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Taking Care of Yourself When You Have Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:21-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy|

Taking Time for Fun With or without chronic kidney disease (CKD), life is what you make it. Some patients with CKD may choose to withdraw. Others may choose to do as much as possible and live life to the fullest. The choice is yours. Maybe you want to spend more time with family and friends. If so, plan an outing with them. They’ll appreciate your effort and you can feel good about taking charge. Decide what is most important to you now. Then take the steps necessary to make it happen. Tips for Coping You might feel like you are no [...]

Managing Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:22-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Medication, Nutrition, Stages of Kidney Disease|

As you are being treated for your chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5, there are 2 areas of concern that you and your renal (kidney) care team should discuss. Diet Following a renal-friendly diet can help limit the amount of waste in your body, which will aid in your treatment. You and your renal dietitian can work together to monitor the foods you eat and the fluids you drink. Some things you may discuss include Limiting fluids Avoiding salt Being aware of hidden phosphorus Sticking to the diet you and your dietitian create may not only help you feel better, it [...]

Keeping a Food Diary and Tips for Eating Out

2024-03-28T21:07:23-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Nutrition|

Food Diary A food diary is an easy way to monitor the foods and liquids in your diet. The diary can help you identify trouble spots and make quick fixes. Your renal dietitian can help you get a food diary or you can check for one online. Food labels can help you with your food diary and help you choose healthier, kidney-friendly foods. Talk to your renal dietitian about what to look for before you shop. Since imbalances of minerals such as phosphorus and potassium are a concern for patients on dialysis, ask your renal dietitian how many milligrams (mg) of [...]

Care for Your Overall Health

2024-03-28T21:07:25-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Immunizations, Lifestyle|

Preventive Screenings Part of managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) is keeping up with medical screenings. Talk with your doctor every January about “preventive maintenance” screenings you’ll need for the coming year, and mark them on a calendar. The tests you need depend on your age, your health, and whether you are male or female, so work with your nephrologist to ensure that your tests are done as necessary. Below are some examples of tests recommended by the US Department of Health & Human Services for the average person: General Tests Cholesterol test Blood pressure test Diabetes screening Fecal blood test Mental [...]

Transportation Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:27-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Quality of Life|

With chronic kidney disease (CKD) and any additional conditions you have, it may be a challenge getting to doctor appointments, the grocery store, and other places. However, there are some helpful options to consider: Ask a friend or family member to drive you to your doctor appointments Take a city bus, taxi, or other public transportation to get around Talk to your social worker for information about government-sponsored transportation for senior citizens or those who cannot get around easily While you’re at dialysis or with your support group, if you belong to one, talk to others with CKD about how they [...]

Traveling Tips for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:07:28-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Stress Management|Tags: |

The thought of travel may seem intimidating because of your dialysis schedule, but a little planning can make it easier. Ask your local dialysis center or your doctor’s office for help finding a dialysis center away from home. You or a loved one can also visit www.dialysisfinder.com or call 1-866-889-6019 toll free to speak with a dialysis placement specialist. If your dialysis is done at home, either with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, you may also want to consider contacting one of the services listed above, as traveling with the necessary supplies or finding space to do your dialysis may be difficult. Be sure [...]

Health Information Trackers

2024-03-28T21:07:32-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health|

Lab Values You should have your lab work done on a regular basis to help keep track of your progress. You may be tested for the following at different times: Kidney function Phosphorus Potassium Blood pressure Diabetes control Anemia Bone health Nutrition Depending on what your doctor wants to do and any other conditions you may have, he or she may request other labs. Consider making a chart for all your lab values, including phosphorus, or ask your nurse or renal dietitian if he or she has a chart you can use. It can help you follow your progress. Medication Schedule [...]

Getting Assistance from Others

2024-03-28T21:07:33-04:00December 14th, 2012|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Stress Management|

Do you find it hard to ask for help when you need it? Try these ideas the next time you need a hand: Even though you don’t want to bother anyone, it’s not a good idea to begin your request with an apology. “I’m sorry to put you to so much trouble” sounds as if an awful chore lies ahead! Try being more specific: “I need help taking some clothes to a charity. Do you have about an hour to help me next Saturday?” When people ask what they can do to help you, give them a job: “Can you help [...]

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