Kidney Function

There is no single way of coping with kidney failure and treatment. Due to the fact that each person has a different experience with, and attitude toward, dialysis, you must find your own individual way of coping. There are, however, several suggestions that other people with kidney failure have made to ease adjustment to chronic illness and treatment, including education about kidney failure and treatment, physical fitness, communication in maintaining important personal relationships and motivation to complete projects and goals.

Education
Being educated on kidney failure and selected treatment is of the utmost importance. Knowledge of what is happening inside your body, the reaction to dialysis, why medication is needed and why certain foods and fluids must be restricted is crucial to your overall understanding of what is happening. The feeling of helplessness and dependency of the medical staff can be reduced by knowing and understanding kidney failure and treatment. Putting this knowledge to use will help you to feel better and can give you a sense of being in control of your own life. Fears and anxieties can be the result of lack of information; the unknown, which we all fear, can become known through education.

Fitness
Physical fitness should be important to everyone, regardless of kidney function. Mild and regular exercise can help rebuild strength, help with insomnia and anemia and strengthen bones and muscles. A physical fitness and exercise program developed with the help of a physician can give you a feeling of accomplishment and overall well-being.

Communication
One important way to maintain important personal relationships is via communication. Talking things through with your partner, family members and friends is very important in maintaining relationships. Sharing feelings, concerns, fear and anger with others not only helps you feel better, but it will also help your family and friends to better understand and accept what is going on with you. Closing out those people who are important to you can hurt the relationship by making them feel no longer needed or wanted. Ongoing communication, like education, may help you to become aware of your feelings. Once you are aware of your own feelings, you can begin to accept kidney failure as an unfortunate, but challenging, part of life, and then you can go on living.

Motivation
Setting personal goals, completing projects and continuing to lead life as close as possible to the way you did before kidney failure is very important. Continuing enjoyable activities, being with loved ones and continuing to plan your life should not change with kidney failure. Most people’s feelings of self-esteem or self-worth depend on what they do and accomplish. Although kidney failure and treatment can change some external aspects of your life, your essential worth and value to yourself and others can and should remain unchanged.

This special takes a closer look at kidney transplantation in America, where the demand for kidneys is higher than any other organ.

From the video:
Did you know that the typical wait time to receive a kidney transplant from a diseased donor in Ohio is between three to five years?

Not quite as well-known as the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). AAKP is a voluntary organization that is dedicated to promoting the interest and welfare of people with kidney failure. It functions in all areas of kidney diseases and kidney failure and educates both the public and patients about kidney disease, care and rehabilitation. AAKP, on a national level, distributes information for patients, and promotes organ donation. AAKP also sponsors, in part, a camp program for children with kidney failure, serves as a spokesperson for kidney patients on federal legislative issues, and educates the public about kidney disease and kidney failure.

Although AAKP is located in Florida, there are chapters throughout the Unit3ed States, many of which are active in ongoing educational activities and social events. For more information about AAKP and where to find local chapters, visit their website or call them toll-free at (800) 749-2257.