I've been a Renal Dietitian for about 20 years... In summary, the renal diet shouldn't be too restrictive... unlike what I see you think! You need to check with the doctor and make sure you are "adequately dialysed... KT/V at least 1.4 or URR at least 70%... You need to eat lots of protein (look at your hand and eat that much ... to your watch on your wrist); do not eat bananas, orange juice and limit milk to 1/2 cup per day. That is it! Monthly ask about your lab data. Your Albumin should be at least 3.8 gms... 4.0 is normal! If your Phos is high... you need more pills to bind; if your potassium is high perhaps you are constipated! Ask for a potassium list... this should be temporary... If you have urine output you need less of a fluid restriction... etc. Ask to meet with your dietitian... put her/him to work and have them help you prioritize... you don't need to limit stuff you don't eat! You should not have to do this all your self! Most of my patients do well and can eat about everything... with only a few things to avoid.

If you have nausea or feel weak... you are probably underdialyzed... increase time or flow of blood or dialysate will help.

You need to exercise daily... if not you will never feel better...
Enough for now.
Priscilla

I'd like to have you for a dietitian. Our's seems to say we have to watch out for everything. I was so scared by her warnings there were a number of things I didn't touch for over a year (i.e. fresh tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, plums, watermelon, cantalope, apricots, avacado,prunes, dates, figs, cornbread, cheesecake, chocolate cake and candy, icecream, bacon, sausage, cream pies, most cakes, pudding,coconut, peanut butter,nuts, raisins, potatoe chips, hot dogs, sandwhich meats, pizza Ccheese and tomatoe sauce), ham, etc). So are you saying we can eat these things? If so, how much at a time?

Parker,
I've been ESRD for 26 years and on many forms of a remal diet (ie peritoneal, transplant, hemo) Having lived with the hemo diet the longest, I have realized I can eat pretty much what I want (often including "no no's"), BUT, I am still very careful. I've learned to avoid some things still but enjoy a freer diet than a lot of patients. I do this by keeping careful track of what I eat and not over indulging on anything, while still avoiding a lot of "nmo no's". The higher the K in foods, the less likely I am to eat it, at the very most I limit my use of most higher items (principally the items you mention in your list ). I have learned over the many years what I can "get away with" but is with many years of practice as a learned and careful consumer. It takes time and patience to know what you can eat.

Monitor your monthly blood work and if you do "test the waters", do it around blood work time to see how it affects your K levels. Everyone is very different and some may be freer than others, its not a cookie cutter diet for everyone.

I don't beleive the dietitan is saying you can have what ever you want, but she is saying you can, with diligent care, afford a few more things that could be considered 'restriced". She is not telling people they can have liberal diets, for many renal patients might take that to mean they can eat anything and that is not true, one still needs to be very careful. I think a LITTLE of most things IN MODERATION can be okay for some people, but always check with your nephrologist or dietitian first. Be aware and very careful!

Best wishes, Jaemann (female)