My letter to Dr Oz

[meadowlandsnj]

If you're familiar with Dr Oz I saw him on Oprah and decided to ask him some advice:

http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=mco2&DepAffil=Surgery

Dr Oz
I am one of millions of dialysis patients in the USA.  I don't know if you're familiar with our diet restrictions but I find it impossible to eat good healthy foods while on renal dialysis.  Everything you say is good to eat I cannot eat due to kidney failure.  I must follow a low phosporos, low salt, low potassium diet and am limited to 32oz of fluid per day as I do not urinate.  I have a wonderful dietician I work with but I am frustrated because I want to get as healthy as I can for another kidney transplant.  I went on dialysis in 1993, had a transplant from my mother in 1995 and it failed in 2005.  My renal problems stems from an allergic reaction to an antibiotic, plus I am a diabetic which is controlled by insulin.
Do you have any advice for me as far as good nutrition?  I have been following the renal diet which consists of mostly white foods such as white breads, white rice and white pasta, whole wheat has too much phosporos.  I know that's not too healthy for me but I have no choice really.  Plus I have to have between 80 and 100 grams of protein per day.  I eat lean protein like beef and chicken.  Fruits and vegetables are very limited due to potassium.
Do you have any advice for me? I want to lose weight also in order to be listed for another transplant.  The prednisone from the first one made me gain a lot of weight like 50 pounds or so.
Thank you
I think Oprah should do a show on dialysis, the statistics show that n a few years many more people will be on dialysis due to obesity rates and high diabetes rates among the population esp blacks.  I see it every day in my clinic and it breaks my heart to see people on dialysis which I believe a little preventative medicine can help.

[goofynina]

Awesome letter, i just hope he gets back to you, i have tried numerous times myself to write to Oprah but to no avail.  Please let us know if and when he does respond, this could be the beginning of some kind of wonderful 

[meadowlandsnj]

Awesome letter, i just hope he gets back to you, i have tried numerous times myself to write to Oprah but to no avail.  Please let us know if and when he does respond, this could be the beginning of some kind of wonderful 

Even if it brings to the publics attention the plight of dialysis patients.  They always have shows abour organ donation and transppants but dialysis seems to be a taboo subject for these types of shows.  There are plenty of courageous peole on dialysis that deserve a bit of attention also, IMO.  We deserve some attention too!!  And like I said in the letter in the next couple of years with diabetes becoming an epidemic and younger people being diagnosed with it it can be a show that saves lives. 

Donna

[babi68]

Donna, Any reply yet? I do enjoying watching him. He really explains what goes on inside the body. You are right how they don't show dialysis when they have the 'transplant' shows. It would be good if they showed how we get the needles in and have to sit there for 4-5 hours.  Just to explain dialysis a little better might make people want to donate. Sometimes when I tell people I am in renal failure they look at me and say.. 'AH, your liver is no good, so you need a transplant' and then I have to explain what renal failure is. Let us know, when and if he answers. Liz

[goofynina]

I think you should've made multiple copies of the letter and sent it once a week, maybe he (or whoever is in charge of his mail)   will get tired of opening and reading the same letter and will do something about it,  I like babi68's way of thinking too (but i doubt Oprah could hang listening to such torture)    He was on yesterday and had a great talk with all the men, verrrrry interesting show he gave 

[okarol]

Your letter is very good, but don't stop there!

That's a good letter to send to your local paper, attention the Health Editor. It may inspire a feature story.

You can also send it to a national paper, such as the Los Angeles Times. One journalist who writes a lot about prevention and health issues is By Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer. Her email is Lisa.Girion@latimes.com
or you can contact the editor for the Health Section directly:
Health
A separate section published Mondays.
"Health Watch" deadline: Three weeks before desired publication date.
News hotline: (213) 237-7611.
Fax: (213) 237-4712.
E-mail: health@latimes.com

You can also send your letter to Health Expert Blogs > Joy's Healthy Bite > Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N. at http://health.yahoo.com/experts/joybauernutrition/bio;_ylt=ApjG9rxGamRU25cqs7RRDfwa788F

[Sluff]

I hope it works too Donna I have written several times to Oprah.

[boxman55]

what ever happened to that writer from Chicago looking for ESRD patients who introduced herself to IHD. I e-mailed her and never heard a word back...Boxman

[paddbear0000]

He was on yesterday and had a great talk with all the men, verrrrry interesting show he gave 

Yeah, I saw that too. He was very good. I learned some stuff that even my husband didn't know!   

[okarol]

what ever happened to that writer from Chicago looking for ESRD patients who introduced herself to IHD. I e-mailed her and never heard a word back...Boxman

Her name is Deborah L. Shelton and she's still writing for the Chicago Tribune - I posted one of her recent stories here http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=5245.0.
I don't know if she responded to anyone on IHD.

[fluffy]

i wrote oprah too, it seems shes too busy plugging peoples movies and books to care

[poohkari]

Why dont we ALL write to Oprah's people? Surely if we make a big effort collectively, someones going to have to take notice!

[okarol]

Why dont we ALL write to Oprah's people? Surely if we make a big effort collectively, someones going to have to take notice!

Now you're talking!  Post her contact info - I will write!

[goofynina]

Why dont we ALL write to Oprah's people? Surely if we make a big effort collectively, someones going to have to take notice!

Now you're talking!  Post her contact info - I will write!

I am telling you, i think we would have better luck with Ellen, did you see what she did for that kid that jumps over cars?  She got him on with Nike, the lady is AMAZING,   

[paddbear0000]

Why dont we ALL write to Oprah's people? Surely if we make a big effort collectively, someones going to have to take notice!

Now you're talking!  Post her contact info - I will write!

I am telling you, i think we would have better luck with Ellen, did you see what she did for that kid that jumps over cars?  She got him on with Nike, the lady is AMAZING,   

Have you heard about this whole issue with her dog and the rescue agency? That agency makes me so mad!

[goofynina]

Yep, little Iggy, i started a thread on it in off-topic,     I still think Ellen can kick Oprah's ass