Monday afternoon. Blood tests from today back. Still fine. My kidneys are working hard! I have now moved from stage 5 kidney disease into stage 4. There are 5 stages - only in the 5th stage do you need dialysis. I saw a renal registrar today who was very very helpful. He checked me over and said that I am not carrying much fluid - which is amazing. He gave us lots of very helpful information about chronic kidney disease and many things to be careful about. Although stopping dialysis is life changing the changes to my diet, medicine, etc is also life changing (maybe in not such a good way). I now have to get my head around the other changes that we will have to make but none of them will ever be as hard as dialysis. I am still walking around in a dream - I can't believe this is happening to me. Maybe one day soon it will dawn on me that dialysis is finished. I am so thankful to God that he has allowed this. I continue to take one day at a time and wait and see. Although I must say I am now beginning to plan - holidays! Wow! I did think we might never be able to go on holiday again.

I see the consultant on Wednesday and then transfer to pre-dialysis clinic probably for twice a week blood tests to begin with, moving to weekly and then fortnightly eventually to monthly. How strange will that be after going to the hospital at least 3 times a week for 16 months. It has become like my second home!

This week I have very few plans in case I have to rush to the hospital but after this week I will be able to plan for 7 days a week instead of 4. So many more hours to have fun in!!!! Maybe I will eventually have a tidy house again. Goodness me! Although i think I will have to spend even more time cooking in order to be able to eat a variety of different foods which have reduced phosphates, potassium and salt.