Renal Diet Cruising?

[happy trailer]

I've been diagnosed with CKD, and put on the very restrictive renal diet. As a vegan, I've cruised on a restrictive diet for many years (with mixed success), but the renal diet brings dietary restrictions to a whole new level, and I don't see how it will be possible to cruise with all these restrictions unless I limit myself to only 3 or 4 night cruises, and even those seem a stretch.

 

Does anyone here cruise with CKD? I'm pre-dialysis, so on the full blown super restrictive diet. [For those not in the know about the diet, aside from being salt free, it is also low protein, low potassium, and low phosphorus- with severe limitations on allowable fruits and vegetables (for example, I can't have tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, oranges....the list goes on and on...)]. Going to a restaurant is tough, so I figure a cruise will be all but impossible?

 

TIA,

 

Ruth

[WupperAV]

Call a cruise line and ask them.

[happy trailer]

Call a cruise line and ask them.

 

Thank you for your reply. Needless to say, that is my plan, but my vegan experience has shown that sometimes what a cruiseline tells you differs from your actual experience onboard, so I posted in the hopes that someone would have actual personal experience to relate on cruising while following the renal diet.

[mamasylvia]

I'm only stage 3, so I'm not on the super-restrictive diet yet. But from the experience of one cruise, I think you're going to have a very hard time finding food that will be acceptable. The salt restriction alone would be diifficult, professional chefs seem to consider a dish unfinished until they have emptied half a salt shaker into it. I'm concerned about how I'm going to manage my much-less-restrictive diet! OTOH, with the large number of seniors cruising (who are more likely than younger people to have chronic health problems), it's worth asking if they at least have a low-sodium menu, and then you could look through that for items that sound like they meet your other restrictions (tomato and orange are both fairly distinctive flavors), and fall back on make-your-own sandwich or salad bars if nothing suitable is on the menu.

 

Please do share whatever you find, there are probably others here with kidney problems who can learn from your experience.

[happy trailer]

Thanks for your reply, mamasylvia! Interesting that you're not on the full renal diet yet- I was put on it right away, along with the comment 'even though you're a vegan.' It goes to show that we're all different, each with very specific renal needs.

 

I know there's often a low sodium menu available, or at least the option to request low sodium meals, but I'm also concerned about that chef's proclivity to lay on the salt. Add to that all the foods I can't eat, and I wonder if they'll just throw up their hands and say 'no way.'

 

A close TA friend suggested that I might have better luck with a high end line, where they aren't preparing food for several thousand people each day. I tend to think she's got a point, but if it wasn't for the awful time I had getting vegan food on my last cruise, I'd say that instead of paying for a high end line, I'd take the chance of having to subsist on 'make do' meals for a week- but I learned the hard way that sometimes it's not even possible to manage doing that, and that it's no fun going hungry on a cruise! (I never imagined that could happen, and I definitely don't want to repeat the experience!)

 

I don't expect to be cleared for travel until sometime next year, so no cruises planned for now. But I love cruising, so hoping to be back at sea as soon as possible, and I will definitely report back on my experiences!

 

Good health to you!

[memoie]

Hi Ruth, I have a couple of suggestions - maybe speak with a dietition (your local hospital), explain you're heading out on a cruise and can she help you with some food choices etc. that will cover all your dietary needs. The other option would be to talk to the cruise line rep. and see if they can put you in contact with the person that looks after "special" meals, explain your situation to them and see what they would suggest. Don't stop cruising because of a few medical set backs - they're always a way around the situation. You might have to bring a few things in your suitcase - along with a note from your Dr. explaining why. Hope I just haven't taught my grandmother to suck eggs. :-)

[English Voyager]

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is a high end line, and I know that with pre-arrangement it offers, at least on the Europa 2, a kidney dialysis service on board with a Specialist in attendance.

 

It may be worth enquiring if the Line is able to cater for a pre-dialysis passenger with very strict dietary requirements.

[LokiPoki]

I would think the other thing to find out with a low sodium diet too, would be whether it's a salt reduced diet overall (i.e. They're offering options that simply don't have the salt added) or if they're substituting in a "light salt"/low sodium salt - as these are usually much higher in potassium & I'm guessing wouldn't be much good if you're needing low K diet as well. Honestly have no idea about that...I'm the opposite and need a very high salt diet, was just a thought that occurred to me as something worth checking

[happy trailer]

Hi Ruth, I have a couple of suggestions - maybe speak with a dietition (your local hospital), explain you're heading out on a cruise and can she help you with some food choices etc. that will cover all your dietary needs. The other option would be to talk to the cruise line rep. and see if they can put you in contact with the person that looks after "special" meals, explain your situation to them and see what they would suggest. Don't stop cruising because of a few medical set backs - they're always a way around the situation. You might have to bring a few things in your suitcase - along with a note from your Dr. explaining why. Hope I just haven't taught my grandmother to suck eggs. :-)

 

Thanks for the suggestions :). I will definitely have a detailed talk with my nutritionist before I book any cruises, although we've already gone over eating out at restaurants and it was glim. Being a vegan makes it that much harder, but I'm as committed to my vegan diet as I am to the renal diet. I can assure you though, that if there's a way to cruise I'll find it- I work hard at not letting limitations get me down, or in my way :)

 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is a high end line, and I know that with pre-arrangement it offers, at least on the Europa 2, a kidney dialysis service on board with a Specialist in attendance.

 

It may be worth enquiring if the Line is able to cater for a pre-dialysis passenger with very strict dietary requirements.

 

That's great to know! I will definitely look into them! Thanks!

 

I would think the other thing to find out with a low sodium diet too, would be whether it's a salt reduced diet overall (i.e. They're offering options that simply don't have the salt added) or if they're substituting in a "light salt"/low sodium salt - as these are usually much higher in potassium & I'm guessing wouldn't be much good if you're needing low K diet as well. Honestly have no idea about that...I'm the opposite and need a very high salt diet, was just a thought that occurred to me as something worth checking

 

Yikes! Thanks for pointing that out! I'd bet that they do, indeed, use one of those salt substitutes- and they are a serious 'no' for me. I'm going to make a note to be sure to ask about it; it's a big enough issue that I would also confirm it when I get onboard.

Edited October 27, 2016 by happy trailer

[parmagal]

I've been diagnosed with CKD, and put on the very restrictive renal diet. As a vegan, I've cruised on a restrictive diet for many years (with mixed success), but the renal diet brings dietary restrictions to a whole new level, and I don't see how it will be possible to cruise with all these restrictions unless I limit myself to only 3 or 4 night cruises, and even those seem a stretch.

 

Does anyone here cruise with CKD? I'm pre-dialysis, so on the full blown super restrictive diet. [For those not in the know about the diet, aside from being salt free, it is also low protein, low potassium, and low phosphorus- with severe limitations on allowable fruits and vegetables (for example, I can't have tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, oranges....the list goes on and on...)]. Going to a restaurant is tough, so I figure a cruise will be all but impossible?

 

TIA,

 

Ruth

 

I have cruised for years on Royal Caribbean with late stage 3 CKD, but I am not a vegan. I request a no salt diet ahead of time. The waiter brings me the menu for the next night as I finish the current night's dinner and I place an order for what I want to be prepared with no salt. They will prepare the entree with no salt and then serve it with steamed vegetables -- carrots, broccoli, potatoes, etc. I leave the potatoes and do my best to monitor my consumption of the other potassium and phosphorous containing foods and beverages so that I stay within the guidelines my doctor wants me to follow. The waiters have been very helpful in pointing out things that come prepackaged and, therefore, cannot be made salt free. I also bring a stash of kidney friendly snacks just in case I cannot make due with the salt free menu. Customizing the menu for CKD is tough, but it can be done.

[happy trailer]

I have cruised for years on Royal Caribbean with late stage 3 CKD, but I am not a vegan. I request a no salt diet ahead of time. The waiter brings me the menu for the next night as I finish the current night's dinner and I place an order for what I want to be prepared with no salt. They will prepare the entree with no salt and then serve it with steamed vegetables -- carrots, broccoli, potatoes, etc. I leave the potatoes and do my best to monitor my consumption of the other potassium and phosphorous containing foods and beverages so that I stay within the guidelines my doctor wants me to follow. The waiters have been very helpful in pointing out things that come prepackaged and, therefore, cannot be made salt free. I also bring a stash of kidney friendly snacks just in case I cannot make due with the salt free menu. Customizing the menu for CKD is tough, but it can be done.

 

Yeah! There's not only hope, there's positive experience! And from the line I least expected- RCI used to be fine for vegan cruising, but over the past couple of years my experiences have been increasingly frustrating, and after my last cruise I had decided to give up on them. I've heard similar from other vegans.

 

I'm forwarding this to my TA, and to cruise buddies who have been concerned that I wouldn't be able to cruise with them again.

 

If you don't mind me asking- did you feel OK after your cruise? None of the ill effects we get when we eat something that had more sodium, etc than is compliant with the diet? If you had a checkup soon after the cruise, were your numbers OK?

 

Thanks!

 

Ruth

[parmagal]

If you don't mind me asking- did you feel OK after your cruise? None of the ill effects we get when we eat something that had more sodium, etc than is compliant with the diet? If you had a checkup soon after the cruise, were your numbers OK?

 

I had blood work drawn about a month after returning from the cruise and all was fine. Of course, I worked hard to make sure that I followed the dietary guidelines and stayed away from the foods and beverages I knew would not fit into my plan. I felt great after the cruise -- the relaxation was just as important to me as following the renal diet.

 

When I was diagnosed I made a promise to myself not to give up the things I really loved doing and cruising was at the top of that list of things I enjoyed. With careful planning I can enjoy dinner out with friends and just about anything else I want to do.

[happy trailer]

I had blood work drawn about a month after returning from the cruise and all was fine. Of course, I worked hard to make sure that I followed the dietary guidelines and stayed away from the foods and beverages I knew would not fit into my plan. I felt great after the cruise -- the relaxation was just as important to me as following the renal diet.

 

When I was diagnosed I made a promise to myself not to give up the things I really loved doing and cruising was at the top of that list of things I enjoyed. With careful planning I can enjoy dinner out with friends and just about anything else I want to do.

 

Terrific!! We definitely think alike :D. Just told DH that there's a cruise in our future (or at least in my future - he very rarely cruises with me). Off to write to my friends :)

[mamasylvia]

What kidney-friendly snacks are there?

[cb at sea]

I feel your pain...hubby is in "end stage"...on dialysis. You can take TUMS to bind your phosphorus rich foods....take before you eat...and it will eliminate the phosphorus....no worries there!

 

Kidney diets are VERY hard.....and very limiting. You simply have to do this on your own. Call the "special needs" dept...let them know of your issues, and they will do their best....low sodium is common, but eliminating potatoes, tomatoes, oranges, etc...will be up to you.

 

Apple juice is fine and available. Simply don't order pastas with tomato sauce....order rice or plain pasta instead of potatoes....

 

Like I said...I feel your pain. I've have to totally re-do my entire cooking method. It sucks.

[parmagal]

What kidney-friendly snacks are there?

 

Animal crackers, vanilla wafers, graham crackers are usually fine in moderation, but check the sodium and phosphorous content. Some dialysis centers have recipes online that have suggestions for other kinds of snacks as well.

[mamasylvia]

Belated thanks for the kidney-friendly snacks suggestions. (Not sure how I missed it when you posted!)

 

Had my 6-month checkup and my creatinine is down to 1.3! Was 1.4 last time and I was delighted with that. Doc says I could stay in stage 3 for years, and I am trying to do my part to help my poor little kidney cope. (Had other one removed, it filled up with kidneystones and died. Cr was 2.4 before surgery and 2.1 right afterwards.) Went shopping at Costco the other night, found some crab and corn soup (which I LOVE) but put it back on the shelf when I saw 880 mg sodium in a 1-cup serving.