Diary of a Kidney Warrior

24/09/2026

✨ “My life was back in HD again.”

That’s how Carla describes waking up after her kidney transplant.

Despite still being groggy from the medication, she says she knew straight away that it had worked.

“The brain fog had cleared.”

Carla describes the difference as being like switching from an old analogue television to suddenly seeing everything in high definition.

💚 During Organ Donation Week, Carla’s words are a powerful reminder of what receiving the gift of a kidney can mean to someone living with kidney failure.

This clip is from Carla’s full conversation on Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast: Stage 5 Kidney Failure Without Warning: Carla’s Dialysis to Transplant Journey.

🎧 Search Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear Carla’s full story.

23/09/2026

DJ Ace had never met the woman who would become his kidney donor. ❤️

She hadn’t even known that living kidney donation was possible until she watched a video about organ donation.

Then, through a mutual friend, she heard that Ace needed a kidney.

Behind the scenes — without Ace knowing — she went through the testing process.

She was a direct match.

For , I’m revisiting this powerful moment from my conversation with DJ Ace on Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast.

In the full conversation, Ace shares his journey through kidney failure, dialysis and receiving the kidney transplant that changed his life.

🎧 To hear the full conversation, search “Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast DJ Ace” on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your usual podcast platform.

21/09/2026

🥤 PROTEIN, COLLAGEN & CREATINE — WHAT DO KIDNEY PATIENTS NEED TO KNOW?

“More isn’t always better.”

That’s one of the messages Senior Renal Dietitian Tadala Kolawole shares in the latest episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast.

👉🏾 Swipe through this carousel for 8 insights from our conversation — covering protein and protein quality, collagen, creatine, creatinine and why decisions about supplements need to be considered through a kidney health lens.

But these quotes are just a snapshot of a much bigger conversation.

🎙️ In the full episode, Tadala explains how protein needs can change throughout the kidney disease journey, including on dialysis, and what people living with kidney disease should consider when it comes to protein powders, collagen and creatine. Links to watch/listen now are in the pinned post and Bio.

💬 Which quote from Tadala stood out to you most?

📌 Save this post and share it with another Kidney Warrior who may find it helpful.

18/09/2026

💭 Thinking about taking protein powder when you have kidney disease?

Before reaching for a supplement, there are some important questions to ask.

In this clip, kidney dietitian Tadala explains why understanding the stage of your kidney disease and whether you are already meeting your protein requirements through food matters — and why speaking to your dietitian should come before buying a supplement.

This is just one part of our full conversation in the latest episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast:

🎙️ Can You Take Protein Powder, Collagen & Creatine With Kidney Disease? A Kidney Dietitian Explains

We also explore protein requirements, collagen, creatine and what people living with kidney disease need to consider when thinking about supplements.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode to hear the complete conversation. Links to watch/listen now are in the comments ⬇️

16/09/2026

WHY DO PEOPLE ON DIALYSIS NEED MORE PROTEIN?

During dialysis, we don’t just remove waste and excess fluid — some amino acids are lost during the dialysis process too.

In this clip from the latest Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, Senior Renal Dietitian Tadala Kolawole explains why those losses contribute to people receiving dialysis having higher protein requirements.

But there’s an important part of this conversation that I don’t want us to miss:

⚠️ Needing more protein does NOT mean just any protein will do.

It doesn’t automatically mean reaching for the biggest tub of protein powder, protein shakes or high-protein products you see online.

Your individual protein needs and the most appropriate sources need to be considered alongside your kidney health, nutritional needs and treatment.

🎙️ We explore this in much more detail in the full episode:

Can You Take Protein Powder, Collagen & Creatine With Kidney Disease? A Kidney Dietitian Explains

Links to watch/listen now are in the comments ⬇️

💬 If you’re on dialysis, were you aware that your protein requirements may be higher?

14/09/2026

🚨 KIDNEY PATIENTS: Before you reach for that protein powder, collagen or creatine… this conversation is for you.

Protein products and supplements seem to be everywhere right now.

But one question I always come back to as a kidney patient is:

“Is this actually safe for me?”

So I put the questions to Senior Renal Dietitian Tadala Kolawole.

🎙️ In this new episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, we talk about:

🥤 Protein powders in kidney disease
📊 Why protein needs aren’t the same at every stage of CKD
💪 Why dialysis can change your protein requirements
✨ Collagen supplements and kidney disease
⚠️ The potential link between collagen and kidney stones
🏋🏾 Creatine — what it actually does
🩸 Why creatine can affect creatinine and therefore how eGFR results appear
💧 What people on dialysis need to consider about creatine, weight changes and target weight

Tadala also makes an important point that I think applies to so much of what we see online:

“More isn’t always better.”

Just because something is popular, trending or promoted as “healthy” doesn’t automatically mean it is right for your kidneys.

📺 WATCH the full audio + visual episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/LZUVnb2H6Rs

🎧 LISTEN:
🍏 Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/diary-of-a-kidney-warrior-podcast-kidney-health-podcast/id1529196456?i=1000789496710

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/72X1rMsm5U1PXyzkk060v8?si=dqa_blljTcerK3yZPuouuQ&utm_source=copy-link

🔗Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/ei/pb-4zyhg-1b5b348

💬 Have you ever considered taking protein powder, collagen or creatine? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

And please SHARE this episode. Someone in the kidney community may be considering one of these supplements right now and not realise there are additional things they need to consider. 💚

14/09/2026

13/09/2026

It’s okay not to be okay — but it’s not okay to stay that way. ❤️‍🩹

Acknowledging the complications and challenges that come with being a kidney patient does not mean declaring yourself a victim.

Kidney disease can be unpredictable. You don’t always know when the next challenge or complication is coming, and pretending everything is fine all the time doesn’t make that reality disappear.

I don’t subscribe to toxic positivity.

I don’t put pressure on myself to be happy or okay every single day. There are times when things are hard, and I allow myself to acknowledge that.

But I also believe in guarding my mental health and holding on to hope.

So, if you’re going through a difficult season right now:

Don’t give up hope.
Keep going.
Keep fighting.
You’ve got this. ❤️

Follow for more honest conversations about life with kidney disease, kidney health education and encouragement.

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11/09/2026

“What does the donor get out of it?”

Living kidney donor Hayley turns that question on its head:

“What DON’T you get out of doing it?”

From deciding at just eight years old that she wanted to donate a kidney, to eventually becoming a living kidney donor and now using her experience to advocate for others, Hayley’s story is one of generosity, purpose and hope.

In this episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, Hayley shares the reality of her living donation journey, the donor assessment process, the setbacks she faced along the way, meeting her recipient and why donating a kidney gave her something she describes as an incredible sense of purpose.

And for anyone waiting for a transplant, Hayley has an important message:

“There are people out there who may not know you who do want to help. They just need to know how to help.”

👉🏽 Swipe through to read some of Hayley’s words, then watch or listen to the full conversation.

🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.
📺 Watch on YouTube. Links in the comments⬇️

Please share this post — you never know who may be inspired to learn more about living kidney donation.

07/09/2026

“What don’t you get out of doing it?”

In this clip from the current episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, living kidney donor and advocate Hayley shares what donating a kidney gave her in return — including the indescribable feeling of knowing she was able to have such a profound impact on another person’s life.

But this is just one part of Hayley’s story.

In the full episode, we talk about her decision to become a living kidney donor, the donation process, the realities of being a donor and how her experience led her into advocacy.

🎙️ Watch or listen to the FULL EPISODE of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast now.

🔗 Full episode Links in the Bio/Comments

Please share and help this conversation reach kidney patients, potential living donors and anyone who wants to understand living kidney donation from the donor’s perspective.

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