Abstract

CARRILLO ALGARRA, Ana Julia; MORENO RUBIO, Fanny  and  MILENA BUITRAGO, Sandra. Chronic kidney disease and kidney transplantation: experiences and overcoming of a medical student. Index Enferm [online]. 2015, vol.24, n.4, pp.250-254. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962015000300013.

Kidney transplant means increased life expectancy and independence for people who suffer Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), since it prevents having to get dialysis three times a week or worrying about when to get replacements. This is why patients rate the change as positive. Based on this, it is relevant to understand how a last year medicine student, who was diagnosed with CKD, deals with this transformation as well as how it changes the way she sees traditional and alternative medicine. This biographical narrative shows Kate's experiences during her treatment, how she describes the changes in her life, the implications of being a patient during the different stages of kidney transplant. It also shows her experiences before, during and after the transplant, as well as what the process has meant for her. All of this is related taking into account her knowledge regarding the medical implications of the process.

Keywords : Chronic Renal Failure; Renal Dialysis; Kidney Transplantation; Renal Replacement Therapy.