|
THE BEAN:
|
 More often than not, Dr. Munjal asks his patients to monitor their blood pressure and/or weight readings at home between appointments. You may find yourself asking “why am I still being seen in the office if I am tracking this at home?” Great question! There are aspects of your care that require different levels of attention from Dr. Munjal and our care team. Let’s discuss what those are and why each is equally important.
Home Monitoring Dr. Munjal asks most of our patients to monitor their blood pressure readings at home. He does this so we can get a better idea of what your readings look like normally, in everyday circumstances. A singular reading may not accurately represent your average blood pressure. When blood pressure is taken consistently, trends over time are able to be identified. This helps Dr. Munjal to make better informed decisions. A blood pressure tracker is available on our website here to help you track at home. To assist with making tracking your vitals easier, we have a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program. Monitoring programs, like ours, typically only focus on one aspect of your care. Stabilizing and ‘fine tuning’ your blood pressure readings and regiment appropriately can help with your overall kidney health. Adjustments are made, as needed, between regularly scheduled appointments. To learn more about the RPM program, head over to our website by clicking here. Appointments Regular appointments, whether virtual or in office, are still necessary as there are a number of other factors and events that can contribute to changes in your health over time. At appointments, Dr. Munjal provides a more comprehensive check-in to explain lab results, any pertinent changes in diagnosis and health status, and if there are other conditions or concerns to discuss. He will also order tests to continue to monitor your health or refill prescriptions as needed. Appointments are also where those home readings come into play. Dr. Munjal will review the readings you’ve taken at home to assess your blood pressure and/or weight management. Please bring your blood pressure tracker back so he can review it with you. In short, home monitoring 'fine-tunes’ and assists with creating the big picture of your health for regular appointments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your care team. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Previously, we have discussed general FAQs for patients new to dialysis. This week, we want to go more in-depth based on modality, or the type of dialysis you are receiving.
Q: What can I do while I have treatment? A: Each suite has an individual TV for the patient's entertainment while they dialyze. Additionally, you can:
Q: What is the typical routine on treatment days? A: Each patient will find a routine that works for them. A typical routine on treatment days can look something like this:
Q: Who will I encounter at the facility? A: At DialySuites Bartram, your passionate, dedicated team will be with you from the time you walk in, to the time you head home. You will encounter the facility coordinator, patient care technicians, dialysis nurses, and your nephrologist. You can read more about the team here. Q: Can I drive after treatment? A: Many patients are able to drive themselves home from treatment. However, some patients can experience fatigue and other symptoms after treatment, so having a back-up ride or a care partner there to pick you up is a safe option. There are also transportation services available through some insurances. It is recommended that you have transportation scheduled for your first week of treatments to assess how you feel before driving yourself to and from treatments. Q: Will I be tired on treatment days? A: After receiving dialysis, you should begin to feel better. Some patients report experiencing fatigue after treatments. Listen to your body and rest as needed after dialysis. Q: Can I eat while receiving my dialysis treatment? A: Unfortunately, no. Eating while on dialysis can risk choking, nausea, vomiting, and/or hypotension. Additionally, it is a sanitation hazard while in the clinic. For in-center hemodialysis, based on your preferences, you can eat before or after your treatment. No food or drinks (even water) are allowed on the dialysis treatment floor. Head over to our Facebook page and comment other questions you might have about in-center hemodialysis. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Last month, we shared some hurricane preparedness tips like shelf-stable foods and some helpful tips for preparation. Now, we want to talk about all things safety. Storms can be unpredictable, changing speed, size, and direction on a dime. They can also cause a great deal of damage, fast. Let’s discuss ways you can prepare to stay safe when a storm hits.
Prepare a First Aid Kit
Have an Emergency Plan
Stock Safety Supplies
Verify Your Insurance
Other Safety Tips
Resources by County:
We encourage you to prepare in advance for storms as this season is projected to be an active one. As always, please stay safe and healthy!  Summer has arrived! Summer in Florida comes with relaxation and a plethora of fun activities and events. However, it also comes with many risks to be aware of and proactive in avoiding. Listed below are 6 summer safety tips.
We hope you have a fun-filled summer! As always, stay safe! |
