A Different Way of Seeing. Helping You Make Sense of the Overwhelm
It feels strange to think that I began dialysis only six months ago yesterday. Life before dialysis seems much like a dream now, a vague and distant memory that is barely real. Dialysis is so much part of my weekly routine that I can hardly recall what it was like not receiving treatment. Which brings …
One of my first questions when learning that I’d be starting dialysis was whether Guide Dog Normandy would be able to accompany me to the treatment centre. There were a number of reasons why this was important to me. First, because we were still a relatively new team and it was important for us to …
One of the realities of my health condition is that my blood pressure is somewhat elevated. I’m on medication to control it but also try to manage it in other ways like regular exercise and by significantly restricting the amount of salt I have in my diet. What that looks like for me is not …
I thought it might be interesting to give you a breakdown of how I make the best use of my single litre of daily liquid allowance, to show you both how much and how little that amount is. If you have any suggestions on how I could make better use of my fluid, I’d love …
As I’ve said in a previous article, I’ve joined several social media groups focussed on dialysis and kidney transplants to get insights into other people’s experience of both. It’s become plain to me that every person’s response to these medical conditions is different. I regularly read posts listing how people feel during and after dialysis. …
As many of you know, I love travelling to new destinations and learning about different cultures. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to travel fairly extensively in pursuit of that passion. Okay, I’ve realized that I’ll probably never achieve my childhood dream of visiting everywhere in the world, and I’m content to be able to …
Last year I consulted productivity expert, Marriet Visser. My problem was that I never seemed to come close to finishing my daily To Do List. It left me feeling frustrated, not to mention exhausted, by the end of the day. With Marriet’s help, I identified why I was struggling. I was trying to fit 80 …
Last week I told you about Matching Hope: A Kidney for Lois, my new Facebook group which I hope will help me find a kidney donor. I’ve been thrilled by the response to the group and am grateful to be part of such a caring community of people. It reinforces my belief in the goodness …
Massive news for those of you who have been following my journey of dialysis and chronic kidney disease is that I’m starting the process of searching for a possible kidney donor. My doctors and I have begun exploring the option of a kidney transplant, which is simultaneously both daunting and exciting for me to consider …
One of the hardest changes for me to accept since starting dialysis is a daily liquid restriction. It’s had a far bigger impact on my life than any of the other dietary adjustments that were recommended to me. There are days when I feel it is the thing that I’m struggling most with, as I …