By Miriam Lippel Blum
Here are the CKD related blogs updated since my last report on 1/17. 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's analysis of a NY Times op-ed by Kristoff shows that dialyzors can be happy; Bill critiques Dr. Richard Amerling's depressing article on the future of US healthcare, finding it full of factual inaccuracies and misleading conclusions; Bill reports how alleged practices by DaVita in regard to epogen utilization are damaging to the entire CKD community.
- Kamal Shah's Blog Kamal's nephrologist is perplexed regarding Kamal's bone pain, wants to wait to see if it improves and consult a neurologist; Kamal's phone runs out of power at an inopportune moment so he can't get directions to a dinner party. Luckily, a security guard with a phone comes to the rescue; Kamal has an epiphany about the source of the bone pain, validates it with Dr. John Agar, and goes about correcting the problem. (We hope this solves it soon and forever.)
- Kaply, Inc. Tracy is slowly recuperating from the chest cold she got while on vacation.
- Toastiest shares a photo of Aremid, his 15-year old cat; is so disappointed with the Democrat's loss in Massachusetts, finds politics depressing; posts pet pictures to cheer himself (and the rest of us) up.
- Hasten down the wire Michael wonders whether the NY Times' second attempt at constructing a paywall for online content will be better than its first try, which was a dismal failure; Michael reports on how the FBI illegally obtained phone records.
- Paddling on Dialysis for Kidney Health Erich finds that his strenuous exercise plan is slowed by a low hematocrit, he's getting iron and EPO to address the problem and uses motivational quotes to keep his focus.
- The inner game of PKD Richie shares a number of concepts, practices, and “mind games” that he used to cope with the challenges he faced with PKD.
- The Life of a 20-Something With Lupus Flo spent the day sleeping and now, as she procrastinates before setting up for her nocturnal dialysis treatment, she wonders if she can paint her nails while having buttonhole needles in her arm. (I wouldn't recommend it.); has a post about her bald spots and how she is going to treat them. (Flo, bald spots or not, you are a beautiful woman.)
- Becky Perry reviews The Judas Ride by Peggy Sue Yarber; reviews A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley.
- Jack's Kidney Adventure has a link to an article about what the renal community is doing to help dialysis patients in Haiti.
- Transplant, Tantrums, & Tiaras Since she feels life is short, Holly has decided to complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days; a list of her 101 tasks.
- On the Road to a Lupus Cure Representatives from the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), along with 22 national organizations, attended the first consortium meeting aimed at developing a national health care provider education initiative to improve lupus diagnosis, treatment, and management among minorities; Saturday, January 23, is the Kick-Off for the 2010 Walk for Lupus Now event in San Diego.
- Really, I'm as Old as I Feel? shares a cute photo of his young daughter ready to pilot an airplane.
- I Am. Are you? Donate Life Illinois reached their goal of getting 8000 Facebook fans in 8 days.
- The Ins and Outs of Dialysis Gayle took up knitting as an activity to do while John is on dialysis. She asks, "How is knitting like dialysis?" The answer: Two big needles connected by cables, one needle pushes, the other one pulls.
- Dialyse This Cassie is delighted to find out that all her transplant blood work and ECG could be done through the dialysis unit.
- Bud's Ramblings Bud went to breakfast with his sister and brother-in-law, put away the Christmas tree, and hopes his defibrillator never has to go off.
- Linda Gromko MD kidneycare Linda suggests that both caregiver and dialyzor find something - anything - that renal failure has taken away - and make a valiant effort to reclaim it; congratulates Steve on completing his cardiac rehabilitation program, writes about the importance of exercise for people with diabetes and CKD5; Linda's mom has a medical scare and ends up in the hospital on her 92nd birthday; Linda recalls the events leading up to her marrying Steve and wishes him a Happy Anniversary - she would do it all again despite the CKD5 struggles.
- Precious Bodily Fluids shows how to properly determine Dilantin levels in a patient on dialysis; links to an article about the demonization of high fructose corn syrup; a photo of a doctor at an Antarctic research post surgically removing his own appendix.(Well, the penguins weren't gonna do it!)
- Renal Fellow Network discusses the ethical dilemmas associated with care of the undocumented CKD5 population; links to an article that helps determine the molecular basis of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in many (but not all) cases, and characterizes this disorder as yet another example of a channelopathy: a disorder of ion channels; the use of bortezomib in the management of myeloma cast nephropathy.
- UKidney has a description of the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) which is a standardized method for assessing peritoneal membrane function, and is used for tailoring an appropriate, individualized PD prescription; a Swiss study uses glycyrrhetinic acid, a compound commonly found in licorice, to lower dangerously high potassium levels.
- Renal tsar's blog The tsar clarifies clarifies some issues regarding pneumococcal vaccinations in patients with CKD; he makes it clear and in no uncertain terms that twice a week dialysis is insufficient and unacceptable (Three times a week isn't really acceptable either but two is definitely not enough.); refers people to a kidney dialysis quality report now available on the UK Department of Health website; the NHS Kidney Care finally unveil their Kidney Care website and the tsar likes it.
- Pediatric Nephrology has a link to the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition; an article about the Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney.
- pkdmom2five shares a quote from Oswald Chambers: "God who made the birds never made bird cages. It's men who make bird cages and after a while we become cramped and can do nothing but chirp and stand on one leg."
- Dialysis and Me Barry has a photo of the hobby desk his father-in-law made him for Christmas.
- Rob and Danielle's Kidney Blog Rob feels well so he and Danielle go on a bike ride with friends through a park; Rob posts a nostalgic piece he found about childhood in years past, although he and Danielle are considering adoption so as not to pass PKD genetically, Rob is glad his parents had him and he learned to persevere as he watched his Dad's struggles with CKD.
- ....And Bells on Her Toes Kelly found a good snow plower, Alex feels better and goes out with the boys to party before his transplant; Kelly realizes how much the family tension regarding the surgery is affecting her young daughter, Alex is going to participate in the post-transplant study regarding diabetes; expresses gratitude to Alex's father who is giving him a kidney.
- Encompass Network Partners A few of the biggest players in the medical devices arena are accused in a whistle-blowers lawsuit of promoting the off-label use of biliary stents to treat cardiovascular disease in hundreds of thousands of patients. (This seems to be a pattern in companies -- see Bill's post on DaVita's problems.)
- Libre Clothing shares some exercise ideas to help stave off diabetes which is the #1 cause of renal failure; links to an article about how the dialysis community is helping in Haiti.
- Kidney Diet Tips How the DaVita Diet Helper, an online tool, can help you keep your 2010 resolutions.
- Michael W. Newman The doctor found spots on Michael's lungs, more evaluation needed so the oxygen saturation test is canceled.
- LightLizard's Lair reflects on how the impact of past wars echoes in his life and choices.
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