FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

About Hannah Bracamonte

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 520 blog entries.

Recipe of the Month: Creamy Spinach Couscous Risotto

2023-09-08T12:46:49-04:00September 1st, 2023|Categories: eNews, Nutrition, Recipe of the Month, Recipes, Staying Healthy|

Get a brand new, kidney-friendly recipe* delivered to your inbox each month, courtesy of Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, CSR, LD, CLT, a member of the Ed Center Advisory Council and Founder & CEO of the Kidney Nutrition Institute. September means we are starting to move into fall and craving cozier meals as the evenings start to get a little chilly. This month’s recipe makes for a perfect fall dinner: Creamy Spinach Couscous Risotto. Recipe developed by Clarissa Paimanta, RD. Ingredients Makes 2 servings 2 tbsp olive oil ½ yellow onion, chopped finely 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup pearl couscous 2 tbsp pesto [...]

Why do I need my Parathyroid glands removed?

2023-09-08T12:42:34-04:00August 22nd, 2023|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Physical Health, Staying Healthy|

By V. Scantlebury, MD, FACS Chronic kidney disease is associated with phosphate retention due to a decrease in the ability of the kidneys to filter phosphate, especially as your kidney function falls below 25 ml/min. Once you start renal replacement therapy, there is an accumulation of phosphorus that is not removed by dialysis treatments. This occurs because of both decreased filtration and decreased excretion of phosphate in various areas of the kidney. High phosphate levels are a stimulus for hyperparathyroidism: the over secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from the glands. There are usually four parathyroid glands located in the neck, all [...]

A Look at Home Hemodialysis

2023-08-03T15:47:56-04:00August 3rd, 2023|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Hemodialysis, Home Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality of Life, Treatment|

Summary by V. Scantlebury, MD, FACS Home dialysis modalities, which include home hemodialysis (HHD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD), offer several benefits for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Home dialysis is associated with improvements in blood pressure, less issues with mineral metabolism, better sleep quality and improvement of left heart enlargement. It also allows patients the flexibility of adjusting their own dialysis schedule with more time and less cost of traveling to the dialysis center. However, despite these advantages, only 2% of all dialysis patients in the d U. S.  and 3-6% in Canada are on HHD.  The authors from a [...]

ESRD and COVID-19 VACCINATION

2023-07-12T12:41:01-04:00June 30th, 2023|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Immunizations, Kidney Transplant, Physical Health, Staying Healthy|Tags: |

By V. Scantlebury, MD, FACS, DPC Education Center Healthcare Consultant Patients with ESRD have a reduced response to immunizations compared to the general population. This is because the response of their immune system is suppressed, leading to the inability to adequately form an antibody response or maintain antibody titers over time.  The low antibody response appears to be correlated with the degree of kidney failure. Despite the inadequate antibody response, getting vaccinated is still recommended and is most important for patients who are immunocompromised. Just as the annual influenza vaccine is updated every year to cover the most prominent strains of [...]

Dialysis Cruising

2023-06-18T15:46:04-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen|

Joanne Smith, RN, Kidney Care Advocate, Fresenius Kidney Care Whether you are on in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or home hemodialysis taking a cruise is an option for you. It takes a bit of planning, but what vacation doesn’t? I have experienced several cruises that have offered services for dialysis patients. The treatments were performed in staterooms on the lower level of the ship, close to the infirmary. We used a portable reverse osmosis machine attached to the water from the bathroom to provide the purified water needed for the dialysis treatments. We used jugged acid and bicarbonate solutions [...]

Chilled Cucumber Low Potassium Soup

2023-08-03T15:50:44-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Nutrition, Recipe of the Month, Recipes, The Kidney Citizen|

Thanks to Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, CSR, LD, CLT, a member of the Ed Center Advisory Council and Founder & CEO of the Kidney Nutrition Institute, for providing us with this great kidney-friendly recipe* to kick off summer! Chilled Cucumber Low Potassium Soup Recipe developed by Clarissa Paimanta, RD and tested by Lydia Safadi, MA, RD, LDN. Ingredients Makes 3 servings 1 large cucumber, about 2 cups, deseeded and chopped ½ avocado chopped 1 spring onion, both green and white parts, roughly chopped ½ cup plain coconut milk yogurt 2 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoon low sodium homemade pesto 4-5 fresh [...]

Summer Harvest Egg Muffin Cups

2023-07-12T12:48:01-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Nutrition, Recipe of the Month, Recipes, The Kidney Citizen|

Thanks to Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, CSR, LD, CLT, a member of the Ed Center Advisory Council and Founder & CEO of the Kidney Nutrition Institute, for providing us with this great kidney-friendly recipe* to kick off summer! Summer Harvest Egg Muffin Cups Recipe developed by Jessianna Saville, RDN, Renal Nutrition Specialist Ingredients Makes 12 Servings 1 cup vegetables diced small or shredded (we did 1/3 c carrot, 1/3 c yellow squash, 1/3 c red pepper) 1 teaspoon oil 8 eggs 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (we used dill, basil, and parsley) 3 stalks green onion green and white thinly sliced 2 [...]

Fighting Back Against Implicit Bias in Health Care

2023-06-14T14:23:42-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Additional Resources, Mental Health, Physical Health, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen|

Tips for how to speak up and speak out against discrimination in a medical setting Kirsten Weir The receptionist requests two forms of identification from you, yet the White person in front of you required no identification to be verified. A nurse who uses a condescending tone of voice: “you people are all alike.” A doctor who doesn’t listen to you: Having just told the doctor you have knee problems, he recommended that you walk 30 minutes every day. Are they just having a bad day — or is it implicit bias? Implicit bias is an attitude or [...]

Andrew Carr Knows There’s More for Him

2023-06-14T14:22:23-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health, Stress Management, The Kidney Citizen|

Andrew Carr Kidney disease has been part of Andrew’s life since he was 7 years old, when he was diagnosed with Hydronephrosis. Now 29, Andrew has had kidney disease for the majority of his life, but he’s guided by the principle that his kidney disease doesn’t control his life, he does. Andrew began dialysis treatments when he was 19. While Andrew’s exposure to kidney disease happened so early in his life, he does not remember how he felt about it at its outset, but vividly remembers the beginning of his dialysis treatments. For three-and-a-half years Andrew persevered through [...]

Four Things You Should Know About the New Medicare Dental Rule

2023-06-14T14:19:46-04:00June 14th, 2023|Categories: Additional Resources, Physical Health, The Kidney Citizen|

Andrea Moore, LMSW, Health Equity Specialist, Quality Insights Renal Network 5 1. Before January 1, 2023, Medicare would pay for a dental exam only for patients who were actively seeking a kidney transplant. Now, the new Medicare dental rule will pay for a dental exam and dental treatment (e.g., dental filling, teeth removal, replacement of teeth, etc.) for patients actively seeking any organ transplant. If you are living with kidney disease--with or without dialysis--Medicare will not pay for preventative care, like teeth cleanings. What this means for you: If you have Medicare and are actively seeking transplant, meaning [...]

Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top