You can take an active role in managing your day-to-day care and develop a personal care plan that will help you focus on the goals and outcomes that are important to you.
As your kidney function worsens, it’s important to start discussing your treatment options with your health care team. That way, you’ll have time to plan ahead so that your treatment choice is the right one for your health, lifestyle and personal circumstances.
When your kidneys have failed, you may start to feel some symptoms such as fatigue and nausea. At this point your kidney function will be below 10-15% of normal and you’ll need to start further treatment. Being well-informed about your treatment options will help you to make the right choice for your health, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. Whichever treatment you choose, your health care team will be there to support you.
Dialysis
Dialysis is a treatment that cleans your blood and removes excess fluid from your body when your kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do these important jobs.
With advances in kidney transplant methods and anti-rejection medications, a kidney transplant is considered the best way to treat kidney failure for many people.
Given the advantages of a living kidney transplant, how does someone find a person willing to be that living kidney donor? The fear, concern and worry over asking someone to donate a kidney can be overwhelming.
Conservative kidney management is an active treatment choice in which kidney disease is managed with medication and diet, with no plans for a transplant or dialysis.
For many people living with kidney disease, a transplant offers the best chance at a healthier life. Organ donation saves lives and restores health. A kidney transplant is not a cure, but it offers the best possible improvement to health and quality of life for many people living with kidney failure.
