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Healthful Habits
In 1999 Loy Cates, now 75, began to lose kidney function. In April 2003 he started dialysis.
At first Loy, of Memphis, Tenn., was frustrated that he couldn’t get his health problem under control, but he got some much-needed relief when he started dialysis. “I’m thankful it’s available to me. It saved my life,” he says. “Dialysis is keeping me alive, so I can’t complain too much.”
He says those with a bad attitude about dialysis aren't doing anything but hurting themselves. “Patients who don’t control their fluids or don’t do an exercise program appear to be trying to end it all.”
As for Loy, his eating habits have changed dramatically. Now he carefully watches his sodium (or salt), potassium and phosphorus. “You can’t eat everything you want to eat, but there are a lot of good things that you can eat.”
Although Loy admits that kidney disease sometimes affects his strength, he finds that he feels much better if he maintains an exercise regimen. “I work out at the gym and do the bike and treadmill for about 15 minutes. Then I use light weights and work most of the muscle groups.” In addition to pumping iron, Loy still enjoys his favorite hobby, golf. “There are several old men in my golf group; we console each other on our game,” he says.
Loy, who’s been married for 55 years and has four children and seven grandchildren, also makes time to attend church regularly. “There were lots of prayers going up for me when they couldn’t find out what was wrong,” he says. “I’m a big believer in the healing power of faith.”
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