Sorry, not one to post much. Usually just visit for info and laughs at some of your antics here.
But as a dialysis nurse for 16 years, I couldn't help but to chime in.
First the need for dialysis is a direct result of organ failure, it is very serious. Without some form of renal replacement therapy, the end stage renal disease patient will die. That's partially the reason why you may have seen some die from skipping one treatment. And it probably wasn't the first time they had skipped. This group is notorious for noncompliance with their therapy and honestly I can't blame them. They can't eat or drink anything. You think eating clean is a challenge, their diet is tough. And they do it to survive. So I do the best I can to teach them and encourage them to do what they need to do to live a long happy life. I've had patients who have lived on dialysis for over 20 years and some who don't make it a couple years. And yes there are some who say that isn't how they want to live their lives and sign off and die. If that's their decision, then I respect that.
Now to discuss the original thought of someone who has received a transplant and continues to do things that might potentially harm the new kidney. My feeling is that it is very disrespectfull to endanger the new kidney. The transplanted kidney survives in a body that could turn and attack it at any point, so might thought is to do whatever it takes to protect it. Someone either had to go thru a very painful surgery to donate the kidney or if it was a cadaver kidney, then someone died to give that kidney or organ. And after having had a family member be an organ donor, you would hope that the person that receives the gift of life and a 2nd chance would be thankful enough to protect it with all they can do. It doesn't always work out but all anyone can ask is to do your best. So in my mind if you are fortunate enough to receive a kidney, you should honour that gift and take care of it. Sure, go about your life and live it to the fullest. Excercise, bodybuild, but do it the right way. Do it under a doctor's guidance and for heavens sake don't put anything into your body that will harm that kidney.
