Chronic kidney disease fails to bring Winnipeg woman down

A doctor's appointment to check symptoms Janet Yuen didn't find particularly concerningcompletely changed herlife.

The Winnipeggerwas suffering from fatigue and muscle cramping, but initially didn't think much of it. When the symptoms got worse, she decided to get them checked, and doctors discovered she had kidney disease.

"I was shocked. I was not expecting it, and it was really scary. I would have never thought it would have affected me," said Yuen.

Her diagnosis was confirmed when she was 22 relatively young for someone to be diagnosed with the disease.

People who are at risk of developing kidney disease include those with diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history of the disease.

Yuen was in relatively good health, so the diagnosis came as a surprise, but herfamily does have a history of the disease.

After nine months of dialysis treatment, Yuen received a kidney from her mother.

While Yuen is grateful to her mom, she was initially hesitant to go through with the transplant.

"I was at the same time worried because it is a large surgery, it is very invasive, and I was worried for her," said Yuen.

Kidney disease in Manitoba

Manitoba Renal Health says one in 10 Manitobans have kidney disease, but many don't know it.

Since 2010, the number of dialysis patients in the provinces has increased 30 per cent, and that number is on the rise.

• Kidney disease on the rise in Manitoba: new study

• Winnipeg researcher makes predicting kidney failure easy with simple equation

Thursday is World Kidney Day, which is devoted to bringing awareness to kidney health. While there is no cure for the disease, an early diagnosis gives patients more options for dealing with it.

Living with chronic kidney disease

Since receiving the transplant, Yuen has to pay closer attention to her health, she said.

"That means watching my sodium, and making sure I'm not getting the high blood pressure," she said.

"And making sure I'm getting enough exercise, and a lot of fluid intake.I need to drink at least 2.5 litres of fluid a day."

Yuen said theone downside she experiences is the side-effects from the medications that she has to take for the rest of her life.

"I think kidney disease is an inconvenience, and I think it is very possible to manage it, and be able to live the life that you want," she said.

"Just stay positive. Work with your health-care teamand use the resources that we have. You will be able to live the life you want."