Looking for "natural" program?

[Jana9987]

Hello
My father has Chronic Kidney Disease and is trying to find a facility that would set up a treatment program without immediate Dialysis. He has read "Coping with Kidney Disease. A 12 Step Treatment Program To Help you Avoid Dialysis" (http://www.amazon.com/Coping-Kidney-Disease-Treatment-Dialysis/dp/0471274232) and is trying to find a Nephrologist that would provide treatment along these lines.

We have called John Hopkins in Baltimore to inquire about their Outpatient Clinic and make an appointment but they do not take his Medicare coverage and won't see him...
The center at JH sound s like a great place -- so we are trying to find something similar at another hospital ?
A place that promotes nutrition (low protein? amino acid?) and other methods for dealing w/this.

Thank you for any info !

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Jana,

I'm sorry to hear about your dad's kidney disease. Do you know what his GFR (level of kidney function) is? It would help to know how close he is to kidney failure.

We are not aware of "natural" kidney programs, but he shouldn't need to find a "program," right now, just a nephrologist (kidney specialist) he can work with. I will tell you that the very low protein approach recommended in that book is controversial: the risk is that eating so little protein can lead to malnutrition, which is one of the leading predictors of death in people who are on dialysis.

There are Clinical Practice Guidelines for treating chronic kidney disease, and a good nephrologist should be familiar with these. His primary care doctor should be able to refer him to a nephrologist, though he may need to interview more than one to find someone who will work with him in the way he prefers.