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