Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
This practical and inspiring book will give you the confidence to live a full and rewarding life. Drawing on the experiences of a number of very different people, from all walks of life and ages and family situations with kidney failure, these shared personal accounts celebrate the fullness of life that people living with kidney failure can, and do, achieve.
Sharing the first-hand experiences of others, the book covers the issues surrounding initial diagnosis and treatment, whether peritoneal or haemodialysis, the continuation of treatment, and the pros and cons of transplantation. There is extensive coverage of lifestyle choices, about work and leisure, relationships with partners and family, as well as the hospital kidney unit.
There is useful, practical advice on how to cope with crises and deal with problems, and the book shares other people’s experiences. There are also appendices on financial aspects, medical and benefit help, prescriptions, mortgages and other matters.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover | Cover A | ||
| Contents | v | ||
| Foreword | ix | ||
| Introduction | 1 | ||
| 1 Diagnosis | 7 | ||
| Where does negativity start? | 15 | ||
| 2 Preparing for dialysis | 17 | ||
| Pre-dialysis seminars | 19 | ||
| Basic information about kidney failure | 20 | ||
| What do normal kidneys do? | 22 | ||
| 3 Treatment during the pre-dialysis period | 26 | ||
| Medication | 26 | ||
| Diet | 28 | ||
| Assessment for transplantation | 31 | ||
| 4 Types of dialysis treatment | 33 | ||
| Haemodialysis | 33 | ||
| Peritoneal dialysis | 36 | ||
| Choice | 38 | ||
| Pros and cons of the two treatments | 40 | ||
| 5 Starting dialysis | 46 | ||
| Putting it off | 46 | ||
| A summary of what to expect when starting dialysis | 48 | ||
| 6 Kidney transplants: the choices | 51 | ||
| Will a transplant be suitable for you? | 51 | ||
| Personal experiences of kidney transplants | 54 | ||
| 7 Building a relationship with the kidney unit | 62 | ||
| The people you will meet in hospital | 62 | ||
| Building a relationship with your kidney consultant | 65 | ||
| Clinic visits | 66 | ||
| The people you will meet outside hospital | 67 | ||
| Helping the system | 68 | ||
| 8 Work, leisure activities and holidays | 70 | ||
| Practical benefits of work | 70 | ||
| Psychological benefits of work | 71 | ||
| Leisure activities | 76 | ||
| Holidays | 80 | ||
| 9 Relationships with partners | 83 | ||
| Partnerships throughout the lifespan | 83 | ||
| Sexual relationships | 85 | ||
| Body image | 89 | ||
| Fertility | 91 | ||
| 10 Carers, friends and the wider family | 93 | ||
| Partners as carers | 93 | ||
| Caring for carers | 94 | ||
| Attitudes of parents and the wider family | 99 | ||
| Cultural differences in attitude to illness | 101 | ||
| Effects on children in the family | 102 | ||
| 11 Lifestyle for kidney patients | 105 | ||
| Positive health measures | 105 | ||
| Understanding your medication | 108 | ||
| Being in control | 111 | ||
| 12 Ways of coping | 113 | ||
| Acceptance | 113 | ||
| Denial | 114 | ||
| Being in control | 115 | ||
| Involvement with patient associations | 120 | ||
| Feeling fortunate | 122 | ||
| 13 What helps when you hit low points? | 124 | ||
| The place of faith,belief systems and spirituality | 125 | ||
| Alternative and complementary therapies | 127 | ||
| 14 Living well | 129 | ||
| Appendix 1 Information on finances for renal patients | 132 | ||
| Insurance and mortgages | 132 | ||
| Employment rights and sick pay | 132 | ||
| Free prescriptions | 133 | ||
| DWP benefits | 133 | ||
| Financial help from the hospital | 135 | ||
| Appendix 2 Further reading | 137 | ||
| Appendix 3 Useful addresses | 138 | ||
| Glossary | 145 | ||
| Index | 149 |