How should I manage kidney dysfunction?

Q: What is the best remedy for kidney dysfunction and infection? According to the doctors, my kidneys are infected. One kidney is 85% dead and another one is 15% dead. Recently the doctor entered a pipe inside. What is the main function of that pipe (stent)? What should be my diet and what are the precautions?

A:From your letter it seems you have had some form of obstruction along with superimposed infection, which damaged the kidneys. The stent is placed to bypass the obstruction and may help in reducing future infections and also in preventing further kidney damage. Usually a low protein diet is advocated to slow the progression of kidney disease but this has to be done with caution in patients who are vegetarians. As a precaution you should avoid all "over the counter" pain medications and certain antibiotics which can damage kidneys. Please follow up regularly with a nephrologist and urologist.