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Just diagnosed Stage 3 CKD: Should I be referred to a nephrologist?
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Apr 2 2:08pm | Replies (97)Comment receiving replies
Don't understand why I wasn't told to see nephrologist until stage 3. Always read my test reports carefully. Suddenly, one of my physicians suggested a visit to a kidney specialist. Why wait? Why not tell patient to see nephrologist immediately so that stages of disease and appropriate treatment, if there is one, can be performed. Also,
nephrologists should work with nutritionists. Most don't and that leaves you on your own. When doctors get interested in care is when you near need for dialysis. That's not fair. Great strides have been made when it comes to transplants, but the object is to avoid one. Think we need some creative thinking which should be helped by cyber
scientists creative doctors.Good luck and may your progress be slow.
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@petuniamom567 Frankly, most internists/general doctors are not well-versed on kidney disease. In my humble opinion, there are way too many specialized systems within the body for one dr to be up-to-date on them all! While I agree they should be referring a patient earlier than they do, they don't. A patient must advocate for themselves and their health. A good nephrologist will refer you to a renal dietician, not a regular nutritionist, as our needs are very different! Unfortunately, again, these renal dieticians are not easy to find. We end up going to websites like davita https://www.davita.com/diet-nutrition or American Kidney Foundation https://kitchen.kidneyfund.org/ to find what we need to do with our particular situation. In reality, it helps us feel more in control of our own case. And remember, eating well, plus good exercise and reduced stress levels all will help us in slowing progress of our kidney disease.
It is important to know that a transplant is a treatment for kidney disease, not a resolution to it.
Ginger