[JenMusic]

I've just gotten back from my urologist, as a follow-up to a kidney stone procedure I had last month. My stone did turn out to a calcium-oxalate stone (the most common type) and my doctor is now recommending a low oxalate diet.

Is anyone lout there following a low oxalate diet? Looking at the list he gave me of foods to limit, I'm overwhelmed and annoyed. High oxalate foods: spinach and other dark leafy greens, nuts and nut butters, whole-wheat flour, berries, seeds, sweet potatoes, celery, tomato sauce, tofu . . . think of something healthy? It's probably high in oxalate, meaning I should avoid it.

Low oxalate foods that the list tells me I should "Eat as desired"? White flour, sugar, butter, meat, and cheese. There are some veggies and fruits that I'm OK to eat: melon, avocado, bananas, cabbage, brussel sprouts, onions, mushrooms, and red peppers. But still, I'm going crazy trying to think that all my good, yummy, healthy foods are now something that I'm supposed to limit.

Do I want to get a kidney stone again? You'd better believe I don't. But part of me is thinking that giving up some of my favorite foods might not be worth the possibility that a low oxalate diet could prevent them.

[Golden Girl]

Jen, I don't have kidney stones but another health reason the doc wants me to try this diet too. No way...

[Esofia]

I'm dreading ending up on this diet too, especially since I'm vegan. My current specialist doesn't think it's worth it (different condition, not kidney stones) and I'm hoping it stays that way.

How limited is it meant to be? Do you have to cut out those foods entirely, or eat a certain amount of them?

[JenMusic]

Esofia - There is a good list of the oxalate contents of foods here. That's what I'm basing most of my information on. Another good resource is here.

I know that, theoretically, a calorie-controlled, nutritious diet low in oxalate is possible, but it seems to me it would be VERY monotonous and overly structured and simply not fun! As for being vegan and having to do it - well, that seems semi-impossible at first glance.

The frustrating thing to me is that I haven't found one bit of research proving a causal relationship between eating a low oxalate diet and reduced recurrence of stones. I realize there's a "common sense" factor at play, but as much as I don't want another stone I really don't think I can eat that way for the rest of my life.

I'll give up spinach and increase my water, but summer without berries? No beans? No nuts? No sweet potatoes or kale or carrots or celery? No whole wheat anything? No oatmeal?

Honestly, I feel like my choice is between possible avoiding another stone OR becoming fat again. And I am not going back to obesity,

Sorry, just a little frustrated here!

[Esofia]

There's a lot to take in with the first link, and it seems that it would require an awful lot of calculating portion sizes. Unless you're running around eating 100g of black pepper at a time?!

Second link - canned strawberries? What sort of abomination is this? As for the rest, yep, there goes the bulk of my diet. It really does look unlivable, and with a tenuous connection to a sporadic ailment, no wonder you're feeling torn. I'm currently trying to work out how much fat I'm allowed, since I don't want to set off another gallstone attack and it'll be months before they remove my gallbladder, but I think I'm pretty much on top of that one by now. The oxalate business for me is about interstitial cystitis, which for whatever reason is actually behaving itself at the moment anyway. I do have a feeling I fare better when I'm not living on spinach, though. I went through a big spinach salad phase at the start of this diet.

Useful to know that I shouldn't let my Vitamin C levels get too high. Some people recommend mega-doses of Vit C for treating ME/CFIDS, and I could easily have ended up on more than 2g/daily. I'm faintly concerned about the high level of calcium I'm on (part of prescription Vitamin D meds), especially between the gallstones and the recurrent problem with calcific tendinitis in my shoulders.

Meanwhile, I flatly refuse to give up strawberries unless someone holds a gun to my head. They are divine, they are perfect for eating in bed with my sweetie when we're cuddled up watching a film, and they're much lower in calories than grapes or cherries or what have you.