LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE

If you have been diagnosed with kidney disease it means you have some damage to your kidneys. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the term used by medical professionals. The word “chronic” means it is a long term problem and will not get better straight away. Your kidneys may continue to work, but if they get worse you will then have kidney failure.

For more details about this you can read an article on the NKF website:

What is kidney disease | National Kidney Federation

Here is an A to Z on kidneys and kidney disease: Glossary of kidney terms | Kidney Care UK

FOOD AND DIET

TREATMENT FOR KIDNEY DISEASE

As your kidney function deteriorates, you may be faced with a choice of treatments for CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). These include a kidney transplant or one of various types of dialysis.

SAKA does not offer medical advice, but we have brought together some information which may help you to understand a bit more of what is available to you and may help you towards making a decision about your future treatment.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals produce a range of leaflets covering many aspects of kidney disease and care. To see the list and download leaflets:

Click here.

NKF (National Kidney Federation) provide help for kidney patients via a telephone helpline, and by a series of leaflets which can be read on line or downloaded:

Click here for details.

SAKA has funded a series of short videos to be used for renal patients at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. 

Click on the links below to view these.

Kidney Transplant

Click here for information about transplantation, including links to short videos.

Dialysis

Click here to read about dialysis, including links to videos.

PEER SUPPORT

What is Peer Support?
Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other. There are different types of support,but they all involve giving and receiving support and bringing people together. The act of helping someone else as a way of paying back for help previously received, or just simply sharing experiences can be very rewarding.

Benefits of Peer Support
Peer support offers kidney patients in the UK a chance to talk to someone who understands what they are going through, providing them with practical information and emotional support, which can help them adjust to their illness and make informed treatment choices. This support can be particularly helpful in alleviating fears  and anxieties about treatment options and providing a sense of control and confidence.

NKF Peer Support Service

The NKF Peer Support Service is for all aspects of kidney care and management, including topics such as;

caring for someone with kidney disease or kidney failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, dialysis including peritoneal and haemodialysis, transplantation and post-transplant experiences or donation processes 
and experiences.

The National Peer Support Service is a safe space where people can connect with our ‘peers’ to converse about lived experiences and they are there to support you. This might be over the phone, online, or in person.

This free Peer Support Service is for…
- Individuals who have kidney disease 
- Family members, partners or carers of somebody with kidney disease

All Peer Supporters are fully trained and DBS checked and are between the ages of 20-80 years old

To contact the NKF Peer Support Service call the helpline on 0800 169 09 36

or email helpline@kidney.org.uk