By: Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan

Chronic Renal Failure is usually accompanied by a host of other diverse problems that are something to be reckoned with besides kidney failure. Nausea, breathlessness, extreme exhaustion and chronic fatigue are some of them and this is due to the toxicity in the body accumulated little by little because of the poor filtration of the failing kidneys.

When I was diagnosed to have CRF, in the early stages I was very normal, active and full of vigour that on many occasions I even forgot about my renal problem. Then slowly when the creatinine and urea levels were rising slightly fatigue started to set in. I also thought the fatigue could be due to restricted diet specially less of protein and salt and tried various combinations to increase the intake without disturbing the daily allowance. Slowly but steadily this fatigue became a very evident part of me and become chronic. I was unable to do even small normal chores and kept procrastinating. Simple things appeared magnified as a very intensive exercise. I was unable to concentrate on a book or newspaper or even on any light reading for more than 15 minutes and felt very listless and drained. Usually I am an early riser and like to have my shower first before starting my daily routine. This became a very mammoth and tedious task for me to get out of the bed. I had to push myself to have a shower and carry on with the day. With this chronic fatigue there was a lack of alertness and interest or enthusiasm and therefore I left many things unattended or half done. Mentally I used to feel that I was indulging in laziness and lethargy but when it came to implementing anything I was unable to pull myself together and felt very limp and drained. I never felt rested enough or fresh in the morning even after a good 10 hours of sleep. It was a nagging and debilitating feeling and could not be ignored. With dialysis later on there was little change overall though dialysis itself had its own share of adding to the fatigue and exhaustion.

Of course things changed dramatically after the transplant. Within a month I felt so recharged with energy like a flickering zero watt bulb replaced by a hundred watt bulb. With transplant there was no more diet restriction, no more water restriction and no more dialysis. With ultra filtration of the graft and others parameters becoming normal all the problems just disappeared and fatigue made a very quick EXIT. Now 4 years after transplantation I am very agile and active both mentally and physically and on many occasions I am in better shape and condition and prove to be healthier than normal people of my age. Chronic fatigue has become a thing of the past.