FB Live – Dec 17th: In December’s episode of Ask the Doctor, Dr. Velma Scantlebury goes live to help answer patients’ questions about living well, both physical and mentally, with kidney disease. This month’s discussion focuses on navigating the holidays, staying ready for transplant, and understanding how stress impacts renal health, along with many other kidney-related topics.

Holiday celebrations can be challenging for kidney patients, but Dr. Scantlebury reminds listeners that balance is key. She shares practical tips for monitoring fluid intake, choosing renal-friendly foods, staying mindful of potassium and phosphorus levels, and remembering to take binders. While holidays are just a few days out of the year, maintaining as much consistency as possible is essential to protecting your health.

For patients who have been on the transplant list for some time, Dr. Scantlebury discusses ways to stay proactive. From keeping up with medical requirements to having open conversations about living donation, she offers guidance on how patients can advocate for themselves and improve their chances of receiving a kidney, whether from a deceased or living donor.

Stress affects everyone, but for renal patients, chronic stress can take a serious toll on the body. Dr. Scantlebury explains how elevated cortisol levels can disrupt sleep, worsen overall health, and contribute to long-term complications. She offers simple, actionable strategies to reduce stress such as doing a “brain dump” before bed, avoiding multitasking, and identifying activities that bring joy and incorporating them into daily life.

This episode encourages patients and caregivers alike to focus on whole-person health—supporting the body, calming the mind, and staying prepared for the future.

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
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens

FB Live – Dec 3rd: In this bonus episode of Ask the Doctor, Dr. Velma Scantlebury goes live to help guide patients through some of the most common, and confusing, parts of the kidney disease journey. She’s breaking down treatment choices, special considerations around the holidays, cramping in both dialysis and transplant patients, and many other kidney-related topics.

Dr. Scantlebury breaks down what it means to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in stages 3–4, and why this timeframe can be an opportunity to learn about your future treatment options. She explains the differences between in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis, as well as the considerations involved in pursuing a kidney transplant from either a living or deceased donor. From lifestyle and travel preferences to comfort level with self-dialysis or having a care partner, she highlights all the factors that can help patients make the right choice for their lives.

Since we are in the throes of the holiday season, Dr. Scantlebury also discusses why fluid management becomes especially important during this time of year. She offers tips for staying on track even when your routine is disrupted, whether you’re traveling, attending gatherings where food often means understanding the hidden extra fluids and sodium, or managing a changed dialysis schedule.

Finally, she addresses a common patient concern: cramping. Dr. Scantlebury explains the different causes of cramping in both dialysis and transplant patients, what it can signal about hydration or electrolyte balance, and why it’s always important to talk to your care team.

Tune in for practical, patient-centered advice to help you stay informed, confident, and prepared throughout your kidney care journey.

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
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens

FB Live – Nov 19th: Dr. Velma Scantlebury is back for another episode of Ask the Doctor, answering important kidney-related questions submitted by patients across the country. This month, she dives into how the transplant list works, shares essential holiday travel tips for kidney patients, and explains why some dialysis patients experience numbness in their hands, along with many other kidney health topics.

Dr. Scantlebury discusses what determines who receives the next available kidney and why patients might sometimes be passed over for an organ. She explains how factors such as compatibility, medical urgency, and organ condition play a role—and why the priority is ensuring a kidney goes to the best fit and is not wasted. She also outlines reasons a kidney might be skipped for a particular patient, from lab results to medical complications, helping patients understand the process more clearly.

Traveling or celebrating during the holidays? Dr. Scantlebury shares practical tips to stay safe and balanced. She reminds patients to monitor fluid intake (including hidden fluids in foods) and to be mindful of high-potassium dishes like potatoes. She also warns about salty foods that increase thirst, emphasizes taking binders with meals, and encourages bringing a kidney-friendly dish to gatherings. For those traveling, she stresses the importance of keeping medications in carry-on bags, bringing extra doses in case of delays, and never packing them in checked luggage.

traveling during the holidays. be careful with your fluid volume - remember there’s fluid in your foods! Be careful with potassium containing foods, like potatoes, and think about smaller portions. Be mindful of salty foods since they make you thirsty, and that you take your binders. Also think about bringing a kidney friendly meal to share! If you’re going someplace else other than home, make sure to take your medications with you! If traveling, take extra doses in case you hit travel delays, and always carry them in your personal items, don’t check them if you’re flying.

Dr. Scantlebury explains why some dialysis patients experience numbness or tingling in their hands. In certain cases, a fistula or graft can alter blood flow and steal circulation from the hand, depending on its size and placement. She discusses why this happens and what patients should report to their care team.

Packed with helpful insights and real-world guidance, this episode of Ask the Doctor helps kidney patients feel more informed, prepared, and confident in managing their health not only during the holiday season, but all year long.

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
• Facebook Live www.facebook.com/patientcitizens