PowerLiving with Kimberlee Langford
PowerLiving with Kimberlee Langford
Nurturing Your New Kidney: Health and Exercise Tips
Are you ready to take control of your health post-kidney transplant? Join Specialty Care Management's RN's as we guide you through essential self-care tips, preparing you for a healthier and more vibrant life with your new kidney. From understanding your medication and immunosuppressants, to good hand hygiene and avoiding certain foods and environments that can jeopardize your health, we have got you covered. Think of us as your personal health cheerleaders, rooting for you every step of the way and empowering you with the knowledge you need to make the right decisions for your body.
But there's more. We go beyond basic self-care, encouraging you to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. There is healing power in movement, and we explore low-impact exercises such as Pilates and yoga, and how these can assist in your recovery and overall well-being. Learn how the right balance of rest and activity can help you achieve optimal health. We provide practical tips on making exercise more accessible at home and share how you can seize small moments for movement throughout the day. So, tune in and let us accompany you on this journey to a healthier, more vibrant life post-kidney transplant. Your new lease on life begins here.
Yeah, we're back, it's. Can you believe it's already been another month since our last roundtable.
Speaker 2:I can't believe it. The year, someone even told me like oh gosh, I've started my Christmas shopping already. I'm like oh gosh.
Speaker 1:Okay, that is not right. It's like a high five here in southern Idaho today. So I'm not thinking about Christmas, no, no, but yeah, in this month we're talking about a couple different things. So usually this time of year we back to school, we talk about back to basics, so we talk about just basic self care. How does that impact our health in terms of kidneys and reducing cancer risk?
Speaker 1:We've also had a lot of questions lately. We've had a couple members, one member who's on the verge of a transplant. So one of the hot topics is that we've been asked to talk about is you know what? What do you do for folks after a transplant? And it is a little different level of care, right, because you figure, when a member has a transplant, they're being followed really closely by the transplant team, right, so usually they're having labs drawn every week, or once or twice a week for a little while Super important.
Speaker 1:You know, a lot of times we think about when people have a transplant, their greatest risk is rejecting that organ, right, getting an infection and rejection. But you know, 90 to 95% of kidney transplants take and are successful, right, so that's super exciting. And so one of the things that you know we do here at Specialty Care Management with folks who are either preparing for a transplant, obviously teaching when people have their kidneys fail. We're teaching about transplant early. Right, a lot of people don't ever hear about it as an option until they've been on dialysis for about seven years on average. That's just shameful, right, because when they have a transplant, their quality of life is so much better. They can eat and drink what they want, and you don't have to. You can go swimming and get in the hot. Do you forget about those things? And you've got to protect and access, right, it really is life changing to have a transplant and so.
Speaker 1:But as people have the transplant, then our focus as nurse coaches is really to help them, you know, hold on to that organ and preserve that for longevity. I mean, it used to be that. You know that. You know, typically a transplant lasts somewhere around eight to 10 years, which still a lot of them last eight to 10 years. But we have people that are holding their organs for longer and longer. We've had people that have had them for more than 30 years. Isn't that incredible, right? Yeah, that's wonderful, it is just amazing. So I mean, and when people have a transplant, it's not like they don't have kidney disease anymore, right, they still want to do some of the same things that we've been teaching them up to that point about protecting their kidneys.
Speaker 1:But I thought maybe we could talk a little bit about, you know, right after that period where you know they're being followed by the transplant center really closely.
Speaker 1:So we'll probably touch in what once a month and make sure that they have access to us.
Speaker 1:As you know, if something crazy happens, you know, usually folks have to call and trade.
Speaker 1:They don't know who to call, or they call and they get a message, or they've got to push a bunch of buttons to get here and there.
Speaker 1:Well, our members know they can call us and talk to us 24 seven, which is really helpful and then, but gradually, right over the next month, they're gradually in the next three months in particular when they're at their greatest risk for rejection and infection, and then gradually you know they're seen by the transplant team less often and usually between six months in a year they're transferred back to the care of their nephrologists. So that's really when we're talking to folks about just some basic guidelines about care, and I think one of the things you know with our CKD management program is really built on KDGO, kdoki guidelines. These are standardized guidelines for industry level, world class. This is what the expectation is for high quality care, and so you know, helping them keep their appointments, making sure that they're staying hydrated right, because, as you know, most people when they're in dialysis they have to restrict their fluids right and then they have a transplant. Now their doctors want them to drink two liters.
Speaker 2:There's a couple things I hear the most, and one of it is, you know, when the anxiety around getting a set objection, infection, and then also like just the change of diet and fluids again. So yeah, the kind of switches. You know you switch gears a little bit.
Speaker 1:Right, and they're, you know, initially right after their transplant. They're still kind of following that renal diet, gradually we off of that, but it's hard to go from three cups to two liters right, even though you really want to. So what do you think? What are your top tips for helping people in that initial period, you know, without scaring them to death, how do you help them prevent infection and stay healthy?
Speaker 2:I think one of it is preparation, and knowledge is power. So, you know, if we can, if we can work with members, you know, before the transplant we can. These are things we can help in. Or, you know, get education. You know, no one likes surprises. Well, no one likes bad surprises.
Speaker 1:I should say I like him in a big red bowl.
Speaker 2:So some of it is just, you know, almost like bullet points, the things like let's divide it up and be prepared for you know, these are the things. As far as infection control, you'll be on medications, immunosuppressants, to kind of so you don't reject your kidney, and so what does that look like? And then you know there's certain things you want to avoid, like fresh fruits, fresh flowers, raw foods, sick people, you know good hand washing habits, that's like the number one prevention of spreading illness, those kind of things.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I think sometimes we forget how powerful hand washing is and proper hand washing. I don't know if you remember back in nursing school, do you remember they made you wash your hand? They, they. We had to grow bacteria from our hands before washing.
Speaker 2:Do you remember that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they'd wash your hands and you're like holy crap, I grew more bacteria after washing my hand and then they teach you how to wash, for you know to, while you're singing twinkle, twinkle, right the 30 seconds. Yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 2:It is funny when I they're right, because starting nursing school, I don't need to. I know how to wash my hands. No, really, you have to learn how to wash your hands.
Speaker 1:There's a whole class on hand washing absolutely Proper hand washing, really. So I was thinking about that this morning and thinking about our conversation today. Well, I was wiping down microwaves and and I do that on a regular basis with a natural disinfectant that I really like, and so, when I was thinking about that, there's so many things that we, you know, kind of take. We don't have to be like monk right and be germaphobes, but, you know, every once in a while doing some of those things hand washing and even things like just basic self care we know we boost our immunity when we are in a better state of mind, exactly.
Speaker 1:Going outside getting some sunlight. Exercise is really important. Exercise is important all around. But you know, as we talk about, like you know, going back to school and back to basics, what would you say are your top, top, top tips for helping people, you know, really just improve their overall basic care?
Speaker 2:I should be more prepared. Let's see. Well, one, and I think we're going to say this.
Speaker 2:Or your favorite hacks, right, oh gosh. Well, one thing everything is related. I, we are, we are all holistic mind-body spirit, and so I always go back to this, no matter what we're talking about. So, keeping it simple, just remember that everything affects everything else. So the more little things you can do Getting to bed on time, you know, especially with kids going back to school, we're doing that in our household.
Speaker 2:It's like sometimes, you know, everyone goes to bed and I want to stay up an extra three hours to get everything done, you know. You know I'm just getting small, finding small things in each little area, like sleep, nutrition. What are it like To have prepared snacks that are healthy? Because when I'm hungry or I would have a craving, I'm gonna go grab a bag of chips versus some almonds and cranberries that I should grab, or something like that. So I think it's just finding little things and then exercise, just pick something like today I'm gonna do Walk, if you're not used to walking or you're not used to exercise, and kind of start from there. So that way you're kind of just hitting a few small things, a few small goals. That will help you build momentum, because sometimes it can be overwhelming If you're looking at everything and what am I doing next?
Speaker 2:What you know, what can I do? And I think just finding small things. I love fall and I love autumn and I love back to school, even if you don't have kids that were going back to school. Yeah, for me, autumn it's kind of what I want to do the cleaning, I want to start new habits. Yeah, the holiday season is coming, so for me, that's kind of my Absolutely my goals and do those things. So I just think it's a it's a great time to do that and evaluate you.
Speaker 1:You are so yeah, it's like a fresh start. That's kind of yeah yeah, fresh box of crayons kind of start right, exactly, maybe it's a lot.
Speaker 2:It's a holdover from, you know, fresh school supplies when we were kids, you know right, I totally concur, you know, and keeping these things.
Speaker 1:You know, I think that's really one of the things that's so hard for people Is that they're so busy and so a lot of times we kind of trick ourselves with great love and respect I say this right because I've been there but you know we think we're too busy to eat well or to exercise, and you know I can remember a time in my life where it was so busy and I was doing a lot of great things but I had to figure out what was I gonna cut back on because I had no time for myself. When I looked around the people who were sick, I mean, I was going into homes and taking care of people who were in better shape than I was At the time, because I wasn't taking good care of myself. Quite honestly, I was just too busy. Lots of worries of life and you know, at some point I think we have to realize that. You know, without that time for ourselves, what's the expression we have? You know, if I want to be able to fill a cup, you know I have to have a gallon, I have to have more if I want to give a little Right.
Speaker 1:So you know for me, little hacks like you know. Like you mentioned healthy snacks. I might boil some eggs and keep those in the deli drawer there. Yeah, just a mouthful and it's a great source of protein. If I want to limit my cholesterol, I can always throw away the yolk or feed it to the dog, all right, and I can have all the protein in the white. Or you know having olives or avocados. Or you know fresh fruits and vegetables, and you talked about that too.
Speaker 1:You know making sure post transplant. You know that things are. You know you don't want to eat you mentioned no raw fish. Or you know you don't want to be drinking goats milk or something like that that's not pasteurized Right. You want to make sure that you're protecting yourself that way. But in general, you know having I've known folks that will make matter of fact. You know the here at specialty care management, we get to enjoy health coaching, our lucky girl coaching that we get to take advantage of. Well, one month one of my hacks was, or my challenges was, to make a little plate for myself every morning and I kept it on the treadmill which has now been replaced by my massage chair, by the way.
Speaker 1:But anyway, I put this little plate, just a handful of goodies. Just, you know you go to the store and you get the pre-washed, pre-cut bags. You know you can buy a bag of chips or you can buy a bag of veggies. They're going to be about the same price, right, but I can get vegetables and be satisfied and nourish myself. Or I can get chips and you know whatever. So that was a fantastic little hack. I put a boiled egg on there, a little avocado, a little trisket. Anyway, that was fantastic little hacks. I love that about having you know healthy snacks you and I were talking about this morning was the VR workout.
Speaker 2:Yes, well, I'm not done but you have. And now my interest is piqued. So I talk to a lot of in my personal life and, you know, with members, you know everyone's trying to find something that they can fit into their lifestyle. But that's fun, it's got to be fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's got to be fun and enjoyable, or else it just feels tedious and that makes it harder to be consistent.
Speaker 1:So I know you and I are both fans of the YouTube, browsing YouTube and trying new workouts, right Like Leslie. Do you pronounce her name Leslie Sansone or Leslie Sansone? I never know how to pronounce her name?
Speaker 2:I don't either. I think I say Sansone, but I don't know if that's correct.
Speaker 1:I love her stuff. You know a lot of folks, you know especially if you know a lot of us if you're carrying a little extra weight, that's hard on your joints, right. So some people will tell us you know, well, I can't walk because it hurts my knees or my hips. Well then, pilates, pilates, you can do that on your bed, right? I've done some Pilates workouts completely on my back and come away feeling really tight, right, really toned and really like I feel taller when I do Pilates.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would. You know I should get back to that. That's when I have it. I kind of let go, but I did. I did private Pilates lessons a few years ago and man, it was wonderful. I mean not that everyone has to have that. Now I can do YouTube on my bed and it's fine. But right, yeah, I was really wanting to get into it and, yeah, it's wonderful and it can be adjusted. There's, you know, people who are all levels like you know you don't have to be, you can start.
Speaker 1:And wherever you're at Yep, you don't have to do back bends or anything, Even yoga, you don't have to do back bends or chair exercises. For some folks they start off just doing sit to stand in your chair and when a commercial comes on, do some sit to stands. My mom, it wasn't that long ago, there during COVID, she, oh she had a series of strokes and she could not stand for more than two minutes and we thought she was going to end up in a nursing home. It was really tough and she had me for her PT and she made a commitment to herself and that's what she did. Every time a commercial came on she did her sit to stands and it was a lot for her.
Speaker 1:But I tell, you look at her now, you'd never know. She's independent, she walks, she drives.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:She doesn't do anything, so I'm really great. Exercise makes a huge difference and when you think about after a transplant there, the goal is to perfuse this new organ to make sure that we've got good blood supply. That's why the doctor wants you to drink in two liters. That's why you're still avoiding some of those nephrotoxins we talk to folks about limiting, avoiding ibuprofen, motrin, soda pop. It's one of the advantages of working with a kidney specialist is that we know those guidelines and we make sure that you're aware of what you can do to protect your kidneys.
Speaker 1:Exercise is fantastic, or one of the guidelines is after a transplant, these folks need to be on certain medications like a calcium channel blocker. One of the reasons why they're on that is that it causes that vasodilation there. The vessels that supply the kidney tend to be relaxed so the kidney can get more perfusion. Exercise helps with that as well. I tell people exercise is kind of like my purse. My purse is really happy when it has cash flow Money coming in and money going out right. Or the economy, with money coming in and money going out. Our bodies are kind of like that. We're designed to have a balance of rest and activity, right, right, it should be fun to your point. Youtube videos I love your tip on that. I like to crank up some music and get a little crazy when I'm cooking dinner, at least till my husband comes home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I was going to say actually going back to your mother and the commercial break, things like that, and talking about finding those moments in the day. It could be like you don't have to have the perfect workout outfit or the perfect set of equipment, just move, put on some music and move for 10 minutes. If there's a commercial, get up, take some jump and jacks if you can, or something, just move I love that tip, or so many people.
Speaker 1:They have an exercise bike or a treadmill and you ask them where it is. Well, it's down in the basement. They never go to the basement. So bring it up, put it in the living room.
Speaker 2:So machines are great for people who do more low impact, because that's something I hear a lot, too Right, but if you ever understand something like that at home, I love growing machines.
Speaker 1:Oh, we got a concept to Rower. I love that Absolutely, yeah, yeah. Well, as always, you have so many great tips to share. I appreciate you popping on. We're down a nurse, but we're really excited because she's growing our SEM family, so that's great and I appreciate you taking some time today. It's always fun to see you and I appreciate you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, you too.
Speaker 1:Such great topics. So, yeah, ok, well, be good.
Speaker 2:Take care. All right, you too, bye, bye, hey, good, hi Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi, hi Hi.