Help abbreviations

[Yvonne]

Help as I sit and read many of these post I come across a lot of abbreviations.  As I am from the UK maybe they are American abbreviations.  Has any one the time to explain.
These so far are the ones I've come across  GFR      WTF     PD     ESRD     RLS  I there are many more and I will write them done each time I come to them.   Thanks Yvonne
 

[paris]

Dear Yvonne, let's just say WTF is probably not a phrase you use in your vocabulary.  Nothing to do with kidney failure--just a slang term like "what the heck".

ESRD end stage renal disease

gfr  gloumular filtration rate    %your kidneys are functioning at

pd  peritoneal dialysis

rls  restless leg syndrome

[Romona]

There are GFR calculators on many websites to help you figure out your function. You put in your creatinine, sex, age and race. It will tell you what stage of End Stage Renal Disease you are in. The are 5 stages. The first three stages are controling blood pressure and diet. Stage 4 is preparing for dialysis/and or transplant. Stage 5 is dialysis or transplant. After transplant people usually move back to stage 3.

[okarol]

Here's more http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=1106.0