I get my transplant next week and just got the word on foods that you can and cannot eat. I love eating healthy, especially dark green leafy veggies, so this news is so disheartening. In fact, it is heartbreaking.
I am going to comply, but I have just one question: Can anyone suggest a substitute for tomatoes??? I can cut them out of my diet but just about every dish that I cook (most especially veggie soup) has a tomato base and I am at a loss for how to cook my favorite dishes.
Try red bell peppers.
Do I make it with chicken broth??? Red peppers are solid and fry up nicely but aren't particularly juicy; tomatoes are juicy and break down into a sauce.
Depends on the recipe. Do you have to completely cut out tomatoes or can you cut down and use both?
Completely, according to the transplant team. They say "avoid."
Did they say why?
Yes. The reason being the anti-rejection drug Tacrolimus (Prograf) causes an already-big potassium load in my bloodstream. Potassium is an electrolyte that regulates muscle contraction and the biggest muscle in the human body is the heart. We certainly don't want to mess with that.
Tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, oranges, cooked spinach, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, acorn or butternut squash, beets ... etc., etc., etc., (sigh) are high in potassium. My strategy will be to keep my levels low so that I can reintroduce some of those foods in my diet later on, down the road.
As what I know, when I was on dialysis, I obeyed all the rules-low potassium, low phosphorus; But when I got a transplant, It seemed like I can eat basically all things, without those strict restrictions. I just had to watch my cholesterol and calories.
Congrats on upcoming transplant. About tomatoes. You do need to listen carefully to your drs orders. Being 18 months into living donor transplant I’ve never been told to abstain from tomatoes. Maybe they want to wait and see how your potassium levels are after the surgery. Particularly in the beginning your electrolytes may be a bit off. I still have low magnesium but potassium has always been normal.
Best wishes!
Thanks! I will comply with the restrictions, and wait and see what happens to my potassium levels.
I agree you should see how your levels are after transplant. If they do say you can have tomatoes, avoid them and any other potassium-rich food a couple of days before your labs.
By the way, congrats on the transplant! Prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery!
I've never heard of avoiding fruits and vegetables except for grapefruit. I was told I couldn't eat unwashed fruit and vegetables but as long as they were washed it was ok. I'm sorry your list is different. Maybe your labs are different or your diagnosis. Obviously listen to your team they know best. Sorry I don't have a substitute for tomatoes.
And starfruit is a killer too. It will damage a person's kidney real bad if not destroy it.
I have never been told to avoid tomatoes only Seville oranges and grapefruit which can increase the potency if the meds and increase risk of side effects ( I believe?) Tomatoes would be a hard thing to cut out for me. If they are worried about potassium levels then they’d also say steer clear of bananas and pomegranates … is there anything else they said to be avoid ?
Advice differs wildly it seems .
The diet you are talking about sounds like a dialysis diet. I am three years post and I was told to stay away from sushi, smoked fish, sliced deli meats, and some other raw foods. The concern is for food safety and bacteria. Grapefruit and pomegranates are off limits due to reactions to medications.
Unless you have special circumstances potassium should no longer be an issue. You should double check with your teams nutritionist. Congratulations and best of luck.
That is precisely what I told them -- this diet is for people on dialysis. I got that information from my nephrology dietician at my HMO. She said ignore the information in the transplant notebook; all you need to do is do a low-salt diet. Unfortunately, though, the transplant center is pulling rank and saying no you cannot eat these foods.
So far, no one has been able to think of a substitute for tomatoes, so I remain perplexed.
It is hard for me to listen to this restrictions because (a) I've never been on dialysis, and (b) I have absolutely no CKD symptoms and feel healthy as a horse (except for the low GFR percentage). So, going in, it looks like I am being asked to endure a regimen that takes all the joy out of eating so that my medications can work properly.
Quality of life is just as important as longevity. I want my tomatoes. 'Nuff said.
And drink lots of water. Once you heal from your surgery your life should return to normal. Give yourself 4-6 months to get your energy back
Based on your reaction, I assumed you'd never been on dialysis. That is certainly a renal diet. I am guessing kidney failure snuck up on you somehow, so of course it's hard to suddenly stop eating your favorite foods. I would force the team to tell you why you cannot have tomatoes. That's just not common for transplant recipients.
Excuse me for asking, Since you feel so healthy, no CKD symptoms, why so hurry into a transplant? it gonna come with a lot of medications and the side effects.
Why can't you eat tomatoes after your transplant? After a transplant you can pretty much eat what you want. I still watch my salt and try to eat heart healthy. Your potassium should be normal after and there should be no reason you can't eat tomatoes.I am 22+ years post transplant and there is nothing that I really can't eat.
I am looking forward to growing tomatoes this summer.
What medicine will they put you on post transplant?
Tacrolimus (Prograf).
Maybe talk to your transplant doctor before you get the transplant that if they can consider giving you other kind of anti-rejection med instead of Prograf.
I am on prograf and can eat tomatoes. I agree with others to talk to your dr and question them.
Looking up Prograf, it can cause high levels of Potassium. You will have to see how it goes after your transplant. I have found that just because it CAN cause increase in your potassium, doesn't mean it will. Something to talk to your transplant team about after your transplant.Best of luck to you with your surgery next week. You will feel fantastic!
Agree with most of the replies. Just wait to see what your figures are and if potassium level is not a problem you will be fine with tomatoes. Lots of other high potassium foods you could cut down on first if need be.
I have taken Red Bell Peppers and sauteed them in Olive Oil and then pureed them in my Ninja...adding some water if needed...I also throw in a few hot peppers for spice...makes a nice sauce...not as good as tomato...but nice
Thank you. I appreciate it!
We use a recipe called "tomato-less marinara sauce" that is made with onions, garlic, beets, and carrots, all boiled until tender, then rinsed, and finally blended. Makes great replacement for all things tomato that we've tried so far. We use for pizzas and spaghetti. Haven't tried yet as a base for soups as we have been using no sodium, low potassium broth. We like the taste and consistency.
Now THAT is a helpful hint. Thank you!!!
Hi, after my 2019 transplant I was told to cut down and avoid potassium. (Tomato’s and bananas) if your potassium gets too high you can have a heart attack . Now I follow my potassium and can have a little bit of tomato’s in salad. It gets easier
That's encouraging to hear.
Ultimately, the issue is how well your kidney filters out everything. You may find yourself under other restrictions you did not anticipate. Stay in contact with the clinic dietitian.
I have been learning to limit potassium for a year or so (low GFR, non-dialysis, on transplant list). It was really hard at first but now I am pretty send to it. My dietician pointed out that sauces are more concentrated than just having a few slices of tomato on a salad. Potatoes are a big no-no. I kept a list of low and high potassium foods in the kitchen and when shopping. We have been making pizza with a basil pesto sauce in place of tomato sauce. I use cabbage a lot now in place of darker leafy greens. My potassium has been great the last few months, so it is worth it for me.Good luck managing it and congrats on the transplant! Oh, and Davita has great online kidney friendly recipes.
Cabbage instead of dark leafy greens is an excellent suggestion. Thank you.
I was put on a potassium binder instead of avoiding healthy foods.
This is an an example of how everyone is different. My potassium runs low due to sirolimus. I am told to eat potassium rich foods and have to take a potassium pill (a horse size pill) everyday. Prior to taking sirolimus, while on tacrolimus, I had no potassium issues.
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