So what can I eat?

While I was in the hospital, I had a nutritionist to talk to about every meal.  Now that I'm home, it is really hard to figure out what I can eat.  The list seems long, but when I walk through the grocery store it seems like everything that I enjoy is off limits.  I'm pretty sure that going out to eat, or going to a friend's place for dinner are both pretty much out of the question for awhile.  The renal diet is really complicated and seems to make no sense.  Fortunately, I have a little experience in paying extra attention to my food because I was vegan in college.  I'm at least able to apply those skills, but I will be spending a lot more time thinking about, cooking, and procuring food than I have in a long time.

Not eating meat adds an extra layer of complexity to this diet since I feel like all I can eat is bread, meat, and limited selection of fruits and vegetables.  Lately, I have had a lot of portabella mushrooms and egg salad sandwiches, but I think stir fry might make it into the mix this week.  I'm hoping to find some way to make a sort of lasagna since I can have noodles and ricotta cheese, but that concept is still in the making.  DaVita's website has been a helpful guide though: http://www.vcuhealth.org/upload/docs/Transplant/renal_diet.pdf#page=25&zoom=auto,0,0

Beyond that- I moved to Southpoint to be close to my dialysis center, and to be in a place that would be easier to keep clean.  We're still unpacking, but we have the important things-heat and internet!  It's weird to live in an apartment complex where there is so much going on all the time, but I think I'll get used to it.  The dog and cat sure have settled in nicely, making this a much easier transition.

I'm still amazed at how helpful my doctor has been.  He has really been more like a case manager- setting up appointments for me with other specialists and finding me a chair at a dialysis center.  He coordinated with my hospital in Florida to help me get home.  Dr. Middleton has really been incredible.

I'm headed back to unpacking, but I just wanted to add an update since it had been awhile, and my situation is finally calming down.  I'm starting to figure out what this new normal is going to be like- I think.