Dialysis patients speak about their experiences.

[okarol]

Living with Kidney Disease
Dialysis patients speak about their experiences.

Date: 2008-10-03
By Jessica Lovell

In January 2007 Don Lethbridge woke up in the hospital after five days in a diabetic coma.

He was blind, without kidney function and had a hole in his back.

"Other than that I was fine," he jokes.

Mr. Lethbridge berates himself for making poor decisions about his health. He says he knew something was wrong, but he ignored it.

Now Mr. Lethbridge receives hemodialysis three times a week, four hours at a time.

Mr. Lethbridge was one of three Peterborough Regional Health Centre patients asked to speak about living with kidney disease at Royal Gardens retirement home on Oct. 2.

Sharron Shepstone and Frances Daunt also came to tell their stories.

Ms Shepstone had her right kidney removed in 1990. She lived with only one kidney for about 15 years after that, until cancer was discovered in that kidney. She has been on hemodialysis for the last three-and-a-half years.

Ms Daunt uses peritoneal dialysis to do the work of her kidneys.

Both forms of dialysis perform the same function, but whereas hemodialysis requires a machine in hospital to cleanse the blood, patients can administer their own peritoneal dialysis.

"I like it because I do it at home," says Ms. Daunt.

But she also emphasizes the importance of the support group that meets each month at PRHC's dialysis clinic. Because she lives alone, and performs her own treatment, Ms. Daunt says she appreciates contact with others who have similar experiences. Those not living with kidney disease may have a hard time understanding, she says.

"If you have a kidney that's functioning, cherish it," she says.

The event's organizers reiterated this message with a presentation about renal diet by PRHC renal program dietician, Leanne Falkner. "It helps keeps people off dialysis," says Ms. Falkner.

People with damaged kidneys may need to control levels of potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and protein in their diets. Working with a dietician, a patient can determine his/her specific nutritional needs, in order to prevent further kidney damage.

To maintain good kidney health in general, for high and low risk individuals alike, Ms Falkner adds, "I think everybody could be on a low sodium diet."

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Low Potassium, Low Sodium Mashed Potatoes

3 cups potatoes, peeled and sliced

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup margarine

1/4 cup half and half cream

1. Allow potatoes to soak in water, at least 4 hours or overnight.

2. Drain and rinse potatoes. Add new water. Boil with garlic over medium heat until soft. Drain.

3. Mash potatoes. Gradually add the margarine and cream, whipping until smooth.
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