Diet for kidney failure

Zumac.

A couple a couple of questions for you, if it doesn't bother you me asking? When did you notice the symptoms and what were the symptoms? The reason why I asking, is because I live in San Antonio, TX and there are renal clinics just about on every corner in this town. We moved from the east coast where I really never seen a renal clinic and if I did it was in a not so open location such as here. I have been to two docs here in this city and both say I have diabetes. The strange thing is every time I eat daily products, tomatoes, salt(which is in everything around here) I get these bad achy numbness in my left kidney. Last time I had kidney stones and a UT infection, same kidney. I talk with the docs and here in San Antonio they are money hungry. I have good insurance but they like to stretch out what they can charge to the max. In the meantime, I feel like crap. Would you share with me the part about the tomatoes please.

Thank you for any advice....

Jon

Last year, about this time, I developed lithium intoxication. I really don't know why this happened. Perhaps it was a very bad fall that I took while running which left me unconscience. I had been taking lithium for over 30 years, monitoring the lithium level in my blood every six months. The intoxication caused me to be hospitalized for almost a month with chronic kidney failure and extreme dehydration. Now the nephrologists tell me that I must follow a strict diet, but none of them gives me a complete list of food to avoid and food allowed. Of the few foods that they mention as not allowed are tomatoes. I get most of my information on these foods from different places on the Internet. However, I eat a salad almost every day with small amounts of diced tomatoes.

I can't tell exactly where my kidneys are, must less the left or the right. You seem to be able to distinguish this --- you're lucky.

Unless you eat great amount of tomatoes, I doubt whether some modest amounts will harm you. It's not the tomatoes themselves that are harmful, it's the potassium that they contain.

Good luck in "San Antón".

I don't use exact measurements when I cook, but I eat Gluten Free so I've gotten pretty creative over the last year. I have this amazing chopper so I go wild and chop different combinations of fresh veggies and barely stir-fry them with rice, or Brown rice. My favorite is Onion, Sweet Red Pepper, Green Tomato (can you do that), Yellow Squash, Zucchini. I add minced ginger from a jar for flavor and Gluten Free Soy Sauce. I know there is a low sodium as well. You can add Olive oil while stir frying, I use butter, but I don't have a salt issue. This is an amazing side dish, the combinations are endless, just use what ever is in season, or what ever spice you like. Heck I even made it with Cajun seasoning once. I love it with pan seared Talipia or Fresh Tuna Steak... I hope I didn't confuse you, but this is my main staple..

Thanks "toomuch". I'll relay your suggestions to my wife --- I'm a total disaster in the kitchen.
Regards..... Zumac

I was diagnosed with ESRD almost 9 years ago and am still there. One thing that has been very helpful is to not focus so much on foods that I can stuff myself with, but rather to spend some energy on learning how to control myself better. For example, I enjoy eating dark chocolate, but instead of eating a whole bar of it, or totally depriving myself of that simple pleasure, I have learned to break that bar into the smallest pieces that are scored on it and then allow myself to eat one half of one of those pieces everyday after dinner. I take that little piece and hold it in my mouth and let it dissolve slowly in my mouth while I savor and enjoy it. Then stop. That's it for chocolate for the day. The past couple of months I've also been experimenting with intermittent fasting to try to just eat less of everything as a way of not having to limit my food choices so much. I eat mostly vegetables but if my wife is eating a hamburger I might share it with her by taking a bite. Same as with the chocolate try to eat it slowly and really enjoy it if hamburger is something you're going to really miss. Be careful about root vegetables and other sources of potassium. Good luck! It ain't easy, but you can do it.

A registered dietician should be of help!

@m1rmiller Congratulations on finding a dietary method that works for you! Since I never really liked chocolate, it was easy to walk away from it 😉 I sincerely miss bananas, oranges, and fresh squeezed orange juice. For me, I have to eliminate not moderate these type of things. Half a cup of dairy a dairy translates to cottage cheese for breakfast, for me.

This proves, once again, that we are all different. It is great we have the chance to share with others the tips/tricks/ methods we use to get the optimum diet that works for us!
Ginger

IDK if this thread is still active but here are some dietary ideas and recipes. PLEASE NOTE! This is NOT medical advice! I am NOT telling anyone to consume the ingredients listed! I AM sharing my own personal experience. Pleaase check with your care team before following any of these recipes.

@kamam94 You have done so much research and I am sure it has helped many!
Glad to hear you do not have to wrestle with dialysis at this time. My wish is the side effects of the shingles vaccine goes away and your kidney function can restore itself to a better level.
Ginger

This is the first I've heard about the shingles vaccine effecting EGFR. I'm 74 years old and have never had the singles or the shingles vaccine. Has anyone else experienced this vaccine effecting your EGFR? I have been thinking that I should get a shingles vaccine dose, but now this gives me some second thoughts about that idea. I'm ESRD and have been for 9 years.