I’m in Las Vegas for my last major trip prior to my scheduled kidney transplant. I’ve spent three days looking at new e-bikes at the Interbike conference and eating my heart out over my inability to go riding this October, but know that if all goes well I’ll have years of good riding ahead. Next stop is Denver for a publisher’s conference, and to spend some time with my son, who is also my donor. The last quiet time we’ll be together before the big event.
Your kidneys are pretty amazing organs. They have some essential functions beyond what most people know about, which is getting rid of wastes from your blood. They also regulate your blood pressure and your electrolytes. In other words, when when working properly, they keep your blood chemistry in balance.
Here’s the description from The 
National Kidney Foundation about what your kidneys do:
Why Are the Kidneys So Important?
Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and excess fluid are removed through the urine. The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and re-absorption. This process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals.
The critical regulation of the body’s salt, potassium and acid content is performed by the kidneys. The kidneys also produce hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, a hormone produced by the kidneys stimulates red blood cell production. Other hormones produced by the kidneys help regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.
The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions:
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remove waste products from the body
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remove drugs from the body
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balance the body’s fluids
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release hormones that regulate blood pressure
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produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
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control the production of red blood cells
The National Kidney Foundation says some 26 million Americans suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease. Most don’t know it. It can be a progressive disease, eventually resulting in End Stage Renal Disease. When the kidneys do fail there are only two options for survivial: dialysis or transplant. According to the latest US Renal Data System Annual Data Report, more than 660,000 Americans are being treated for kidney failure, also called end stage renal disease, or ESRD. Of these, 468,000 are dialysis patients and more than 193,000 have a functioning kidney transplant. The waiting list for transplants is more than 100,000 people. And while approximately 36,000 are being added to that list each year, in the US only about 17,000 transplants are performed each year. A losing proposition for many on that ever lengthening list. I know I’ve talked about these numbers before, but I cannot overemphasize the desperate need for donated organs, living or cadaver, for transplants.
Let’s be blunt. There are no good outcomes for End Stage Kidney Failure. There are only less worse outcomes. The most common form of treatment is dialysis, where you turn to machines or chemicals to clean the wastes from your blood that your kidneys are no longer handling. There are two forms of dialysis – hemodialysis, generally performed in a medical facility, and peritoneal dialysis, which can be done at home. Both are time consuming and have side effects. While a transplant is far superior, it too has its downsides including a lifetime of medication and dietary restrictions. More on the treatments and side effects next time.
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