Diet and medications after radical nephrectomy

Eskimo lily

Hi everyone.

 

My mom has had a radical left nephrectomy done just under 3 weeks ago. I asked the doctors and nurses if there is a specific diet that she has to follow and they said no (Except low sugar, she is borderline type 2 diabetic with a hba1c of 7.2, diet controlled).

 

I was very surprised to hear that she can be on a normal diet.

 

does anyone have any words of caution or advice I can give to my mom? Any specific medications to avoid or foods to avoid?

 

thank you very much for any help. I've been reading lots of posts here on this network and the support is amazing.

MDCinSC

Diet et al!

The generic advice I've been given here is 3-4 liters of water per day, reduce your sodium intake, and cut back on red meats.  I am sure there are more that I have simply let by me. For my albeit diet controlled A1C issues, I have eliminated white foods altogether. No potatoes, Rice, white bread, etc.  I also use stevia, which may have its share of issues, but I risk it.  I went from a 7.5 A1C to a 5.3 A1C in 6 months with that diet.

Nanosecond has done extensive work on RCC, one kidney, and diet.  I'd strongly suspect he would share his findings.

Good luck!

Michael

Galrim

Normal varied and healthy diet

Unless your mom has any medical conditions, or a general state of health/physical condition, that indicates she should take extra consideration/care concerning her remaining kidney, then she can basically have a diet and lifestyle as the average Joe.

Varied healthy diet, exercise, adequate amount of water.

/G

NanoSecond

MDCinSC said:

Diet et al!

The generic advice I've been given here is 3-4 liters of water per day, reduce your sodium intake, and cut back on red meats.  I am sure there are more that I have simply let by me. For my albeit diet controlled A1C issues, I have eliminated white foods altogether. No potatoes, Rice, white bread, etc.  I also use stevia, which may have its share of issues, but I risk it.  I went from a 7.5 A1C to a 5.3 A1C in 6 months with that diet.

Nanosecond has done extensive work on RCC, one kidney, and diet.  I'd strongly suspect he would share his findings.

Good luck!

Michael

Diet

Yes I do have lots to contribute on this question.  However, I don't go for just listing "rules".  I try to explain the science and rationale behind my dietary recommedations.  That is why my guide to nutrition is now about 58 pages long.  I am happy to share it with anyone interested.  Just send me an email at:

n.feldman@videopost.com

And I will then respond with my document attached (it is a .pdf file).

Of course everyone is told to "eat healthy".  But I have attempted to figure out what that really means.  Especially if you are a cancer sufferer.  I was stunned to subsequently discover that what I thought was eating healthy was not.  The explanation is in my guide.

Everyone is also advise to eat a "balanced diet".  But that piece of advice is worthless IMHO, and my guide attempts to explain why.

Eskimo lily

NanoSecond said:

Diet

Yes I do have lots to contribute on this question.  However, I don't go for just listing "rules".  I try to explain the science and rationale behind my dietary recommedations.  That is why my guide to nutrition is now about 58 pages long.  I am happy to share it with anyone interested.  Just send me an email at:

n.feldman@videopost.com

And I will then respond with my document attached (it is a .pdf file).

Of course everyone is told to "eat healthy".  But I have attempted to figure out what that really means.  Especially if you are a cancer sufferer.  I was stunned to subsequently discover that what I thought was eating healthy was not.  The explanation is in my guide.

Everyone is also advise to eat a "balanced diet".  But that piece of advice is worthless IMHO, and my guide attempts to explain why.

Thank you all very much for

Thank you all very much for your input.

 

nanosecond, I've sent you en email to th address provided. 

NanoSecond

Eskimo lily said:

Thank you all very much for

Thank you all very much for your input.

 

nanosecond, I've sent you en email to th address provided. 

My Guide to Nutrition

Is on its way to you.

izzycohen

post surgery diet

I am three weeks post surgery for a radical left nephrectomy.  it went well.  I also am on no special diet except low sugar for the same reasons as your mother.

GSRon

izzycohen said:

post surgery diet

I am three weeks post surgery for a radical left nephrectomy.  it went well.  I also am on no special diet except low sugar for the same reasons as your mother.

Diet and..

OK, so I thought of adding to this post and not start a new one...  So today was pretty awesome..!  Slid my car into the drive about 30 minutes before my 10:15 appointment with my Hemotologist.  Dashed to the Lab area and got a quick poke, two vials of blood drawn..  Checked in for the Dr visit and was escorted through the routine ahead of the scheduled time by 5 minutes..!  So, as I reported in another post, my results are better than expected.  And I heard words that really got me going... No need to see this Dr until next year..!  Now doesn't that sound nice..!  But, he does want me to get a Phlebotoby.. however it ended up being scheduled for tomorrow afternoon... which is fine.. I wanted to bask in the good news a bit...

My next appointment was at noon.. so I got a quick bite to eat... Again I checked in a bit early and here came a pretty blonde to take me away...  This is the Dietician I was to meet with.

Yes, this purdy gal did her homework on me.  She echoed her task was to inform me of the best diet that MUST include the three main issues.

1. Kidney function

2. Blood disease

3. Bowel issues (diarrhea) / Inlyta, and weight loss.

I know sooner or later Neil will likely chime in... which is good.  Remember we are all different and we all have somewhat different needs.  One size does not fit all..

So, to my surprize the first suggestion may be helpful to many of you..!  She told me to eat smaller portions and eat 5 times a day instead of 3.  The reasoning is that with my weird diarrhea that this MAY help my body cope with food better.   Worth a try..!  She then described portion size... foods no larger than the palm of my hand.

The we talked about foods not to eat for reduced Kidney function.. nothing new there.. low salt lots of water.

The longest discussion was for foods to help with my blood issue.  She already had looked at all my blood tests from the last two years, so she KNEW all the info up front.  Oh yes she also had printed my pages of info for me to take home.

So get this.. my basic diet was very good, which both my Dr and she feels is one reason for my good blood tests.  I need to cut down on Vitamin K, so I had eliminated all the dark green stuff.  But there was a lot more..  I also need to reduce Iron intake, which I had done, but not good enough.  What is important to know is that some foods in combination can change how some foods (proteins) are absorbed.  Oh yes, and due to the diarrhea and weight loss, she suggested I add SOME carbs to my diet.  Remember some times you have to weigh out the plusses and minuses and decide what is best.

Lastly I was given a list of foods that have only traces of Vitamin K but have other important neutients and worth eating, AHA..!  Obviously there was a lot more to this discussion, but as it really is speciffic to me, not any real value to the group.  However, feel free to ask me quesions... but remember we are all different and I am not expert...

 

Ron

 

 

Galrim

Unless, speaking in general now, you have additional health issues and is in good physical shape there is no need for a special diet.

Just maintain a generally healthy lifestyle then living with one kidney is not an issue.

What in general to consider is not to go overbard on salty and sugary foods/drinks, but that doesnt mean you have to remove them completely from your diet. Balance is the keyword here...

/G

NanoSecond

GSRon said:

Diet and..

OK, so I thought of adding to this post and not start a new one...  So today was pretty awesome..!  Slid my car into the drive about 30 minutes before my 10:15 appointment with my Hemotologist.  Dashed to the Lab area and got a quick poke, two vials of blood drawn..  Checked in for the Dr visit and was escorted through the routine ahead of the scheduled time by 5 minutes..!  So, as I reported in another post, my results are better than expected.  And I heard words that really got me going... No need to see this Dr until next year..!  Now doesn't that sound nice..!  But, he does want me to get a Phlebotoby.. however it ended up being scheduled for tomorrow afternoon... which is fine.. I wanted to bask in the good news a bit...

My next appointment was at noon.. so I got a quick bite to eat... Again I checked in a bit early and here came a pretty blonde to take me away...  This is the Dietician I was to meet with.

Yes, this purdy gal did her homework on me.  She echoed her task was to inform me of the best diet that MUST include the three main issues.

1. Kidney function

2. Blood disease

3. Bowel issues (diarrhea) / Inlyta, and weight loss.

I know sooner or later Neil will likely chime in... which is good.  Remember we are all different and we all have somewhat different needs.  One size does not fit all..

So, to my surprize the first suggestion may be helpful to many of you..!  She told me to eat smaller portions and eat 5 times a day instead of 3.  The reasoning is that with my weird diarrhea that this MAY help my body cope with food better.   Worth a try..!  She then described portion size... foods no larger than the palm of my hand.

The we talked about foods not to eat for reduced Kidney function.. nothing new there.. low salt lots of water.

The longest discussion was for foods to help with my blood issue.  She already had looked at all my blood tests from the last two years, so she KNEW all the info up front.  Oh yes she also had printed my pages of info for me to take home.

So get this.. my basic diet was very good, which both my Dr and she feels is one reason for my good blood tests.  I need to cut down on Vitamin K, so I had eliminated all the dark green stuff.  But there was a lot more..  I also need to reduce Iron intake, which I had done, but not good enough.  What is important to know is that some foods in combination can change how some foods (proteins) are absorbed.  Oh yes, and due to the diarrhea and weight loss, she suggested I add SOME carbs to my diet.  Remember some times you have to weigh out the plusses and minuses and decide what is best.

Lastly I was given a list of foods that have only traces of Vitamin K but have other important neutients and worth eating, AHA..!  Obviously there was a lot more to this discussion, but as it really is speciffic to me, not any real value to the group.  However, feel free to ask me quesions... but remember we are all different and I am not expert...

 

Ron

 

 

Hi Ron.  Well it sounds like

Hi Ron.  Well it sounds like you have gotten some good basic dietary advice - tailored to your specific needs.

There is no doubt at all that each of us is different.

My dietary recommendations are simply based on what I have come to understand about normal and abnormal cell metabolism.  What one does with that knowledge is then an individual decision.

 

foxhd

Galrim said:

Unless, speaking in general now, you have additional health issues and is in good physical shape there is no need for a special diet.

Just maintain a generally healthy lifestyle then living with one kidney is not an issue.

What in general to consider is not to go overbard on salty and sugary foods/drinks, but that doesnt mean you have to remove them completely from your diet. Balance is the keyword here...

/G

Pizza and Beer

"nuff said.