What do you do to alkalize?

[Matt Lewis]

Just wondering. There seem to be many ways to do this, including diet (eating less acid forming foods and more base forming ones such as most vegtables) and drugs like urocit-k and polycitra. Just wondering if anyone has a method, dietary or otherwise, that seems to work best?
Thanks,
matt

[StonedinAlabama]

Well, i try to avoid things with cystine or lysine in um cuz i'm afraid that will cause pain and stones~~ other than that,i don't really know:cool:

[Matt Lewis]

Originally posted by StonedinAlabama
Well, i try to avoid things with cystine or lysine in um cuz i'm afraid that will cause pain and stones~~ other than that,i don't really know:cool:
I'm in the process of writing a stone prevention tutorial which should be done around the beginning of Jan., if not sooner. I hope you find it helpful and informative. Here's a sneak peak for the board members though; ;)

Diets that attempt to reduce the amount of cystine and methionine (methionine is the amino acid from which cysteine (2 cysteines form one cystine amino acid) is made) that is taken in by what you eat are often hard to follow and the results are sometimes insignificant. For many people, a much more efficient way to prevent stones is to raise the pH of your urine (meaning to make it less acidic), which will help better dissolve the little cystine crystals that eventually build up to form stones.
You should definitly stick to anything that works for you or that you feel helps. But with that said, i personally believe that alkalinization (raising the urine's pH) is the [b]key[/i]! Oh, that and drinking a lot of water! More to come in the tutorial...
matt
(p.s., tutorials can be found in the "Room 101" page, linked from the main site. Right now, there's only one tutorial, and it's on amino acids.)

[jacooper]

I take baking soda. My frequency has increased over the last 10 years from 1 teaspoon twice a day to four times a day. My cystine output has increased also. I tried Urocit-K (not sure of spelling) a few years ago, but it didn't work for me at all. The pills passed straight through without changing my pH at all. I went back to the baking soda. I took Captopril for several years, which is supposed to help with the solubility of cystine, but I kept forming stones. I take enough meds, so I stopped taking that one.

I was always told that changing my diet would help very little, if at all. If anyone has luck with this, please let me know. I trusted the doctors...

[Kathyblue]

jacooper,
how much the baking soda raises your pH level? I try and keep close tabs on mine becuase it helps remind me to take my pills reguarly. I have been taking Urocit-k for about a year now. it raises my pH level to around 7.5 I feel like its not doing as good of a job as it is suppose to seeing as i am stil forming very large stones on a regular basis. Anyway i was wondering if you are getting better results pH wise with the baking soda!
thanks in advance! :)
~kathy

[Matt Lewis]

Originally posted by jacooper
I take baking soda....
What form do you take? Do you have pills, make your own capsules, or just add baking soda to water and drink? Just wondering what you have found is the most effective method of delivery for raising pH. (Also how much would be helpful)
Thanks!
matt

[Bridgetjulia]

Hmm,
Although I've never actually formed stones and was only diagnosed by genetic and urine analysis, I'll add my 2 cents here. I have type I/III, which I'm told is "mild".

I have never taken meds or tried to change the pH of my urine. However, I should point out that I'm a vegetarian and have been so for about 4 years, eating mostly cheese or yogurt for protein. I no longer eat meat, fish, eggs, gelatin, rennet, or pepsin.
I have also struggled for years with Anorexia, and as a result I'm pretty restrictive in what I do eat (a LOT of fruits and vegetables among other things). It's also possible that my metabolism is a bit low, because I still have problems at times eating enough to maintain a normal metabolic rate (and weight). I'm not sure if any of this plays a role, but just FYI...

Bridgetjulia;)

[jacooper]

Since I've been taking baking soda, I've only formed one very large stone. My cystine output went up by about 50% from age 19 to age 27 which was discovered after I formed a large stone. I still form small stones, but I think that is more related to my job keeping me from being able to drink enough water some days. My pH test strips only check to 7.5 but when I go to the doctor, my pH is typically 8.0-8.3.

I put a teaspoon of powder baking soda (I use Arm & Hammer) in a glass of water (about 12oz), stir it up & drink it. I do this in the morning, afternoon, at bedtime, and once in the night. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds...

[Sara J.]

Hi all!

I've been stone-free since the large staghorn was discovered and removed almost 7 1/2 years ago and, although I was on Urocit-K immediately following surgery for a few months, I've been doing baking soda and diet since and haven't formed anything new. Now, my suspicion is that I'm a much slower grower than many of you, but baking soda and diet seem to work for me and a box of Arm & Hammer costs a heck of a lot less than a perscription (especially when you're sans health coverage like myself). Like jacooper, I just take it in water (although I've never really been told a dosage so I've just been going by as much as is palatable so I'm glad to know the amount someone else is taking).

Cheers!
Sara J

P.S.- Where do y'all get pH test strips?

[CRYSTAL]

I buy my PH test strips (which are actually in a roll that you tear off pieces as you go) at a local pharmacy. They are over the counter (meaning you don't need a prescription for them) but not all pharmacies carry them. From what I understand, they are not only to test your urine but can also be used to test saliva. So I'm thinking they might have them at some natural (organic) food stores also?!

Do you see a nephrologist regularly? Or even a urologist? I see both and neither checks my PH. Of course, I'm my nephrologists only cystinuria patient and he's admitted he sees mostly dialysis patients. I'm just wandering if I'm missing anything in my care plan?!

Crystal

[Sara J.]

Hi Crystal!

No, I don't see any doctors regularly since I don't have health insurance. I have benefits available through work, but considering that none of my maintenance visits (x-rays, urinalysis, etc....you know, the things that help you stay healthy instead of fixing them once your sick?) would be covered, it's not worth the $$$ for what I get. Besides, I got really down on the system after my AWESOME urologist moved away and, I'm gathering from this and other groups, my condition isn't nearly as severe as other folks' so I seem to be able to take care of myself alright with diet, baking soda, and water. Actually, the last doctor I visited told me upon review of my x-rays (and this is classic!), "Well, keep doing what your doing 'cause it seems to be working!" So glad I gave him $100 for that! So until I can find reasonable insurance that pays for prevention as well as repairs, I'm not gonna bother.

Thanks for the tip on the pH strips...I'll ask my pharmacist. That's another good point of prevention that I hadn't thought about until I found y'all!

Thanks again!
Sara J:D