This section is aimed at people whose kidney condition is expected to get worse over time and lead to kidney failure within the next year or so.
Your kidney team will tell you if this information is relevant for you. Many people have a stable kidney condition which is unlikely to deteriorate to cause kidney failure in the future. Ask your kidney team if you are unsure.
Treatment options for kidney failure include a kidney transplant, dialysis, or supportive care (also known as conservative care). Each option is different. It is important to choose the treatment which suits your health and your lifestyle best. Your kidney team will help you to understand which of the options is likely to provide the health best outcomes for you, and fit in best with your life, work, family and social life.
One of the best things that you can do before making any decisions about your treatment is to find out as much as you can about what choices are available to you locally, what choices will suit the way you live your life and whether you want to travel for holidays. Everyone’s choices are personal and depend on many things besides their kidney disease – such as whether you’re working or retired and whether you want to be involved in your own care or like to be cared for in a hospital setting.
The sooner you find out about what choices are available to you, the better, as it gives you more time to talk through your decisions with the kidney team and your family. It’s really important to get to know all the kidney team at your hospital, as they are the ones best placed to help you choose which treatment is right for you and your lifestyle.
Shared decision making is when medical staff and patients work together to reach the best decision. Choosing a treatment for kidney failure can be difficult. Patients are experts in how their kidney condition affects all aspects of their lives. It is important to consider how any treatment may impact on work, leisure time, family and social life.
Shared decision making means that you and your kidney team work together as equal partners to agree on the best option for you.
