Introduction to Radish

[Radish]

 I have been diabetic for 22 years and ESRD for about 10 years. My BUN and Creatinine are rising and I will see a new nephrologist in the next few weeks. A lot of information on the internet is conflicting in regard to renal diet. I want to connect with people who are living with renal failure and find out how to live with this.

[boswife]

awwwww, welcome  ... This is the place to be..  look around there is so much and great information

[chook]

  This is a great place to learn, laugh and share (the good times and the bad).

[galvo]

G'day Radish and  .

[RichardMEL]

G'day Radish & welcome,

It sounds like you're not yet on dialysis - this may explain some of the confusion with the renal diet - most of us when we discuss the renal diet we're referring to once you're on dialysis. Requirements are different for pre-dialysis (specially in the area of protein) so you need to be careful with that. Also know that each person's specific requirements are different regarding where they are at - some need extra potassium, while others need to go low-K, and so on. I think when you see this new neph you should ask to be referred to a renal dietician who will go through exactly what YOU need. Taking general suggestions from the internet is fine, but applying them to yourself may be dangerous...

 

RichardMEL, Moderator

[Jean]

Hi Radish and we are glad you joined us. This is THE place to learn about diet. It is difficult to put it mildly, but there are a lot of pro"s here and you will get a lot of good advice. And,     to IHD

[peleroja]

Hi, Radish, and welcome to the group.  Lots of good information and friends here.  Glad you joined!

[Bruno]

Renal diet can vary considerably once you are on dialysis. As an example some people avoid potassium rich foods, others (like me) have to seek them out. And there are other diet restrictions as well. They take blood tests regularly and go from that.
If it's any help, I rather enjoy my CKD diet. Particularly the fact that I can now have some wine and am free of a lot of medication that is no longer necessary under dialysis.

[lorna]

You get used to the diet pretty fast, and really you can have what you want but everything in moderation! i typically dont eat salty foods but still manage to eat many fruits and veg. My biggest problem is fluid restrictions! If i had no restrictiion on fluid intake i wouldnt really have too many complaints about the diet! My usual is i have a few cheat days after monthly bloodwork where i eat potatoes and bananas haha then i am good for the rest of the month, you will notice you feel alot better if you keep your levels within the guidelines! But im a sucker for Diet coke. Still struggle with phosphorous over that

[peleroja]

Welcome to the group, Radish.  Lots of good information and friends here.  Glad you joined!

[Bruno]

Lorna, how do you get away with Diet Coke? I was told it was a big No No and I've been too scared to have it.
Sniff...it's been 3 months now.

[Bruno]

Sorry, I forgot to add in my last post that a diet becomes necessary AFTER dialysis starts because only then are you able to tell (through blood tests) what exactly dialysis is doing to your blood and what you need to do (or take) (or eat) to remedy it.
Often you no longer need to take other medications...most commonly those you might have been taking for high blood pressure, for example.

[Desert Dancer]

Hi, Radish, and 

As RichardMEL said, there's a big difference between a pre-dialysis diet and a dialysis diet. Even once one is on dialysis, no two renal diets will ever be the same; your proscribed diet will depend on your lab work and may vary from month to month. It can be very confusing for someone seeking out hard-and-fast dietary rules! Sitting down and speaking with a renal dietician will probably be your best bet.

[Mark]

As RichardMEL said, there's a big difference between a pre-dialysis diet and a dialysis diet. Even once one is on dialysis, no two renal diets will ever be the same; your proscribed diet will depend on your lab work and may vary from month to month. It can be very confusing for someone seeking out hard-and-fast dietary rules! Sitting down and speaking with a renal dietician will probably be your best bet.

This is pretty true.  I used to think there was just a standard renal diet.  I know better than that now.  To the point where the concept of a renal diet doesn't really sit well with me anyway.  There are some standard things that apply to any situation, but for the most part, everybody's different.

When I started dialysis, I was pretty pleased to find out that I was going from having to limit protein intake to actually being encouraged to eat as much as I can.  And it's not even just the difference between a normal renal diet and dialysis diet.  When I was on hemodialysis, potassium was my main vice, always high and I couldn't seem to keep it down.  As soon as I switched to PD, that turned into phosphorus instead.  My potassium dropped, and I really don't even bother to watch it in my diet anymore.  Now my phosphorus always seems to be elevated.

Most people are supposed to be heavily limited on sodium.  It doesn't seem to do much of anything for me.  Not to say that I'm not probably taking in more than I should, but I don't see any symptoms as a result.  I'm sure that doesn't apply to everyone.  So basically, it's all crazy stuff, and you'll pretty much just have to adjust it to your situation.  It's all just basic numbers when it comes down to it.  As long as you can keep track of what foods have high amounts of certain things, you'll be fine. 

[Rerun]

 

Welcome!

Rerun, Moderator     

[looneytunes]

Hi Radish and welcome to IHD.  Love the name!   

[lorna]

Bruno -
I don't know how i get away with it! My diatician is fully aware i still drink it and i have always had it when i was on pd and now hemo. They dont like it but understand how hard it is with all the restrictions and say all they can ask is i try my best, and i do!  i really watch my phosphorus intake almost to nothing other than the diet coke and occasionally cheese or some dairy. I always take a binder when i drink it. I dont have to much because i have to watch my fluid intake as well but i have maybe about a can a day, give or take how i am feeling. They dont say much about it unless my levels go way up but i have learnt my limits.I used to drink so much and it was the one thing i found really hard to cut out, im not a coffee drinker so it would be my morning diet coke like most have coffee!  I have tried other drinks but the harder i tried to cut it out the mor i would crave it! Stupid right ?! I would probably be better off without any but after cutting myself off from so many other favorite things its the one thing i make an exception for! I find myself having drink envy haha when i see someone having a nice big drink of whatever i always think you dont know how lucky you are to be able to drink all that haha. Maybe you can work it into your diet occasionally, its worth it!