Where are you right now? · Step 2 of 9
ESRD diagnosis
“I cannot take it all in.”
What does an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) diagnosis mean?
NIH says you have kidney failure when your kidney function drops below 15 percent of normal.1 End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is kidney failure that is treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.1
NIH lists three treatments: hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and a kidney transplant.1
A renal social worker can help with problems such as keeping a job, paying for treatment and finding rides.1
It is a lot to take in. Ask your team to explain it again, and bring someone you trust.
Questions to bring to your team
- What are all of my treatment choices?
Sources
- NIH / NIDDK. What is Kidney Failure?. What is Kidney Failure? (first paragraph). What is Kidney Failure? (treatment options list). Who will be on my health care team? Checked October 31, 2026.
Page facts
Written by the TransplantCheck team.
Facts checked against official sources on October 31, 2026.
Changes
- November 2, 2026: first version, with answers from The kidney care journey.