Arlene Green
September 28th, 2007
I was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 15. I began dialysis treatments at age 17 and had my first kidney transplant a year later. Throughout this difficult time, I continued my education without interruption, graduated from high school, college. I worked for a short time before returning to college to earn an MS degree. I also received two more kidney transplants in that period of time. Due to my underlying condition, all 3 transplants rejected. I am now part of a self-care nocturnal home dialysis program (treatments while I sleep)and work full-time, while I remain on 3 waiting lists for a fourth kidney transplant. I now have end-stage renal failure. There is no cure. Without treatment, I would not be alive today. The two treatment options, dialysis and transplantation, each have their own set of risks and discomfort.
Being on hemodialysis, there is pain of inserting 2 needles in my arm for each treatment and risk of infection. Danger of any number of problems can occur while I sleep. I live alone and even though my treatments are monitored remotely via modem, there is a risk of danger in the event of an emergency.The benefit of being on the nocturnal program is that I get more than twice the number of hours of treatment as those on conventional dialysis. The result is that my blood tests are significantly better, I do not have a restricted diet, and I feel healthier. The best suggestion I can offer to those on hemodialysis, is to try to get the most out of your treatments by staying on the entire treatment, run the machine at the highest levels you can tolerate and strictly observe your diet and fluid restrictions. For those with transplants, compliance is the biggest concern, so my suggestion is to take all the medications, on time, as prescribed, and never skip a dose.Dialysis significantly limits my lifestyle. I must be home, connected to the machine, six nights per week. Since I work full-time, my weekdays are also filled. That leaves the weekend to get all my errands done, and try to maintain a normal social life. Transplantation is preferred, because my non-work hours are free, but there is risk of infection, organ rejection, and side effects from medications.
As I mentioned, I am on three waiting lists for a fourth cadaver kidney transplant. The hope of getting a kidney is the motivation that keeps me going. Also, the challenge of trying to keep up with healthy people, despite my obstacles, also keeps me going. I refuse to accept that I am not normal, what some may call denial.
Thank you.
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