Community Chat

[pitdakota]

Nafe, I would encourage you to check with the dietician at the dialysis center. Or if the dietician isn't readily available at that center to check with the nurses.

Supplements for patients on dialysis are usually prescribed/suggested based on lab values and diagnosis. Nepro is a specialized supplement designed for renal patients since it is lower in phosphorous and potassium. One reason why it is so expensive.

I am sure they are well versed in knowing the expense of certain supplements and which ones might be comparable but less expensive. But you need to check with the staff at the dialysis center since they know your family member's history, diagnosis, and lab values.

I do think Part B of Medicare does cover nutritional supplements for dialysis patients but I am not absolutely sure. Can you check with someone at the dialysis center about that as well?

[betteb]

On 1/23/2014 happy housewife said:

On 1/23/2014 Marp2 said:

Nafe,

Just had a thought. Has H's doctor prescribed Nepro or another high protein glucose control supplement? If so it may be covered by Medicare. I know it is in an institutional setting but it may also be covered by your Part D.

In Pa dialysis patients are on medicade not medicare. i think that may be more states as well.

Medicare covers Dialysis. In fact, renal failure is one of the few things that they waive the 6 month wait period for social security disability. Medicaid at first, then depends on age as to when Medicare takes over.

nafecar, please talk to the Dr or the Dietitian at the Dialysis center. Renal diets are very complicated and vary from patient to patient and sometimes from week to week, depending on their lab results. I worked in a Dialysis center for almost 10yrs. Please, please..it's important to get it right.

[pitdakota]

On 1/23/2014 Marp2 said:

On 1/23/2014 happy housewife said:

On 1/23/2014 Marp2 said:

Nafe,

Just had a thought. Has H's doctor prescribed Nepro or another high protein glucose control supplement? If so it may be covered by Medicare. I know it is in an institutional setting but it may also be covered by your Part D.

In Pa dialysis patients are on medicade not medicare. i think that may be more states as well.

Nafe is not in PA.

Congress passed legislation in 1972 to expand Medicare to cover patients with end stage renal disease and therefore dialysis patients of any age.

[betteb]

On 1/23/2014 pitdakota said:

On 1/23/2014 Marp2 said:

On 1/23/2014 happy housewife said:

On 1/23/2014 Marp2 said:

Nafe,

Just had a thought. Has H's doctor prescribed Nepro or another high protein glucose control supplement? If so it may be covered by Medicare. I know it is in an institutional setting but it may also be covered by your Part D.

In Pa dialysis patients are on medicade not medicare. i think that may be more states as well.

Nafe is not in PA.

Congress passed legislation in 1972 to expand Medicare to cover patients with end stage renal disease and therefore dialysis patients of any age.

H pitdakota, I was just posting about that and the diet thing.

[pitdakota]

Hi betteb! We were thinking and posting the same thing at the same time!

[Yardlie]

My brother is on dialysis, and he is told to follow a high-protein diet. I always wondered about that advice. This is what I found online about it.

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases
Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC):

<h3 id="protein">What do I need to know about protein?</h3>

Before you were on dialysis, your doctor may have told you to follow a low-protein diet. Being on dialysis changes this. Most people on dialysis are encouraged to eat as much high-quality protein as they can. Protein helps you keep muscle and repair tissue. The better nourished you are, the healthier you will be. You will also have greater resistance to infection and recover from surgery more quickly.

Your body breaks protein down into a waste product called urea. If urea builds up in your blood, it's a sign you have become very sick. Eating mostly high-quality proteins is important because they produce less waste than others. High-quality proteins come from meat, fish, poultry, and eggs (especially egg whites).

[Financialgrl]

Don't use Boost that you can buy at the store unless you ask first. Dad was in dialysis and he was given something to drink while there. The center had a registered dietitian - he'd given me a sheet with the name of the drink so I could buy it online - it was not Nepro. I had asked him if I could buy Boost at the store and he said absolutely not because I needed something formulated specifically for dialysis patients.

[nafecar]

So much great information. I really appreciate what you all have said.

[KYToby]

The dialysis clinic should have a dietician oand/or medical social worker who may be able to make suggestions or even provide a few samples (they did at my mother's clinic).

Your best option may be to go to a store such as Vitamin Shoppe or GNC or a similar store (some supermarkets even have a good selection) and pick up a few drinks of various brands and flavors to try. While more expensive initially, this should allow someone to pick out a few that she likes, and then she can save money (usually) by searching for it online.

in most cases, according to my nephrologist anyway, the importance is getting the protein -- not the manufacturer.