What’s going on with your Kidney’s?
Hello Friends and Family and people of the world. I hope all is well with you and
your family in these difficult times. Let’s try to have a positive attitude as we
know people around us who are hurting from various situations. As some of you
may know, I have been suffering from kidney disease for over four years with
daily treatment.
Mine is a disease that affects millions of people from all walks of life, yet it is
unknown to many. The purpose of sharing this with you is to educate, and create
awareness about the disease so you can protect yourself, family members and
your neighbors from kidney failure.
What is Kidney disease? It is a disease that affects millions! It is a very fast
growing disease that if not treated properly it can cause death. It has transformed
my life. Kidney failure is otherwise known in the medical field as renal failure.
This disease is a life changer with progressive change to your body. The human
body has two kidneys. The kidneys are vital organs of the body. They are
interconnected to all the other organs existing so optimal performance is very
important. The kidneys help to clean waste from your body, generate healthy
blood cells and maintain a robust healthy body.
The kidneys act as a traffic cop for the other essential organs existing. They are an
essential part of the unitary system and help to regulate the electrolytes, and
maintain an acid-base balance while controlling the body blood pressure.
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Understanding how your kidneys function is in itself an education.
The kidneys remove waste and excessive water from the blood to form urine
in the bladder. As a result, it gets rid of waste through the ureters. In addition
to removing waste the kidneys helps to release certain important hormones in
the body. This hormone helps to maintain bones, blood pressure and generate
vitamin D. Here are the hormones that the kidneys generate to release within
the body.
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Erythropoietin (eh-RITH-ro-POYeh-tin), or EPO, which
stimulates the bones to make red blood cells.
Renin (REE-nin), which regulates blood pressure.
The active form of vitamin D, which helps maintain
calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in
the body.
In the year 2008, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. I was living life as a
vibrant, athletic man while unaware of changes taking place within my body. I
was living life, socializing, and playing tennis on a weekly basis with no worry
of my health.
Some years ago I had a very bad car accident. My seat belt saved me from
catastrophic injuries. Since that accident, I have been experiencing high blood
pressure. This was start of issues to come concerning my kidneys. My blood
pressure was constantly going higher even with my doctor supervisorial care.
It seemed like medication to control my BP was not effective.
Then came the nightmare in October of 2008. The dawn of a new life with
illness that I never imagined one can experience. I started getting very ill,
vomiting blood, no appetite and subsequently an ER visit to the hospital. I lay
there in the intensive care unit with congested heart failure and water in my
lungs preventing me from breathing normally. After, numerous tests I got the
dreaded news that I was diagnosed with kidney failure.
I had no knowledge of what this diagnosis would mean for me in the days
ahead. I had no understanding of kidney failure. This was all new territory for
me. I was very naive about the subject matter. The news of my kidney failure
was shocking! I was at a loss trying to figure out how this could happen to a
young vibrant man as me.
I knew then that my life had changed. I was in denial but I had to move on
even though it was very challenging. My neproholist (kidney specialist)
insisted that I started dialysis, which I had no knowledge about it. Dialysis is a
procedure to clean your blood removing toxins from your body. Since 2008, I
have been doing dialysis for three days a week for three and half-hour per
day. A very daunting procedure initially before my body adapted.
Well, as a renal disease patient, I have learned to accept my disease and live a
normal life. I initially thought my life was over not being able to do things I
enjoy. For the kidney disease patient, it is easy to fall into the depression trap
with a feeling no self worth and denial about your condition. I will be the first
to say initially I had those feeling as well. But I had to learn to take baby steps
again in deciding to live life with a positive attitude.
Life is not over, never surrender! You have to become stronger than yourself.
Gradually taking those motivating steps can help you endure life a little easier.
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Try to do things you normally did before getting kidney disease. If you have
not already started an activity routine, I recommend starting one. Don’t be
afraid to reach out to a friend or family member for help. Your state of mind
will be very important to endure with kidney disease.
Make every day count! Family members and friends please practice patience
with your loved one. Understand that your loved ones are going through a
challenging time and they will need to confide in you. There are resources that
I will list for you to handle kidney disease with your loved ones.
Having kidney disease should not prevent you from living a normal life. You
should do all the things you desire to do including travel. You say travel, yes!
You can with kidney disease. There are ways you can plan your excursion and
enjoy!
Make travel part of your healing process. Build that confidence and defy the
emotion of “I can’t do this.” Nothing was promise to us on planet earth. Live
every moment of your life. This is something I have come to realize while
dealing with the disease. People of the world I am sharing with you the
possibility-Live and live big! YOU can do it!
There are ways for you to travel as a dialysis patient on short trips or for a
week. Careful planning is paramount in enjoying your excursion. Don’t deny
yourself! Your life is not over so get out there and discover the unknown
places. Decide where you want to go and start planning. When planning to
travel, work with your dialysis center administrator to coordinate with a
facility to cover your ongoing treatment. They will be able to verify if the
center is close to where you are travelling. In addition the administrator can
make sure that the center away from home has all things you need to make
your trip as pleasant as possible. Patients doing dialysis treatment at home
you will have access to a dialysis center locator available to you to plan your
travel. Go to Mexico or even San Diego, CA. Dream big! Whether you are
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travelling for a weekend or week make sure your health insurance provider
will cover your additional expenses incurred while travelling out of network
for your treatment. Of course all of your travelling plans should be
coordinated with your social services director. Bon Voyage!!
As I am writing this blog something that is dear to me is my appetite. I have
quite an appetite along with discipline to exercise as well. Of course all this
love for eating took a 360 degree turn when I was told my diet had to be
change as a result of my kidney failure. What a concept. Changing my diet?
Nonetheless, I had to find accept and move forward. Imagine giving up the
food you love. As a man of faith I now know that nothing is lost for the child of
God.
With the help from my nutritionist, from DaVita.com, she was able to help me
with the transition into my new diet plan. It felt so awkward not eating the
foods I was used to.
As I chronicle my life journey with kidney disease, over the years gone I have
faced a great deal of challenges far greater than I expected. I have made a
conscious decision to dedicate my life to become an advocate for education
and prevention of kidney disease. This is very important for me in giving back
to humanity so as to help save lives.
After many countless hours writing this blog, I have to thank my family and
very close friends of mine. They were and continue to be supportive and
encouraging to carry on. They provide tremendous help to me. I strongly
suggest getting support from family and others to cope with kidney disease.
Also, I have to mention that I had a wonderful relationship with my former
facility director at my dialysis center. This lady is the Florence Nightingale of
these times. She was a person of humility which is needed to deal with this
devastating illness when you come for treatment at the center. Thank you for
your human generosity.
My fellow human beings, I plead with you to become aware of kidney disease.
If you even can donate a kidney for transplant please explore that option. You
will give hope to someone in need and preserve their life..
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I will continue to update you on my impending kidney transplant through my
blog. I continue the journey of life. Thanks for reading my story.
General Kidney information Resources
National kidney Foundation
www.kidney.org
American Kidney Fund
www.kidneyfund.org
My Kidney Surgery Fund Donation page
http://www.gofundme.com/tt7d6k
Georgia Transplant Foundation
www.gatransplant.org
Contact Information:
garfieldriley@yahoo.com
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