Snow Day

For President’s Day Weekend, we planned to do a one-day ski trip to Lake Tahoe. We had a much-needed storm the weekend prior, and another one was forthcoming.

It was the perfect time. It was our first time back skiing in two years. Two years ago, the snow did not come and my Hubby had a damaged knee (from skiing down some advanced runs at Kirkwood), and last year, well - we all know what happened then (I had a kidney transplant).

I think I was a bit more anxious for this trip; not only because it has been awhile, but primarily, because I really had to be careful. I have to take care of my kidney while skiing; so, I have to be even more mindful of what is around me and the snow conditions; With my new kidney, I felt like one of the Slope Style skiers in the Winter Olympics at Sochi, Swedish skier Henrik Harlaut. He was inspired by the movie “Cool Runnings” and carried a lucky egg with him in his event. Instead of an egg, I have a very lucky kidney. I cannot have it break. (In case you missed it, we speculated that Henrik broke his egg after a nasty spill). I cannot have hard falls – especially on my right side.

When I am practicing aikido. I can more or less control what I do. However, I cannot control the people around me and I have to be 10 times more mindful when doing partner practice. While skiing and I have to be 100 times more aware. Also, I have to say goodbye to skiing fast. When I go fast, I have less time to react when something wrong happens. I remember that my skis are fast. The first time I used them, I could not believe how fast they wanted to go, and I had to accept and get used to the speed. Now, I have to do the opposite, and figure out how to control my speed.  On the slopes, Hubby and I started slow.  It was a great day though with blue skies and the slopes were still in great shape – groomed packed powder.

It felt good to be in the mountains and be outdoors. As we did our first run, the snow really felt good under my skis. I had good control of my skis, took easy, slow turns, and skied down the slope. It did not feel like I missed two years. Although we agreed to only do easy green runs, we stretched ourselves and tried a blue intermediate run before lunch. Most of the ski runs at Alpine Meadows are really advanced, i.e., even the blue runs are difficult, so, I opted to try an easy blue! I just took extra care and was able to complete my run – and another!

In fact, the trail conditions in the morning were so good (and the slopes were not crowded) that, I even put on the gas, and a few times when the slopes were nearly empty. It really felt good to be back on the mountains and ski! Being outdoors and feeling the fresh air felt great, and it reminded me why I love skiing. It gives me the opportunity to commune with the mountains and nature at its winter best and, also have fun at the same time. This ski trip made all the sacrifices of the past year worth it.

AWESOME DAY! SO STOKED!

To My Valentine

I would not have survived this past year after my transplant – no...  the past six years, without my husband. My husband has been at my side since my diagnosis. Not only did the diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease change my life, it also changed his. He nearly fell of the chair when my nephrologist said that I was at Stage 4 CKD and so soon. We had plans that needed to be revisited: we were going to travel, get advanced scuba diving certifications, and perhaps also pursue our PhD’s. After that diagnosis, a number of things changed and our dreams were shattered. 

During my time on dialysis, he was my biggest supporter. In that first year, he accompanied me to every dialysis visit. The subsequent years, we felt that it was better to have him at home, make dinner and take care of things around the house, so all I needed to do was come home and rest, which was very much needed… even up to now, whether I like it or not.

This past year after transplant was overwhelming for the two of us. For me, it has focusing on recovery and adjusting to my new life. For my husband, it has been focusing on taking care of me, the household, and the kitty cat. He is the one behind the scenes: taking care of all the paperwork from the hospital(s), Medicare, and our personal insurance. This was no joke. He does most of the housework: although I try to pitch in at the cooking and some tidying up.

During this time, he had some of his own health and physical challenges too. I only realize now that it was perhaps partly, if not mostly due to the stress of going through the last six years.

This being Valentine’s Weekend, I dedicate this post to my Hubby who is my best friend, my partner-in-life, and my forever Valentine. The last six years, we had mainly taken care of ourselves and focused internally.

Hopefully, with this new chance in life, we can still pursue our dreams – new and old.  I love you, Hubby. Me and Meow are thankful you are in our lives.

Happy Valentine’s Day!  

One Year Later

January has always been a special month for me. It is the start of a new year and has always symbolizes new beginnings. Last year, it became extra-special since it was also the month when I had my kidney transplant. I cannot believe that it has been a year already.

I have been looking through my posts after the transplant and realized that I have come a long way. At that time, I could not walk without pain medication. Most of my days were spent sleeping. There were days when I would take four tablets of really strong pain meds. Now, I am walking, going to aikido class regularly, and dancing hula. I am even considering going back to the pool to prepare for our upcoming vacation (because it will hopefully be in somewhere tropical). The only time I take pain medication is when I overdo some of these activities.

It's not that everything is back to normal. I do miss some things that I can no longer enjoy because of my revised diet. I’ve always thought that I would never be pregnant, but now I am eating as if I were a pregnant lady – avoiding bacteria and raw food. At least, I can have some caffeine and wine.

I also still experience some sleepiness in the afternoon, probably due to one of my medications – most likely the blood pressure pills or even the immunosuppresants. But I still think I am very lucky: some transplant recipients experience numerous side effects to their new medications. Mine can be fixed with a latte or some chai.

We also had some scares along the way.  I have been hit twice accidentally in my kidney spot and recently got into a car accident. In each of those, I got very shaken up and felt extremely paranoid – sometimes paranoid to the point that I would prefer to stay home and be safe.  After some contemplation and introspection, these incidents did help me reset and give me new perspective. I do need to be even more careful and mindful.

I am really appreciative of those in my support system without whom I would not be able to make it through this year. The nurses, the doctors, and my friends – close and far away have made my recovery easier to manage. Most importantly, I am very thankful for my husband who has been by my side every day. Oh, let’s not forget my little angel – Meow, who also has been giving me emotional support and company.

This past year has been interesting, adjusting to my new situation and routine. I do intend to experience life to the fullest and not to be afraid of new adventures, as long as I continue to be mindful and careful. 

After all, isn’t that the point of being given a new chance in life?

Taking Inventory

Hmmm... What else should I add?

Happy New Year! It’s that time of year when I take inventory of the past year. I find that this exercise is very useful for me to reflect on the last year and plan for the next.

Accomplishments from Last Year: 

• Celebrated 12 great years with my Hubby
• Received my Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt) in Aikido
• Participated in AikiHorizons weekend retreat, California Aikido Association’s Fall Divisional Training Weekend, and the Shihan Seminar at Aikido of San Leandro
• Renewed interest in cooking (and getting pretty good at it)
• Raised money for the Kidney Walk and the Light the Night Walk and completed both walks.
• Completed the Turkey Trot, my first 5K (after surgery).
• Completed four high profile projects at work, two of which were very intense.
• Joined a new halau (hula group) and practicing one night a week. Learned a new hula in a month.
• Participated in a weekend hula workshop. I learned three new hulas and reconnected with some old friends.
• Helped in our halau’s Christmas show.
• Went to three San Francisco Giants games – so much fun!
• Baked a whole lot of (healthy) muffins
• … and lots of brownies (not necessarily healthy).
• Blogged, blogged, blogged.
• Oh yeah, Got a new kidney!

Wow! Even without my transplant, this was a big year. Although some of them are my routine yearly activities, I think this was a huge accomplishment after not even a year since my kidney transplant. I am a bit bummed since I did not quite complete a lot of my goals (Like "learn golf"); but perhaps I over-stretched and/or did not take into account the impact of the transplant. I thought the surgery would just be a walk in the park and I would be able to do a lot of stuff during my recovery.  Boy, I was wrong!

My hubby may be correct: I have to slow down and pace myself. I have written about slowing down before, but my rationale is “this is the pacing-myself version.” I do feel much healthier and have more energy. In fact, I feel less energized if I don’t stretch or move or get involved.

For next year, right now, I am having a bit of difficulty in identifying what my goals are. Back when I was on hemodialysis, things seemed to be a bit more certain; primarily because I had been on dialysis (for what seemed like) forever. I rarely planned for more than a year in advance.

Now, it is a whole new ballgame, and I have not really done this in a while. I am even thinking about the possibility of going back to school and take courses, maybe even pursue (another) advanced degree (or start taking steps towards it).

Here’s what I have so far. This list is still in it's early stages, so I am sure it will evolve: 

• CONTINUE to eat healthy (but treat myself occasionally), specifically having vegetables with lunch and dinner, snack healthy (veggies, yogurt, whole grains), eat more grains like quinoa. In fact, I’d like to have quinoa at least 4 to 6 times a month. Note: If you are on dialysis, do not have the whole grains-thing or quinoa as a goal. Your phosphorus will shoot up.
• Increase my HDL to at least 45 mg. Take fish oil (after approval from my doctor) and have Omega-3 rich foods at least once a week.  
• CONTINUE to participate in the Kidney Walk, the Light the Night Walk, and the local Turkey Trot – have some fun and raise some money for some great charities.
• For aikido: train like a Sandan (3rd degree black belt). I am not sure what that means yet.
• More for aikido: participate in the Spring and Fall Divisional Training and Summer Gasshuku (in Monterey).
• Work more in the office (rather than from home). My target is three days a week.
• Travel out of the country once again: Hubby’s choice: he is thinking about either Belize or Fiji it; it is his turn to pick-and-choose.
• STOP worrying too much. Relax and have fun!

Hmmm … Perhaps that is enough for now!

The Gift

Just the other day, a new friend in my aikido class shared a story with me. Knowing that I just went through a kidney transplant, she shared with me that someone close to her also went through it. About nine years ago, her aunt desperately needed a new kidney. Her Dad volunteered to give her one of his and be a living donor.

Not knowing what the experience of a living donor was, I asked her what his experience was like. She said that after the surgery her Dad said he felt like he was hit by a truck three times. He was in a lot of pain – probably similar to the pain a transplant recipient would experience. After all, not only was he cut open, but a major organ was just removed from him.

She said that her Dad was down and out for about two weeks and had to live with his parents while he was recovering. His parents took care of him at this time, which is probably difficult for any adult.

She said that it was so touching that he gave his kidney to her aunt. She guessed that he loved his sister so much that he was willing to go through that much pain. I was so touched, I almost cried right there on the mat!

After his recovery, he was up and about. He actually feels normal now, except that he only has one kidney. Her aunt is also doing very well. Her Dad and aunt still call each other at the transplant anniversary. They are very close since they shared a very special experience and also his kidney.

I was very honored that she shared her Dad’s story with me. Being a living donor is a significant commitment, but it connects you with another human being in a very unique way.

I received the same gift this year, as well, and for that, I am extremely grateful. Living or deceased – every donor’s gift is priceless. In this season of giving, I hope you all consider to sign-up to be an organ donor and give someone the gift of life.

Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year!

The Diva Diet - Part III: Odds and Ends

This is my last installment of The Diva Diet – or what I call my post-kidney transplant diet. This one focuses on general, but important stuff.

As you read through these posts, please remember that this is what works for me.  Everyone is different.  You may need to adapt it for yourself and for the meds that you are taking.

Balanced Diet?

Maintain a balanced diet. For my meals, I try to adhere the Choose My Plate guidelines: combining protein, grains, and a good focus on vegetables. Although I am sometimes not successful, I usually try to add veggies with my meal – some of them pretty hidden (I don’t like peppers that much).

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I can now add whole wheat and other grains in my diet. Since I do not have any phosphorus restrictions, I can now experiment with different grains. When I was in dialysis, I was pretty much limited to white rice and white bread, which probably created havoc with my digestive system. Now, I can have quinoa, barley, corn meal, oats (my favorite) and oat bran.

I still need to be careful though; immunosuppressants may increase potassium in one's system so you may need to watch high-potassium foods like bananas, mangoes. and coconut. If this is the case, moderate your potassium a bit – just like when you were in dialysis. My guilty pleasure is usually bananas or mangoes. I’ll have only a third of a banana in my cereal and about third of a mango.

Key is everything in moderation. My meals are usually 4-5 ounces of protein, whole grains (I still have a bit of white rice added for flavor), and lots or veggies. I try to practice Meatless Mondays or just have Meatless lunches. Actually, when I have a meatless lunch, I am more alert in the afternoon and don’t get that 2:30 slump.

When in doubt, ask your nutritionist. Since I've been experimenting on different foods, sometimes, I find things that may be iffy. A few recent examples are celery seed (as a replacement for salt) and wakame salad (seaweed salad). I usually start with my own research, but if I don't find any relevant information, I consult with my transplant coordinator or my nutritionist. They are the experts on this, not me.

Keep moving.  This means what you think it means: exercise. I find that when I walk, my body (and mind) is able to function more efficiently. I make it a point to exercise at least 20-30 minutes at least five days a week.

Me in aikido class - one of my favorite activities

Do vary it. Example, I practice a martial art called aikido, practice hula dancing, and do regular cardio like walking or doing the elliptical. I am trying to incorporate stretches and core strengthening exercises, but I feel at this point cardiovascular exercises are more important in maintaining a good blood pressure.

Be cautious not to overdo it – and believe me, I have. While it is important to move, again do it in moderation and consult your doctor before you start a new routine. I have to keep reminding myself that my surgery was not too long ago. Rest and recovery are still equally important.

Keep hydrated. My new kidney needs to be constantly hydrated, so I need to drink plenty of water. Actually, everytime I see the word “hydrate”, “drink”, or “water”, I drink some water. I guess it’s my version of a drinking game.

I believe hydration is key in keeping your creatinine low. Now, that it’s winter, like me, you probably don’t want to drink water, but continue on hydrating. Choose low-caffeine or herbal teas. Soups are okay too, I think – just be cautious of the sodium content.

 

I try to keep these tips in mind everyday. Although some of these we really need to adhere to (like food safety), the ones that are optional, I try not too obsess over (too much). It’s the holidays, and it is time to celebrate with family and friends. I plan to relax, be careful, and enjoy my new kidney.

Bon Appetit!

You might also enjoy:

The Diva Diet - Dining In

The Diva Diet - Dining Out

The Diva Diet - Part II: Dining Out

Now that Thanksgiving is over, as always, most of the challenge in sticking to your diet when eating out: office parties, group parties, get-togethers with visiting friends or relatives, etc… The list is endless.

As a kidney transplant recipient, I still have restrictions, but there is no reason why I cannot enjoy these holiday get-togethers. Here are my ideas for keeping your diet during the holiday season while dining out.

Be Mindful of Food Safety When Dining Out. As I mentioned in a previous post, we need to continue to be careful of infection, from all sorts of germs or bacteria. I can understand why this is a concern. After watching shows like Kitchen Nightmares and Restaurant Impossible, we have seen problematic kitchens and food gone bad that were still served to the public. All of us need to ensure that the establishment has passed health safety guidelines and that the food is stored and prepared well in a very sanitary way. Since my transplant, my husband and I have been very picky in selecting restaurants when we eat out. We often limit ourselves to nice, very nice restaurants, but this can get expensive.

 

No Buffets. This is a follow-up to the food safety issue. With buffets, the food has been exposed to different people, so you never know who touched what or what temperature it has been kept. With food exposed to different people, you never know what germs they may carry. Again, after watching Restaurant Impossible and seeing buffets that were not kept at the correct temperature, I can understand why this continues to be a concern.  Served Hors d’Ouevres are out now too: same principle as buffets, except now your food is traveling.

Cafeteria-style food may be okay. Assess the situation and figure out if this option is safe. Do not be tempted by really yummy food – your life is more important. An alternative may be to wait until you get home and just simply nuke it.

Order your own entrée. As I mentioned before, when dining out, meals really need to be made for me only – Hence, the name “Diva Diet”. If it is just my husband and I, we usually share an appetizer and an entrée, but we move it to separate plates. When we go with a group, I would stick to my own dish.

Family-style food may be okay, as long as they use serving spoons, AND no one is sick.

No raw meats or eggs. Unfortunately, that includes raw sushi and oysters – my old favorites. Again, it’s a question of bacteria. So, I must say goodbye to my beloved salmon rolls, ahi pokes, oysters-on-the-half-shell, and tuna tartars. Even smoked foods like salmon are also out of the question. Sigh, at least, I think, I can still have cooked sushi (ebi and unagi anyone?) and usually there are other items on the menu.

Be careful of raw eggs too. This may mean aioli, Caesar salad dressings, certain meringues (baked meringues are probably fine), and eggnog! No more eggnog lattes. The only raw thing that would be safe would be fruits and vegetables.

Deli Sandwiches. Improperly reheated cold cuts and soft cheeses can contain certain bacteria that can cause illness and possibly death to a kidney transplant patient. That means no more cold cuts, or for that matter cold, deli sandwiches. Also, the coleslaws and potato salads are probably not a good idea either. Some possible alternatives: hot sandwiches or a bagel and cream cheese … and get them from a high-end deli.

Craving for Tacos? Make it yourself.

A word on fast food. I do not normally eat fast food, but a sucker for some of them, especially tacos or hash browns. I think occasionally it’s okay: I am going to limit myself to maybe once a quarter. Surprisingly, since I’ve been eating fresh food and whole grains, I do not have any craving for fast food anymore, except for tacos and hash browns.

Limit dining out. I’ve noticed that every time I eat out, I gain at least two pounds. To make the food really-really yummy, most chefs season their food rather well. Most of the weight that I gain is from water retention and it impacts my blood pressure. Can you imagine what happens when I eat out all the time? My blood pressure can go through the roof. If you can limit dining out, you can give your body a chance to get rid of the excess water.

Again, Do have fun! As a former dialysis patient, I have memories of food restrictions and evaluating how many binders to take if you had some pizza. Yay! Gone are those days. So even if you do have restrictions, try new places and new types of food. As an example, for Oktoberfest, we found a German restaurant nearby that was just awesome. My husband said it was just like what his Dad made. They gave us gigantic portions: so my husband halved the entrée and still had a full meal, and with a to-go box!

The key is to enjoy your new life while still keeping safe. As an old saying goes - “Life is to be enjoyed, not endured.”


Final installment: Other important stuff.