Complementary Therapy Update

Janet Cairnie

Hi everyone, we hope you are keeping well and safe. It’s been a while since I last wrote a Blog for GMKIN, and I have been asked to reintroduce the Team and provide a catch up of what we have been doing. Since the pandemic things have been a little difficult for everyone. We have […]

My Biggest Challenge

Sonia Brown

I was diagnosed with CKD almost 15 years ago. It came as a shock as I went to my GP with what I thought were the debilitating symptoms of a cold. Blood tests were taken, and I was contacted the day after by a concerned GP who had arranged for me to go to the […]

“How Did We Get Here?”

A sign on the ground indicating to turn around

The Hassan family returns to the hospital ward 17 years after their eldest daughter’s kidney transplant, now facing a familiar dread as they await news about their youngest daughter’s health.

Is It Hard for Carers to Express Stress?

It is difficult to express feelings of stress as the carer (not a good word, partner better?) of a patient (again not a good word) on dialysis. For me it’s more of an internal pressure than societal expectation – I might get fed up with the drudgery of the dialysis routine and all that goes […]

Peritoneal Dialysis – an alternative to Haemodialysis

A bed set up for dialysis at home

In essence, there are 3 dialysis treatment options. This article provides insight into alternative treatment options for hemodialysis.     There are 2 types of peritoneal dialysis (PD): continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD). Both types of PD have slightly different advantages, so it really comes down to your personal preference and lifestyle, […]

Q&A: When will I start dialysis?

Question   When will I start dialysis?  Answer  This will depend on your symptoms – if you can pass decent amounts of urine and you are not regularly experiencing nausea and/or vomiting and breathlessness, it is common for people whose kidney function is 5-10% to still manage without dialysis.   Blood results are also important, especially if […]

Q&A: HLA Tissue Typing

A picture of Rachel Middleton

Question  I am currently on the Transplant waiting list. During a call for a possible kidney, which due to unforeseen circumstances did not go ahead, I was told the match was 210. I have read some information about tissue typing but find it has too much jargon. Is it possible to have a clear, uncomplicated, […]

Q&A: Clinical Psychology

Jessica Dean offers advice on how to approach discussing a CKD diagnosis and potential treatments with loved ones.