My journey with my niece who Suffering CKD STAGE 5 at age of 32

CKD ( Chronic Kidney Disease)

#Part 1 CKD (First time admission)

This year is a tough journey for me And my family. Our story for today is very interesting. It is all about health. kidneys makes an important role of the human body that we have been experiencing lately. Suffering from stage 5 CKD is not an easy. I want to share this story for health awareness to those who have not seen the symptoms and taken for granted until they reach the hard stage of their illness. Like my niece did. akala ko nga she can't fight the pain but she's very strong & fighter. Only God is our strength. I know we're not alone in this battle. Just two of us in the hospital I'm her watcher until the end, because of the pandemic exchange of watchers are not allowed at this time.

It's very hard for us to accept. But we need to fight for her to live. Because she takes for granted the symptoms she felt in the past years until she suffered more pain and got hospitalized. Remember to always put this in our mind. “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE“ as much as possible if you are experiencing some kind of health issues or something you feel bad. just seek a doctor for check-up (Dapat talaga hindi natin pinapalampas yong mga na fefeel nating kakaiba habang maaga pa punta tayo sa doctor para maagapan). Be vigilant for our health. Huwag natin e apply ang filipino manyana habits like mawala din to Mamaya. Most importantly watch you life style. Don't drink to much alcohol, don't eat to much of canned goods with lots preservatives and ect.

It's hard to see her in this situation. We often say to our families and friends that HEALTH IS WEALTH but sometimes it's hard for us to apply ourselves. “HEALTH IS WEALTH” those words we always hear from our parents & love once. Our health is our greatest asset as per my mom. Especially when we are celebrating our birthdays, they always give some wishes that health is the most significant wealth, not money or anything else. A healthy body enables you to live life to the fullest. Yes It’s easy to say but hard to follow.

my Niece suffered serious diseases from CKD ( Chronic Kidney Disease ) that she was taken for granted a long time ago. She was working in the BPO industry as a call center agent for more than a decade now. At the age of 32 she was diagnosed with stage 5 CKD or kidney failure on March 8, 2022 she was admitted at San Pedro hospital here in Davao city for 10 days. Since day one (1) of her admission she directly undergoes urgent operation at the right portion of her neck and insert the IG, (a hollow tube or hemodialysis catheter access) for the blood cleaning port of (exchanging blood). Quite scary at first but we need to fight and be strong for my niece's fast recovery. Her first dialysis treatment was more than 6 hours everyday. After a week she scheduled 3 times a week with four (4) hours dialysis treatment session.

What is hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis: This treatment that can be done in a center or in a patient’s home with assistance from a care partner. A dialysis machine removes a small amount of a patient’s blood through a man-made membrane called a dialyzer, or artificial kidney, to clean out toxins that the kidneys can no longer remove. The filtered blood is then returned to the body.

This is the result of “Filipino manyana habits'. Look at her now, she's suffering the result of her hardheadedness. This is a big lesson learned to all, just be vigilant. If you have a feeling that there is something bad in your body please take it seriously and ask the doctor to prevent complications later.

What are the signs and symptoms of the person with CKD stage 5?

Stage 5 CKD means that your kidneys are severely damaged and have stopped doing their job to filter waste from your blood. That causes other health problems, such as:

• High blood pressure,

• Anemia (not enough red blood cells in your body),

• shortness of breath,

• Loss of appetite,

• Headaches,

• Being tired,

• Making little or no urine,

• Nausea or vomiting,

• Swelling, especially around the eyes and ankles,

• Muscle cramps,

• Changes in skin color like purple spots and other minor related symptoms.

My niece was already on her proper medication treatment from March 8, 2022 until now. Since then, she was experiencing the symptoms like

• She feels shortness of breath due to her respiratory problem or a pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluids in the lungs. She already had 900ml of water in her right lungs and 340ml of water in her left lungs and also 7 kilos of water in her body because her whole body got swelling and she felt pain already. After her dialysis session she felt much better once she did dialysis as the toxin or creatinine was removed from her blood. Kidney transplant is another treatment option for her to make living.

• High blood problems. Her blood pressure is unstable. Sometimes low, sometimes high. Because the kidneys are no longer able to remove waste and fluids from the body, toxins build up in the blood, causing an overall ill feeling. Kidneys also have other functions they are no longer able to perform such as regulating blood pressure, producing the hormone that helps make red blood cells and activating vitamin D for healthy bones. If you are experiencing simple high blood pressure please don't take it for granted.

If you are diagnosed with stage 5 CKD, you will need to see a nephrologist immediately. My niece was advised by her company doctor everytime she undergo a general check-up every year by company protocol. She needs to seek a nephrologist doctor for more laboratories. But my niece did not listen to this advice from her doctor. This is a doctor who is trained in kidney disease, kidney dialysis and transplant. When at stage 5 CKD, either dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to continue living. The doctor will help you decide which treatment is best for you—hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (PD) or kidney transplant—and will recommend an access for dialysis. Most people report feeling much better once they begin dialysis. As the toxins are removed from the blood, medicines replace the functions the kidneys can no longer perform, they find they can enjoy a good quality of life. She needs a very strong support system.

How Changes in the diet for people with stage 5 CKD?

Once you begin dialysis, you will need to make changes in what you eat and drink. Your diet is a big part of your treatment, so you will be working with a dietitian who will coach you on how you should eat. Depending on the dialysis treatment you choose and your lab test results, your dietitian will help create a meal plan based on your individual requirements to keep you feeling your best. Your dietitian will explain what foods are restricted and which ones are recommended on the renal diet.

A healthy diet for stage 5 CKD doctors may recommend:

Including grains, fruits and vegetables, but limiting or avoiding whole grains and certain fruits and vegetables that are high in phosphorus or potassium

A diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fats, especially if cholesterol is high or if you have diabetes or heart disease

Limiting intake of refined and processed foods high in sodium and prepare foods with less salt or high-sodium ingredients

Aiming for a healthy weight by consuming adequate calories and including physical activity each day within your ability

Decreasing calcium intake if necessary

Limiting fluid intake

Increasing protein intake to the level determined by the dietitian’s assessment of individual needs and to replace losses in the dialysis treatment

Taking special renal vitamins high in water soluble B vitamins and limited to 100 mg of vitamin C, Vitamin D and iron tailored to individual requirement.

What is BIOPSY TEST PROCEDURE?

During a kidney biopsy, your doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for lab testing. Here in the Philippines The specimen of my niece was forwarded to manila laboratory via Air. The biopsy needle is inserted through your skin and is often directed using the guidance of an imaging device via ultrasound. It will take about 15 to 30 minutes. The whole procedure will take about an hour. After the operation doctor put some sand gravel at her back for 6 hours to prevent bleeding. After two day from the operation we discharge from the hospital and still continue her dialysis treatment twice a week. Because of the results of her creatinine got lower from 898 down to 660. 🙏

Thank you for reading my story. God bless us all. Please include myelen Fuentes in your prayers. thank you very much.

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Date Published: July 18, 2022
By TigerBCH ❤️