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From:	woodswoman (70.209.179.238)
Subject:	Help! Converting family to vegan life for medical condition.... need advice.
Date:	February 27, 2009 at 7:16 am PST

Ok - I need to convince a husband, a teen, a toddler and an infant to either go vegetarian or extreme vegan w/ restricted protein. (My husband has had kidney disease his whole life, and is now on the last RX available prior to dialysis...and it sounds like it genetic/hereditary and our kids have to be screened...) So, a diet with little protein is supposed to (I think from what I read on the internet) extend their renal function and assist in slowing down their creatinin/protein dumps...allows the kidney to heal and slows progression of the disease. (But, I also have to balance this with the needs of the growing infants/toddler)

First - does anyone have any experience eating or creating a diet for kidney disease (Thin Basement Membrane - Alport Syndrome).

Second - I think they'll be more likely to go for it if we go for the vegetarian diet first (My husband has already bargained another week, wheedled his wild game back in from the freezer and begged for fish to be added back in.) I just don't think he'll stick to it while he's away from the house if he doesn't get some protein/cheeses/fats. (He snuck a brat last night after I went to bed after my veggie supper!)

Third - Any advice on going veggie vs. remaining carnivore/crap diet with condition? His nephrologist has told him that a vegetarian diet is ridiculous and unnecessary since he's switched him over to the latest RX... if these pills don't stop the protein loss and kidney damage - well, he's had it his whole life hasn't he? I'm going from the perspective of - if protein hurts the kidney; whether you are on the pills or not - why would you continue to do something that would harm your organ???? (and set a poor example for the kids we love that might have the same condition?)

Phew! - ok, I think I'm done. Any advice??? Give me some ammo here. I'm fighting for my kids - even if my husband doesn't care about his own body.

Thanks! :)

Jana

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