Hi, I recently began dialysis, but my creatinine numbers spiked six years ago. I was able to reduce those numbers to a normal level by following Dr. Walzer's guidelines for a low protein diet. I was on 20 grams of plant protein a day supplemented by 10 grams of the essential amino acids that I got from Calwood Nutritionals. After avoiding dialysis for six years my luck ran out. Eventually my blood pressure meds or chronic high blood pressure reduced my kidney function to 9%, though, and so I am on dialysis. There are pros and cons to Dr. Walzer's program. Your muscles vanish. I used to be a bodybuilder so turning into a pencil neck geek wasn't fun. I overloaded on potassium without thinking, and I wound up in the ER. I thought that carrot juice, avocados, and bananas were healthy! They are, but not for people with damaged kidneys. I am adapting to dialysis. I eat a lot of egg whites, tuna, whey protein, and Greek yogurt. I eat low sodium refried beans (my weakness). Switching from fast food burritos to homemade has saved me a lot of sodium. My nutritionist gave me a good report card, and it was my first. So, if you are not on dialysis, and want to avoid it, consider Dr. Walzer's book (about $12 from Amazon, cheaper used) and Calwood Nutritionals. I should add that Calwood's amino acids are not cheap, but it's hard to find the same formula, which is geared for kidney patients, anywhere else. In fact, I have about a $1,000 worth I no longer need. I'll probably snack on them after dialysis when the body is screaming for amino acids.
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