Chronic Living Blog

When I worked hospital dialysis, I always had an influx of patients during the holidays. It wasn’t because of food poisoning or family disputes. It was because my patients changed their diet.

In the context of holidays, there is a culture of food, drink, family, and tradition. With chronic disease, there needs to be adjustments or the family tradition may just be spent in the hospital.

In the dialysis patient example, they can not process liquid or nutrients the same as everybody else. If they have that one extra drink, or eat that special treat, it can be life threatening. I am not exaggerating.

As a patient, you know your restrictions and are sick of hearing about them. Your family does not and may not get how serious it is to stick to the diet. Hold your ground. Talk to your family and enlist them to support your health so you can be there for many more holidays.

As a family member, write down the restrictions and make adjustments to respect them. Ideally, the sick family member does not get left out.

Create a holiday menu that reflects the special diet. For kidney patients, that is a low potassium/low phosphorus diet. Refer to the diet instructions from their doctor. You can get kidney friendly recipes from any of the dialysis provider web sites.

For those with other chronic disease special diet, look up the specific diet they are on: DASH, low FODMAP, diabetic, etc. Work with the dietician to make a menu that is delicious and safe.

Excess fluid is another danger that kidney and heart patients have to avoid. Too much fluid can fill up the lungs and cause shortness of breath.

Fluid overload can show itself in other ways.

The best way to check is to weigh yourself every day. One liter of liquid is 2.2 pounds. That is equal to four coffee cups. Back off on your liquid intake if your weight is going up if you are on a fluid restriction.

Some tips do resist temptation during the holidays.

1. Use a small cup
2. Have a variety of safe food and fill up on those
3. Make a menu of mostly safe food for the family to eat
4. Choose tiny portion sizes for danger foods if you must have some
5. Pace yourself and enjoy the time with your loved ones.