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