beyond-endstage.com

5 Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

July 4, 2020July 15, 2020 By ESRDspouse1 Comment

5 Stages of CKD: An Overview

A dignosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) means that kidney failure is NOT immediate; instead, it is a gradual progression. The five stages of this progression are as follows:

Stage One: Your kidneys are beginning to lose function but are still filtering at approximately 90% capacity
Stage Two: Kidney filtration function falls to between 60-89% and you may start requiring medications and/or diet and exercise modifications
Stage Three: At the beginning of stage three (3A), your kidneys are functioning at 45-60% — by the end of stage three, they are functioning between 30-45%
- 3A: More regular testing may be required and secondary conditions (such as hypertension) may need more monitoring and care
- 3B: More serious/noticeable symptoms may appear and medication regimen is likely to increase
Stage Four: Kidney function is between 15-30% and referral to transplantation services or dialysis is likely
Stage Five: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) — kidney filtration is under 15% and serious medical intervention (i.e., dialysis or transplant) is required for survival

Life Issues

CKD: The Pros and Cons of Owning Pets

July 26, 2020July 23, 2020 By ESRDspouseLeave a comment

Pets: Things To Consider

Animal lovers are sometimes put in an awkward position when it comes to deciding whether or not to have (or keep) pets while experiencing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). There are pros and cons to having fuzzy companions. People who have pets often experience a greater sense of joy/well-being, comfort, and companionship. Those are all pros.

There are some very real ‘cons’ though, in terms of pet responsibilities, when it comes to dialysis and transplant. Prior to the time my husband started dialysis, we were unaware of the medical risks of pet ownership. We kept our cat (though he’s now come to the end of his life), but it required some changes. Here’s what they were:

Legal

Disclosure & Kidney Disease: 3 Laws to Know

July 17, 2020July 18, 2020 By ESRDspouseLeave a comment

Disclosing Your Kidney Disease

The choice to disclose your kidney disease – to your friends and family, to your school or educational institution, to your workplace or your clients – is largely a matter of personal choice. There are valid reasons to keep your condition to yourself. There are also valid reasons to disclose. Below are three legal aspects of disclosure you may wish to familiarize yourself with before making the decision to disclose, particularly as relates to your work and your employer’s responsibilities.

General Information

Common Misconceptions About Kidney Disease

July 10, 2020July 9, 2020 By ESRDspouseLeave a comment

Sorting Through Common Misconceptions

If you know someone with kidney disease, or have recently been diagnosed yourself, you may be feeling confused and/or overwhelmed by the information with which you’ve been presented. And – quite honestly – some of the information you’ve likely been presented with is wrong. Below are three things my husband and I have encountered as common misconceptions about kidney disease.