Dubbo's Dan McDonald admits he was "in denial" about his poor health and never thought that being unwell was due to a kidney disease.
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Mr McDonald was diagnosed with kidney issues by chance and is now urging the wider community to take a Kidney Risk Test as part of Kidney Health Week (April 8-14).
Kidneys play a vital role in keeping the body healthy, they filter your blood to remove wastes and toxins, keep your blood pressure regular and manage the body’s production of this vitamin D.
After a doctors checkup picked up protein in his urine, Mr McDonald was referred to a kidney specialist which he began seeing last year.
However as he was feeling relatively well, Mr McDonald did not believe he was ill and eventually stopped seeing the specialist, he says this was partly due to his denial and arrogance and bad lifestyle choices.
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"Some time later a general checkup with the same test revealed the issue again and I was referred again to the specialist," Mr McDonald said.
"My kidney function was around 30 per cent at this time but I continued to see the specialist, even though I had not developed any symptoms."
He was formally diagnosed as having IGA Nephropathy after a kidney biopsy and a fistula was put in his arm around March of 2018.
Mr McDonald continued to be monitored regularly, but his kidney function deteriorated without symptoms, other than tiredness which he put down to getting older.
In the July, he started feeling quite unwell and his kidney function was around 10 per cent. It was then that he commenced dialysis.
"Since dialysis commenced I have had ups and downs but overall I feel terrific," Mr McDonald said.
"One of the more difficult things I have had to deal with is the fluid limitations, only supposed to have 1200ml of liquid per day. To this day I struggle meeting that requirement."
Mr McDonald said the moment dialysis commenced he felt a lot better.
"It was like a fog had lifted as I really didn't realise how bad I was actually feeling," he said.
Mr McDonald said he doesn't doubt that his lifestyle, non-acceptance and denial contributed to his kidney failure.
"In my situation, I could not accept I was unwell as I had no symptoms. I really didn't realise how crappy I was feeling until dialysis commenced," he said.
"Before I got unwell and commenced dialysis, I always thought that kidney disease was an 'old person' illness. I did not think it could happen to me."
He currently has dialysis three days per week for five hours.
"This makes it difficult with work as I work Monday to Friday and some adjustments have been made as I need to leave for treatment two working days per week," Mr McDonald said.
"For the most part my colleagues are very supportive and understanding, but I can understand it would be frustrating for them. I need to limit my salt intake, fluids and watch my diet. I am trying to lose weight so that I can go onto the transplant list."
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Staff at the Dubbo Base Hospital have also been supportive and understanding, Mr McDonald said.
"They are always willing to answer any questions you have or explain what some of the medical jargon means," he said.
His advice to others with concerns, symptoms or a family history of kidney disease/failure, was to see their GP and get checked.
"It is not the end of the world and if you get it early enough, you may get successful treatment and avoid dialysis," Mr McDonald said.
"Some illnesses are quite obvious to see the symptoms of, but on me it creeped up on me. In some ways it would be easier to deal with symptoms that are visible, but everyone is different and it manifests differently in different people you talk to.
"I really thought my life was going to be over with the commencement of treatment but, while there are some adjustments that had to be made, it pretty much the same as it was.
Mr McDonald said one of the biggest adjustments he's found out since being diagnosed is planning in advance.
"A big thing is that you can't just get in the car and go away for a weekend at the drop of a hat, you need to plan in advance. I still go to concerts in Sydney and trips away with my wife and am hoping to go on an overseas holiday in the near future," he said."
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
