The difficulty of understanding your condition

You will hear a lot of new and complex medical terms. When you are not feeling well or are under stress it is difficult to understand and to remember everything you are told. Feel free to ask the members of your renal-care team to explain what you don't understand.

The difficulty of managing your treatment

You may worry about your ability to manage your treatment by yourself.

Members of your family, your support group or your community are often eager to help you at home. Discuss your concerns with your social worker, nurse, or doctor. They have helped many other kidney patients and will be able to suggest ways of helping you manage your treatment both at the renal unit and at home.

Non-compliance is the medical term for not following the treatment planned by your doctor or renal team. Common reasons for non-compliance are:

It is important that you understand your treatment, and the purpose of any dietary or other lifestyle changes you are asked to make. If you find that particular aspects of your treatment are difficult to manage, discuss the problem with your renal unit. It may be they can recommend ways your treatment could be modified to make it easier for you.

If you are not following the advice of your doctors, be honest, tell them, and explain why. If you don't, they may change your prescriptions in the belief that you are not responding to your dialysis treatment or medications.

The frustration of becoming dependent

This is a period of change and adjustment for you and those around you. You might find yourself not being as productive and self-sufficient as you were before your kidneys failed, and needing help. You may resent becoming dependent on your medical team, on a caregiver, or on the machines and equipment you need for treatment. You may find it difficult to ask for emotional support from your family or healthcare team.

Let others know how you feel and what you need. The more they know the more they can help you.

Threats to your job

You may be worrying whether your employers' attitude toward your illness will affect your job security and advancement opportunities. Your renal counselor or social worker can help you plan what to tell your employer about your disease and treatment and support you through the process.

For more, see Work and support

Disruptions to your lifestyle

Kidney disease and its treatment can disrupt your day-to-day activities and family relationships. Over time you will learn how to incorporate your dialysis treatments into your work, family, recreation and social activities. It is important that you maintain such activities as much as possible. They help define you and make you feel good about yourself. They are, in part, why you are important to others.

You may have to give up or change some aspects of your life. With help from the renal team, you will be able to continue most of your activities or modify them. There are many activities you can still enjoy and holidays you can take.

Changes to your body image

You may feel self-conscious about your appearance if it has changed as a result of your treatment. You may have problems coming to terms with your fistula or peritoneal dialysis catheter.

Your renal doctor, nurse or social worker will be able to help you find ways to adjust to these changes and feel better about yourself.