By Miriam Lippel Blum
There are 23 days left to make your comments to CMS regarding the proposed payment rules. Make your voice heard! It matters.
Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my last report on 11/21. 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 notes that most of the comments sent so far to CMS regarding the bundling describe problems with it but give no concrete alternative suggestions. He also thinks that CMS should wait on some decisions until the national health reform bill is passed.
- Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal explains the role of Vitamin D in the production of calcium and bone health, his doctor has put him on Calcitriol to supplement, hopes this will help with bone pain; Kamal conducts international research to find out if it is possible for him to have a successful kidney transplant despite his Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).
- Toastiest Toastie writes a strong (but civil) letter of complaint to his dialysis unit regarding their behavior during nocturnal dialysis. (You tell 'em, Toastie!)
- Hasten down the wire Michael thinks the Washington Post is becoming irrelevant; comments on a media mogul's verbal swipes at public radio; suggests that Twitter may have "jumped the shark."
- The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus Flo gets her H1N1 shot and her arm is sore for a couple of days.
- Transplant, Tantrums, & Tiaras Holly shares the press release she wrote after her abseiling down the lighthouse fundraising event for organ donor awareness.
- On the Road to a Lupus Cure highlights a new blog about lupus issues written by a woman in Oregon.
- I Am. Are you? has links to excellent videos from a week-long TV series that profiled various personal stories related to organ donation.
- The Ins and Outs of Dialysis John struggles with balance problems, they hope physical therapy and exercise will help; Gayle shares her philosophy on caregiving and how she copes.
- Lupus and Humor Carla recommends two diet books, Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, MD, and The Lupus Recovery Diet by Jill Harrington.
- Linda Gromko MD kidneycare Linda notes how difficult it is to get people to do what is necessary for their health; finds the hypervigilance she must maintain as a caregiver exhausting.
- Renal Fellow Network posts two video clips, one a weird animation about Knuckles the Kidney, the other a basic explanation of diuretic action in the kidney; describes the The Nephrology Oral History Project and what early nephrologists and patients had to go through for dialysis access (Reading this made me very grateful for my AV fistula!); an article examines the role of polycystin proteins in causing high blood pressure in people with PKD.
- Uremic Frost A small study in Italy found that a low protein diet did not decrease the risk of death or dialysis therapy initiation compared with a moderate protein diet.
- UKidney A study concludes that patients starting dialysis have an increased risk of death that is not specifically caused by excess cardiovascular mortality.
- Renal tsar's blog discusses some issues to consider in the establishment of new kidney units; development of new specifications for peritoneal dialysis in the UK should increase access to that modality.
- Diario de diálisis Crónicas (en Español) Journal dialysis - Chronicles (Google translated from Spanish) Alejandro describes the insane procedure required in order to obtain a disability certificate in Buenos Aires. (And you thought the DMV was bad?)
- pkdmom2five had a happy and busy weekend filled with church activities.
- Kidney Notes - Exploring the Intersection of Medicine and Technology posts a satirical tee shirt design by Warren Ellis about universal health care.
- Rob and Danielle's Kidney Blog Rob describes a woodworking project, he has trouble sleeping on dialysis and needs to use Ambien to sleep; Danielle gets a new job, rents My Sister's Keeper because it's about renal failure, dialysis and a potential kidney donation.
- The Ballad of Billy The Kidney John is swamped with end of the term paperwork and hopes to return to posting soon.
- The inner game of PKD Richie explores issues and problems in communication when one has PKD.
- Michael W. Newman Michael is asked by an online news organization to write articles pertaining to credit/debt issues and will then become syndicated, wishes a news agency would do the same for dialysis issues.
- Unfiltered Hope Darren is home and the new kidney continues to improve, they celebrate this new lease on life; Darren's creatinine has dropped down to 3.09 from 8.5, they and the doctors are thrilled, Sara buys an industrial size container of hand sanitizer to keep the flu away from her now immunocompromised husband.
- Libre Clothing Create a name for Libre’s new pull-over, and share your story. The name can be inspired by anything; a gifted doctor, inspiring nurse, favorite place, or even yourself. Every name has a story. The winning story writer will receive a free Libre pull-over and the pull-over style will be named after the inspiration from his or her story! Deadline: December 15, 2009.
- Renal BizBlog reports that in October, the first national certification for medical interpreters was launched to help patients in the United States with limited English proficiency receive better healthcare.
- Living with PKD Heather writes about the lessons she learned from running her half-marathon; shares how she lives with PKD.
- My New (transplanted) Kidney Journey Al's creatinine has crept up a little and he's nervous, thinks he should try a kidney-friendly diet to ease stress on his new kidney.
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