Beyond the Machine: The “How” and “Why” of Living Strong on Dialysis.
If you saw me on the street, you wouldn’t know I’m a kidney patient. You’d see a woman running an NGO, managing digital strategies, and advocating for a nation’s health.
But behind that strength is a very specific, very disciplined “Hustle.”
Too often, kidney advocacy stays at the surface level: “Drink water. Check your BP.” But what happens when the “worst-case scenario” becomes your daily reality? What happens when you are sitting in that dialysis chair three times a week?
I want to talk about everything—the parts people are too scared to discuss.
The “How” of the Access (Fistula vs. Catheter)
Many patients start with a “line” in their neck or chest. It’s scary, it’s prone to infection, and it feels like a constant reminder of illness. The “strong” move is the Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula.
- Why? It’s your own blood vessels. It’s under the skin. It’s safer for long-term use.
- The Secret: It’s not just a surgery; it’s a lifeline. Protecting that arm becomes your new job.
The “Why” of the Lab Detective
You cannot wait for your doctor to tell you that you’re in trouble. You have to learn to read your own blood work.
- Potassium & Phosphorus: These are the silent enemies. If your labs are high, your heart and bones pay the price.
- The Power of “No”: Being strong means saying no to the “small water” or the “extra salt” even when you’re craving it. Discipline is the only way to feel “healthy” on this journey.
The Myth of the “Concoction”
In Ghana, when the diagnosis hits, everyone has a “cure.” A root, a herb, a tea. Let’s be clear: These things often finish what the disease started. Advocacy means being brave enough to tell people that the hospital—while expensive and tiring—is where the science of survival happens.
My Message to You: I am healthy and strong not because I’m “lucky,” but because I am loyal to my treatment and it’s just by grace. I manage my blood pressure like a business. I treat my diet like a mission.
If you are on this road, don’t just “endure” it. Master it.
I’m Hilda Addo, and I’m here to show you that kidney failure is a turning point, not the end of the story.
