Gillian's story: living with kidney disease

After a shock diagnosed of kidney failure in her 20s, Gillian has received haemodialysis for 20 years. She visits the unit three times a week for four and a half hours at a time.

I planned to have children, I wanted to get married, and all that seemed to change.

We met Gillian at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Gillian lives 20 miles away from hospital. She is up at half past five in the morning to travel in for haemodialysis, and it is often half past four in the afternoon before she is home.

Gillian discusses the pressures of dialysis, including how difficult it was to get her head around the dietary and fluid restrictions, from managing her potassium levels to having a single cup of coffee a day.

Gillian has received help and support from Kidney Care UK, including help with fighting for her PIP tribunal which took her three years.

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