Stage 3 Kidney Disease and Diet: What can I eat?

You are so sweet. Thank you so very much. I am so grateful. I’m praying for your health and healing.

I've moved back into stage 3 CKD and am feeling quite well but neph suggested I consider having arterial-venous access graft surgery some time this year in case dialysis becomes necessary sooner than we both think it will. At my request neph referred me to another neph for 2nd opinion and am going to schedule appointment for that. Would any of you go ahead and have the graft done if your eGFR is 33 and your BUN and creatinine are coming down closer to "normal" (but still high) or would you wait awhile and see if kidney function continues to improve? I'm not asking anyone to diagnose or provide medical advice, I'm just wondering what other people might do in a similar situation. Any feedback would be appreciated.

@kamama94 It's greatto hear your GFR has come back into Stage 3 range! You serve as a good example of how we can manage our health ourselves with our diets. I'll be anxious to see a copy of your recipes when you get your doctors' opinions of them. As far as doing a proactive graft and a second opinion, I would say definitely a second opinion. I am not a doctor nor am I a medical professional. I do attend a monthly kidney support group through Renal Support Network(rsnhope.org), which can offer you some information. We have talked a few times about access points being placed prior to absolute need. Yes there is a healing time needed, especially if you are going to do peritoneal dialysis. My own personal opinion is that if your kidney disease is progressing slowly or in fact is increasing in GFR values the placing of an access point at this time maybe overkill. Go with your gut feelings because they seem to have stood you well over the years. Please keep us in the loop of what the second opinion doctor says!
Ginger

@gingerw, thanks much! I'm leaning toward everything you just said. If it ain't broke yet, don't fix it immediately. But I'm still reserving judgment until I have more info. Will keep you posted.

Today's member spotlight features @gingerw who many of you have met through discussions in the Kidney & Bladder group. Read her interview with fellow member @rosemarya to learn more about Ginger, her meaningful moments on Connect and what energizes her.

– Sharing, Caring and Lending a Virtual Ear: Meet @gingerw https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/sharing-caring-and-lending-a-virtual-ear-meet-gingerw/

Member Spotlights are published the 2nd and 4th Friday every month. Check out all the Member Spotlights here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/newsfeed/

Recipe collection has now been vetted by members of my care team so feel free to download a copy at no charge. You may reproduce it and share it as long as you include copyright and trademark information for the companies who helped me.

@kamama94 That's very generous of you to share. I am not vegetarian, so probably won't use much, but my son-in-law was raised vegetarian so I am always looking for appealing things to cook when my daughter and he visit. He does eat some meat and fish now, basically just chicken, and a little fish. He LOVES shrimp cocktail. I wonder if it's just the cocktail sauce!
JK

@contentandwell. Yep, gotta be the sauce! Think of the veggie dishes as side dishes to accompany your meat dish? I don't miss cocktail sauce but I do miss shrimp. And chocolate!

@kamama94 WHAT????? You can't eat chocolate on a vegetarian diet? That simply would not do for me. I have had to give up my glass of wine with dinner due to my liver transplant and now I have had to give up dairy because I've developed lactose intolerance. Chocolate? No way.
JK

@contentandwell. Sure vegetarians can eat chocolate. Vegans can eat dark chocolate, too, and chocolates made with coconut milk (or almond or soy milk.) But CKD patients are to avoid it. Bummer. It's my favorite vegetable. Yep. it's a veggie because chocolate DOES come from a plant, LOL.