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Kidney failure and Chronic Kidney Disease is a life changing event for those affected, and for their families and friends. Nothing in your life will be untouched by the words from your doctor: "your kidneys are showing signs of failure and we need to talk about what that means". This book is written with an emphasis on getting on with 'living', despite having kidney failure. The chapters do not cover every aspect of kidney failure; but written as an introduction, to give those newly diagnosed with kidney failure an overview of what might lie ahead. It sets out how kidney disease may impact on the lives of those affected and their families. Cost $15 each * Bulk orders (over 10) are $12 each See our range of Kidney Health Resources, various Fact Sheets including many language Translations, and other publications on this site, which support the information in this booklet. Order by sending us a completed Resource Order Form  Call our Kidney Health Information Service:  1800 4 KIDNEY - 1800 4 543639 or email KHIS@kidney.org.au if you have any questions

LIVING WITH KIDNEY FAILURE	Explanation of contents - chapters and sections
Forward - Introduction (see links below) Facts and figures - Glossary	Kidney Health Australia promotes kidney and urinary tract health through education, research, consumer participation and health service excellence.
Ch 1  About your kidneys (see links below) 1.1     The urinary system 1.2     The kidneys	Your urinary system is made up of the organs that produce, collect and remove urine from the body. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most people have two kidneys, each about the size of an adult fist and weighing 150 grams. The kidneys are bean shaped and reddish brown in colour. A large padding of fat, several muscles and lower ribs protect your kidneys. They are located in the middle of your back on either side of the backbone, just under the ribcage. See How your kidneys work.
Ch 2  Kidney disease (see links below) 2.1     Tests for kidney disease 2.2     Chronic kidney disease 2.3     Kidney failure 2.4     Stages of chronic kidney disease 2.5     Signs and symptoms 2.6     Kidney diseases	Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is silent because it is possible to lose most of your kidney function before even feeling sick.  This chapter also covers specific kidney conditions: Diabetic nephropathy, Nephritis, IgA nephropathy, High blood pressure, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Medullary Sponge Kidney, Analgesic nephropathy, Vascular conditions, Reflux nephropathy.
Ch 3  Medical tests (see links below) 3.1     Types of medical tests 3.2     Blood chemistry tests 3.3     Consent for Medical tests 3.4     Making an informed decision	Doctors use three simple tests to assess your kidney function and help plan treatment. People with CKD often undergo a large range of medical or diagnostic tests. Medical tests are an important part of making an action plan to meet your health care needs. They are needed to confirm a diagnosis, plan treatment etc.
Ch 4  Dialysis Treatment (see link below) 4.1     Choice of treatment 4.2     Peritoneal dialysis 4.3     Haemodialysis	Dialysis is a treatment for kidney disease that replaces some of the work done by healthy kidneys but it is not a cure. It is when you lose 85 to 90 percent of kidney function. See webpage Treatment options and facts sheets on the types of dialysis available.
Ch 5  Kidney transplant (see links below) 5.1     Kidney Transplants 5.2     Deceased organ donation 5.3     Transplant waiting list 5.4     Live kidney donations 5.5     Live donor evaluations 5.6     Donor recipient evaluations 5.7     Preparing for a transplant 5.8     Live donor transplant surgery 5.9     Recipient transplant surgery 5.10   Rejection 5.11   Anti-rejection medications 5.12   Looking after yourself post transplant	A kidney transplant is another treatment for kidney failure but it is also not a cure. A transplant offers a more active life, free from dialysis as well as food restrictions. However, the new kidney requires a lifetime of management and care. If you are medically suitable and well on dialysis, you may be suitable to receive a kidney transplant from a deceased or live organ donor. A donor is the person who gives a kidney and a recipient is the person who gets the kidney. For more information see Transplantation, Organ donation and Live Donation this site.
Ch 6  Choosing whether to have treatment 6.1     Treatment is a choice 6.2     Conservative treatment 6.3     Preparing not to have treatment 6.4     Medical power of attorney & advanced directive	Learning about kidney failure treatment is an important part of deciding which treatment choice is best for you. Hospitals offer education sessions which give you and your family, time to ask questions and talk to others in a similar situation.
Ch 7  Heart health (see link below) 7.1     Cardiovascular disease 7.2     Cardiovascular disease and CKD	The risk of health complications increases as kidney function decreases. Some health problems such as those affecting the heart can be very serious. See Your heart and CKD.
Ch 8  Other health problems (see links below) 8.1     Bones 8.2     Skin 8.3     Restless leg syndrome 8.4     Muscles 8.5     Sleep	The kidneys are one of your body's master chemists so kidney failure can affect many aspects of your health including your bones, skin, muscles and sleep patterns. Some of these complications can be prevented or reduced by acting early. Your role is to learn all you can and work with your care team to get the best possible care.
Ch 9  Medications (see links below) 9.1     Managing medications 9.2     Types of medications 9.3     Smoking, alcohol and medication	Managing your medication is an important part of treatment. Most medication is designed to control blood pressure and help regulate your body's chemistry. Each medication is given for a particular reason and should be taken as directed.
Ch 10 Thinking about food and drink (see links below) 10.1    Managing your diet 10.2    Your eating plan 10.3    Staying at a health weight	Helping your kidneys to control body chemistry by eating a sensible diet is an early and important form of treatment for kidney failure. Being careful about what you eat can reduce the amount of fluid and waste build-up and help you feel better. See Nutrition and CKD.
Ch 11 Living with kidney failure (see links below) 11.1    Dealing with kidney failure 11.2    Self-image 11.3    Relationships 11.4    Emotional changes 11.5    Tiredness	Kidney failure brings with it many changes. Adjusting to kidney failure is more difficult for some people than others, even with time to prepare for it. When there is no time to prepare, the sudden impact makes dealing with kidney failure much harder.
Ch 12  Getting the most out of life (see links below) 12.1     Staying fit 12.2     A health diary 12.3     Information and help 12.4     Getting support 12.5     Your health care team 12.6     Making the most of your visit to the doctor 12.7     Lifestyle changes	To get the most out of life, you need take an active part in managing your health. However, managing kidney failure, like managing a family or business, is complicated. It may be helpful to think of living with kidney failure as a journey along a pathway. Sometimes the pathway is straight and is easy to move along. Sometimes it gets very steep and tiring. The pathway can also be full of turns and detours, which you are not expecting.
Ch 13  Sexuality, intimacy & fertility (see links below) 13.1     Sexuality 13.2     Physical changes affecting your sexuality 13.3     Kidney failure and sexual intimacy	Dealing with the health problems caused by kidney failure can be difficult. It is easy to get caught up in the medical side and forget the enormous impact it also has on your personal life. One of the areas that is often overlooked is sexuality. See fact sheet on Sexuality, Intimacy and Kidney Disease.
Ch 14 Principles of optimal care of Australians with CKD (see links below)	The 24 principles for optimal care, endorsed by our National Consumer Council express concerns of individuals who live with the daily reality of renal replacement therapy.
Contacts, resources and cross-index	(see links below)

UPDATED 12 MAY 2013
Disclaimer: This is intended as a general introduction to this topic and is not meant to substitute for your doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure the information is relevant and applicable to each Australian state. It should be noted Kidney Health Australia recognises each person's experience is individual and variations do occur in treatment and management due to personal circumstances. Should you require further info always consult your doctor or health professional.