Some kidney patients might not tell you this, but they are very lucky to be receiving hemodialysis treatments. Hemodialysis, which according to Merriam-Webster is "the process of removing blood from an artery, purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein", is one of the possible dialysis treatments for kidney failure, or End Stage Renal Disease. while dialysis is not a day at the beach- it's a thrice weekly treatment that generally lasts 4 hours a day- it can certainly be considered better than the alternative of no treatment at all.
1. Carb Loading
Dialysis removes many toxins and waste products from a patient's blood as it works to remove fluid, but dialysis does not remove potassium. Potassium is found most prevalently in fruits and vegetables, most notably in oranges, bananas, tomatoes, and avocados, as well as potatoes. Potassium is found in other kinds of produce as well, so learning about which fruits and vegetables contain potassium is key. A little potassium goes a long way for a dialysis patient, and too much can be dangerous. The good news? It's the perfect opportunity to master cooking and enjoying pasta.
2. Blood Draws Without the Lab
At most dialysis clinics, a patient's lab work-up is done once a month to make sure all his/her levels are in check. Monthly labs check things like hemoglobin, calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus levels so any problems can be addressed by health care professionals. Having blood draws while already at the dialysis clinic saves the patient time and effort by not having to go into a lab, and generally, the blood is drawn from the patient's dialysis access, so there is no need for an extra needle poke.
3. Playing Catch Up
Dialysis is a long process; it takes about as much time as a part time job , around 12-15 hours a week depending on how long a patient's treatment time is. Dialysis centers provide an individual television for each patient so they can watch TV. For those who don't wish to watch TV during their time at the center, it is the perfect opportunity to catch up on other things. Bring a laptop and answer emails, finish a project, or watch shows on the internet, finish all those books that are waiting to be read, even take a little nap. A patient has time for it as dialysis and doesn't have anywhere else to go for that 4 hour time frame.
4. The Chance to be Involved in Patient Care
The key to being successful on dialysis, as it is in any health care situation, is being involved in one's patient care. The nurses and dialysis technicians will do their best to take the best possible care of their patients, but it is the patient's responsibility to make sure they are being an active participant in what's going on around them. This means asking questions of the nurses, techs, and doctors, making sure the technicians are doing their part to get the right amount of fluid off a patient at each treatment, and reporting any health concerns to the care staff. No one knows a patient's body better than a patient, and the patient may be the first to notice if something is awry. Being active in one's patient care will help give and maintain the best possible quality of life to a dialysis patient.
5. An Option Many Chronically Ill People Don't Have
Think about the people who need a new heart or liver. They don't have any option but to wait and hope an organ will become available for them. Patients in Kidney failure have the option of dialysis to keep them alive for years until transplation of a new kidney is a viable option for them. While dialysis isn't ideal, it can certainly be more ideal than no option at all.
Hemodialysis can be physically demanding, is time consuming, and does take some getting use to. But the benefit of a prolonged life while missing the use of a major organ can be worth it, especially when it turns out not to be as scary as originally thought.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sarah Jackman - Sarah is a writer, florist, and chef who has worked and studied in all three fields. She is also an avid college football fan.
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