DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, went Live on Instagram this month to answer your kidney related questions. We are in peak summer heat and, while we all know the importance of staying hydrated, dialysis patients have to balance that with fluid restrictions. Dr. Scantlebury has some tips to beat the heat (and humidity!), how to use the slower summer months to stay on top of your healthcare, and many more kidney-related topics.

Last month, Dr. Scantlebury talked about the importance of renal patients staying hydrated and the added challenge that dialysis patients have with fluid restrictions. This month, she expanded that conversation to answer questions regarding humidity and the additional strain that can place on patients. While there is no one size fits all answer since everyone’s body is different and the weather can vary greatly based on where you live, Dr. Scantlebury provides some tips she’s seen patients use over the year as well as some websites that can be used to find additional resources in your area. She also discussed how patients can use the slower summer months to make sure they are up to date on health screenings and make sure they have necessary appointments scheduled out in order to make sure they are ready to go for transplant when they get called. It is also a great time to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider (or find one if you don’t have one!) since they are the ones able to make referrals for necessary tests. Dr. Scantlebury also answers questions on lab work throughout your kidney journey and why it’s important to adhere to the schedule you receive from your healthcare team, no matter if you are a CKD patient, dialysis patient, or transplant patient.

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for living well with kidney disease. If you have your own questions you’d like to have the doctor answer, tune in for our Live events on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST

Join us for an enlightening episode of the DPC Education Center’s podcast, featuring a special event with healthcare consultant Dr. Scantlebury, DPC Board President Andrew Conkling, and Board Member Quiana Bishop. In this episode, our guests delve into the critical topic of phosphorus and its impact on renal patients. 

With their first-hand experience managing phosphorus issues while on dialysis, Andrew and Quiana share invaluable insights into the challenges and options for controlling phosphorus levels. They discuss the importance of limiting foods high in phosphorus and the role of binders and blockers in helping the body absorb and eliminate excess phosphorus. 

Dr. Scantlebury provides expert commentary on current treatment options and answers patient questions, offering practical advice for maintaining phosphorus balance and overall renal health. 

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of phosphorus management and hear from those who have navigated these challenges firsthand. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you or your loved ones thrive. 

Listen now and take control of your renal health! 

If you have additional kidney questions, tune in for our regularly scheduled Live events on both Instagram and Facebook: 

• IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 

This month, the DPC Education Center got to speak with Fanny Sung Whelan, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian who has worked with people with all stages of kidney disease since 2011, from pre-dialysis to dialysis to transplant. Fanny discusses tips to limit phosphorus, fluid intake on dialysis versus as a transplant patient, how dietary needs change from dialysis to transplant patients, and she gives some easy recipe ideas.  

Tune in to get some tips on ways to limit phosphorus while still enjoying get togethers during the summer months, recommendations for ways to limit or balance your fluids even when it’s hot outside, recipes to enjoy no matter where you are in your kidney journey, and much more! 

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for utilizing your renal social worker. If you have additional kidney questions, tune in for our regularly scheduled Live events on both Instagram and Facebook: 

• IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 

IG Live – June 5th: DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, went Live on Instagram this month to answer your kidney related questions. As the weather starts heating up, Dr. Scantlebury shares some tips for staying cool while not going over your fluid limit, phosphorus and why it has to be closely monitored by renal patients, some considerations that go into being eligible for transplant, and many more kidney-related topics.

It’s officially summer and with the temperatures starting to rise, it’s import for dialysis patients to consider how to best manage their fluids in hot weather. Dr. Scantlebury talks about different ways to help yourself stay cool during these hot summer days, as well as providing some creative tips for quenching your thirst without going over your fluid limits. Another thing renal patients have to keep in mind, regardless of the season, is their phosphorus levels. Your best tools are to pay attention to nutrition labels on your food, working with your nutritionist, and taking your binders as prescribed. When patients are on the transplant list, one of the things that can prevent them from getting a kidney is hard plaque buildup in their blood vessels, caused by phosphorous. Some other considerations if the patient is able to get to their necessary appointments/have a support system to help them and compliance with medications, along with staying up-to-date with their tests. Dr. Scantlebury highlights the importance of speaking with your healthcare team if you have questions or concerns with any of the transplant requirements. 

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for living well with kidney disease. If you have your own questions you’d like to have the doctor answer, tune in for our Live events on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST

IG Live – May 22nd: The DPC Education Center’s Health Care Consultant, Dr. Scantlebury, went Live on Instagram this month to talk about all things kidneys. She talks about mental health and some of the challenges both dialysis and transplant patients face while on their kidney journey, some of the resources available on the DPC Education Center's website, as well as the importance of still having a primary care doctor as a kidney patient, and many other kidney-related topics.

Even though mental health can be difficult to talk about, it’s so important to call attention to it and try to destigmatize it. Dr. Scantlebury discusses some of the unique circumstances dialysis and transplant patients face and highlights some resources available for help. One of those resources is the DPC Education Center, which has tons of information available on everything from nutrition and exercise to support groups to local state-based resources. Dr. Scantlebury also discusses the importance of having a primary care doctor as a kidney patient, in order to make sure you are also taking care of your general health. Additionally, a primary care doctor can also be an excellent referral source for a mental health professional.

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for living well with kidney disease. If you have your own questions you’d like to have the doctor answer, tune in for our Live events on both Instagram and Facebook:

-          IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST
-          Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST

FB Live – May 15th: In our May Facebook Live, Dr. Scantlebury discusses the different dialysis options and what to consider when looking at modalities, what patients can do if they aren't feeling heard by their healthcare provider, the importance of staying up-to-date on required tests/exams when on the transplant list, and many more important kidney related topics.

When considering your options for dialysis, it’s important to have a conversation with your nephrology team so you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. If you know ahead of time that you will have to go on dialysis, you can look into vein mapping and possibly having a fistula placed in advance, or discussing home options such as peritoneal dialysis. Dr. Scantlebury elaborates on these and other options, and highlights some of considerations patients should keep in mind. On this episode, Dr. Scantlebury also discusses some of the things patients can do if they don’t feel like they are being heard by their healthcare provider, including other people they might be able to talk to. She also takes some time to explain how staying up-to-date on your required tests and exams while on the transplant ensures that when you’re called for a kidney, you’re actually able to receive the organ. 

We invite you to join us for our live events and ask your kidney-related questions! Find us on both Instagram and Facebook:

-          IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST
-          Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST

FB Live – April 17th: April is Donate Life Month, and Dr. Scantlebury dives right in on all things transplant. She discusses the different transplant options, living vs. deceased donation, how long a kidney transplant lasts, and recent advances in the transplant space. She also answers questions about sinusitis' impact on kidney failure, resources for eating better, and many more important kidney related topics.

Having been a kidney surgeon for over 30 years, Dr. Scantlebury knows the ins and outs of transplant process extremely well and provides patients with a wealth of knowledge. She very often gets asked about the difference between living and deceased donation options and what the processes entail. With living donation, patients often have an advocate that they are close with who helps them with the process of asking for a kidney or with tough questions. Advocates can also help with utilizing all avenues for a patient when searching for a kidney, such as clubs or neighborhood group they might be involved in, places of worship, family, or friend circles. For deceased donation, patients can be on multiple transplant lists as long as they are not in the same area. Other considerations would be that the patient can get to the transplant center in a reasonable amount of time when called and that they would then be able to stay in the area post-transplant during their recovery. Dr. Scantlebury also discusses the recent transplant that was done with a pig kidney and goes into more detail on how these types of transplants, known as xenotransplant, are done, what the considerations are for a patient to receive the transplant, and where the science is going. 

We invite you to join us for our live events and ask your kidney-related questions! Find us on both Instagram and Facebook:

-          IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST

-          Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST

FB Live – March 20th: For this latest episode of Kidney Questions for the Doctor, DPC Education Center’s Dr. Velma Scantlebury answers questions from both dialysis and kidney transplant patients. This episode covers many different aspects of living with kidney disease, including different access types and when one might be used over another, updated COVID vaccine guidelines for kidney patients, a common virus doctors watch out for in transplant patients,

When patients “crash” into dialysis or when acute dialysis is needed, typically you doctor will place a catheter in order to begin receiving treatment immediately. Though there are instances where an individual might need to keep a catheter, it is more common that you’ll have another access site, either a fistula or a graft, to lessen the chances of infection. Dr. Scantlebury also talks about the recently updated vaccine guidelines for patients age 65+ or immunocompromised patients and ways to keep yourself health if you’re gathering with family or friends. Patients who are immunocompromised are also more susceptible to BK virus, which Dr. Scantlebury explains in-depth on what that virus is, who is at risk for infections, symptoms, and how it’s treated. 

We invite you to join us for our live events and ask your kidney-related questions! Find us on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of the month, 12:30pm EST

IG Live – February 28th: This month, the DPC Education Center got to speak with Elizabeth Jones, MSW, LCSW, a Clinical Social Worker for Nephrology and Transplant at Walter Reed National Medical Center. Elizabeth discusses how social workers provide support for dialysis and kidney transplant patients, with additional emphasis on supporting veterans. 

Tune in to learn some of the resources a social worker can provide to their patients and ideas for how patients can utilize social workers at their facilities, even if privacy is a concern. For home dialysis patients, Elizabeth explains how social workers can arrange to do home visits and discusses some veteran specific statistics on kidney disease and resources that veterans and all patients can use to find the care that’s right for them. 

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for utilizing your renal social worker. If you have additional kidney questions, tune in for our regularly scheduled Live events on both Instagram and Facebook: 

• IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST 

IG Live – March 6th: March is National Kidney Month and Dr. Scantlebury highlights the importance of sharing your kidney story and encouraging everyone to know their numbers. This month we also discussed how hemoglobin is maintained if you have kidney disease, how anti-rejection medication works in the body, the importance of keep up with labs and bloodwork, even after you've had a transplant, and many other important kidney-related topics.

Many times, kidney disease is silent, and patients don’t know there’s an issue until they crash into dialysis. This doesn’t have to be the case though, which is why it’s super important to know your numbers and encourage family and friends to know their numbers and if they have any risk factors for kidney disease. During kidney disease progression, one of the many things that is monitored is your hemoglobin - Dr. Scantlebury explains what hemoglobin is and how it’s monitored and maintained throughout kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant stages. Once you’ve been transplanted, one of the big changes is that you have to begin taking antirejection medications. Dr. Scantlebury discusses what these medication actually do in their body, and why it is so important to stay on top of your labs after transplant.

Give us a listen to hear all this and more important information for living well with kidney disease. If you have your own questions you’d like to have the doctor answer, tune in for our Live events on both Instagram and Facebook:

- IG Live @patientcitizens the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST
- Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm EST