Much Better Quality of Life after PD

Mdm Radhiah Rashid, 49, discovered she had diabetes in 2004, when an open wound in her leg did not heal. However, she did not take any medication nor change her diet and lifestyle, despite also suffering from high cholesterol.

Struck with Kidney Failure In April 2008, she was admitted to the hospital to remove a cancerous growth in her neck. It was then that she was diagnosed with kidney failure and she started treatment at an NKF dialysis centre. It was a difficult time for her and her family. She would feel tired, giddy and have muscle cramps after dialysis. As a result, her husband, Ismail Daud, 56, had to often rush to the dialysis centre to take her home in a taxi after her treatment. Not only did the taxi fares eat up a large chunk of their meagre income, it was also very tiring for Ismail, who works as a petrol pump attendant from 5pm till 2am daily.



Carrying Out Dialysis at Home In November 2014, Radhiah decided to switch to home-based peritoneal dialysis (PD), upon the advice of her doctor, after she suffered from a blocked blood vessel. She was given training on PD and four times a day, she carries out the PD process to remove the toxins in her body, which takes about 30 minutes each time.

No Need to Travel Radhiah says, “Now I need not go to the dialysis centre anymore. The taxi fares were very expensive and I also felt bad because my husband had to rush from his office to fetch me. He works long hours and needs to rest.”

More Freedom to Do What She Wants She also does not feel so drained and tired after each dialysis session. “I can do my PD exchange and then do the housework, cook and even go “jalan jalan” (walk about the neighbourhood). So my husband does not have to do all the housework and can take care of our 15-year-old daughter, who has special needs.”

Ismail says, “She loves to go on outings with her siblings. They will go for picnics and other places. She just needs to bring along her PD bags. She even went on an overnight trip to Desaru!”

Initially, when Radhiah first started PD, she was worried about getting an infection. She minimises this risk by ensuring that her house is kept clean and tabletops and furniture is cleaned every day. Ismail added that PD is very convenient and easy to carry out. They are glad they decided to switch to PD.