Dialysis - My Story and What To Expect

Dialysis - Kidney dialysis is a life-support treatment that uses a special machine to filter harmful wastes, salt, and excess fluid from your blood. This restores the blood to a normal, healthy balance. Dialysis replaces many of the kidney's important functions.  (Read More on Dialysis From WebMD.com)

Access - Dialysis access is an entranceway into your bloodstream that lies beneath your skin and is easy to use. The access is usually in your arm or leg and allows blood to be removed and return ed quickly, efficiently, and safely during dialysis. (Read more on Dialysis Access from Metro Health.org)

Blood pressure - High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard. It also makes the walls of the arteries hard. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, the first- and third-leading causes of death for Americans. High blood pressure can also cause other problems, such as heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. (Read More on how High Blood Pressure affects the kidneys and other chronic conditions from 'Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure')

Diabetes - One of the leading causes of kidney disease.  What is diabetes?  It is metabolic disorder where either the body does not produce enough insolin or the body cannot properly uses the insulin it has.  If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your kidneys. Your kidneys are filters that clean your blood. If they are damaged, waste and fluids build up in your blood instead of leaving your body.(Read more about diabetes and kidney disorders from Medline Plus.com)

Diet - A dialysis diet is more restrictive than normal diets for healthy living.  It is very important for certain foods to be avoided and fluid restriction must be observed. It is allso called: kidney diet, renal diet.  Wastes in the blood come from food and liquids that are consumed. People on dialysis must adhere to a dialysis diet to cut down on the amount of waste in their blood. Following a dialysis diet may also bolster kidney function and delay total kidney failure.  A dialysis diet is one that is low in sodium, phosphorous and protein. A dialysis diet stresses the importance of consuming high-quality protein and limiting fluids. Some dialysis diets may also call for limited potassium and calcium. Every person is different, and therefore, a dietician will work with each patient to come up with a dialysis diet that is tailored to his or her needs.(Read more about Dialysis diet from Davita.com)

Graft, Fistula, Access -  In order for a person to undergo dialysis, a physician first creates access to his or her blood vessel using one of three methods: (1) a fistula, which is made by joining together an artery and vein to make a bigger high-flow blood vessel. (2) a graft, in which a soft plastic tube is placed between an artery and a vein, creating an artificial high-flow blood vessel. (3) catheter access, in which a narrow plastic tube is inserted into a large vein in the neck. (Read more of these procedures from RadiologyInfo.org.) 

Glucose - Glucose is a simple sugar that provides the body with its primary source of energy.

Hemodialysis - There are two different types of dialysis - hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.  The application of an artificial kidney is sometimes referred to as hemodialysis, and the apparatus itself may be called an extracorporeal hemodialyzer. Hemo simply means blood. Dialysis is of Greek origin, meaning "to pass through"; the present use implying a filtering (or passing through) process. Extracorporeal means "outside the body"; hence an extracorporeal hemodialyzer (Artificial kidney) filters the blood outside the body. (Read more about Hemodialysis from Hemodialyzer - Medical Definition and More from Merriam-Webster)

Peritoneal dialysis:  During peritoneal dialysis, blood vessels in your abdominal lining (peritoneum) fill in for your kidneys, with the help of a fluid (dialysate) that flows into and out of the peritoneal space. Peritoneal dialysis differs from hemodialysis  With peritoneal dialysis, you can give yourself treatments at home, at work or while traveling. You may be able to use fewer medications and eat a less restrictive diet than you can with hemodialysis.  Peritoneal dialysis isn't an option for everyone with kidney failure. You need manual dexterity (or a reliable caregiver) and the ability to care for yourself at home.  (Read More about peritoneal dialysis from MayoClinic.com)

Kidney Transplant - If you have advanced and permanent kidney failure, kidney transplantation may be the treatment option that allows you to live much like you lived before your kidneys failed. Since the 1950s, when the first kidney transplants were performed, much has been learned about how to prevent rejection and minimize the side effects of medicines.  But transplantation is not a cure; it's an ongoing treatment that requires you to take medicines for the rest of your life. And the wait for a donated kidney can be years long. (Read More about Kidney Transplant from National Kidney & Urologic Diseases - Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)

In medicine, dialysis (from Greek dialusis, meaning dissolution, dia, meaning through, and lysis, meaning loosening or splitting) is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is used primarily to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure. Dialysis may be used for those with an acute disturbance in kidney function (acute kidney injury, previously acute renal failure), or progressive but chronically worsening kidney function-a state known as chronic kidney disease stage 5 (previously chronic renal failure or end-stage kidney disease). The latter form may develop over months or years, but in contrast to acute kidney injury is not usually reversible, and dialysis is regarded as a "holding measure" until a renal transplant can be performed, or sometimes as the only supportive measure in those for whom a transplant would be inappropriate.

The kidneys have important roles in maintaining health. When healthy, the kidneys maintain the body's internal equilibrium of water and minerals (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfate). Those acidic metabolism end-products that the body cannot get rid of via respiration are also excreted through the kidneys. The kidneys also function as a part of the endocrine system, producing erythropoietin and calcitriol. Erythropoietin is involved in the production of red blood cells and calcitriol plays a role in bone formation. Dialysis is an imperfect treatment to replace kidney function because it does not correct the endocrine functions of the kidney. Dialysis treatments replace some of these functions through diffusion (waste removal) and ultrafiltration (fluid removal).

(Click Here to Read the entire Wikipedia Article)

Things that Happened to me on my first visit to dialysis!  

1. I arrived @ the dialysis clinic.  

2. I had a short wait in the waiting area. I was very nervous.  

3. After my name was called I was escorted into a small office where insurance and payment details were discussed. Dialysis is very expensive.  

Links: Dialysis costs  

--Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle: Dialysis cost data ...  

--Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness of Initiating Dialysis and ...  

--Dialysis Advice: How much does dialysis cost? - Daily Strength  

--American Association of Kidney Patients - Cost Associated with Home ...  

--Lifetime Medical Cost of ESRD Dialysis Patients.  

--Quality of dialysis care and providers' costs  

--The Cost of Dialysis - New York Times  

--Cost of acute renal failure requiring dialysis in the intensive ...  

--A Simulation Model to Estimate the Cost and Effectiveness of ... --Frequent dialysis may benefit but at what cost?  

4. I weighed to determine my "dry weight" - This is the weight I should weigh when I leave the clinic.  

--Links: dry weight  

--Eat Right to Feel Right on Hemodialysis

--How dry weight and fluid gain affect dialysis patients 

--National Kidney Foundation: A to Z Health Guide Item*

5. The nurse checked my blood pressure sitting and standing.  

6. My fistula was examined and prepped for the treatment. --  

Fistula Links:  

--VascularWeb: Dialysis Access

--Patient Education Sheet--AV Fistula for Dialysis

--Vascular Access for HemodialysisThe three basic kinds of vascular access for hemodialysis are an arteriovenous (AV) fistula, an AV graft, and a venous catheter.

--Dialysis articles

--What is a dialysis fistula? - Kidney Disease, Dialysis and Renal ...

7. Two large needles were inserted into the fistula area. One was to remove the blood for cleansing throuth the dialysis machine. The other was to return the cleansed blood. It was painful but bearable. After the blood began to flow, there was no pain.  

--Dialysis needle links:  

--Is Dialysis Painful? (Renalife)Now back to the dialysis needles. At the start of each dialysis treatment, patients need to have two dialysis needles placed into their dialysis fistula  

--How to Stick Dialysis Needles | eHow.comHow to Stick Dialysis Needles. Dialysis is a treatment that rids the body of deadly toxins in persons whose kidneys are no longer functioning.  

--Dialysis needle - Patent 4585446A dialysis needle or the like comprises a tube with a razor edged cutting blade extending diametrically across its forward end. - Dialysis needle - Patent EP1258261A dialysis needle (1A) having an end shaped as piercing tip generated by a cut (3) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the needle and defining ... Venous dialysis needle - US Patent 5662619 AbstractPatent Abstract: A dialysis needle using lateral openings and diverters. The diverters increase the blood flow through the lateral openings in venous  

8. Then there was a four hour wait. I prayed, napped, conversed with friends, and watched TV. This part was pleasant and relaxing. We were all in recliners.  

9. After the four hours, the needles were removed, and the area was bandaged. I weighed once more and my blood pressure was checked. Everything was ok, so I left. I discovered it was not the end of the world.

What are the types of dialysis and which should I use? (Information taken from WebMD)

"Dialysis is a process that does the work for your kidneys when you have kidney failure. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. You will need to decide what type of dialysis is best for you. Consider the following when making your decision:

Each type of dialysis has pros and cons. By learning as much as you can about both types, you will be able to make the best decision for yourself.

Dialysis can help you feel better and live longer, but it is not a cure for kidney failure. After you start dialysis, you will need to stay on it.

If your needs change later, you can switch types of dialysis.

Both types of dialysis can be expensive. But Medicare or insurance may cover most or all of the costs. The dialysis center or hospital can help you find the best way to pay for your treatment.

It is hard to make decisions when you are very ill. Discuss your choices with your doctors and your loved ones so that you can know you are making the best decisions.

Whichever type you choose, it is very important that you go to the dialysis center or do the exchanges as often as your doctor tells you to. Following your treatment schedule will allow you to stay as healthy as possible and feel better. It will also help you avoid being in the hospital."

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In my case I chose hemodialysis (Information taken from my article: Yea Though I Walk Through The Valley of Dialysis

"In hemodialysis, the patient's blood is pumped through the blood section of a dialyzer, exposing it to a semi-porous membrane. This cleans the blood, and the cleansed blood is then returned via the IV track back to the body. My nephrologist recommends this procedure to me. My other choice would have been another procedure called "peritoneal dialysis." In peritoneal dialysis, a sterile solution containing minerals and glucose is run through a tube into an abdominal body cavity around the intestine, where the peritoneal membrane acts as a semi-permeable membrane. The fluid is left there for a period of time to absorb waste products, and then it is drained out through the tube and discarded." Peritoneal dialysis is sometimes also known as 'home dialysis.'
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Links: Home Dialysis Central

NOTICE:  If you are on Dialysis,  you probably need to wear some form of Medical Alert Jewelry. 

Question:  Where can I get a high quality Medic- Alert Bracelet? As you shop around you might want- and should consider American- Medical D's.

If you would like a- great ID Bracelet check out the link below!...
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American Medical ID
Personalized Bracelets and Necklaces. As always, free engraving.

Weight - When kidney function decreases, water consumed in your diet may not be removed by the kidneys and may remain in the body. Excess fluid and salt in the body may cause swelling and shortness of breath. The amount of fluid gained can be determined by subtracting your weight before dialysis from your weight at the end of dialysis. For most patients on dialysis, your weight at the end of dialysis is considered your dry weight because it represents the weight in which excess fluid has been completely removed from your body. Your weight gain could be considered excessive if you gain more than three kilograms of water weight between dialysis treatments. So if you are gaining more than three kilograms of weight between dialysis treatments you may be at risk for fluid overload. (Read More From 'Tips to Survive and Thrive on Dialysis')