IG Live 02.05.2025 – DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, went Live on Instagram to answer your kidney related questions. February is American Heart Month, and it's crucial to remember that kidney disease is closely linked to heart health. Dr. Scantlebury talks about the particular importance of heart health for dialysis and transplant patients, as well as when you can be referred back to your nephrologist after transplant, what to do if a transplant center does not qualify you, and many other kidney-related topics.

For American Heart Month, Dr. Scantlebury highlighted the importance of hearth health for both dialysis and kidney transplant patients. One of the most important things in working up anyone who is on dialysis or trying to get on the transplant list is to take a look at heart health. If you’re on dialysis, make sure you’re compliant with your volumes so there is as little stress on your heart as possible. It’s also important to make sure that you stay up to date with your screenings to make sure your heart is able to support you when you’re called up for a transplant and to get issues worked out before that time.

Dr. Scantlebury also discusses how the timeline post-transplant will be different for everyone. Though there is no set time that works for everyone to be referred back to their nephrologist after getting a transplant, typically, patients are referred back after six months. Many things can impact this though, such as if the kidney is slow to take after transplant or if a patient starts to show signs of rejection. The care team at your transplant center will see you every two weeks post-transplant and monitor your recovery. She also talks about getting listed at multiple transplant centers as well as some reasons you might qualify at one transplant center but not another, and how you can go about finding another center.

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

Happy New Year and welcome back to Kidney Questions for the Doctor! DPC Education Center’s Healthcare Consultant, Velma Scantlebury, MD, went Live on Facebook this month to answer your kidney related questions. Post-holidays can be a bit gloomy, so Dr. Scantlebury talks a bit about seasonal depression, staying up-to-date on your screenings and testing for transplant, emergency preparedness, and many other kidney-related topics.

Seasonal depression often hits around this time of year because it’s cold and gloomy, the holidays are over, and, if you’re waiting for transplantation, the January and February months tend to be slower in terms of getting called up. Dr. Scantlebury talks about some ways to use this time to your advantage though, including getting up-to-date on required screenings and testing. Even if you aren’t sure you want a transplant or a little warry, getting more information and going through the process is a great way to make sure you are staying on top of your health and address any potential issues early on so they don’t become larger problems down the road.

Dr. Scantlebury also answers a patient question on emergency preparedness. Given the increase in natural disasters and extreme weather that have been occurring, it’s important for patients to have plan for what to do if they need to evacuate their home or if they aren’t able to dialyze on their normal schedule. If you are eligible for a 90-day supply of your medications, make sure to take advantage of that and have the extra in an easily accessible location, along with other emergency supplies such as non-perishable food, a can opener, candles, matches, etc. It’s also important to make a plan with family or friends so you have a known location you can travel to and make arrangements with a nearby center to receive treatment there. If you aren’t able to dialyze as you normally would or have to miss a treatment, it is important to minimize your fluid intake so that you don’t overload your heart.

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