Dialysis & CKD Blog Report 9/15

By Miriam Lippel Blum

Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my update on 9/12.   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 takes issue with dialysis costs quoted in the this NY Times article, although he agrees there should be lifetime immunosuppression for organ recipients; Peter reports on evidence that the H1N1 virus may be even more contagious than the current CDC guidelines suggest, he thinks sick students should be kept home from school until they stop coughing; Bill writes that Kidney Times has an article by DSEN's own Dr. Peter Laird, H1N1 pandemic Flu 2009: Preparation, Prevention and Treatment, and again urges flu preparation; Bill comments on the closing of an Atlanta dialysis unit that leaves no safety net for the poor and uninsured.(Take a look at this news video.)
  
• Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal gets confusing advice from his cardiologist regarding exercise; Fresenius personnel come to visit and are alarmed by the size of his fistula and are concerned about possible rupture, but his doctor says it is fine for now.
• Kaply, Inc. Tracy's opinion regarding healthcare reform is that Medicare works pretty well and should be extended to cover the entire population, but thinks Medicaid (the state-administered program for the poor) has problems; she describes her family's competitiveness.
• Toastiest has a video from when he first took his dog home from the shelter; agrees with the NY Time's article that Medicare coverage for  immunosuppression should be extended, he also has no patience for the anti-healthcare reform protesters.
• Hasten down the wire feels that single-payer healthcare with universal coverage is the only viable resolution to both the problems of costs and access, believes access to good healthcare is a human right and that most US citizens agree with this.
• Nitey Nite- a nocturnal dialysis blog A bout of severe vertigo lands Michelle in the hospital.
• Becky Perry reviews Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina; loves autumn and is grateful that this one finds her in better health than the last so she can enjoy it.
• Jack's Kidney Adventure The PKD Walk got rained out but they had an alternative event indoors, shares photos.
• On the Road to a Cure The Lupus Foundation of America has a new fund raising feature on their  website called the Page of Hope where one can honor someone special or promote your own personal fundraising pages.
• Really, I'm as Old as I Feel? Rob takes his two-year old daughter to an airfield show and buys her first ice cream, cute photos of the excursion.
• I Am. Are you? An Eagle Scout makes a video and organizes an organ donor registration for a project.
• Dialysis Postings has resolved internet problems and is back to his blog, posts a photo he manipulated for the occasion.
•  Dialyse This is excited to find that her blog is cross linked to another dialysis blog. (You're here, too, so you can be doubly excited now,), has been reading a lot on dialysis, thinks medical marijuana might help her restless leg syndrome.
• Bud's Ramblings Bud went apple picking.
• Disability Prejudice And Civil Rights Watch Alison critiques the  State of VA's mental health system and psychiatrists.
• Renal Fellow Network ponders when to refer someone for AV fistula placement; explains what a "secondary AV fistula" is -- a fistula created after a pre-existing graft or fistula failed or been determined to be suboptimal for continued dialysis;  re-evaluates the physiologic rationale for the calcium-phosphate product.
• Uremic Frost a study shows a link between hypertension and road noise.
• UKidney Another new blog addition to the list, UKidney/Internet School of Nephrology is a provider of educational tools for the study and practice of nephrology, hypertension management, and kidney transplantation.  It features contributions from major leaders in nephrology and is compiled by Dr. Jordan Weinstein of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.  The latest post reports on the TREAT study results regarding Aranesp.
• Renal tsar's blog Response to a question regarding a requirement to group dialysis patients in the unit by gender.
• Neophron's Senescence A poll shows that 63% of physicians say they are in favor of giving patients a choice that would include both public and private insurance.
• pkdmom2five photos of a fun weekend with friends and kids.
• Dialysis and Me reports on a video game score; starts a family with the Sim 3 game; video-blogs gripes about the stupid things people say on television; starts building his Terminator and Marine models.
• Kidney Notes - Exploring the Intersection of Medicine and Technology links to a list of hilarious medical journal articles.
• Lemonade and Kidneys Ruth had a  panic dream about her PKD fundraiser (At least you didn't dream about showing up naked at it!)but she has a great list of items to auction off; her kids survive the first week of school; photos of yummy cupcakes she baked for a baby shower;  is having a giveaway of a free throw blanket. drawing Wed. nite  so enter soon.
• The inner game of PKD The inner emotional adjustments that go along with PKD changes.
• My New (transplanted) Kidney Seven weeks post-transplant, Al is adjusting well to the meds and has little incision discomfort, he even played a little street hockey.
• Jenna Franks promotes (and has a photo of) a new t-shirt "Dying for a Kidney" custom designed by tattoo artist Brian Wren from Brooklyn, NY, to help raise awareness for organ donation. The proceeds from the online store benefit the patient forum at http://www.ihatedialysis.com. To purchase, go to http://www.cafepress.com/ihatedialysis
• PKD World posts about the vital importance of "The Walk for PKD" events that raise money for research; an article about the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) and how it saves lives by catching people at risk for CKD.
• DailyHemo - Home Dialysis Advocates New Video: Dialysis Center Sending Patients Home to Die.
• Renal BizBlog comments on the NY Times article and makes the point that the Senate health bill won’t really be healthcare reform—improving care while reducing costs—if the Senate leaves the transplant drug provision out of their legislation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has finally released  the much anticipated proposed rule about  bundling payments for the end-stage renal disease program. Click HERE to read the 547-page proposed rule. Comments must be submitted by November 16.

Comments

[Cherry Emery]

Thanks Miriam Lippel Blum for your information .I appreciate it .