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Life On Home DialysisWhen I agreed to write this blog, my first thought was what could I write that would interest other people wanting to know about life on home dialysis? Most of the time I barely even think about it, let alone have any eventualities worth commenting on, but I suppose that perfectly illustrates the huge benefit of dialysing at home. So by writing about it here I hope others might be spurred on to make the decision to try it too and have an equally positive experience.So a little bit about me; I am 26 years old and have been on dialysis for 12 years. From the very first day that I found out my kidneys had failed I knew that I would continue with my life exactly as before, as I couldn’t even imagine any other option. Perhaps it’s because I’m a bit of a control freak but my worst nightmare was the thought of being totally dependent on a unit and nursing staff, so I have always carried out my dialysis at home. Even as a young teenager my parents never had any involvement in my treatment, although they were of course hugely supportive and have always been there for me, they understood me wanting to do it by myself. Unbeknown to me at that young age, it was choosing to take control right from the start that set me up in the best possible way to spend the last 12 years living life to the full. My motto is very much dialyse to live don’t live to dialyse. I hope by sharing my experiences of working, travelling, going out with my friends and eating and drinking my way round London, that I will be able to bring to life exactly how free I can be. |
Maddy Warren
My nephrotic syndrome caused me to lose both my kidneys at the age of 14 and was the reason that the kidney transplant from my dad failed when I was 19 years old. Until more research has been done and there are medical advances, my body is likely to reject any other kidney, so for me, it’s life on dialysis for the foreseeable future.
Over the years I’ve tried all types of home dialysis, from overnight peritoneal to short daily haemodialysis. I very quickly decided that only nocturnal haemodialysis would suit my hectic lifestyle. My blog is certainly not aimed at trying to influence people’s choice of treatment, simply to show how much easier life can be when you manage it at home. I guess the only question you should ask yourself is, do you really need to rely on a nurse for your dialysis or are you more than capable of doing it yourself? I strongly believe that everyone should have the choice to dialyse from home, and whilst I realise that it isn’t available in every area, I think you should certainly ask why, and almost insist that you are given the opportunity to live a normal non-restricted life. The advantages are immeasurable; you can have a full time job with no interruptions during the day, avoid the typical energy peaks and troughs associated with traditional dialysis regimes and have freedom from almost all dietary restrictions.
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