Coping with Kidney Failure

Understanding your emotions

Living with kidney failure can be very stressful. It's common at times to feel:

• Angry and frustrated over having to depend on others.

• Confused about all the instructions you've been given.

• Worried about things going wrong with your treatment.

• Upset with side effects of kidney failure or the treatment for it. 

• Hopeless and depressed about the new limits to your life and your future.

• Unhappy with your body.

Don't keep these feelings to yourself. Talk with your healthcare team and your loved ones. They may know ways to help.

Accepting your body's changes

Kidney failure and its treatment cause changes in your body. These changes can affect the way you feel about your sexuality. Your desire for and feelings about sex may change. Be open with your partner about your feelings and talk with your healthcare providers. They can help you understand your body's changes.

Finding support

You may find it hard to ask others for help. But it's also hard to face a chronic illness alone. When you need some help or just want to talk, turn to friends, family, and members of your healthcare team. Also consider joining a support group. Here, people meet to talk about common problems.  Ask your healthcare provider if there are kidney failure support groups nearby for you and your family.

Talking to someone you feel close to may help when you're feeling down.

To learn more

These organizations can give you more information on kidney failure. They may also guide you to local resources, such as support groups.

• American Association of Kidney Patients at www.aakp.org or 800-749-2257 

• American Kidney Fund at www.akfinc.org or 866-300-2900 

• National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or 800-622-9010 

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Kidney Disease Education Program at www.nkdep.nih.gov or 800-860-8747  

How daily issues affect your health

Many things in your daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing, access to food, and child care. If you can’t get to medical appointments, you may not receive the care you need. When money is tight, it may be difficult to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.

If you have concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your healthcare team. They may know of local resources to assist you. Or they may have a staff person who can help.