[pct-l] thru hikers or section hikers with one kidney?

[Ellen Shopes]

I don't have one kidney, but do have some medical expertise.  In most 
instances, this should not be a big concern.  The things I would think about 
would be:
    1.  Maintain hydration.  Keep your urine looking slightly yellow-tinged.
    2.  Minimize Ibuprofen use.  The class of drugs known as NSAIDS decrease 
renal blood flow.  Not a big issue when one is well-hydrated, but in the 
portions of the hike where staying hydrated is more difficult, use Tylenol 
instead.
    3.  Watch out for tea-colored urine.  This could result from muscle 
break-down.  These large myoglobin molecules are damaging to the kidney.  It 
should be a warning sign to you to back off on the strenuous hiking and 
hydrate.
    4.  Practise good hygiene to avoid a UTI (urinary tract infection).  You 
might (depending on how worried you are) ask your physician for a 
prescription to treat one should it occur while hiking.
Hope this helps.
Elderly Ellen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laura Newman" <lanewman at mac.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:11 PM
Subject: [pct-l] thru hikers or section hikers with one kidney?


> Hi All,
>
> I am interested in chatting with  someone who has done extensive
> backpacking with only one kidney.  I thought this list might have at
> least a few folks on it.  Are there any additional concerns that they
> ran into?
>
> Happy thanksgiving!  Laura
> PCT Class of 2009
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