Alejandro is from Spain and was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy around 10 years ago. Hear how Alejandro manages his IgA Nephropathy when running marathons.

Quitting or cutting down smoking and alcohol

Cigarettes, vaping or passive smoking – your health team will recommend you stop as it can lead to cardiovascular disease.⁶ And when it comes to alcohol, you might be OK to drink moderately, but it all depends on your treatment and the stage of your disease.^7,8 Have you got any practical tips to share?

Working or studying

Brain fog and fatigue can impact your work or education, and you might need time off for appointments.⁹ How do you bring up your diagnosis at work, college or school? These are things many of us worry about – but if we all share our experiences, we can help each other.

Socialising

We all know seeing friends and getting out is good for our mental health, especially when you’re living with IgAN.¹⁰ But sometimes the fatigue is too much for socialising, which can leave you feeling even more isolated. How do you keep in touch with your friends when you don’t have the energy? Tell us today.

Travel

There’s no reason why IgAN should stand in the way of getting out and exploring the world. But there are precautions you should take, like checking in with your healthcare team, preparing for the unexpected and going at your own pace. So how do other people do it? Do you have any travel tips to share?

The takeaway

No matter what stage of the disease you’re in, making some lifestyle changes, like the ones below, can really help:

• • Getting more regular exercise, especially endurance activities, can be really beneficial. Just try to avoid high-intensity workouts like heavy weightlifting
  • Managing your weight to reduce or prevent obesity
  • Following a healthy diet and addressing any potential lipid disorders
  • Stopping smoking (smoking increases the risk of dialysis 5-10-fold!)
  • Lower salt intake
  • Avoid using so-called non-steroid antiphlogistic drugs as pain killers, e.g. diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacine (aspirin, paracetamol and opiates are safe as far as the kidneys are concerned)
  • There’s no need to maintain a high fluid intake; about 1.5-2 liters of fluids daily is enough unless you have kidney stones or frequent bladder infections along with IgAN.^11-13