Kidney Dialysis - Finding Support. Dedicated to my sister, AnnaRuth

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 29 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #4,915 in Health, #60,841 overall

Kidney Dialysis and the fight to live. (a tribute to my sister)

Your Doctor announces that you will require dialysis the rest of your life.  You don't hear the rest of his words as your world is spinning in disbelief and even denial.  As you are whisked off for your first dialysis treatment an overwhelming fear encompassed your whole being and you feel your life (as you know it) is over - folding in over you like a hopeless black blanket.

How to work through the hopeless blackness of despair? 

Will you ever be able to enjoy life again?

I hope through this lens you will be introduced to people and organizations who will give you all the answers and support you require.  Please come back often because as I find resources that will be helpful to living with Kidney Dialysis - I will post them here.


Learn about kidney failure and dialysis.

ABC of Kidney Disease 

ABC of Kidney Disease (ABC Series)

The ABC of Kidney Disease is a brand new title in the successful ABC series which explains this complicated area thoroughly and clearly, in a practical and user-friendly manner.

Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $49.95

Dialysis and pre-dialysis patients use this cookbook. 

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Creative Cooking for Renal Diabetic Diets

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009)Buy Now

This cookbook was written to add variety and imagination to readers' diets. Favorite everyday and special occasion recipes are given to make meals more pleasurable and the diets easier to follow.

THAT DAMN DIALYSIS  

That Damn (Kidney) Dialysis

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009)Buy Now

Cledus B. Washington, Jr. is an attractive, hardworking, 50-year-old man with a great sense of humor and whose world is turned upside down when he becomes a statistic amongst the 20.6 million Americans who are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease each year. As he comes to grips with his illness, his girlfriend leaves him, his mother tries to take over his life, and his financial security is severely compromised as his world shrinks down to monitoring the buzzing sound of his ""lifeline"" that confirms he is alive.

Coping with Kidney Disease 

Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/05/2009)Buy Now

In Coping with Kidney Disease, a leading expert tells you, in plain English, what you need to know to:

* Understand kidney failure
* Recognize early warning signs of kidney failure
* Get a proper diagnosis
* Talk with your doctors about it
* Confidently evaluate treatment options
* Take charge of your treatment
* Delay dialysis or even avoid the need for it altogether

Handbook of Dialysis 

Handbook of Dialysis

Amazon Price: $58.40 (as of 12/05/2009)Buy Now

This edition reflects the latest guidelines of the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis adequacy and on nutrition. New chapters cover chronic kidney disease management in predialysis patients, frequent daily or nocturnal hemodialysis, and hemodiafiltration.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Bring a Garden of Light into Your Home 

..... a garden for AnnaRuth and a candle for each of her 3 children

order now
Click on the image for more information and to buy now.
An impressive, mixed-media candle holder wall display radiant with Lena Liu floral art and hummingbird art - a Bradford Exchange exclusive.

This Lens is Dedicated to My Sister, AnnaRuth Hales -- a fighter! 

Fall of 2006
This lens is inspired by my sister, AnnaRuth and her incredible fight to live.

My sister had to go on dialysis last summer and went through the worst 'hell' (including a stoke!) I have ever witnessed! Personal letters of support written to her from Kidney Friends forum that I printed for her, inspired her to keep fighting and that others have fought the same fight and had won. Online resources are vital for supporting family members too. Daily I scoured the internet for information about 'life on dialysis' and it helped me stay positive when I went to visit her.

Soon AnnaRuth will be going home.
This lens is dedicated to my sister and her victory!

She went home in October 2006 and was doing really well on home dialysis and looking forward to being able to work in her garden in the spring.

**************************************************

This past winter 2007 - she was hospitalized again due to strokes.

My sister, AnnaRuth Hales, passed away May 17, 2007.
She will be missed a lot but she leaves behind a long legacy of love, compassion, determination and courage that all who knew her will remember and we will carry that memory in our heart always.

AnnaRuth, "My sister, my friend, Our lives have been brought together for a reason, and for that I am grateful. I have learned much from you, and you from me. We have loved and cried and found a bond that is everlasting." Love, Barb

****************************************************

Remembering my sister - AnnaRuth 

Sisters Frame

Sentiment on the frame reads: "My sister, my friend, Our lives have been brought together for a reason, and for that I am grateful. I have learned much from you, and you from me. We have loved and cried and found a bond that is everlasting."

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

In loving memory of my sister - May 17 - 2008 

"I have published your recipe, AnnaRuth, just as you wanted!"

AnnaRuth and I on an Alaska Cruise 1994

Works wonderfully to ease the tension and aching muscles of your neck and back 

The Happy Company Microwavable Warming Neck & Shoulder Wrap, Periwinkle

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009)Buy Now

The Warming Neck & Shoulder Wrap helps provide stress and pain relief for the upper back and all around shoulder area. The ties keep the Warming Neck & Shoulder Wrap in place to provide relief and comfort right where it is needed. This product incorporates aromatherapy with lavender, clove and chamomile which is mixed into our grain filled inserts for a deeper relaxation experience.

New Kidney Dialysis Support Links 

Here is where you will find information and a place to ask questions.
Join Kidney Friends Forum for wonderful personal support!
Kidney Friends Forum
A group of dialysis patients, transplant recipients and anyone who has interests in Kidneys, treatments and transplants. Everyone's experience would be of great value here, be it yours, a family member, or friend.
Create your own webpage
Create your own webpage like this to give your support to Kidney Dialysis patients and their families and friends.
It is Fast, Fun and Free!
The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Over 30,000 Canadians suffer from kidney failure and require dialysis or a transplant to stay alive.
American Association of Kidney Patients
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is a national non-profit organization founded by kidney patients for kidney patients. We strive to educate and improve the health and well-being of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, those on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplant recipients.
The voice of all kidney patients.
Angies Kidney Support Community
A Kidney Community for all affected by Kidney Disease!

Dialysis without Fear 

An upbeat, informative family guide to living life to the fullest on dialysis, by a long-term patient who is also a doctor

Dialysis without Fear: A Guide to Living Well on Dialysis for Patients and Their Families

Life on dialysis is unquestionably difficult--but the difficulties can be overcome. With this inspiring, practical guide, patients can learn to live without fear, fulfill their hopes, and enjoy every day.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch 

"You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. "

Your kindness and generosity will touch the lives of kidney patients and family members alike, throughout BC.

Mail donations to: The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch
#320 - 1600 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver BC, V6J 1R3

Fax: 604-736-9703
Toll Free 1-800-667-8871
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch
For the convenience of our donors, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch offers a variety of ways to make a donation

Home Dialysis - puts you back in the drivers seat of your life. 

Find support here

Home Dialysis Central
Home Dialysis Central is raising awareness and use of PD and home hemo.
If you need treatment for kidney failure, choosing home dialysis can put you back in the driver's seat of your health-and your life.
Kidney School
Kidney School will help you learn to take an active role in your healthcare decision-making. Research suggests that kidney patients who become active partners in their care are more likely to live long and live well.

Understanding your Kidneys 

Healthy kidneys are the body's cleaning crew.

Kidneys are located under the rib cage in the lower back, these twin bean-shaped organs, each the size of a fist, filter out extra water, minerals, and toxins dumped into the blood by the body's other organs.

Kidneys process 18 gallons of blood each hour with a sophisticated method of excretion, absorption and re-absorption. By the end of each day, they can produce as much as 7 gallons of urine.

If your kidneys are normal, they don't need special care. A healthy, balanced diet and enough water to quench thirst are adequate to keep kidneys working fine. Fad diets, such as those very high in protein, however, can hurt your kidneys. Drinking very little water, or an overabundance of water (more than 8 quarts a day), may also damage these organs.

Dialysis Help Books 

Cooking for David: A Culinary Dialysis Cookbook

Using their extensive knowledge, the authors have perfected recipes that combine appropriate dietary requirements with good taste for dialysis patients.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $24.00

A Patient's Guide to Dialysis and Transplantation

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $73.00

Understanding Your New Life With Dialysis: A Patient Guide for Physical and Psychological Adjustment

Despite the many changes, dialysis still holds many challenges for patients. For the patient about to embark on a course of maintenance dialysis, this book is a superb guide.

Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $39.95

The Renal Patient's Guide to Good Eating: A Cookbook for Patients by a Patient

As a patient, the author, Mrs. Curtis, relates her own experience in dealing with the renal diet. Through a positive approach, she demonstrates that sometimes when you "make the best of it," the results are better than if the problem had not occurred. Fellow patients will recognize many of the author's feelings and obstacles as their own.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $42.95

Hemodialysis 

Hemodialysis cleans and filters your blood using a machine to temporarily rid your body of harmful wastes, extra salt, and extra water. Hemodialysis helps control blood pressure and helps your body keep the proper balance of important chemicals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and bicarbonate.

Peritoneal Dialysis 

Peritoneal dialysis is another procedure that removes extra water, wastes, and chemicals from your body. This type of dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen to filter your blood. This lining is called the peritoneal membrane and acts as the artificial kidney.

Kidney Disease Statistics for BC, Canada 

September 27, 2006
KIDNEY DISEASE STATISTICS*
Number of patients in BC:
A) With kidney disease 145,000 people are estimated to have undiagnosed
chronic kidney disease.
2,400 on haemodyalisis or peritoneal dialysis as
at December 31, 2005
6,100 (approx) are diagnosed but are not yet
receiving dialysis.
B) On the wait list
for a kidney transplant 271 as of Aug 18, 2006

Dialysis Centres for Travelers 

Global Dialysis Directory

Global Dialysis
Originally launched in January 2000 by Valda and Russell England, Global Dialysis was born out of the frustrations of trying to find dialysis centres for travelling. Information was gathered from the worldwide dialysis community with the aim of creating a single, free to use, directory of dialysis centres. The directory of dialysis centres has steadily grown to over 12,000 in 128 countries making it the largest database of dialysis centres available in the world.

Thank you for visiting Kidney Dialysis - Finding Support 

Please support Kidney Foundations in your area.

submit
  • Reply
    Cindy Bates Cindy Bates Oct 1, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
    My father is now on peritoneal, he was on hemo for 4 mths & on peritoneal for 9 mths. He trained on the night cycler & had major panic attacks & could not do it. Just the thought of being confined (tied down as he called it) for 9 hrs., was not a good thing. I watched my mother deal with lung cancer for 13 mths, with chemo & radiation & it is not much worse if any than watching him deal with this. He was such an independent man, had his own business, rental property etc., then his world got turned upside down. Closed business, sold property, got depressed. He was hospitalized in Feb of 2008 with digoxin poisioning (thanks to digitalis heart medicine) & by Aug. all this happened. Guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for creating this site for us.
  • Reply
    HorseFan HorseFan Jul 19, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
    Inspiring for sure. Thanks for making this lens on an important subject.
  • Reply
    mulberry mulberry Jun 22, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
    Wow, you've developed a fantastic resource here. I'm glad you could be there for her when she needed you. I love the picture of the two of you in 1994!
  • Reply
    molly6342 molly6342 Jun 19, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
    What a wonderful lens and I hope it helps someone thru a difficult time. My mother was on Peritoneal dialysis for years. My heart goes out to anyone who has to go thru this.
  • Reply
    KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Jun 18, 2009 @ 1:31 am
    This lens was featured on A Day of 100 Squid Angel Blessings.
  • Reply
    Wbisbill Wbisbill Jun 8, 2009 @ 7:54 am
    5* from a fan and a kidney transplant patient. I am using your lens in mine. I hope you don't mind!

    Dialysis -My Story & How Does Dialysis Work
    http://www.squidoo.com/dialysis--my-story--what-to-expect
  • Load More

Stroke 

After a Stroke: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier by Cleo Hutton

After a Stroke: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier by Cleo Hutton

After a Stroke describes in detail how to accompli more...0 points

A very helpful active Kidney Dialysis support group 

 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

This image from the archives of LIFE magazine, which first appeared on April 28, 1947 

A Life Saving invention - the History of the Kidney Dialysis

In 1943, Kolff's invention, although crude, was completed. During the course of the next two years, he treated 16 patients with acute kidney failure but had little success. All that changed in 1945, when a 67-year-old woman in uremic coma regained consciousness after 11 hours of hemodialysis with Kolff's dialyzer. Her first words? "I'm going to divorce my husband!" Thanks to Kolff, she did in fact follow through on her plan and lived seven more years before dying of another ailment.

Kolff's machine is considered the first modern drum dialyzer, and it remained the standard for the next decade. At the time of its creation, Kolff's goal was to help kidneys recover. The brave doctor had no way of knowing that his invention was one of the foremost life-saving developments in the history of modern medicine.

After World War II ended, Kolff donated the five artificial kidneys he'd made to hospitals around the world, including Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. Because of this unselfish act, doctors in many countries were able to learn about the practice of dialysis.

Artificial Kidney Dialysis Machine Purifying Blood Flow into patient

Artificial Kidney Dialysis Machine Purifying Blood Flow into patient Photographic Print

Goro, Fritz

24 in. x 18 in.

Buy at AllPosters.com


by GramaBarb

I am a Canadian senior and Grandma and as you scroll through my lenses my hope is that you will enjoy the journey and learn something new along the wa... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!