“When the doctor diagnosed me with level 4 kidney failure at the age of 25, I couldn’t understand how could this happen.”
Exercise was always part of my daily routine. I made sure to take care of myself and never had any reason to lose sleep over skipping one of my annual physicals. So when the doctor diagnosed me with level 4 kidney failure at the age of 25, I couldn’t understand how could this happen.
I managed with medicine for the first months, but the doctor had already warned me dialysis was inevitable. Starting dialysis meant taking extra precaution from all outside elements. Going for a swim in the pool or taking a dip in the ocean was no longer an option since the catheter on my shoulder can easily become infected. The transition wasn’t easy. The only comforting part of the process was the constant care and attention from the patient techs and nurses in my dialysis clinic.
That sense of comfort I once felt began to fade away around my third year on dialysis. I noticed techs and nurses would come by less frequently and rush through the process. Now, it’s a rare sight to see a nurse after I’m connected. On top of the physical stress of dialysis I grew resentful about the kind of care I received.
After I realized only one nurse was running around frantically taking care of the 16 patients being dialyzed, the problems with my care began to make sense. It was clear the nurses and techs were just as frustrated and stressed by the situation as I was.
I’m 32 years old now and it could take years to get a kidney transplant. I’m worried if I don’t speak up about the lack of care, my dialysis treatment is only going to get worse.