I think they said there was an enzyme up in the liver you know, which means to say which the doctor told me it means it’s just working harder. You know so, you know so that makes you think, Well, I don’t want it to have to work harder, you know so I’m going to cut back down if it’s the drink that’s doing that then you know, if it’s something you can change, change it you know but if it’s something you can’t change you’ve just got to live with it, I suppose but

Did the GP offer you any help with that? Did you discuss the drinking with your GP?

I did yes. I did go somewhere to see about the drinking, yeah. And that helped a little bit, one of these places you know that you go andyou know, talk to people and just

Was that in the GP practice or was it like a specialist alcohol services?

There was another alcohol service; I can’t remember the name of them now. But I think it was suggested that I go there which I did, but you know. But then I decided to do it myself anyway so, you know to cut down, notyou know not sort of drink every day and, you know, cut the amount down with a reasonable amount. And but I don’t go out to the pub at all now so I might just have a couple of cans in or something, you know so. Very rare I go to the pub, and if I do I just have a soft drink and have something to eat usually and that’s all I do now.

Was it hard making those changes?

Not really. I think it was because of the problem at the time.

Mm going through the divorce?

Yeah and through that and a few things back through life you know and I decided I I hit the drink a bit but I just don’t see the need for it now and I you know.

So I was quite surprised and I said, “What – kidney damage?” you know. The reason I asked, you know and I obviously I was quite surprised. But my father died at thirty two of kidney failure. You know so very young age so, you know it does make you think, you know.

Can you remember your father being ill?

No I was- I was a baby when he died yeah. So I didn’t know my father but

Had you always known that that’s what he died of?

Yes, yes, yeah because my mother had told me.

So there was an awareness of possibly kidney problems in the family?

Well I didn’t know if it was going to be, what’s the word congenital, I didn’t know if it was going to be or something like that.

Mm hereditary?

Hereditary you know, I didn’t know. And I hadn’t had any problems at a young age and, you know, nothing was detected then and I’ve you know they’ve done tests before, I don’t know.

I’m sure at the time I asked, “Is this to do with drink as well?” you know because obviously, you know, I’d been cutting that down anyway.

And the GP said no it’s not to do with drink. So it’s I think it was just and said it’s just hard luck you know, it’s really one of those things. I suppose some people get things and theres no rhyme or reason for it but that’s the only awareness I had of it, you know, at the time andI knew before that, that it was a problem. I just thought it was to do with the function, the same as the liver you know, but I didn’t put it down as something different. So I thought, ‘Well you know I’ve got to cut my drink down obviously,’ which I was going to do anyway and not so [laughs].

And did the GP tell you how badly affected your kidneys actually were?

There was a suggestion they’re about probably ten years older than what I am. Which is why I’ve said about, couldn’t remember them being born before me. I mean things I’d like to know can I go on to that?

Things I would like to know is will I ever have to go on to dialysis? Will they actually fail me? Is there a chance of that? You know, are my kidneys going to am I going to get kidney failure or something like that?

You know those sorts of questions I’d like to know. You know, I’d like to know the answers to those, mm…

But you didn’t ask at the time?

I did ask- I did ask them back, you know, will there be am I looking at dialysis or anything? And the doctor said, no, no, no not at the moment, no, so. So I thought, ‘Well hopefully it stays like that then,’ you know, let’s hope they don’t get any worse you know and cause any more problems.

So did you feel reassured?

A little [smiles] but you know, and I suppose I’m more sceptical because, you know, my father who certainly was thirty two years old and was very young.

Are there any downsides for you for attending the check-ups?

No not really no, no.

So you’re quite pleased to be checked up?

Yes, yeah, yeah yeah.

What do you think about the frequency – every six months?

Yeh I think it’s more to do with the blood pressure but then they do check other things, so when I have blood tests, so that might be, that might be once a year I’m not quite sure it’s six monthly because sometimes I get this, you know, for the hypertension clinic.

And then I think this is where I put something wrong on the form because it’s it’s mainly to go and check the blood pressure I think and then I don’t think they do that every time with the blood tests.

So in terms of the tests you’re having at the moment it’s probably a blood test for your kidney function once a year

Yeah

And then six monthly blood pressure checks.

Yeah, something like that.

And do you have urine tests as well?

Yes usually yeah, yeah, yeah.

What would you like, what would feel reassuring to you, what sort of frequency?

Well even if it was probably every four months or something you know and I would say on a regular basis, have them at least over the course of the year if you have three tests done, you know, you’ve got a good example of what whether it’s going up or down.

You know when it’s, when it’s once every twelve months, once every six months whatever it is now, I can’t remember, you can’t get that in-between level can you? Now, if you’ve got three tests in a year then you’d get some sort of level. OK it might be up on that one, down on the next one; maybe down on the next one so two out of three isn’t great.

Two bad ones I mean, you know two lower ones but two good ones you’re probably feeling a little bit better about yourself and feel it can’t be quite so bad.

Just gives you a little bit of hope I suppose really. It’s not going to just go bumph [motions with his hand] and it’s finished.

As you mentioned earlier on, I’d like to know if there is anything I can help myself with you know? Saying about fluids and that, you know, I should drink more water really but there isn’t any taste to it is there? [laughs] you know, it’s pretty bland really, you know, I don’tno. I mean you get water in coffee I suppose but coffee isn’t, you know good all day apparently, I don’t know. But it’s better than not drinking anything really, yeah.

What about the explanation your kidneys are ten years older than you. Did you find that helpful?

Well it was mentioned at first that they are actually older; you know, they aren’t- they’re functioning as somebody older than you. So I thought hmm… well that’s not good you know.” But I suppose I found it helpful when he said they’re only ten years older you know. I thought, ‘Well I suppose it could be worse, they could be twenty years older, thirty years older,’ you know. But I’d like to know if they could be maintained at that, you know, I mean it could stay the same, or if I can help myself, like I do with the drink.

You know do something else to help. I don’t know if theres anything I could take. You know there might be some supplement that’s needed, I don’t know, but nothing’s been mentioned on that so, you know, that’sthose are the sorts of things I’d like to know I suppose, yeah.