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Kamal Shah
Hello, I'm Kamal from Hyderabad, India. I have been on dialysis for the last 13 years, six of them on PD, the rest on hemo. I have been on daily nocturnal home hemodialysis for the last four and half years. I can do pretty much everything myself. I love to travel and do short weekend trips or longer trips to places which have dialysis centers. Goa in India is a personal favorite. It is a great holiday destination and has two very good dialysis centers.
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Monday, 25 July 2011 09:09
Zindagi na milegi dobara - must watch
I watched Zindagi na milegi dobara the day after Delhi Belly. What a change! Maybe I liked it so much because I watched it immediately after such a bakwaas movie like Delhi Belly.
I won't go into the story and performances. You can find that anywhere. I will tell you what I liked about the movie.
Basically, there are two messages for me from this movie. One is Hrithik's story. He is fully engrossed in his work. His life is pretty much calls, meetings, customers, money, money and more money. Many of us get into this mode of making work our entire life. We don't realize that work is only a part of life and not life itself. Hrithik's character understands this as the movie progresses and eventually breaks free.
The other part is where the characters face their deepest fears head on. It does seem too simplistic and unrealistic at times. But then this is a movie, not a news show. Let's not forget that. The key is to face our fears. It is easier said than done. But once we do this, it does not seem that difficult at all. This is something worth hanging on to.
The music is really good. The Senorita song is excellent. But then, I did not want to do a review!
If you haven't watched this movie yet, go watch it! You will love it!
I won't go into the story and performances. You can find that anywhere. I will tell you what I liked about the movie.
Basically, there are two messages for me from this movie. One is Hrithik's story. He is fully engrossed in his work. His life is pretty much calls, meetings, customers, money, money and more money. Many of us get into this mode of making work our entire life. We don't realize that work is only a part of life and not life itself. Hrithik's character understands this as the movie progresses and eventually breaks free.
The other part is where the characters face their deepest fears head on. It does seem too simplistic and unrealistic at times. But then this is a movie, not a news show. Let's not forget that. The key is to face our fears. It is easier said than done. But once we do this, it does not seem that difficult at all. This is something worth hanging on to.
The music is really good. The Senorita song is excellent. But then, I did not want to do a review!
If you haven't watched this movie yet, go watch it! You will love it!
... http://www.kamaldshah.com/2011/07/zindagi-na-milegi-dobara-must-watch.html
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Sunday, 24 July 2011 04:07
Started off on Chloroquine
I have been put on Chloroquine to treat my suspected Porphyria Cutanea Tarda.
This is purely an empirical treatment which means treating based on symptoms and not any confirmation of the diagnosis. So, they can confirm the diagnosis using a test of the urine where they test for the presence of Uroporphyrins in the urine but since I am anuric that is ruled out. The blood can be tested for this but no one does it in India apparently.
The other option is a biopsy of the skin where they take a small bit of skin and then analyse it for signs of this disease. However skin biopsies can only be useful if done on a blister that has actually formed and for some reason, my dermatologist says it can be done only on blisters that form on the back of my hand or feet and all the blisters that I get are on the fingers and toes! Also, he says, biopsies are often inconclusive.
Since the symptoms are all in tune with Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, we are going ahead, empirically if you will, and treating it.
Chloroquine, most famously used for treating malaria is supposed to be effective for this disease as well if given over long periods. So, I've been asked to take it for a month and watch out for any rashes or change in vision.
Ha! That's the beauty of medicines these days. They will cure you of one condition but can give you another!
This is purely an empirical treatment which means treating based on symptoms and not any confirmation of the diagnosis. So, they can confirm the diagnosis using a test of the urine where they test for the presence of Uroporphyrins in the urine but since I am anuric that is ruled out. The blood can be tested for this but no one does it in India apparently.
The other option is a biopsy of the skin where they take a small bit of skin and then analyse it for signs of this disease. However skin biopsies can only be useful if done on a blister that has actually formed and for some reason, my dermatologist says it can be done only on blisters that form on the back of my hand or feet and all the blisters that I get are on the fingers and toes! Also, he says, biopsies are often inconclusive.
Since the symptoms are all in tune with Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, we are going ahead, empirically if you will, and treating it.
Chloroquine, most famously used for treating malaria is supposed to be effective for this disease as well if given over long periods. So, I've been asked to take it for a month and watch out for any rashes or change in vision.
Ha! That's the beauty of medicines these days. They will cure you of one condition but can give you another!
... http://www.kamaldshah.com/2011/07/started-off-on-chloroquine.html
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Thursday, 21 July 2011 08:56
Dr. Ashwin Aiyangar, Nephrologist is in Blogosphere!
A nephrologist I hold in really high esteem, Dr. Ashwin K. Aiyangar now has a blog. Its called Kidney Pulse.
From the blog: "This blog is an attempt to try to help those millions who may be patients suffering from the disease, their relatives, friends and well wishers, or just someone who wishes to know about the kidney and wants to contribute .... perhaps aiming to make this so-called dreadful disease not-so-dreadful anymore."
An excellent start I must say!
Welcome Dr. Ashwin!
From the blog: "This blog is an attempt to try to help those millions who may be patients suffering from the disease, their relatives, friends and well wishers, or just someone who wishes to know about the kidney and wants to contribute .... perhaps aiming to make this so-called dreadful disease not-so-dreadful anymore."
An excellent start I must say!
Welcome Dr. Ashwin!
... http://www.kamaldshah.com/2011/07/dr-ashwin-aiyangar-nephrologist-is-in.html
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Saturday, 16 July 2011 11:57
Yes, crucify me, but I hated Delhi Belly!
First things first. In a twist to a famous quote, "You may not agree with what I say but you must fight for my right to say it!"
So, you may have liked the movie but I didn't. Simple. And I will not deny that I thought the movie was disgusting. However much you thought it was hilarious.
I don't like movies that show dirty, shabby houses, toilets, flushes falling on people and such other gross things.
For most of the movie, one of the main characters is struck by diarrhea. Hasn't he heard of antibiotics and other astringents? Worse, hasn't his doctor? Even if they haven't, why take the camera behind him whenever he has to relieve himself.
The worst part of the movie was a scene where they actually show someone pouring out liquid human poop (purportedly, a sample given for a test to a lab). I almost threw up right there. I closed my eyes after one single frame to prevent this.
This, in the name of entertainment? And you have hordes of people loving the movie!
Well, I don't hold any grudges against those who liked the movie. To each, his own! But I found it horrible. Utterly disgusting. A pathetic attempt at humor.
So, you may have liked the movie but I didn't. Simple. And I will not deny that I thought the movie was disgusting. However much you thought it was hilarious.
I don't like movies that show dirty, shabby houses, toilets, flushes falling on people and such other gross things.
For most of the movie, one of the main characters is struck by diarrhea. Hasn't he heard of antibiotics and other astringents? Worse, hasn't his doctor? Even if they haven't, why take the camera behind him whenever he has to relieve himself.
The worst part of the movie was a scene where they actually show someone pouring out liquid human poop (purportedly, a sample given for a test to a lab). I almost threw up right there. I closed my eyes after one single frame to prevent this.
This, in the name of entertainment? And you have hordes of people loving the movie!
Well, I don't hold any grudges against those who liked the movie. To each, his own! But I found it horrible. Utterly disgusting. A pathetic attempt at humor.
... http://www.kamaldshah.com/2011/07/yes-crucify-me-but-i-hated-delhi-belly.html
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Friday, 15 July 2011 07:48
My 14th dialyversary!
Was yesterday, 14th of July 2011.
What the hell is a dialyversary? Well, my anniversary of getting onto dialysis!
Exactly fourteen years back, I was hit with kidney disease. 14th of July, 1997. What a ride it has been! And no, I am not depressed at all. Would I have liked it some other way? You bet! But am I going to sit and cry that my life has been snatched away from me? No way!
It is true that kidney disease changed the course of my life in unimaginable ways. When I was diagnosed, I had no clue about what kidneys did or what happened when they failed. I had never heard of the word 'dialysis' that was going to rule a large part of the rest of my life.
A lot of people commend me on how brave I am. I honestly don't understand that at all. What makes me brave? They conjure up these fancy images of me fighting this disease and all that. For me, giving up is never an option. Yes, once in a way, the thought of ending it all does cross my mind - much rarer these days though - but the thought never lasts too long.
One very important factor in my positive attitude has been work. I have, for the most part, been doing some very interesting work. Even though I never put in long hours at work, it kept me busy enough not to have time to think about the disease itself. Dealing with the disease was one of many things I had to do. A typical to-do list during my Effigent days would read something like this:
- Call meeting of VCA developers about Sync issue
- Talk to Testing team about last build
- Follow up with Religare about PTH report and then meet Dr. Girish Narayen about it
- Discuss with HR about status of new hiring
You get the picture! It is that simple.
The secret to dealing with this disease is work. Keep yourself busy. Yes, that is my mantra!
Earlier it was Effigent. Then Grene. Now NephroPlus. I work full time and that is all there is to my bravery/positive attitude/whatever.
What the hell is a dialyversary? Well, my anniversary of getting onto dialysis!
Exactly fourteen years back, I was hit with kidney disease. 14th of July, 1997. What a ride it has been! And no, I am not depressed at all. Would I have liked it some other way? You bet! But am I going to sit and cry that my life has been snatched away from me? No way!
It is true that kidney disease changed the course of my life in unimaginable ways. When I was diagnosed, I had no clue about what kidneys did or what happened when they failed. I had never heard of the word 'dialysis' that was going to rule a large part of the rest of my life.
A lot of people commend me on how brave I am. I honestly don't understand that at all. What makes me brave? They conjure up these fancy images of me fighting this disease and all that. For me, giving up is never an option. Yes, once in a way, the thought of ending it all does cross my mind - much rarer these days though - but the thought never lasts too long.
One very important factor in my positive attitude has been work. I have, for the most part, been doing some very interesting work. Even though I never put in long hours at work, it kept me busy enough not to have time to think about the disease itself. Dealing with the disease was one of many things I had to do. A typical to-do list during my Effigent days would read something like this:
- Call meeting of VCA developers about Sync issue
- Talk to Testing team about last build
- Follow up with Religare about PTH report and then meet Dr. Girish Narayen about it
- Discuss with HR about status of new hiring
You get the picture! It is that simple.
The secret to dealing with this disease is work. Keep yourself busy. Yes, that is my mantra!
Earlier it was Effigent. Then Grene. Now NephroPlus. I work full time and that is all there is to my bravery/positive attitude/whatever.
... http://www.kamaldshah.com/2011/07/my-14th-dialyversary.html
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