Our P.M's apology to Australia's Aboriginal people paves the way for reconciliation. However, one wee problem needs urgent response.

Kidney Health Australia Welcomes Rudd Commitment on Indigenous Health.

Kidney Health Australia today welcomed the commitment by the Federal Government to tackle the health issues facing Indigenous Australians with a concerted effort to close the seventeen year life expectancy gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of the community.

Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said, "The overall death rates from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are up to ten times higher in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities compared to the rest of the Australian community.

"The incidence of kidney failure is increasing in the Aboriginal population at a faster rate than in non Aboriginal communities."

Ms Wilson said that the public statement and commitment on resources to tackle the health issues of the Indigenous communities as part of Prime Minister Rudd's "Sorry Statement" is a major signpost to the people in the front line of combating chronic diseases that the Federal Government is looking beyond the band-aid approach of the past.

Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia Dr Tim Mathew said, "Greater prevalence of CKD in some Indigenous Australian communities is due to the traditional high risk factors including , diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking.

"This can be compounded due to increased levels of poor nutrition, high alcohol use, streptococcal throat and skin infection, and socio economic disadvantaged living conditions which makes the Federal Government commitment to housing an important step in chronic disease prevention.

"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often referred to as the "silent killer" as 80 -90% of kidney function can be lost before an individual experiences any symptoms.

"The latest research has recognized kidney disease is a "disease multiplier". It causes death in many people with diabetes and hypertension and predicts the development of a cardiovascular event."

Kidney Health Australia with the support of the Federal Government and BHP Billiton has organised KEY - 'Kidney Evaluation for You', an early detection program to evaluate kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes in high risk individuals to be carried out in three States as Australia's first national screening program.

"If detected early through the screening of high risk groups CKD can be treated, thereby reducing other complications," Dr Mathews said.

http://www.kidney.org.au/

(end of media release)

Don't let any wee problems in your life become chronic kidney disease. Take action now.

Ask your family doctor for a kidney function test or phone 1800 682 531 to make a "Kidney Evaluation for You" appointment. If you use a TTY telephone, call 1800 005 881.

E-mail contact for Kidney Health Australia is, Health@kidney.org.au

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Come to Cairns and celebrate with us . . .

giving voice to neurological movement disorders on World Voice Day, 16th April 2008.

(Dr John O'Sullivan, pictured)


Are you are a health professional with an interest in movement disorders? This event is for you!

Principal speaker is Dr John O'Sullivan MBBS, FRACP, PhD. Dr O'Sullivan is a Consultant Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland.


Atherton Tableland and Cairns Dystonia Support Group are hosting this inaugural Movement Disorders Symposium at The Colonial Club Resort Conference Centre commencing 6.30 P.M. with pre-dinner drinks followed by a banquet style dinner and guest speaker presentations.

Accommodation is available at the resort for people from out of town who are attending the conference.


This free promotional and educational dinner symposium for medical professionals and also allied health professionals is possible thanks to very generous support by Allergan Australia and Ipsen Pty Ltd. RSVP by 4th April is essential (see below contact details).


Additional speakers are,

• Dr Steven Dommann, Neurologist, Townsville General Hospital.
• Ms Karen O'Maley R.N., C.N.C., (Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders) Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
• Ms Maree Brockie, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Queensland. Brisbane.
• Ms Melanie Mirotsos, Physiotherapist, Diagnosys Physiotherapy, Cairns.
• Ms Gail Rogers, Speech Pathologist, Cairns Speech Pathology, Cairns.
• Ms Suzanne Bayliss, Social Worker (Retired), Atherton Tableland and Cairns Dystonia Support Group.

There will be a panel available for questions and answers following the speakers presentations. Ms Maureen Slocum from our support group will also be available on the panel.

Maureen and Suzanne are attending the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association Annual Symposium in the United States, March 29th, two weeks prior to our symposium in Cairns.

If you would like to know more about this event, please contact me on mobile telephone number 0407 624 578. If you are visiting Cairns from overseas at the time of this symposium and would like to attend please telephone me on +61 407 624 578 or email:
s(dot)j(dot)bayliss(at)bigpond(dot)com(dot)au.

If you are a person with a diagnosed neurological movement disorder and would like to know more about this event, please contact me.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

(Please click on the highlighted links in this article for more information).

Awareness and education about movement disorders:

Are you a health professional looking for continuing professional education activity and networking opportunity in Far North Queensland (FNQ)?


The Atherton Tableland and Cairns Dystonia Support Group invite you to attend a Movement Disorders Symposium offering the opportunity for education and networking.

The symposium is on Wednesday evening April 16th 2008 at The Colonial Club Conference Centre, Lockhart Room and Lockhart verandah, Behan Street entrance, Cairns.

This exciting event brings together an expert panel of speakers discussing a range of movement disorders including,

. options for referral and treatment,

. recent research outcomes in Australia, Britain and the United States of America and,

. bio-psycho-social effects of movement disorders on patients in FNQ.

The Symposium commences at 6.30 P.M. for registration, pre-dinner drinks, canapés and trade displays on the Lockhart Verandah. At 7 P.M. we move through to the dining room for dinner, our guest speakers’ presentations and panel discussion.

It is with great pleasure we are able to provide this evening free of charge to our medical community thanks to very generous educational grants by Allergan Australia and Ipsen Pty Ltd.

The above mentioned educational grants enable our local health professionals to continue their professional education in the areas of neurological movement disorders.

Principal speaker:

Dr John O'Sullivan. Department of Neurology, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Brisbane

The following speakers are also confirmed:

Ms Karen O'Maley. R.N., C.N.C.. Department of Neurology, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Brisbane

Ms. Maree Brockey. Multiple Sclerosis Society of Queensland - Brisbane.

Ms Gail Rogers. Cairns Speech Pathology Clinic.

Ms Suzanne Bayliss. Atherton Tableland and Cairns Dystonia Support Group.

In addition to the above speakers, additional professional people are available on a discussion panel.

Further speakers will be advertised as they confirm attendance.

For your information and interest, specific goals for the event are:

a. to present the opportunity for the medical / health professional community in FNQ to increase their knowledge from specialists regarding movement disorders,

b. to communicate with the medical / health professional community in FNQ educational and promotional material specific to movement disorders,

c. to establish a network of medical / health professionals in FNQ interested in movement disorders,

d. to establish a Movement Disorders network / support group in FNQ,

e. to increase support from the community by raising awareness of movement disorders,

f. to increase resources for individuals to access,

· timely referrals

· specialist assessments

· management services

· appropriate equipment and support.

For further information please telephone:

Atherton Tableland: Maureen Slocum. (07) 4091 7137.

Cairns: Sue Bayliss. (07) 4032 4033 or 04076 24578.

If you are a person with a diagnosed neurological movement disorder and would like to know more about this event or about our support group please contact me.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

G'day USA: Calling all dystonians ...

From dystonians in the 'Land Downunder' to dystonians in the U.S.A.: LA. and New York City, G'day and happy voice to you all including those with twisted bodies and nod, nod, nodders and shake, shake, shakers too - let us celebrate moving towards a cure for dystonia together!

If you are not yet a member of a dystonia support group do consider joining one near you. There are all kinds of support groups for people with dystonia. Have a browse on the various dystonia sites. They will lead you to exciting experiences of life by introducing you to new friends and providing lots of information about the kind of dystonia you have or your loved one has.

Stay a while and check out all the articles on dystonia and other topics. Following highlighted links will take you on endless adventures right around Australia - and the globe!

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Botox therapy: what are the occasional down sides of treatment?

Receiving botulinum toxin (botox) injections in vocal cords and also in neck/shoulder muscles for some years now reflects this writers desire for continuing treatment. Botox is a safe and effective treatment for many forms of dystonia. However, there are times when the experience is not so pleasant. Travelling long distances for treatment is anxiety provoking. Occasionally experiencing mild complications is challenging. The lack of appropriate levels of knowledge by most family doctors and allied health professionals i.e. speech pathologists, radiologists, physiotherapists etc, can be distressing.


Botox is recognised globally as an appropriate drug of choice for treating people with symptoms of dystonia. Medical evidence states risk factors are low. Over a long period of time some people may develop antibodies to this drug. Therefore, there may be a need to explore other treatment options for a minority of people. Establishing an alternative treatment plan may be hindered if a person lives a long way from the treatment centre.

In Australia, the city of Brisbane has the closest treatment centre to Cairns in Far North Queensland. Brisbane is 1,600 kilometres from Cairns thus making the return trip 3,200 kilometres. Cairns is the main city servicing vast areas of the Atherton Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands. Getting around the city of Brisbane can be difficult for people from country areas and the Islands in the North. Travelling these distances means many people need to cope with climatic changes, fatigue from hours of travel, and cultural differences just to get to Cairns airport as well as anxiety about what will happen with each treatment.

Sometimes treatment is not a positive experience! It is important for non-dystonics and observers to understand the broader experiences resulting from treatment. There are indeed some rather nasty side effects many people experience at some time. Injections are not always straight forward.

For some, the breathiness following treatment for laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia) lasts much longer than a few weeks. Also, the softness of voice may not get much louder at all. Dysphagia can be a problem after injections. Many people find it lasts only a couple of weeks. However, people who have an underlying degree of dysphagia to begin with may find botox injections make it much worse. This means some people need to have thickened fluids and soft diet at all times. There may be a need for a speech pathologist to monitor the person's swallowing by arranging barium swallow x-rays from time to time.

One of the most unpleasant side effects to vocal cord injections would have to be a painful treatment followed by bleeding. People receiving treatment for laryngeal dystonia and cervical dystonia may also experience a very dry mouth requiring clinical intervention. It is not uncommon for some people to wonder whether or not treatment is worthwhile. Fatigue resulting from speech has a huge effect on day to day life - with or without treatment.

Although it is not always smooth sailing, relaxation of spasms resulting from botox treatment seems to give enough relief for most people to persevere with their treatment schedule. It is important that family doctors and allied health professionals e.g. speech pathologists, radiologists, physiotherapists etc, understand the issues discussed here.

If you would like to comment on any treatment outcomes it is possible to do so anonymously. Click on 'comments' below. Alternatively, email me on s.j.bayliss@bigpond.com.au. I will get back to you.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Support Group Meeting: a reminder.

Atherton Tablelands and Cairns Dystonia Support Group Meeting.

Saturday, 17 November. 11am - 2pm.

At the Cairns City Library, 151 Abbott Street, Cairns.

Meeting room 2 - through front door, turn left and follow signs.

No charge

Sandwiches, fruit, tea, coffee, juice provided.

Phone Sue for catering purposes - 0407624578.

Are you a local and have dystonia? Do you know someone with dystonia? Are you treating someone with dystonia? Would you like to know more about dystonia? Please, do join us. You are welcome.

Do you live elsewhere in Australia? Consider taking advantage of low cost air fares to spend a weekend in Cairns before the Wet Season arrives! We invite you to attend our meeting and share our experiences.

Dystonia has many forms. We have resources available for people with dystonia, family members, doctors and allied health professionals.

If you are a local from the Tablelands or from Cairns and need a lift, please telephone me (04076 24578).

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.