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Mentor

This and That and Talk - My Transplant

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 9, 2017

As our Mayo Connect community grows, I am constantly meeting organ transplant members on a wide variety of forums with a wide range of issues that are not directly transplant specific. However, because we are all transplant recipients, we have a special connection: a unique journey and best of all - a new life! We don't always need help or advice. Many times we just want to chat with someone like us! That is my purpose in starting This and That and Talk.

Drop in and say 'Hi'. You are welcome anytime.

What do you want t to talk about? What words can you offer to someone who is on the journey? Do you have any questions for another recipient?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

mickj | @mickj | Dec 7, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@mickj I don’t think it’s age related for you either. I presume when you said that..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@mickj I don’t think it’s age related for you either. I presume when you said that you only eat 30 grams of sugar a day you actually mean of carbs. That’s incredible, i can’t imagine keeping it that low. When I was diagnosed I went to a nutritionist and was told up to 30 grams per meal, and two snacks of 15 grams. Of course that was the max recommended but only 30 per day to me sounds as if it might be too few. I know you do need carbs, but it sounds as you are doing very well and if your doctor is good with your diet it must be OK.
Have you spoken to a doctor or nutritionist about what would be the best things to eat to increase your weight without increasing your A1c? I’d be curious to hear what they recommend, even though increasing my weight is unfortunately not a problem I have.
JK

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You are right in that 30 grams of total carbs is awfully low, approaching Keto diet territory. That's not what I'm after. I actually eat about 120 total carbs a day. 30 grams of sugar, 50 grams of fiber and the rest are those dreaded unnamed carbs. Not wanting to bump up carbs much more, I've got to increase either proteins or fats. I currently eat about 120 grams of protein and see no value in eating any more. So the last thing I can do is increase fats. I've talked to my nutritionist about this, and she agrees. I've started to eat a little dark chocolate with no sugar, and I'm working up the "courage" to get after avocados. Last night, I even bumped up my carbs a bit by adding some brown rice to my extravagant dinner of carrots, celery and almonds. Baby steps.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 7, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "JK we got a pamphlet that has ideas and some examples in it. I would appreciate..." + (show)
@jodeej

JK we got a pamphlet that has ideas and some examples in it. I would appreciate seeing your examples, though, and I'm sure others could use them also.
Blessings,
JoDee

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@jodeej I will look for it this weekend and scan it in. I think I know where it is.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Dec 7, 2018
In reply to @mickj "You are right in that 30 grams of total carbs is awfully low, approaching Keto diet..." + (show)
@mickj

You are right in that 30 grams of total carbs is awfully low, approaching Keto diet territory. That's not what I'm after. I actually eat about 120 total carbs a day. 30 grams of sugar, 50 grams of fiber and the rest are those dreaded unnamed carbs. Not wanting to bump up carbs much more, I've got to increase either proteins or fats. I currently eat about 120 grams of protein and see no value in eating any more. So the last thing I can do is increase fats. I've talked to my nutritionist about this, and she agrees. I've started to eat a little dark chocolate with no sugar, and I'm working up the "courage" to get after avocados. Last night, I even bumped up my carbs a bit by adding some brown rice to my extravagant dinner of carrots, celery and almonds. Baby steps.

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@mickj Oh, that's better, 120 grams of carbs. If you add up the allowance they gave me it comes to 195 grams of carbs a day.
120 grams of protein is more than I do, and I think I eat a lot of protein! I must not though because when I get my monthly lab work my protein is always slighter lower than the standard range. I don't know how I could increase it in a healthy way. I can only stomach one egg when I have eggs for breakfast. and I try to keep my meat portion to about 4 ounces.
I love dark chocolate, I just ate a square of Ghiradelli 86%. Many people don't like it that dark but I do.
I love avocados also but they are such a pain to buy. They have a very brief time when they are ripe but not going bad, and I find that I end up throwing out a lot, which at the cost of them I hate doing.
JK

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1 reply
jodeej | @jodeej | Dec 7, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@mickj Oh, that's better, 120 grams of carbs. If you add up the allowance they gave..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@mickj Oh, that's better, 120 grams of carbs. If you add up the allowance they gave me it comes to 195 grams of carbs a day.
120 grams of protein is more than I do, and I think I eat a lot of protein! I must not though because when I get my monthly lab work my protein is always slighter lower than the standard range. I don't know how I could increase it in a healthy way. I can only stomach one egg when I have eggs for breakfast. and I try to keep my meat portion to about 4 ounces.
I love dark chocolate, I just ate a square of Ghiradelli 86%. Many people don't like it that dark but I do.
I love avocados also but they are such a pain to buy. They have a very brief time when they are ripe but not going bad, and I find that I end up throwing out a lot, which at the cost of them I hate doing.
JK

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I found that if you mix a little bit of lemon juice in with an avocado, you can freeze it and it won't turn dark. Then you can the it and use it for avacado toast or in a recipe. Saves them from being wasted.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 7, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "I found that if you mix a little bit of lemon juice in with an avocado,..." + (show)
@jodeej

I found that if you mix a little bit of lemon juice in with an avocado, you can freeze it and it won't turn dark. Then you can the it and use it for avacado toast or in a recipe. Saves them from being wasted.

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@jodeej thanks, I’ll have to try that. Of course usually what happens is that I cut one in half and it’s already brown inside.
JK

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 14, 2018

Today, Connect's member spotlight features someone most of you know very well from the Transplant group. Read Jodee's interview with @rosemarya to find out what brought her to Connect and how she finds balance in life. Puppies or kittens?

– Inspired by Time with Mother Nature: Meet @jodeej https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed/inspired-by-time-with-mother-nature-meet-jodeej/

Check out all the Member Spotlights here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/newsfeed/

Which Connect member would you nominate for a future spotlight?

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jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Dec 14, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "Limiting sugars is something that really needs to happen at our house. How long did it..." + (show)
@jodeej

Limiting sugars is something that really needs to happen at our house. How long did it take for you to quit craving sugar?

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@jodeej
Well after the 3rd round of preds. I didn't have much will power. It's Christmas and I'm making cookies if it kills me. In Jan. I WILL get on the right track again. I don't have an addictive behavior issue. Even though I have cirrhosis I never drank that much and was able to quit the day the Dr diagnosed me. One lucky thing I guess...

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 15, 2018
In reply to @jeanne5009 "@jodeej Well after the 3rd round of preds. I didn't have much will power. It's Christmas..." + (show)
@jeanne5009

@jodeej
Well after the 3rd round of preds. I didn't have much will power. It's Christmas and I'm making cookies if it kills me. In Jan. I WILL get on the right track again. I don't have an addictive behavior issue. Even though I have cirrhosis I never drank that much and was able to quit the day the Dr diagnosed me. One lucky thing I guess...

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@jeanne5009 I have to get on the bandwagon of cookie making too but my son and daughter will not be here until the 26th so I have some time, except for people I want to gift with goodies.
I was like you with drinking. I did drink a glass of wine each evening with dinner and I still miss that but I gave it up of course. I learned a lesson from that too. My son and husband often gifted me with wines more expensive than I would purchase so those were put aside for a special occasion or for when I felt like indulging myself. I ended up having to give them away since most were white or mild reds and my husband, son, and daughter, like cabs.
JK

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@jeanne5009 I have to get on the bandwagon of cookie making too but my son and..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@jeanne5009 I have to get on the bandwagon of cookie making too but my son and daughter will not be here until the 26th so I have some time, except for people I want to gift with goodies.
I was like you with drinking. I did drink a glass of wine each evening with dinner and I still miss that but I gave it up of course. I learned a lesson from that too. My son and husband often gifted me with wines more expensive than I would purchase so those were put aside for a special occasion or for when I felt like indulging myself. I ended up having to give them away since most were white or mild reds and my husband, son, and daughter, like cabs.
JK

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@contentandwell Today I will make some peppermint bark for husband to take in to his work. Then Tues make another batch for the prayer shawl group meeting on Wed. In years past I did cookies or fruitcake. But having a sweet tooth, it became too much for me. I can't have chocolate, don't like chocolate, so making the bark is ok. Like you and @jeanne5009 wine was always in my pantry, with a glass or two at night. Now, it is a homemade wine cooler or small hard cider once a week, maybe. Ah, how things change!
Ginger

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Dec 16, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@contentandwell Today I will make some peppermint bark for husband to take in to his work...." + (show)
@gingerw

@contentandwell Today I will make some peppermint bark for husband to take in to his work. Then Tues make another batch for the prayer shawl group meeting on Wed. In years past I did cookies or fruitcake. But having a sweet tooth, it became too much for me. I can't have chocolate, don't like chocolate, so making the bark is ok. Like you and @jeanne5009 wine was always in my pantry, with a glass or two at night. Now, it is a homemade wine cooler or small hard cider once a week, maybe. Ah, how things change!
Ginger

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@gingerw I made snickerdoodles for the first time last year and loved them. My daughter and I love nutmeg so I mixed that with the cinnamon, put white chocolate chips in, and they were delicious.
Having had a liver transplant alcohol is taboo. My surgeon did say once in a great while for a very special occasion, I could have a glass of wine. So last year at my daughter's wedding I did have a glass of champagne. I haven't actually seen a reason to not drink as long as you exercise extreme moderation, and I have heard of some people whose doctors said once a month, but I am going with the absolute rules.
JK

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