Worrying about my eating lately with CKD

@nscappa Good morning, Nancy! I can certainly relate, and I bet there are a lot of others also nodding their heads in agreement.

For well over a decade I have watched my diet, following sound protocols for kidney patients. But, you know what? We are humans, and have all the emotional rollercoasters and pressures associated with that. There are times we simply don't want to follow what we "should" be doing. Times when we want comfort food, or to break the routine, or to rebel. We all get that. Is it okay? Yeah, take a day or two and let go. But get back on track for the long haul. Some use the reasoning "everything in moderation" and that will work for them. But it usually doesn't work for me. If a bag of chips is open [my husband loves them] I have to really restrain myself. Now, I ask him to take the bag to the garage so there is less temptation. There are times when I am heading for a food group that needs restriction, that my mind will go to the thought of how my body/lab numbers will be affected if I indulge too much. Sometimes that reasoning works, other times it doesn't.

Keeping foods out of your house that may be too tempting can be a way to avoid a binge. Buying a "snack" or "lunchbox" size of something can be just enough of that taste you crave to satisfy you. Have you tried that?

Kidney disease, or any chronic issue, is not for the faint-hearted. We have the right to feel overwhelmed, tempered with the responsibility to be our own best self, and take care of ourselves. Have you thought about journaling it all out, and writing a letter to yourself, and see what is discovered? You might be surprised and enlightened.
Ginger

Thank you so much Ginger. Fortunately my CKD3 was diagnosed a couple of years ago so I have not had to restrict myself for as long as you must have a battle on your hands. The need for sweets is really difficult for me and I have decided not to get the chips anymore or maybe once a month. I'm not really what you would call a "cook" but since I have this condition I usually make zucchini omelets, sauteed eggplant, red peppers, broccoli, fish, toast (I need my toas), bananas (I have a low potassium count so I take supplements). I love cottage cheese but it's loaded with salt and I do have a problem with not eating at least half of the container so goodbye to cottage cheese. I know to stay away from processed foods, no deli meat, no turkey, etc. I drain my beans to get rid of the salt, I sometimes drain the tuna unless it's no salt and that is really a bummer - no taste at all. As far as picking at night, what the heck can I pick on? I don't like fresh carrots, I do love popcorn, so I get a low salt or sea salt type and try not to eat too much but you know how difficult that is. I just can't seem to control myself and I really don't like that at all. I am not usually like this but it seems that I have lost control. I know what you mean about not having these foods around but I really need some ice cream of some sort and I try to get the ice cream on bars. Well, thank you again for writing back to me and your comments are so informative and friendly at the same time. We will talk again and I will get on track again, starting today. What do you cook for yourself for supper and/or lunch??? Okay, I'll stop here because I can go on for days. : )

@nscappa Ice cream on bars is good, you can have a bit of control that way! I get the 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn, and the quantity fills me up. One thing for me, is that I am working on my albumin and protein levels. That means I need to have quality protein, and I do fix a shake each day. Greek yogurt, almond milk, frozen berries [thawed], perhaps a half banana, scoop of pea protein powder. I switch around between vanilla, chocolate or strawberry powder, and also have peanut butter powder to add if I want. That shake really satisfies me, and often the craving I get for sweets.

Sometimes we need to retrain our brain. I wasn't a big fan of raw carrots, but now I love baby carrots. Along with raw bell pepper, celery sticks and apple slices, for me it is a taste changeup that is satisfying, and crunchy.

I do more of a "what am I in the mood for" plan for my meals, cooking enough for leftovers. My husband doesn't have restrictions, and our meals sometimes combine his ideas and mine. Often I pick and graze. Chicken, fish are mainstays. I love a big salad. Texture and taste are high on my list. No-salt seasonings. Paprika is a late-comer to my list, and really perks things up! Basically in the mornings is a bit of something to get going, and midday is my biggest [and sometimes only] meal of the day.

We'll get through this!
Ginger

Hi Ginger,
I just love your suggestions so much. I just purchased a blender and you have given me some foods that I can add. I'm new at smoothies but my friend Helen has been drinking them for quite a while. I too love salads. I usually get the best "crunchy" ones, I think they are organic but I'm not sure. I sometimes add hard boiled eggs, tuna, beans, etc. I thought today I would be a bit better and I was but not as good as I wanted I to be. I wish that I could get rid of the "picky" mode. It's really been difficult, as I have previously mentioned, but I have to push a lot to try not to keep getting up like I am possessed. : ) Well, thank you again for candidness and friendly comments, I always appreciate that you have to tell me. Be safe!!

I, too, can certainly relate! Is there some other way that you could reward yourself? For me it’s buying new clothes. This has the added benefit of making me trim down periodically so I can still fit in them but it might be something else that interests you. Treating yourself to a massage also comes to mind. Maybe there’s something that doesn’t cost anything too, such as going on a nature hike with a friend? Hugs to you!

This CKD was sprung on me about 3 1/2 years ago when I moved to NC. My first Dr. appointment and blood test told me I had stage 3 CKD. I wondered if my trip to FL. and not drinking water all that time would have caused it. then I got a copy of a test from my old doctor in Ohio and THERE IT WAS! The aide who had called me the results said everything was fine. After a while I called that dr. and he said he did not know I had CKD (there it was at the very bottom of the test copy. So that just told me he ordered tests and did not care to read them. Then after a little more time passed, I sent to the hospital in Ohio asking for 18 years of test results - after a couple months and quite a few dollars I got 3 packages of results from 3 doctors. ALL of the tests said stage 2 or 3 CKD. My mind was blown; I tried to get one of those doctors to talk with me and not one would. Then I tried an Ohio office of medical lawyers. Absolutely nothing could be done. I was not on a kidney diet then. Now I am trying to do so. However I ask you Is it necessary? I am 94 will be 95 in October.

Sammy – you may have CKD but you’re a great writer. I guess I can’t say I exactly enjoyed reading your post but I definitely related to it and read it twice. Good for you for ordering all those records! We like our GP very , very much but I too don’t remember any big red flags waving when I went into third stage kidney disease.