Dialysis & CKD Blog Report 11/9

By Miriam Lippel Blum

There are 38 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 11/6. 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 has the blog report.
• Kaply, Inc. Tracy's sinus surgery is tomorrow, she's nervous but hoping for relief from six years of sinus infections. (We all send wishes for a good outcome and speedy healing.)
• Toastiest posts Jon Stewart's comedic impersonation of Glenn Beck; Toastie has a terrible day at work and his depression is deep, writes a letter to his doctors asking for urgent help; writes about work difficulties; changes the mood with a great photo of his cat looking happy.
• Hasten down the wire Michael thinks the newly passed House healthcare legislation is at best mediocre, at worst pitifully lacking.
• The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus Flo successfully posts to her blog using her Blackberry; had a great day planned but a lupus flare ruined it; struggled with a badly written exam and yearns for her upcoming Florida vacation. (Warm beaches coming soon, Flo. Hang in there.)
• Jack's Kidney Adventure Jack ponders the illusion of intimacy created by familiarity with a medical condition after a workshop participant pours out her daughter's renal failure story to him and asks for advice.
• On the Road to a Cure has an H1N1 flu advisory for people with lupus.
• I Am. Are you? Donate Life Illinois is giving away free tickets to a special private show with Carrie Underwood at Joe’s Bar in Chicago on December 3. Click over to the Donate Life Illinois Facebook page for details.
• Chronic Chick Talk shares a poem asking lupus to run away; considers the benefits of remote access software; shares a Sheryl Crow video for Music Monday; can't believe 2009 is almost over and wonders what gift to get her daughter for Christmas.
• Dialyse This gets her flu shots, has a bad reaction to the H1N1 vaccine, wishes she could get shots through her catheter instead of being jabbed.
• Linda Gromko MD kidneycare Linda shares what she learned at the Northwest Kidney Center's forum on Medicare bundling, encourages dialyzors to submit comments to CMS.
• Renal Fellow Network A demonstration project showed how human Serum Amyloid P (hSAP) potently inhibits fibrosis in models of renal fibrosis.  The findings raise the possibility of using hSAP as a therapy for kidney diseases with a prominent fibrotic component, such as diabetic nephropathy or chronic allograft nephropathy; four general categories of secondary causes of membranous nephropathy; complement levels and glomerulonephritis.
• UKidney reports that NxStage had strong financial results in the 3rd quarter of this year; a Harvard study showed that women who drink two or more diet sodas a day experienced a 30 percent drop in kidney function over the course of a two decades long study. (Time to switch to water with a slice of lemon added.)
• History of Nephrology has an article about the first successful kidney transplants.
• pkdmom2five posts photos of friends' new baby and congratulates the parents.
• Kidney Notes - Exploring the Intersection of Medicine and Technology links to an article about how to make healthcare better according to Brent James, MD,  who is the chief quality officer at Intermountain Healthcare, a network of hospitals and clinics in Utah and Idaho that President Obama and others have described as a model for health reform; a photo of Halloween at the White House; a link to a comic entitled "Organ Donor."
• Lemonade and Kidneys Ruth considers going back on anti-depressants for the weight loss; shares a photo of her Jack-o-Melons.
• Mid-life ramblings Dianne is appalled at how the H1N1 vaccine was distributed and not distributed in her State of Texas.
• My Chronic Kidney Disease gives a positive review of  Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis by Mackenzie Walser and Betsy Thorpe.
• My New (transplanted) Kidney Al got his flu shots (both kinds) and updates on his condition, lab results, drugs, and exercise 3 1/2 months post-transplant.
• 3 1/2 Hours of Free Cable is a brand new blog. In his pilot post, Jason introduces himself and discusses his history with CKD and transplantation. He hopes to chronicle his dialysis experience for those who are unfamiliar with it, as well as connect with fellow dialyzors.
• Michael W. Newman notes that a nursing home staff person attended the woman with dementia at dialysis and that seemed to be helpful.
• Kidney Diet Tips  A recent study by DaVita dietitian Debbie Benner, MA, RD and collaborators reveals that changing to nocturnal dialysis may make it easier for dialysis patients to eat enough protein and keep phosphorus normal.

MIRIAM'S WEBSURFING FIND: If you need help paying for medications, check out this recently updated  page compiled by psychologist, Ken Pope. Resources for Finding Health Insurance and Affordable Medications. It includes web sites that provide information helpful in finding free or low-cost medications.

The list is annotated and includes links to all the websites. These free sites -- run by groups like Consumer Reports & the U.S.Department of Health & Human Services -- match patients with programs providing free or low-cost meds to those in need who can't afford them. Some offer comparison shopping to find the least expensive reliable sources. While some sites are for all patients, others focus on particular groups (e.g., kids, the elderly, those who were in the military including the National Guard and Reserves).

There are also sites that provide extensive information for anyone searching for good, affordable health insurance. Although it might not be too helpful for those of us with CKD5, it may still be a helpful resource for our families and friends.

One site, e.g., provides "Comprehensive descriptions of public and private health care coverage options offered by every state and by the Federal Government." Another site provides a wide array of "affordable health insurance plans (Individual Health Insurance, Family Health Insurance, Self Employed Health Insurance, Small Business Group Health Insurance, HMOs, PPOs, Health Savings Accounts, Short-term Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, etc.)" and allows visitors to get quotes, compare plans, and apply online. Another site provides an online "Consumer Guide for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance" for each state and the District of Columbia.