By Miriam Lippel Blum
It was a busy but interesting few days in the blogosphere. Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my update on 5/10. If you have or know of a blog that should be on the list let Bill know. Comments in parentheses are my reactions or opinions.
- Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle Bill finds major math and analytical errors in a Clinical Therapeutics paper that claims Medicare can save 1 billion dollars by increasing peritoneal dialysis usage. He also makes the point that ultimately the paper shows conventional in-center dialysis is not only inadequate but more expensive than all the other modalities. (What scares me about papers with errors like that which make it into medical journals is that they are frequently then used to justify positions of Medicare that are not really in the best interest of CKD patients, and so many people suffer as a result.)
- Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal begins relating a story from his early days of renal failure when he tried a "miracle cure" as a last resort. (I want to read the rest of the saga. Shame on those quacks out there who take advantage of the desperation people feel when faced with CKD5 and other illnesses. If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.)
- Kaply, Inc. Tracy gets IV iron, and a migraine but also a wonderful care package of goodies for her and her cats; wants to paint her apartment but detests painting, finds a fabulous website that sells large, removable wall decals.(Post some photos when you're done so we can check it out.)
- Toastiest holds off initiating dialysis for a while longer but is tired from low hematacrit due to bleeding cysts and shares a video of his happy dog, Herman.
- The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus has been having a tough time with pain and lack of sleep; her blood work gets screwed up so she must have it redrawn, and encounters scammers on eBay.
- Life on dialysis ... and now life after my transplant! Holly writes about the downside to campaigning and some of the negatives of having a transplant; the upside to having a transplant and campaigning, compares her life now to pre-transplant and is very grateful for the gift; her segment of the TV documentary on organ donation airs tomorrow, and she has won awards for all her volunteer work. (Bravo, Holly, for all you've done to bring attention to organ donation)
- PKD & Dialysis ... Where I Tell It Like It Is has been tired and in pain, figures out a medication error was contributng to her problem.
- On the Road to a Cure Swine flu advisory for lupus patients (Basically the same as for everyone else, but realize that you are more prone to infections.); upcoming Walk for Lupus Now events in a number of places announced.
- I Am. Are you? reports an event held with a country radio station;
- Transplant Alliance a query regarding a forum to discuss transplant meds and side effects; Robyn worries about her grandfather on dialysis who just had a mild heart attack. He also won't consider a kidney donation from his family, which frustrates them; and TransplantAlliance celebrates three years tobacco free.
- Dialysis Postings struggles with dietary and fluid restrictions, along with flu-like symptoms.
- Precious Bodily Fluids writes about the difficulties patients with high blood pressure have in losing weight, though he recommends lifestyle changes he frequently also suggests bariatric surgery; a link to a cool site Wordle.net which is a web toy that generates “word clouds” from text that you provide (If you don't know what a word cloud is, go check it out. It's fun.); presents a case report of a woman with sterile pyuria; and he learns a cool new word, anamnesis. (New to me, too.)
- Renal Fellow Network reports on two successful transvaginal nephrectomies; hears a highly technical talk about alpha and beta intercalated cells of the collecting duct (This was way over my head, but then I'm not a renal fellow.); and last but not least he explains the chemical mechanics of why if you are stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, you are not supposed to drink the salt water, along with some interesting links about albatross nasal glands, shark rectal glands, and juicy details about tainted castor oil causing kidney failure.(Everything you always wondered about.)
- Uremic Frost provides a Twitter link where you can follow him or ask him a quick question; and a short but informative article he wrote about kidney stones that was just published by the Long Island Press.
- pkdmom2five is having lots of tests to determine source of abdominal pain, kidney function has dropped and she has low energy but carries on the best she can.
- My Wife Has Lupus - Support for individuals whose family or friends have lupus has writer's block and posts a poll to find out who is reading his blog.
- Lemonade and Kidneys reports that her world is falling apart but she's not ready to write about it (I hope things get better soon), instead she shares that the woman she was helping (see her 4/29 post) is doing better, and a recipe for a delicious snack made with tortillas, pesto, and goat cheese. (Yum!)
- Mid-life ramblings After dialysis, she plants in her garden and bathes her dogs.
- The Ballad of Billy The Kidney reports on a kidney transplant recipient who joined the police force. (Just goes to show you that with determination one can reach unexpected goals.)
- As The Pump Turns discusses the very serious implications of the "Conscience Clause" (that the Bush Administration enacted on his last day in office) for healthcare providers and patients, and calls for it to be modified.
- Mushroom's Blog celebrates his niece's graduation from college.
- The Renal Unit Renal tweets, current news, and blogs.
- Encompass Network Partners General information on Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD); and an article on Peripheral Vascular Disease.
- Renal BizBlog AAKP responds to Wanda Sykes' not-so-funny jab at Rush Limbaugh. She said she hoped his kidneys failed.(Not a nice thing to say even if you don't like his politics.)
- Team Teddy Bear announces upcoming events of the Hudson Valley chapter of the Walk for PKD.
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