Nutritionists?

[Colelway]

My GFR is 38. I asked primary care doc for referral. He refused. He told me I only need avoid NSAIDS and salt. What do you think? I disagree. I do not think Medicare will pay for this when GFR is 50 or below if it was something that was not useful

[WinJ3]

Medicare covers nutrition counseling. You will need a referral from your doctor You should be seeing a nephrologist who could better care for your kidney disease and make recommendations.

[Colelway in reply to WinJ3]

Thank You! I think I will have to change primary care doctor.

[WinJ3 in reply to Colelway]

Yes, I think you should.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Colelway,It is old school to think that doing something at stage 3 is not necessary. Try to find a doctor who is up to date on how early intervention is the best thing for CKD. And the first steps are diet and medication review. Its your health and life. Be the center of it and not let under educated doctors ruin your health. I have had to fire at least two doctors for mismanagement of my health.

Even if nutritional counseling is not paid for, it is the best thing you can spend your money on.

[Chimama in reply to Bassetmommer]

I actually learned more from my davita kidney class 👍give it a try lots interesting emails sent from them I learned so much and the ladies are so sweet patient and kind.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

Medicare paying for dietitian may also depends on which Medicare plan you have on what is covered. As Bassetmommer stated you might consider paying for a dietitian visit, especially if you do not have a prescribed diet monitored by your Doctor. Keep us posted.

[Colelway in reply to orangecity41]

Thank You! That is a great idea that I will pursue immediately. I can't just wait for 4th stage to hopefully get a referral to a nutritionist.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Colelway]

Maybe dietitian will only charge you Medicare rate.

[Angelikafrog in reply to Colelway]

English woman here again. That's awful, to be hoping to deteriorate in order to get help. I can't get my head around that. Hope you see my other comment about dietary advice and save your money. Does your primary care doctor do regular bloods. That's probably the most important thing.

[DEZIN]

While you are changing primary to get referral or paying for it yourself.You can go online to DaVita website for information on nutrition for

CKD.

[Angelikafrog]

I'm English so don't understand the American Midicare system. I can only speak for my experience with our National Health Service, which is free to all. I am CKD stage 3b diagnosed 2 years ago. I see (or speak on the phone with at the moment due to Covid) every 3 months. Have bloods every 3 months before hand. Have access to my results online, with explanations of them and have the option of consulting a dietician if I want to. I don't, because the Consultant answers the very ocasional question I have on food and there is plenty of information online. I don't take it up, even though it's free and I wouldn't pay for it if I had to pay privately.

[Chimama]

I dk about the insurance but I got an appointment with my doctors PA she’s much much better than he is . She at least got me a ultrasound ( have small cyst) a appointment with a dietitian and I am severely anemic so she referred me to a nephrologist. Appointment not until May but at least she got me in . Also was upfront unlike the Dr and told me I was stage 3 b egfr 34. It’s always a coin toss eh??