Everyone has a little story, right? Kidney health is important and not a topic that many people are in to. But, when you have a health crisis that revolves around kidney health, then suddenly you realize just how important your kidneys are to you.
Several months before my wedding nearly two decades ago, I was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis, or nephrotic syndrome. It started out with my ankles being really puffy. I went to the ER one night because I felt a little ‘off’ and I was suddenly worried at my growing ankles. At first they thought I was pregnant (since fat ankles apparently are a sign of a bun in the oven). I wasn’t, and they gave me a million tests. They discovered that my protein levels in my urine were literally off the charts. When the ER doctors don’t smile, you begin to worry. The next day I went to my primary physician who then shipped me off to a Nephrologist – a kidney specialist.
My kidneys sort of went haywire for some unknown reason. My ankles swelled up to ungodly diameters, and my kidneys were expelling an unreal amount of protein. They say my kidney damage was environmental, that something sparked it but no one knows exactly what. There was nothing that I could pinpoint as the cause. And since there is no magic pill that will fix this, one of the things my doctor gave me was a list of things not to eat and things to avoid. And monitored my kidney health like crazy.
I almost died when saw the list of things I could and couldn’t eat – I was still working at the Ritz-Carlton and was in my mid-twenties. I worked way too many hours a day and was putting myself through school. I admit it – I did probably too much and my body wore itself out. But, try telling that to a 25 year old. It doesn’t work.
If you have never went through a 24-hour urine collection before (you collect urine for 24 hours and stick it in your fridge) or undergo a renal ultrasound (you drink a bunch of water and hold it all in right before they do a kidney ultrasound – you literally think you will explode!) I wouldn’t recommend them if you get bored. I have done many. They are not much fun. 🙂
So, I made a change. Like, a complete ‘what goes into my body’ change. The nephrologist gave me a list (huge list) of things to avoid. I put myself on a very strict low-sodium, low-protein, modified macrobiotic and totally vegan diet. No animal products, and very low protein. I had no desire at all to go through a kidney transplant or deal with dialysis, which is where I was heading it seemed, so my diet was extreme – but I really put effort into making it delicious, fun, and in no way negative. And I was clean eating before ‘clean eating’ was en vogue – absolutely nothing processed went into my body. I read every label. And I really believe it saved my life.
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Two years later, my kidneys were at normal function and I found out I was really pregnant (eek!). I went through special tests and the OB was really great about it – actually both OBs for all three of my kids. I was really, really concerned this would affect this and future pregnancies and they all worked through special tests to monitor my protein levels and kidney functions to put me at ease. But I could have saved myself worry, because I was healthy as a horse.
I am not vegan or a strict vegetarian now, but I so watch what is on my plate. I do eat meat and fish, but the majority of my diet is actually vegetarian – without even planning it. Because I enjoy it. Hatcho miso is my friend. I like to experiment with tempeh and nutritional yeast.
I try to keep it simple, but I do the take-out thing, and have bags of chips and soda crackers in the cupboard, and probably drink too much coffee, too. Coffee is my one vice (I have a French press, espresso machine, a Bialetti, and a Keurig for when I want an ‘instant’ cup of coffee, and a plain old coffee maker – they all get used in rotation or when I want a particular style of coffee). But I really focus on clean eating, and contrary to all the low-carb theories going around, I am slim, healthy, and feel great eating a diet high in carbs, though honestly they are mainly complex carbohydrates. I still limit my protein intake to this day. My husband is a low-carb man (we do a bbq site together – he takes pictures, I write about bbq), by I still try to convince him of the error of his ways. 🙂
Edited to add: Since writing this, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Triple negative (non estrogen) at 43, soon also discovering I am BRCA2 positive. I am cancer free as of this edit (yay!) but wanted to edit this to say I no longer am the coffee slave I once was. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and lived in Portland during culinary school, hey, it’s got to rub off you. I am completely caffeine free, by choice, but am now an herbal tea junkie. We all have our vices…
🙂
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