Living With Dialysis - A Guide

This book has been written for you, your family and your caregivers. I hope it helps you better understand kidney failure, dialysis and your treatment options. You are the most important part of your treatment team and by using the advice in this guide, you will become more knowledgeable about End Stage Renal Disease. The ultimate goal of this book is to provide the highest standard of non-medical] advice possible - so that you can obtain a deeper understanding and respect for the challenges that kidney disease presents. My mission is to educate and empower individuals and families affected by kidney disease. I seek to educate society about the negative and positive sides of this disease. I strive to raise public and professional awareness of this disease and serve as an advocate for those who suffer with this disease. I will encourage those in the kidney community to never give up in their search to help their loved ones reach their full potential, funding efforts toward this end through appropriate research for finding a cure for both the physical and emotional damage from which so many affected by End Stage Renal Disease suffer. Ultimately, I am here to inspire, educate, guide and assist you as you journey through the many stages and challenges of kidney disease and dialysis. This has been one of my callings and it has helped me to deal with what is going on with my body. I want everyone to understand the effects of end-stage renal disease and understand that there is hope, through dialysis so that no one has to suffer considerably. There is life after this kind of diagnosis and it can be a great one as long as you are educated about what is going on, what your options are, and you learn to establish a voice for yourself. Read each chapter slowly and if you do not understand a particular concept, ask your physician or health care team member for advice. Try to understand the key concept presented in each chapter and plan a course of action that will allow you to improve your measurable outcomes and increase your likelihood of living a longer and healthier life. Each of the chapters are designed to help you understand what is going on, what to expect, and it is something that can be shared with those within your life so they know the obstacles that you will be facing when you go on dialysis. It is my personal mission to provide useful information that with safeguard the health of all people experiencing kidney disease and dialysis. My knowledge and conscience are dedicated to the fulfillment of this mission. DEALING WITH THE DAILY STRESS OF DIALYSIS IS NOT AN EASY THING, BUT WITH THE AID AND ASSISTANCE OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND HEALTH CARE TEAM YOU TOO CAN BE A SURVIVOR. This book was written to help individuals with kidney failure understand how to survive on dialysis. The creator of this book does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information contained in this book. The author of this book does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services mentioned in this book. The views and opinions of the author expressed in this book do not necessarily state or reflect those of any health care professional team, kidney specialist, or a primary care physician. It is not the author's intention of this book to provide specific medical advice but rather to provide users with information to help the individual with kidney failure better understand their health issues and their diagnosis of kidney disease. Specific medical advice is not being provided. The author urges you to consult with a qualified physician for diagnosis and for answers to any personal questions that you may have. REMEMBER: DIALYSIS IS NOT THE END OF YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD, IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.