Dialysis & CKD Blog Report 1/14

By Miriam LIppel Blum

To the bloggers on our list (and other folks reading DSEN) who are interested in transplants, this might be of interest to you.  A Webinar is being offered by the Living Donor Kidney Network (LKDN).  The webinar, titled  "Having your Donor Find You," is being offered on 2 different dates, Tuesday, February 2nd and then again on Monday, Feb. 8th at 8:30pm EST (7:30pm CST, 6:30pm MST, and 5:30pm PST.)

This webinar is perfect for people in need of a kidney transplant who want to learn more about living kidney donation and how to communicate their need to friends and family.  If there is someone that wants to help them spread the word about their need, their advocates, ask them to sign up for the webinar, too.  To register for one of the Webinars, click here.  For more information see the website for LKDN.

Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my last report on 1/11. 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 discusses the importance of the Northwest Kidney Center's Kidney Research Institute and their successful funding efforts; the NxStage worked great on the cruise,Bill suggests some improvements that would make it even better; Bill critiques Sally Satel's review of Observing Bioethics by Renee C. Fox and Judith P. Swazey.
• Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal's bone pain is getting worse and his nephrologist orders yet another test. (We're sorry to hear that and hope this test will show something that can be helped.) Despite the pain,  Kamal looks into some travel and cruise opportunities.
• Kaply, Inc. While in Maine, Tracy got scratched up by her brother's kitten.; she is still recovering from vacation and her cough, her cable box is malfunctioning...and she declares her birthday a national holiday (It's Jan. 23rd. We' promise to celebrate with appropriate confections.)
• Toastiest Toastie is frustrated with being unable to sleep on in-center nocturnal HD and considers returning to a daytime shift; his 14-year old cat, Aremid, is slowing down and unable to jump as he used to, photos of Aremid.
• Hasten down the wire Michael gripes about the iPhone and new technology, in general.
• Paddling on Dialysis for Kidney Health  is a new blog. To celebrate and mark his 10th year on dialysis, ten years of life, Erich is going to get into shape so he can join the Grand River Expedition 2010 which will lead scientists, educators, local officials, river enthusiasts and at least one fellow on dialysis from its headwaters near Jackson, Michigan to Lake Michigan at its mouth in Grand Haven 225 miles downstream. He will also be soliciting donations for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan; his Wii Fit video game and his son make him face his obesity head-on.
• The inner game of PKD Richie describes his transplant surgery.
• The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus Flo returns to the grind of school and work.
• Becky Perry reviews and excerpts The Last Day by James Landis; describes her schedule for keeping up with home maintenance, her family assists; shares her menu for the week.
• Jack's Kidney Adventure links to a story about the wearable kidney.
• Transplant, Tantrums, & Tiaras Holly mourns the death of her friend, Jessica Wales, whose lung transplant came too late. (Our condolences to you and her family on your loss.)
• On the Road to a Lupus Cure Belimumab (also known as Benlysta™) effectively treats lupus flares over a four-year period.
• Really, I'm as Old as I Feel? has a photo of daughter, Abby; Rob tries to shampoo Abby's hair and discovers the bathwater is too cold.
• I Am. Are you?  has photos, a video, and a recap of Donate Life Illinois' event at the first of  a year-long series of shows they’re supporting for US99’s “live country” concerts.
• The Ins and Outs of Dialysis Gayle goes to Spokane to visit her beloved 93-year old mother.
• Chronic Chick Talk has been feeling discouraged, awaits a big delivery; suggests taking a course at Online Colleges for work advancement or personal fulfillment; her lupus struggles have given her appreciation of the small joys in life, like her daughter's smile. (These may be small moments but they are big joys.); might be a spectator at but is not interested in riding a bull, ever.
• Dialyse This Her doctor heard the radio interview  and now wants to track down her blog, got a rash from the sticky pads used during her stress echo.
• Renal Fellow Network has a differential diagnosis of Granulomatous Kidney Disease; reports on some promising potential therapy for Polycystic Kidney Disease.
• Uremic Frost has a video about what the National Kidney Foundation does; a study shows that HD patients have a higher risk of colon perforation during colonoscopy; a study shows that angiotensin receptor blockers are linked to lower dementia risk; an FDA panel voted not to recommend approval of nebivolol (Bystolic) for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
• UKidney Dan Rather reported on HDNet a story entitled "Kidney Pirates" about the dark world of black market kidney trafficking.
• Renal tsar's blog Transportation to dialysis in the UK gets better and expects continued  improvements; Case studies from two UK dialysis units provide a guide for salvaging “reject water” that in most units is needlessly “lost to drain” to be put to alternative use in hospital laundry or sanitation systems to provide steam for equipment sterilization or to feed low pressure boilers;  a link to an NHS Renal newsletter; Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payments may have a positive impact on quality of care for Acute Kidney Injuries.
• Pediatric Nephrology links to Renal Fellow Network's differential diagnosis of Granulomatous Kidney Disease; announces Kamal Shah's new website Dialysis in India; a video about NanoDialysis, another wearable kidney in development.
• History of Nephrology Important discoveries about Acute Kidney Failure were made during the bombings in the Battle of Britain, seventy years ago.
• pkdmom2five has a quote about the damage caused by living without love; and a quote about evil caused by religious conviction.
• Lemonade and Kidneys Ruth considers divorcing her husband because he uploaded the score to Les Miserables to their son Quinlan's digital music device, and Quin has abandoned his nascent adolescent broodiness in favor of singing "Master of the House" all over the house at the top of his lungs.  . (I suggest you start playing Susan Boyle's version of "I dreamed a dream" very loudly in response or maybe something from Phantom of the Opera.)
• Rob and Danielle's Kidney Blog Danielle makes a plea for a kidney for Rob out of Scrabble Cheez-Its.
• ....And Bells on Her Toes Kelly's husband, Alex, is getting freaked out about the idea of having a catheter and stent inserted for five days after his upcoming kidney transplant; family stress is affecting the behavior of their young children, Alex considers participating in a study that hopes to reduce the risk of diabetes post-transplant with lower steroid and immunosuppressive levels, all the forms and literature scare Kelly, she is also feeling overwhelmed with the copious transplant details, expected followups, and hopes that the drugs will be covered by their Canadian insurance.  She feels like she needs a good cry.
• Living with PKD Heather is off to Boston for a 24-hour urine collection marathon at Beth Israel Hospital, likes Boston but it's too cold there now.
• DailyHemo - Home Dialysis Advocates New Videos: Avera Medical Minute - Living On Dialysis; Kidney Disease A Death Sentence? Can Dialysis Extend My Life?; Working While On Dialysis - Patient Success Stories; As A Dialysis Patient Caregiver, What Will Dialysis Be Like For Me?; National Art Contest for Children With Kidney Disease; Davita Teammates Donate Teddy Bears; E-Learning Gives Dialysis Kids Laptops and Equipment; Peritoneal Dialysis in Young Children; Gurdip Singh On Dialysis and Very Active.
• Encompass Network Partners has an article about the symptoms and treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease.
• Kidney Community Emergency Response posts a news bulletin about the earthquake in Haiti.
• Renal BizBlog Keith comments on and links to a scary editorial by Richard Amerling about what he fears the triple threat of recession,  healthcare reform, and the new bundling rule will bring: clinic closings.
• Kidney Diet Tips announces that Davita's Phosphorus Challenge is coming soon. It will provide education about phosphorus by featuring games, quizzes, polls, points and social networking with others who are taking the phosphorus challenge.
• Nitey Nite- a nocturnal dialysis blog vents frustration regarding dialysis clinic social workers, considers having another kidney transplant; shares two renal related websites she thinks are worth looking at: Dance for Donors and All Kidney News.
• Renal PatientView Blog has updated the info on their Liver Function Tests and verified it with liver experts.

Comments

[NBRcity]

this is great.

[Diana Park05]

Thank you for sharing this it has a very informative content.. I hope more of this comes..

If you have time you can visit this site:
Kidney Dialysis

God bless and more power..