Nova Scotia Health Authority. Nephrology/Dialysis Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

0739

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Parathyroidectomy is a surgery that removes your parathyroid glands. Your parathyroid glands are in your neck (usually on the back of the thyroid gland). They help to control your blood calcium and phosporous levels. Hyperparathyroidism is when one or more of the parathyroid glands makes too much parathyroid hormone in your blood. If this happens, you will need a parathyroidectomy. This pamphlet explains what a parathyroidectomy is, the possible complications with this surgery, care after surge…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. QEII. Nephrology Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1151

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Hemodialysis is a treatment that uses a machine to filter your blood and remove waste and extra water from your blood. Topics include: what your kidneys do, what acute kidney failure is, what peritoneal dialysis is, what hemodialysis is, and how to live with kidney disease. A resource list is also given.

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Nutrition and Food Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

0628

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Your eating habits can be an important way to manage your health, especially if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). You may need to change your eating habits, depending on how well your kidneys are working. Healthy kidneys remove waste products and fluids from your body. With CKD, your kidneys no longer do this. Following your nutrition guidelines are an important part of your treatment. Each person’s nutrition guidelines are different. Your guidelines are made just for you. Your guidelines …

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1466

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Lanthanum (LAN-tha-num) is a medication used to lower the amount of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in your blood. Lanthanum binds (attaches) to the phosphorus in the foods you eat and stops your body from taking it in. A person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is less able to remove phosphorus from their body. When there is too much phosphorus in your blood, it pushes calcium out of your bones. This makes your bones weaker. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra …

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1465

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Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a condition that can be caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). It happens when your kidneys cannot filter out waste products the right way. This leads to too much parathyroid hormone in your blood. Cinacalcet (sin-a-KAL-cet) is a medication that lowers the amount of parathyroid hormone in your blood. This will help to balance the amount of calcium and phosphorous in your blood. Sensipar® is the brand name for cinacalcet. This pamphlet explains how to take cinac…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1464

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Sevelamer (se-VEL-a-mer) is a medication that lowers the amount of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in your blood. Sevelamer binds (attaches) to the phosphorus in the foods you eat and stops your body from taking it in. A person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is less able to remove phosphorus from their body. When there is too much phosphorus in your blood, it pushes calcium out of your bones. This makes your bones weaker. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra ph…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1636

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If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you need to know which over-the-counter medications are your best choices and which you should not take. This pamphlet lists over-the-counter medications you may need for a cough or cold, fever or pain, allergies, an upset stomach (indigestion, burning pain) or heartburn, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) or vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea (loose, watery poop), and constipation, as well as multivitamins, and creams and ointments. Information on why…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Nutrition and Food Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1748

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Nutrition is an important way to manage your health, especially when it comes to chronic kidney disease. By eating or avoiding certain foods, you may help to keep your kidneys working for as long as possible. The most important nutrients that can affect your kidneys are protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. This pamphlet gives information about these nutrients, as well as recipes to help people with chronic kidney disease manage their health.

Nova Scotia Health Authority. QEII. Kidney Transplant Clinic. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1805

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This pamphlet lists medications you should not take if you get very sick with diarrhea (loose, watery poop), or you are vomiting (throwing up). These medications keep your blood pressure down, and protect your kidneys and heart. They can also harm you if you do not have enough fluids in your body. Diarrhea and vomiting can make you dehydrated (not have enough fluids in your body). Information about what to do if you have not taken your medication(s) for more than 1 day (24 hours) and/or cannot …

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

1425

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The liver is an organ in your body that helps to break down and digest the food you eat, cleans your blood, and fights infection. Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. “Hepatitis” means swelling of the liver. Hepatitis B can cause serious liver problems, including liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. People with kidney disease who may need dialysis or a kidney transplant in the future, have a higher chance of getting Hepatitis B. The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is to get …

Nova Scotia Health Authority. MOTP Living Kidney Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2023.

Pamphlet Number

2333

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There are never enough kidneys donated to do transplants for all the people who need them. Some people wait years for the right kidney to be donated. If you are interested in becoming a living kidney donor, this pamphlet will answer some common questions. Topics include: the benefits of a kidney transplant from a living donor, who can donate, deciding to donate, and how to get started if you want to donate a kidney. Information about the donation process, including evaluation, surgery, recovery…

Nova Scotia Health. Multi-Organ Transplant Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

0196

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Having a kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure. Kidney failure is also known as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). A healthy kidney from one person (the donor) is placed (transplanted) into another person (the recipient). Treatment is usually very successful. This pamphlet explains what to expect when you have a kidney transplant. Topics include getting on the kidney transplant wait list, what to do while you wait for a kidney transplant, what to expect when you get called for a kidney…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Nutrition and Food Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1410

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This handout provides a 7 day meal plan for persons managing their own Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). This diet is also appropriate for someone with diabetes.

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Kidney Transplant Clinic. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1510

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BK virus is a part of the polyoma virus family. About 80% of people carry the virus. People usually get this virus as children. It can stay inactive in your body without causing harm for many years. It can become active if you are immunocompromised (your immune system is weak). People who have had a kidney transplant and are taking immunosuppressive medications (medications that suppress [lower] your immune system) are at risk of infection from the virus. This pamphlet explains the symptoms of …

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Nutrition and Food Services. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1655

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Nocturnal Home Hemodialysis (NHHD) is a type of dialysis done at home overnight, usually for 8 to 9 hours, 5 to 6 nights a week. The main parts of the NHHD nutrition plan are protein, phosphorus, sodium (salt), fluids, and potassium. This pamphlet gives information about each of these items, as well as a sample meal plan.

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1889

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Prevnar® 13 is a vaccine that protects against infections caused by the 13 most common types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Infections commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae include pneumonia (an infection in the lungs, also called a chest infection), meningitis (an infection of the lining around the brain), bacteremia (an infection of the blood and organs), sinusitis (a sinus infection), and otitis media (a middle ear infection). This pamphlet explains what Prevnar® 13 is, what Str…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Renal Program. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1890

Available Online

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Pneumovax® 23 is a vaccine that protects against infections caused by the 23 most common types of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Infections commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae include pneumonia (an infection in the lungs, also called a chest infection), meningitis (an infection of the lining around the brain), bacteremia (an infection of the blood and organs), sinusitis (a sinus infection), and otitis media (a middle ear infection). This pamphlet explains what Pneumovax® 23 is, what…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Interventional Radiology Provincial Committee. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1922

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An ultrasound guided percutaneous liver biopsy is done to remove at least 3 tiny pieces of tissue from your kidney using a thin needle. The tissue will be sent to the lab, where it will be looked at under a microscope. Who will do the biopsy, possible complications, and how long you will be at the hospital are covered. How to get ready for a liver biopsy, and what happens during and after the biopsy is listed. Follow-up care, and symptoms requiring a visit to your doctor are outlined. A list of…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Interventional Radiology Provincial Committee. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

1924

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An ultrasound guided percutaneous kidney biopsy is done to remove at least 3 tiny pieces of tissue from your kidney using a thin needle. The tissue will be sent to the lab, where it will be looked at under a microscope. Who will do the biopsy, possible complications, and how long you can expect to be at the hospital is listed. How to get ready, and what happens during and after the biopsy is covered. Follow-up care, and symptoms requiring a visit to your doctor are outlined. A list of medicatio…

Nova Scotia Health Authority. Dartmouth General Hospital. Urology. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Authority , 2022.

Pamphlet Number

0285

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Kidney stones are hard pieces of salt. They build up over time and can be as small as a grain of sand, up to 3 cm or more across. When the stones get too big to leave the body on their own, they can block the flow of urine (pee). This may cause sudden, severe (very bad) pain. This pamphlet describes your care if you are going to receive extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to target your kidney stones. Care instructions are given and a list of the symptoms that need medical attention ar…