What do you order when eating at a restaurant?

Hello and congratulations! I will have my one year anniversary for a liver transplant next month. For liver transplant recipients our meds can cause all kinds of issues. I’m assuming that it’s similar for you. I find making beans, healthy casseroles, salads (such as carrot raisin), and other foods that will last a few days, on the weekend, is helpful. Then I eat fresh fruit salad and green salad, veggies, during the week. I don’t eat meat, but I do fish, eggs, tofu which are quick. Whole grains can also be cooked up on the weekend or evening and then reheated. There are lots of easy and healthy sauces that can be whipped up to accent grains and veggies. Cooking eggs and quinoa together is one of my favorite quick meals. I have greatly reduced my pasta and processed foods, no refined sugar, and very limited white flour.

I’m fortunate to have a lot of food trucks in the area, with healthy food, Indian, Mexican, and Asian. And, also at our farmers market, so that’s usually what I do for eating out. Fish and salad is healthy too for restaurant meals.

There are a lot of webinars and videos on healthy quick meals. Also, your transplant team nutritionist would be a great person to speak with to make sure your getting all the protein and nutrients you need, and are within optimum range on things like sodium, potassium, etc.

I’ve attached an article I’ve found helpful. But, again it pertains to liver recipients. So, definitely consult with your team. Others on Connects are kidney recipients and will be very helpful in sharing advice as well.

Sounds delicious! What wonderful food ideas! Do you know where I may get the same information sheet on kidney transplants? The sheet you attached was very informative...THANK YOU for all the excellent details!! 🙂

I do a lot of research, so I’d just start by searching for post kidney transplant diet and life. There is so much available out there. Then, that’ll lead to more info to seek out. I’ve learned a lot about how best to metabolize my meds, all the many drug interactions, and of course side effects and potential health issues. I have always eaten well, but now I’m even stricter. Plus, I’m good about getting out and walking first thing and doing some exercises.

Admittedly it all is more time consuming, but you’ll find a schedule that works for you.

You are a true inspiration! Learning from you is very motivational! Regarding metabolizing your meds, I take my Cellcept and Envarsus XR with a little food to protect my tummy. Do you think it makes a major difference on how the meds are metabolized?

Thank you, I was always very healthy until 2 years ago and then diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that caused stage 3 liver cirrhosis. So, taking anything but herbs and supplements was something I had to get used to quickly. I try to do what I can to keep my new liver healthy, while also doing what I can to be able to have my meds reduced.

I believe Envarsus is the time release version of Tacrolimus? So, I take Tac and Mycophenolate as well. I’m sure you know the most important thing is to take it the same time each day and night and the same way, either with or without food.

I’ve read that for the best metabolism taking it on an empty stomach with at least one glass of water is best. But, only if it doesn’t bother your stomach. So, I think it sounds like you’ve got a practice that works for you and clearly you’re doing well at protecting your new kidney...of course the most important thing!

I think a big concern, that many people don’t realize, is that there are so many drugs, herbs, and supplements that interact with Tacrolimus. Many common things like ginger. I’ve attached a couple articles that I found helpful in outlining how drugs are metabolized and what interacts with Tacrolimus. Some, like ginger, I’ll do occasionally, but others like Echinacea I do not take anymore.

As I have three autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, and neuropathy, and see different specialists, I also check Drugs.com for potential interactions with any meds they suggest. And, I consult with my transplant team prior to trying anything new.

Thank you so much for this food-drug interactions sheet! I was always concerned about cranberry juice being closely related with pomegranate juice and now I see cranberry on the interactions list for tacronlimis (Envarsus XR). I will stay away from it. Yes, I am taking the same drugs as you...tacronlimis and Cellcept. I know everyone takes a different dosage depending on their metabolism, etc. What dosage are you currently taking each day on an empty stomach?

I take 3 mg, am/pm Tac and I was taking 1,000 mg Mycophenolate am/pm, but got to reduce that down to 500 mg am/pm. I take those, Ursodial (for PBC), multivitamin, aspirin at 8:15 am, then eat around 9:30 or so. I try to eat supper by 5 pm. And, Tac, Mycophenolate, and Ursodial at 8:15. I drink 60-89 fluid ounces of water through out the day. It does get difficult when eating out with people, so if I’m eating later, I’ll usually advance my morning meds 15 mins.

Cranberry is a tough one. I occasionally add a couple to my fruit salad as they are healthy, especially to ward of UTI. Juice is certainly more concentrated, though.

How about you, how much do you take? There was a discussion recently about being careful about fungus exposure after transplant. I learned a lot about the differences in different organ transplants and bone marrow transplant…fascinating!

@hello1234,
I have located some information about foods and food safety for transplant recipients.
Did you have a limited diet before transplant?

Transplant Food Safety
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/food-transplant/
Vacation Tips and Tricks for Transplant Patients
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/transplant/newsfeed-post/vacation-tips-and-tricks-for-transplant-patients/
From the National Kidney Foundation
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/foodsafety
Food Safety Brochure from FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)
-People with Organ Transplants
-Being Smart When Eating Out
https://www.fda.gov/media/83744/download

I can't tell you how much I enjoy "talking" with you! I take 7mg long acting Envarsus XR once a day. I also was on 1,000mg bid Cellcept and just recently reduced to 500mg bid Cellcept due to a CMV infection. May I ask why your Cellcept was reduced to 500mg bid.... Was it also an infection or were you experiencing unwanted side effects, or was it just at your one year anniversary? I take my pills at 7:15am (currently with my oatmeal) and then in the evening at 7:17pm after dinner.
Regarding fungus exposure, did they mention any tips for protecting ourselves? THANK YOU so much again for sharing all that you have learned from your research. You are incredibly knowledgeable and I appreciate all that you share! It's comforting to talk with you.

Nice to “visit” with you as well. Connects has been very helpful for me as I navigate my new illnesses, so when I can, I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned from my research and experience.

Wow, I just read about CMV, I hope you are finding reducing Mycophenolate helps!! Are your kidney functions ok?

My doctor is having me try reducing Mycophenolate as my liver enzymes have been so good. So, I have to do labs in 2 and 4 weeks for monitoring.

Here’s the discussion on fungus. It’s actually a great dialogue on all sorts of things - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/this-and-that-and-talk-my-transpant/?pg=130#comment-616440
The newest entries touch on the fungus issue.