@kamama94, Hah, I didn't have to work at keeping my face expressionless at the ckd news...thought I'd been hit with a stun gun and simply froze in the chair...so kudos to you for maintaining a stoic facial expression.

While I've not delved into specific brands as you have and had only one visit with the "general" nutritionist, I can only report that his time with me was greatly beneficial. I'm sure that there are many, as with any profession like the differences between my docs and yours, who have less knowledge or willingness to share in more depth than we would wish. Think that is why becoming a a researcher and self advocate and activist for our individual maladies and symptoms is so very important.

Just darn regrettable that you are having continuing painful effects from your long bout with shingles! My daughter had to bouts, rather close together several years ago and was much younger than us. However, her second bout was the one that continued much longer with "residual" discomfort. She was in her mid-twenties at the time and will be celebrating her 50th this August. Thankfully, she's had no re-occurrences but I remember how debilitating her pain was despite her being a warrior who believes in mustering on and through challenges.

My long self-quarantine and heightened virus vulnerability is more due to asthma and chronic bronchitis. My pulmonologist cautioned that while others my age with serious health issues might become ill with the virus, if I were to get it, I would die...like you, I'm not ready to check out from the party! vbg

Quite the contrary, instead of TMI..."too much info"? I appreciate your taking the time to explain more fully and also want to thank you for these most recent posts because I've become more lax over these last weeks and need to do a review of diet. Like your precautions, I am taking similar ones whenever leaving the house. Thanks again for sharing! Take care.