Dietitian

Short Description

The dietitian aligns food with your medicines and labs. They focus on food safety early on, steady energy for healing, blood pressure, blood sugar, and a healthy weight.

Main Priorities

• Food safety: safe prep while you’re immunosuppressed (cook meats/eggs fully, rinse produce, avoid unpasteurized items).
• Healing nutrition: set protein and calorie goals to rebuild strength after surgery.
• Blood pressure & fluids: lower-sodium habits and steady hydration targets from your team.
• Blood sugar support: simple plans if steroids or meds raise glucose.
• Lab-guided tweaks: adjust potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus through food when appropriate.

Issues They Work With

• Poor appetite, nausea, taste changes, early fullness.
• Weight gain or loss, muscle loss, low energy.
• High BP, higher sugars, or cholesterol concerns after transplant.
• Electrolyte ups/downs tied to meds or hydration.

When to Go to Them

• Early after transplant and any time your weight, BP, sugars, or labs drift.
• Before starting supplements or “detox/cleanse” plans.
• When travel, work shifts, or appetite make your routine hard.
• Come prepared: a 3-day food log (photos are fine), home BP/weight, recent labs, and questions.

What They Don’t Handle (Boundaries)

• They don’t change prescriptions or dose meds — that’s your clinical team.
• They don’t resolve insurance/copay issues — financial coordinator/insurer.
• They don’t clear food–drug interactions alone — confirm with your pharmacist/provider.