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Warning Signs

The leading cause of kidney failure is diabetes, followed by high blood pressure. Here are some warning signs of kidney disease:

Warning signs

• High blood pressure
• Puffiness around the eyes, swelling of hands and feet, especially in children
• Pain in the small of the back just below the ribs (not aggravated by movement)
• Persistant generalized itching
• Changes in urine
• bloody, cloudy or tea coloured urine
• excessive foaming or difficulty passing urine
• passing less often or more often at night
• protein in urine (referred to as proteinuria or albuminuria)
• uremia (diagnosed with a blood test)

Uremia means “urine in the blood”. Failing kidneys are unable to remove wastes from the body. Some symptoms that may occur with uremia are:

• Weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Bad taste in mouth
• Restless legs or leg cramps
• Difficulty sleeping
• Forgetfulness
• Cold intolerance
• Chest pain
• Skin colour changes
• Decreased sexual desire

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What are the top ten myths regarding organ donation?

1. Myth: My body will be mutilated when my organs are harvested.
   Fact: Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix
   removal. Normal funeral arrangements are possible.
2. Myth: My family would be expected to pay for donating my organs.
   Fact: A donor's family is not charged for donation. If a family believes it has been billed incorrectly,
   the family immediately should contact its local organ procurement organization.
3. Myth: I might want to donate one organ, but I do not want to donate everything.
   Fact: You may specify what organs you want donated. Your wishes will be followed.
4. Myth: If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a donor, the doctors will
   not try to save my life.
   Fact: The medical team treating you is separate from the transplant team. HOPE  is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been
   determined. HOPE does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to
   donation.
5. Myth: I am not the right age for donation.
   Fact: Organs may be donated from someone as young as a newborn. Age limits for organ donation
   no longer exist; however, the general age limit for tissue donation is 70.
6. Myth: If I donate, I would worry that the recipient and/or the recipient's family would discover
   my identity and cause more grief for my family.
   Fact: Information about the donor is released by HOPE to the recipients only if the family that
   donated requests that it be provided.
7. Myth: My religion does not support donation.
   Fact: All organized religions support donation, typically considering it a generous act that is the
   individual's choice.
8. Myth: Only heart, liver and kidneys can be transplanted.
   Fact: The pancreas, lungs, small and large intestines, and the stomach also can be transplanted.
9. Myth: Wealthy people are the only people who receive transplants.
   Fact: Anyone requiring a transplant is eligible for one. Arrangements can be made with the transplant
   hospital for individuals requiring financial assistance.
10. Myth: I have a history of medical illness. You would not want my organs or tissues.
    Fact: At the time of death, HOPE will review medical and social histories to determine donor
    suitability on a case-by-case basis.

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List B- Additives with suspect ingredients - USA and Canada

• Acetylated distarch phosphate
• Acid calcium phosphate
• Acid sodium pyrophosphate
• Ammonium phosphate dibasic
• Ammonium phosphate monobasic
• Ammonium phosphatides
• Ammonium polyphosphates
• Ammonium salts of phosphatic acid
• Bone phosphate, edible
• Calcium hydrogen orthophosphate
• Calcium phosphate dibasic
• Calcium phosphate monobasic
• Calcium phosphate tribasic
• Calcium polyphosphates
• Dicalcium diphosphate
• Disodium dihydrogen diphosphate
• Disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate
• Disodium hydrogen orthophosphate
• Distarch phosphate
• Edible bone phosphate
• Guanosine 5' - (disodium phosphate)
• Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate
• Inosine 5' - (disodium phosphate)
• Magnesium hydrogen dibasic
• Magnesium hydrogen phosphate
• Magnesium hydrogen tribasic
• Monocalcium orthophosphate
• Monostarch phosphate
• Orthophosphoric acid
• Phosphated distarch phosphate
• Phosphoric Acid
• Polyphosphates, ammonium
• Polyphosphates, calcium
• Polyphosphates, potassium and sodium
• Potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate
• Potassium phosphate dibasic
• Potassium phosphate monobasic
• Potassium phosphate tribasic
• Potassium polyphosphates
• Potassium tripolyphosphate
• Riboflavin-5'-phosphate sodium
• Sodium acid pyrophosphate
• Sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic
• Sodium aluminium phosphate, basic
• Sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate
• Sodium phosphate dibasic
• Sodium phosphate monobasic
• Sodium phosphate tribasic
• Sodium polyphosphates
• Sodium pyrophosphate
• Sodium tripolyphosphate
• Tetrapotassium diphosphate
• Tripotassium orthophosphate
• Tetrasodium diphosphate
• Trisodium diphosphate
• Trisodium orthophosphate

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What is 'MOONFACE"?
This is moonface caused by the transplant medication Prednisone:

It goes down as the medication is lowered in dosage. So you don't have to worry about it being permanent. It is not. It effects the face, neck, and upper arms, torso and upper legs. It can't be helped but watching your diet helps too.

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What about 'Blood Type compatibility"?
People ask me what about blood type compatibility which is necessary in determining if someone can donate a kidney. The compatibility testing is determined by drawing your blood and testing it. For blood type compatiblity,

Type A can donate to types A and AB.

Type B can donate to types B and AB.

Type AB can donate to type AB.

Type O can donate to types A, B, AB, and O.

So O is the universal donor while AB is the universal recipient.

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