Have you ever heard of the idea (myth?) of post-transplant cellular memory? Before my transplant my brother would joke with me and say that I'd better stock up on popcorn and M*A*S*H DVD re-runs, because once I got his kidney, I'd be craving both. IMHO the idea of cellular memory is a bit far-fetched, but lately one of my food cravings has been, you guessed it, POPCORN.
Even though my brother loves popcorn and it just so happens to seem that I'm simultaneously also craving popcorn, I don't really believe its his kidney telling me what to snack on. More likely, its my own body telling me I need sodium.
Before your transplant, stock up on easy-to-grab snacks and comfort foods. Foods higher in sodium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous are preferred post-trasplant (unless otherwise directed by your doctor) and comfort foods will (hopefully) motivate you to eat even when you might not be feeling your best. Believe it or not, the foods you've been restricted in eating while in kidney failure, will be some of the ones you'll need to have handy post-transplant.
When your new kidney is first placed in your body it normally can take days, weeks or even months to adjust and begin to efficiently regulate chemicals, especially electrolytes. In my case, my sodium, potassium and magnesium were too low. For more than two months I had to actually take prescription supplements to keep my levels closer to normal. Even so, my doctor kept telling me "EAT MORE SALT!" (one of the weirdest things a post-kidney-failure person can hear!!)
Here are a few snack items to consider purchasing before your surgery so you'll have them on hand after: Potato chips; microwave popcorn in "individual-sized" packs; low-fat mozzarella cheese sticks; chicken broth or chicken soup; yogurt; canned tuna; whole-wheat bread; bananas; applesauce; graham crackers; saltine crackers. Your dialysis or transplant/hospital dietitian can give you even more ideas.
A bit of a note: As your body heals and your health returns to a more "normal" state, you will need to eat a "regular", healthy well-rounded diet (plenty of fruits and veggies, low in fat and carbs, etc.) just like everyone else. However, the suggestions I've made above have more to do with an immediate post-surgery time when eating can sometimes seem... unappetizing.
In my next "Post-Transplant Essentials" post, I'll be talking about drinks and various fluids to have in the kitchen to accompany your snacks.
Happy post-transplant snacking!
Today's Kidney Education: "There is no magical "Transplant Diet..." Life After Transplant: Diet and Weight Gain
