Life quality... Living well with kidney failure
This year's message for World Kidney Day is "Live well with kidney disease".
The truth is that numbers speak for themselves ...
- Over 10% of the world's population suffer from chronic kidney failure
- Over 2 million people around the world are on dialysis treatment or have had a kidney transplant
- Many people cannot receive treatment due to distance, country of residence, structure, and financial reasons.
But what does it practically mean to learn: How to live well with kidney failure?
The answer is to manage the symptoms and gain quality of life.
Kidney failure and dialysis are not an impediment in human’s life. In fact, the person has the right to enjoy the moments of life even if he/she has to deal with kidney failure or dialysis.
Practically the person can join quality of life by taking care of him/herself, loving his/her body, and supporting his/her decisions.
In which way?
- Regular visits and monitoring of the clinical condition
- Adhering to medical instructions and adhering to a routine and stable life’s schedule
- Systematic management of clinical problems and symptoms
- Psychological support
- Nutritional care
- Creating allies and a social environment that can support the person.
- Physical relaxation
- Vacation
- Activities that act as anxiolytics
The biggest bet for people with chronic disease is to feel functional and control the thoughts and fears about tomorrow.
So living well with kidney failure means to give priority to him/herself, developing methods and ways to feel satisfied and maintain his/her role in the family and personal relationships.
Eleni Soltaridou
Psychologist ( Mesogeios partner)