12 Tips to Cope with Chronic Disease

2024-03-28T21:00:00-04:00July 20th, 2020|Categories: Lifestyle, Mental Health, Stress Management|

By Rachel Fintzy Woods, MA, MFT So many aspects of life are beyond our control. When the challenges of managing an illness such as chronic kidney disease are added to our plate, we can feel overwhelmed. Emotions such as anger, confusion, fear and sadness are common and natural, especially at the outset of our journey with illness. It can seem as if our world has been turned upside down. Yet we do have some say in how we deal with the cards we’ve been dealt, including our medical condition and life itself. We alone are responsible for our actions and our [...]

Spoon-Saving Strategies

2024-03-28T21:00:07-04:00June 15th, 2020|Categories: Fact Sheet, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Stress Management, The Kidney Citizen|

By Sara Naveed Raise your hand if getting out of bed feels like an accomplishment to you, if you have ever felt the need to nap after taking a shower or if being tired feels like it's a part of your personality now! How about constantly finding yourself in a push/crash cycle—pushing way past your limit one day and then paying the price for it in the form of heightened symptoms and having to rest several days in order to recover? Don't worry—you're not the only one! We currently live in an era where we are constantly fed the narrative that [...]

Are You Scared or Anxious about COVID-19?

2024-03-28T21:00:09-04:00June 2nd, 2020|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Support|Tags: |

Updated September 10, 2020 We are living in a time of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, which can lead to stress, fear, depression, and anxiety. We may feel overwhelmed at times and bored at other times. We may be at a loss for how to cope with social distancing, not seeing friends and family, and the possibility of getting sick. If you are a dialysis patient, receiving treatment either in-center or at home, your facility social worker is a great resource for you. Or, if you are a transplant patient, you can talk to your transplant social worker for support. [...]

Beyond Sanitizing and Social Distancing–A Healthy Circadian Rhythm May Keep You Sane and Increase Resilience to Fight COVID-19

2024-03-28T21:00:20-04:00April 20th, 2020|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Physical Health|Tags: |

By Satchin Panda, University of California San Diego Social distancing and washing hands have become the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, but there is another powerfully protective resource immediately available to all: your circadian rhythm. I head a lab that researches circadian rhythms, the daily cycles of bodily functions that form the foundation of good health. These body clocks, found in nearly every organ of the body and part of the brain, are central and vital to a properly functioning immune system. A synchronized circadian rhythm in the lungs, heart, kidney and brain ensures that the processes in our [...]

COVID-19 Resources for Dialysis Patients

2024-06-07T12:30:37-04:00March 31st, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, Employment, eNews, Fact Sheet, In-Center Hemodialysis, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Stress Management|Tags: |

Updated May 6, 2020 Earlier this month the President signed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” which is a bill that will increase funding to several federal programs in response to the COVID-19 viral outbreak. The bill aids Americans in the areas of healthcare (including COVID-19 testing), nutrition, paid sick leave, unemployment, family and medical leave, and more. Below is a list of resources for dialysis patients to help them get additional support during the COVID-19 viral outbreak and beyond. Resource topics include: disability, financial assistance, nutrition, healthcare, housing and utilities, jobs, transportation, women and children, daily living, and staying [...]

Dialysis–A Gift for Me

2024-03-28T21:00:24-04:00March 27th, 2020|Categories: Blog, In-Center Hemodialysis, Lifestyle, Quality of Life|Tags: |

Irwin Dunsky By Irwin Dunsky I found out my kidneys were disintegrating about seven years ago. They were working about thirty-five percent. I stated watching some of the things I was eating and a year later they were at thirty percent. My doctor told me that soon I would have to get a new kidney if I didn’t watch it. My kidneys kept going down, and four years ago they reached twenty percent functioning. I went to three hospitals to get on a kidney transplant list. They all told me that my heart was a risk factor that they [...]

What the COVID-19 Means for Kidney Patients

2024-03-28T21:00:25-04:00March 8th, 2020|Categories: Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Webinar|Tags: |

Learn about COVID-19 and what you and your family can do to protect yourselves. You will also learn about the CDC’s guidance for dialysis facilities and how your facility staff is working to prevent the spread of infection. Presented by: Alan Kliger, MD, with the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and Shannon Novosad, MD with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) About the Presenters: Shannon Novosad, MD, MPH is a Medical Officer with the Dialysis Safety Team in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Novosad received her medical degree from [...]

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information for Dialysis Patients

2024-06-07T11:58:57-04:00March 6th, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, eNews, In-Center Hemodialysis, Lifestyle, Physical Health|Tags: |

Updated 3/26/2020 Coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated COVID-19) is a new respiratory virus spreading to the United States. Although the health risk is low in this country at this time, we know that people who have chronic illnesses, weakened immune systems and/or are over the age of 60 could pose an increased risk if they develop the disease. That said, it is not a time to panic, but rather a time to use procedures that help prevent the flu, coronavirus and other infections. Prevention A great prevention tip is to avoid getting or sharing germs that can cause infections. Here are [...]

New Resources for Teens

2024-03-28T21:00:27-04:00March 2nd, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, Diagnosis of Kidney Disease, eNews, Fact Sheet, Home Hemodialysis, Humor and Laughter, In-Center Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Medication, Nutrition, Pediatric Kidney Disease, Peritoneal Dialysis, Stress Management, Support, Symptoms|Tags: |

These booklets were developed for tweens and teens who learn their kidneys are not working and they will need dialysis or a transplant. The booklets provide a brief overview of coping with kidney disease, being part of their health care team, the importance of diet, taking medication, and treatment methods. They also touch on feelings related to having a chronic illness, family and friends, and being a teen. The development of both booklets included input from kids currently on dialysis, parents, adults who had kidney disease as children, and nephrologists.  Although both booklets are similar, one focuses on teens who learn [...]

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