Hello T.com communitty,

I am reaching out to anyone who can offer me some advice. My father recently went into renal failure and is on a selective diet. He also was diagnosed a few years ago with liver failure. He has been interested in EFL and I would like to help him with his diet.

Does anybody know or have experience with this type of restricted diet and EFL? He doesnt fully understand his diet restrictions and I wont be able to go down to see him for another week to get the info the doctors gave him. My next step is to do an internet search.

Thanks in advance for any help.

B.J.

Depending on what stage of renal failure your dad is in will determine his diet. EFL would have to be modified by cutting the protein portions by at least half, maybe more. EFL recipes occasionally use processed foods, meats, cheeses, broths, sauces that are higher in sodium. Most probably he will also be placed on a low sodium diet. But the basic premise of EFL can still work with modifications.

His fluid intake will be limited and he could be placed on a diuretic or "fluid" pill. Fruits, veggies, popcycles, jello, etc. all count as liquids. As renal failure continues fluid intake is more restricted. Potassium is also closely watched as well as calcium and phosphorus levels as renal failure progresses.

Back to Protein for a minute. Protein intake is lowered because that's a primary job of the kidneys, removing the waste products of protein metabolism. Less protein intake means less stress on the kidneys. This can help slow down the progression of the renal failure in some cases.

Now the above is for people who's renal failure is being managed by diet and medication. If at a later point Dialysis is needed, "going on a Kidney machine" the diet will change in that your dad will be encouraged to eat a lot of protein. That's because dialysis will be cleaning his blood, not his kidneys.

I worked 9 years in Dialysis as an RN from staff nurse to Patient education to Management. I would be happy to support you through all this with your dad.

You will get much support from a Reg. Lic. Dietician about your Dad's nutritional needs.

My prayers are with your Dad

Uncle Dave

Thank you soo much dave,

You answered a lot of questions that he didn't know about. They believe his kidneys shut down due to a high fever during a viral infection, he started to take up to 4 asprin a day during those few weeks and then continued to take as much asprin for about another week due to headaches. He is in liver failure so he is limited to what OTC pain medication he can use. They started him on dialysis in the hospital about 2 weeks ago. He is doing much better and though they don't know how long he"ll be on dialysis they are hopeful that his kidneys will heal. At least thats what they say?

He really wants to eat healthy but doesn't really cook for himself anymore...he got used to living on MRE's (long story). I keep telling him how great the meals are that I cook and how easy most of them are to prepare. I may end up making a week or 2 worth of food and freezing it each time I go down.

Thank you for your help,
BJ

my husband is a kidney cancer survivor, he lost one kidney 30 years ago and it happened again 29 years later. He now has 2/3 of one kidney left and is working as if if has 2 perfect kidneys
amazing!
he has to limit his salt, but no fludi pills ever. He has to watch the diary products most of all, cheese and milk and calcicum. That's his only restrictions.

Praise God he is doing fantastic!

I'm keeping your Dad in my prayers

HI Bj, So sorry to hear about your Dad. My Mother has been on diaylisis for 5 years now and is just as of about a month ago on the transplant list. I know with her, she has a dietician at her center that monitors her diet. They give her a list of foods and they let her know when she has too much protein or not enough or too much fluid ect, they monitor all of her levels. When she eats clean I know that she has much more energy and her treatments are a bit easier on her. When her fluid levels are too high she tends to get some cramping during her dialysis and she is sluggish and weak the rest of the day.
Thanks Uncle Dave for your easy to understand stages of kidney diets. Great information! I was wondering if her diet would change if she did get a kidney. Sounds like you are the person to contact if I have questions going forward, so glad you are here with all of your experience!
Linda- So glad to hear thank you husband has 2/3 of his kidney.
BJ- My prayers are with you and your Dad That would be a blessing if his kidneys could heal. Is there anyway you could get something faxed to you from his dietician, nurse or doctor as to what his current diet needs are? Sounds like they will change as he gets better and especially if his is on dialysis or off of dialysis. That may help you in your modifications of the EFL recipes.
Much love ~Liz

Like Uncle Dave said: Protein intake is lowered because that's a primary job of the kidneys, removing the waste products of protein metabolism. Less protein intake means less stress on the kidneys. This can help slow down the progression of the renal failure in some cases.


My brother-in-law was over today and having the same problems, he is restricted to only 70 grams of protein a day
He is not on dialysis but is a dibetic and on insilin