I'm a Nursing Student with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)

Hello everyone, I'm a Nursing student, with CKD. ( Chronic Kidney Disease ). Nurses Announcements Archive Article

I'm a Nursing Student with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)

Hello, my name is, John Bryan Calhoun. I'm 44 years old, and I have stage 5 CKD, (Chronic Kidney Disease). Back in 2004, I was diagnosed with Diabetes. which caused me, to have CKD. My Grandmother was diagnosed with Diabetes, and then my mother, was diagnosed with Diabetes. tThen a few years later, I was diagnosed with Diabetes. My grandmother never had to experience CKD. My mother, on the other hand, had experienced CKD.

My mother went over to her friend's house one evening. She had gone to the bathroom to relieve herself. When she finished, she started to balloon up, almost to the size of a large balloon. She had to be rushed to the hospital. When she arrived at the E.R. the E.R. doctor started to look my mother over. The E.R. doctor called a Nephrologist into the E.R. to look my mother over. The Nephrologist called my family into the E.R. and had started to explain, that my mother's Kidneys were shutting down quickly. My mother had to start dialysis to get rid of most of the fluid intake that was building up in her body.

It was interesting, to see my Mother having to live on a dialysis machine for the rest of her life. I thought to myself I could never allow Diabetes to get out of control, to shut my Kidneys down. I had to watch my mother suffer, and become weak, receiving dialysis, 3 days a week, 4 hours a day.. I couldn't bear the thought on going through that process. My mother had to watch her fluid restrictions, which she never did, and if she did, it was only on certain occasions. 3 years later, she passed away with CKD.

Then the year after my Mother had died, one day that came for me, to see my Endocrinologist, to have my A1C checked. She had told me that I would need to go and talk to a Nephrologist, because she had found some unusual readings in my blood work that she didn't like, that dealt with my Kidneys. So, I went and talked to a Nephrologist about the unusual readings.

The Nephrologist sat down with me and my wife and started to explain that my Kidneys were starting to shut down. After hearing that, I began to get very depressed because I thought that I had lost control of my Diabetes, and that the Diabetes was affecting my Kidneys, like it did to my mother's Kidneys. The Nephrologist had also explained to me that dialysis was the only option for treatment, and that I have to have dialysis 3 days a week, 4 hours a day.

Since that time, I've been dialyzing. At one time, when I'd seen the Nephrologist, I'd asked him if he could explain to me what it's like to have CKD? He told me that he couldn't answer that type of question, only due to the fact that he never had to experience having CKD. After my visit with him, I remember telling my wife that these Nephrologist are able to diagnose CKD, but are not truly able to understand what their patients are going through when they first find out that CKD was discovered in their Blood work.

I told my wife that I wanted to enroll into a Nursing school so that I'm able to learn more first hand about CKD and to be able to learn first hand how to help patients cope and understand what CKD is, and to explain to them what their choices could be for treatment if they decide to go that route. I've talked to several Nurses since I've been going to a dialysis center to find out what Nursing schools would be a good choice for me to enroll into.

I've recently found a Nursing school and have decided to enroll into that Nursing school. My long term goal is to graduate with a Masters Degree and then become a Nurse Practitioner. I'd like to be able to help patients, who have CKD learn on how to overcome their depression about having CKD. I can see myself being able to relate more to patients who have CKD than what a MD can.

One question that keeps coming back to my mind is how many M.D.s are out there in the medical field that can honestly and truly relate with patients who have CKD without experiencing CKD themselves.

My one wish is that I'm able to explain to patients who have CKD that they're not alone on the frontline fighting, because, I too have CKD and I'm right there on the frontline with them.

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RJCalhoun

About RJCalhoun

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As a nephrology nurse working in dialysis, I think it's great that you want to do this. We have a tech at the clinical that had a transplant and now works in field. The patients love him and his knowledge of both sides.

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I am a dialysis nurse and I think that studying to be a nurse when you have a condition like CKD must be hard. I really admire you and think that you will be a great example for other patients with kidney disease. It's is hard for nurses and MD's to explain in detail how your life will be once you are diagnosed with CKD. It is a 360 degree turn for patients, it is a hard and a debilitating disease, you really had to be on top of it. I had known patients in dialysis for 10 + yrs and doing well. It is a matter of taking good care of your body and keeping a positive mindset. Wish you good luck!

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John--as much as health care professionals want to be empathetic to their patients and families, I don't think any of us have an idea what people really go through with most diagnoses. If your living it, it's your experience and not necessarily someone else's with the same disease. Each patient and family is unique and brings their own special circumstances with them.

Some people with chronic illnesses have excellent support systems that make the burden easier while others have no support. I admire that you want to educate others.

While you are waiting to get into school, have you thought about starting or joining a support group that also provides education? You could invite MDs or nurses to speak with your group about the medical aspect but provide support to each other--or potentially have a psychologist speak to your group about chronic illness, coping strategies, etc.

It sounds like you've been through a lot but are a fighter. I wish you well.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Not for medical discussions sake, but just for my own curiousity- have you done or considered peritoneal dialysis? I've also had patients do home HD daily for shorter time periods. It seems like being freed from going to the center would make being a student easier. It's amazing to me what options are available now. The first time I read that a patient was on home HD I thought surely it was a typo for PD.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hi there and welcome to AN. Best wishes in school. I'm a nephrology APN. One of my good friends was an ESRD pt who rec'd a transplant which lasted 9 years. She worked both before transplant while on PD and afterwards of course.

Just be cautious because as an ESRD pt you are immunocompromised - wear your gloves, mask, etc., and wash your hands frequently.

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Specializes in Psych.

I have CKD Stage 3...I've thought about going into nephrology, but I'm not sure if it would be better or worse for my own state of mind. Kudos to you.

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Hi John,

As a Dialysis nurse, i would like to tell you that in this condition receiving Hemodialysis its very hard to study Nursing, as i know how will be the suffering because since from 7 Years I am working in the Dialysis unit as a Dialysis nurse.

I would like to recommend Renal Transplantation OR Peritoneal dialysis, as it has less sideeffects compare to hemodialysis.

i wish you to fulfil your dreams as an MSN.

And one more advice to you that, restrict your fluids, avoid junk foods and bakery items, avoid fruits and dry fruits that are rich in pottasium, and keep control on your diabetes and hypertension.

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