5 Dry Runs Before My Kidney Transplant | IgA Nephropathy & Peritoneal Dialysis Story
What does it feel like to get the call for a kidney transplant… 5 times — and come home without a kidney? Tony Kaye from Hampshire knows that heartbreak intimately. Diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at Stage 4, he progressed to Stage 5 end-stage renal failure in just 8 weeks. In this episode of the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, Dee talks to Tony about his full CKD journey — from a shock diagnosis as a young man, to peritoneal dialysis, a life-threatening line infection that put him in a coma, conquering a severe needle phobia to do home haemodialysis through a fistula, and enduring 5 devastating dry runs before finally receiving his kidney transplant. And that's not where his story ends. After transplant, Tony ran half marathons, competed in the Transplant Games — winning a bronze medal — and then faced a serious bicycle accident that fractured his foot and tested everything he'd built. This is a story about resilience, mental health, and what it truly means to choose to live. In this episode: • IgA nephropathy Stage 4 diagnosis & rapid progression to Stage 5 • Peritoneal dialysis: APD, gravity bags & drain pain explained • Infected neckline, coma & piecing together lost time • Conquering a needle phobia to do home haemodialysis • 5 kidney transplant dry runs — and how Tony managed the heartbreak • Life after kidney transplant: Transplant Games, running events & fundraising for Kidney Care UK • A post-transplant bicycle accident and the long road back to fitness 👍🏽👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔁 Share | 🔔 Subscribe for more powerful stories 🎧 Listen to past episodes: / diaryofakidneywarrior 📩 Share your story: https://diaryofakidneywarrior.getform... Follow Diary of a Kidney Warrior: 📸 Instagram: @diaryofakidneywarrior 📘 Facebook: Diary of a Kidney Warrior 🐦 Twitter: @diaryofakidneywarrior 🎵 TikTok: @diaryofakidneywarrior 🔵 BlueSky: @diaryofakidneyw.bsky.social 💌 Join the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Family Mailing List Get updates on new episodes, vlogs, newsletters, and more! 👉🏽👉 Sign up here: https://diaryofakidneywarrior.getform... 📲 Follow the Podcast on WhatsApp Stay updated with new episodes and exclusive content! 👉🏽👉 Join here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaO3... FOLLOW TONY: The Iron Kidney 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironkidney.... 📘 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... 🎵 TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.iron.kidn... Support & Resources Kidney Care UK 💻 Website: www.kidneycareuk.org 📧 [email protected] 📞Tel: 01420 541 424 📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidneycareuk.org 📷Instagram: @kidneycareuk 🔵Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/kidneycareuk... 📺YouTube: / @kidneycareuk 📩 To sign up to receive the Kidney Matters Quarterly Magazine Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor, consultant, or qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making any medical decisions. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, or Kidney Care UK and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organisation, company, individual or anyone or anything. 📍 CHAPTERS Click the timestamps below to jump to your favourite part of Tony’s story. 00:10 Introduction 02:15 The Start of Tony’s Story 06:14 Diagnosis and Initial Reactions 08:42 Discussing Treatment Options 14:08 Transitioning to Dialysis 21:11 The Journey to Transplant 34:23 Life After Transplant 37:20 Overcoming New Challenges 43:49 Advice for Kidney Warriors 46:42 Finding Support and Community 48:52 Final Words of Encouragement Keywords kidney warrior, chronic kidney disease, CKD, IgA nephropathy, IgAN, stage 4 CKD, stage 5 kidney failure, peritoneal dialysis, PD, APD, automated peritoneal dialysis, drain pain, dialysis tips, hemodialysis, HD, home hemodialysis, dialysis needles, fistula, buttonhole technique, rope ladder technique, dialysis access, kidney transplant, transplant recovery, transplant games, organ donation, cycling accident, broken talus, mental health on dialysis, exercise on dialysis, running on dialysis, parkrun, half marathon dialysis, Kidney Care UK, young adult kidney group, patient story, lived experience, resilience, UK kidney community #patientexperience #patientstory #kidneywarriorstory #KidneyWarrior, #CKD, #IgANephropathy, #PeritonealDialysis, #DrainPain, #Hemodialysis, #HomeHD, #Fistula, #Buttonhole, #RopeLadder, #KidneyTransplant, #TransplantGames, #OrganDonation, #ExerciseOnDialysis, #MentalHealth, #KidneyCareUK, #PatientStory, #Resilience, #ChronicIllness, #UK
