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For questions to ask your doctor on caregiving, go to Second Opinion, Caregiver Burnout (Episode 507)
For questions to ask your doctor on end-of-life planning, go to Second Opinion, End of Life (Episode 313)
If you believe you might be as risk for kidney disease:
- What is my risk for developing kidney disease?
- What can I do to reduce my risk?
- Should I be tested even though I have no symptoms at present? If so:
- What tests will be done and what do they measure?
- How often should I repeat these tests in the future?
If you've been diagnosed with kidney disease:
- Can you describe my condition in simple language?
- What caused my condition?
- What stage have I reached?
- What symptoms can I expect?
- What is my prognosis?
- (If you are a woman of childbearing age) Will I be able to have a baby?
- How can I distinguish between kidney disease symptoms and those caused by other conditions?
- What lifestyle changes must I make?
- What options do I have for treatment?
- When will I need to start treatment?
- Are there any risks to this treatment?
- What is success or failure rate of this treatment?
- Are there any side effects to this treatment?
- What happens if I choose to have no treatment?
- How much is this treatment going to cost?
- Are there programs that provide financial assistance?
- What other kinds of assistance will I need and how can I get it?
- Should I see a nephrologist?
If you need and choose to have dialysis:
- How will I receive dialysis treatment?
- How much time will dialysis take?
- What will I feel like on dialysis?
- What should I expect that might not feel normal?
- Will I be able to continue to work?
- Will I be able to participate in sports while on dialysis?
- Can I travel while on dialysis?
- Can I choose to stop dialysis after starting it?
- Is there a dialysis social worker I can talk to?
If you're considering transplantation:
- Do I qualify for a kidney transplant?
- What are all the possible outcomes of a transplant and how likely is each to occur?
- What are typical survival rates if the transplant is a success?
- What is the process of getting a kidney?
- What is the average wait for a kidney to become available?
- What should I consider when choosing a transplant center?
- How do I register for a transplant?
- What can I do to prepare for the kidney transplant?
- What happens during the transplant?
- What can I expect after the transplant?
If you're considering organ donation:
- How do I register to become an organ donor after my death?
- What is the process to determine if I can be a live kidney donor?
- What should I expect about the surgery and recovery period?
- What are the likely long-term effects?
- Will I have trouble keeping or getting insurance after the donation?
- Who pays the medical costs? Are there any expenses not covered?
- What are the odds my donated kidney won't be rejected?
- (For women of child bearing age) will I be able to have children after donating a kidney?
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