What Dialysis Patients Need to Know: Treatment and Conditions

Learn essential dialysis info, treatments & managing conditions for patients. Empower your health journey with must-know tips & advice!

Dialysis is a process where your blood is filtered through an artificial kidney, also known as a hemodialyzer. Your blood goes through a dialyzer three times to remove the excess fluid and waste that build up in your body when you have kidney failure. Dialysis patients need to know what they can do while on dialysis treatment to help prevent complications and keep their health at its best.

How to prepare for your first dialysis session?

• Know about the equipment:

It is important to know what equipment will be used on you during your dialysis session. Below are the types of machines that may be in use at a healthcare provider’s office or home. These include: Dialyzer system, blood pressure cuff and transducer (measuring device), intravenous access set with a needle, catheterization sheath if needed for injection site; IV fluid bag/pump control unit; arterial line monitoring apparatus with integrated flowmeter, pulse oximeter and airway management equipment including endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway should patient need it for intubation.

• Know about the treatment types:

You will come across two kinds of dialysis treatment, namely hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

1. Hemodialysis is a process where your blood goes through a machine that filters out excess fluid and waste from your body because you have kidney failure. The blood is filtered through a dialyzer three times before it goes back into your body. The process is done in an outpatient clinic or hospital by healthcare providers with training on how to set up and run hemodialysis machines as well as care for patients undergoing treatment.
2. Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneum, which is the lining of your abdominal cavity, as a filter for wastes and excess fluids to clean out from your bloodstream. You can do dialysis at home with special equipment that attaches to an opening in the abdomen, or you may need to come into the hospital where healthcare providers will insert a catheter (a tube) through one of your veins so they can access the artery below it.

Both types of dialysis involve having needles used in procedures that may be painful at times. Dialysis treatments are usually four hours long unless another healthcare provider has recommended otherwise.

At home, dialysis will require measuring the amount of fluid intake before each session so there is enough liquid left over after all three cycles have been completed because they can't do anything else while being hooked up to equipment during this time. In addition, if you are a dialysis patient with anaemia (too few red blood cells), healthcare providers may order iron supplements and other medications to help manage your condition.

Basic tips for dialysis patients:

• Eat a healthy diet: A diet that is high in protein, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains may help with a healthy weight. You can consult your doctor for any dietary restrictions they may have for you, such as a diabetic diet.
• Get enough fluids:

Dialysis patients can become dehydrated due to the inability of their kidneys to filter out excess fluid, so they need to drink plenty of water throughout the day. You should also avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol since they may cause you to urinate more often than usual, which can lead to dehydration.

• Measure your creatinine levels: Regularly measure creatinine levels because this is an indicator of how well kidney function has been preserved over time. Your healthcare provider can help you set up a plan to monitor your creatinine levels at home with the use of blood tests and urine samples or by using an implanted device called a Bio-Graft that measures 24 hours worth of data and transmits it wirelessly to your healthcare provider.
• Maintain your blood pressure:

Monitor your blood pressure to make sure it stays at the appropriate level and not too high or low. When on dialysis treatment, healthcare providers will usually instruct patients to keep their systolic (the top number) under 140 mm Hg and diastolic (the bottom number) under 90 mm Hg so that there is no damage to the heart. Visit healthcare professionals every three months for routine appointments, including lab work-up, erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, electrocardiogram, and chest X-ray.

• Try not to be sedentary: People on dialysis need exercise just as much as anyone else! Try incorporating light exercises into your daily routine, like walking for 30 minutes each day or doing low weight lifting every other day. This will keep you healthy while also strengthening muscles around joints that may have been weakened due to inactivity.
• Avoid constipation: A healthy diet may help avoid constipation, but you will also need to drink enough water and take a stool softener. If you find that you are still having trouble with the condition, talk to your healthcare providers about what other options might be available for treatment.
• Avoid Stress: Manage stress levels with counselling options or other methods recommended by healthcare providers.
• Eat Low Sodium Foods:

Avoid salt, which is found in many processed snacks, even those labelled "low sodium." Read labels carefully on all packaged goods and choose fresh fruits and vegetables when possible. Eating potassium-rich foods (like bananas) can also offset some of the effects of eating too much salt.

• Opt for lighter clothes: Dialysis patients may find it difficult to wear heavy or restrictive clothes, which can cause discomfort and pain. Hence, buy dialysis treatment clothing that is specifically stitched as per a dialysis patient's need.
• Seek help whenever needed: If you are experiencing pain from the needles used during the procedure, ask for help adjusting it so that there is less discomfort. You may also be able to find relief from these types of side effects through medication or other remedies that healthcare professionals may recommend.
• Keep up on medical appointments:

Dialysis patients have regular healthcare visits to monitor their kidney function levels and check for any complications or issues. It is important not only because of safety reasons but also helps with disease education and provides support from physicians during treatments. Your healthcare provider can give tips on how best to manage certain symptoms like fatigue or nausea at these visits too!

Conclusion:

Dialysis treatment can be a difficult process for anyone, but healthcare professionals are there to help patients and make the experience as comfortable and safe as possible.