Just to add my voice, @wietop, I like what @rosemarya says here and the questions she raised. In addition, I have no reason to avoid bread that is made from whole grains, although I minimize my bread intake for reasons other than CKD. If bread is your choice, whole grain is the way to go (in order to avoid the glucose loads that come from processed white grain flour or the arsenic loads that may come from rice). Preference for a low-sodium bread is a good choice, whether that is in the brand name, the advertising slogans, or the ingredient list. My HMO offered nutrition counseling for free after my CKD diagnosis. I hope you'll have a similar service opportunity. Finally, set a goal of developing a trusting relationship with your medical team; that will involve face-to-face conversations, perhaps more often than is customary or even comfortable, but you'll like it! Martin

Thank you for your quick response. To give you more information, I'm 69 years old. As for medical conditions in addition to CKD, I have high blood pressure. It is completely under control with medication and diet (I keep my limit at 1500mg per day and usually reach around 1000mg). Through diet and exercise, I have lost 100 pounds, so I'm very familiar with foods and their positives and negatives. My original doctor, who retired in May, neglected to tell me I had CKD for 4 years. I only discovered it when my new doctor mentioned it in a review, as though I was aware. At that time, I asked her what I needed to change, if anything, and if my diet needed to be adjusted. She said nothing needed to be changed. She also said that because I've been stable for 4 years, she didn't think it necessary to send me to a nephrologist. My doctor even confided in me that she, herself, has Stage 2, so she's personally familiar with the disease. I am definitely working at trusting her, but I now I ask more questions than I did before. Diet is what I'm most confused about.

Thank you, Martin, for sharing with me. The reason bread is so important to me is because I have an egg-white sandwich everyday for lunch. Although the packaging says "Low-Sodium," the content is listed as 0mg. I have high blood pressure, so finding something for lunch has always been a problem. For the past year, I've been eating a sandwich and have really done well with it, so I hate to give it up. I have 2 pieces every day. The ingredients are listed as Organic Sprouted 100% Whole Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Spouted Barley, Organic Sprouted Millet, Organic Malted Barley, Organic Sprouted Lentils, Organic Sprouted Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Spelt, Fresh Yeast, Organic Wheat Gluten. On my next doctor visit, I am going to discuss nutrition counseling. Thanks again for your input. It's been very valuable.

Thanks for the additional information, @wietop. In my case, too, CKD is a result of hypertension. My HMO has a basic policy of referring cases like yours and mine to a nephrologist, because kidneys are so deeply involved in hypertension. In addition, my primary care physician (PCP) is such a busy-body (and I love it, because she's not satisfied with patients being stable, even over many months). She's always trying to cure -- or mitigate the symptoms of -- a condition, and I've adopted that approach as well.

Since diet is your main quandary, perhaps you can ask your PCP for help in getting nutrition counseling, which Medicare usually will pay for. Martin

We're ships passing in the night, @wietop, so if my comments appear to be ignoring yours, it's a matter of timing. We're on the same wave-length here, though, and that's encouraging. Keep us posted on your evolving relationship with your PCP! Martin

Thanks again. I'm following your advice and asking my doctor for a referral to a dietician who specializes in CKD.

If you’re asking me...moved to PNW from Arkansas in ‘79 with husband and daughter. Retired in ‘09....from managing hospital gift shop and Starbucks. I started seeing a nephrologist a couple of years ago. He was concerned but didn’t suggest any changes....then early this year I hit stage 4 and here I am...My diet has been horrible for several years....I just got sick of cooking so was living off fast food...junk. Every now and then I’d cook a roast with carrrots and potatoes to make myself feel better....I miss that roast with carrots and potatoes but...that’s life now! lol Heading to Savannah for Thanksgiving with family! I’m thinking.....how will I manage my food on the road! I want to be kind to my kidneys so.... I’ll keep reading and taking notes! Thanks for letting me join....it’s nice to know I’m not alone!