Treating Kidney Failure With Hemodialysis
I. Introduction
The goal of the People Like Us, Onlineseries is to tell you about kidney failure and its treatments and to help you make the best treatment choices. The other parts of the series are:
- An Introduction to the Kidneys and Chronic Kidney Disease
- Treating Kidney Failure With Peritoneal Dialysis
- Treating Kidney Failure With Transplantation
- Treating Kidney Failure and Eating Healthy
- Managing Your Life With Kidney Failure
As you read through each part of the series, you'll be introduced to some medical terms that may be new to you. To learn the meanings of these new words, check the list of Words You Need to Know. It is our hope that you'll use the information in this series as a springboard for discussions with your doctor and other members of your health care team and with your family. The more informed patients and their families are, the better the outlook for successful long-term treatment and quality of life for patients.
In this section on hemodialysis, you'll learn about:
- how hemodialysis works
- what to expect during hemodialysis
- the pros and cons of center-based and home-based hemodialysis
- other important parts of your care such as your special diet and medications you will need to take
- how your treatments will be paid for
- the health care team that will be responsible for your care
- why it's important for you to take an active role in your care.
Two types of treatment are available for kidney failure: dialysis and transplantation. In addition, two different forms of dialysis can be done: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Which of these options is best for you depends on a number of factors, including:
- your overall health
- the cause of your kidney failure
- your age and lifestyle
- your doctor's recommendation
- your personal preference.
NIDDK Website - Kidney Failure: Choosing a Treatment That's Right for You
Here's what two patients who chose hemodialysis said about their choice:
"I picked hemodialysis because it allowed me to continue doing the things I enjoy. I'm a very active person—I ski, I scuba dive—and hemodialysis hasn't slowed me down."
--Jim"It's not bad. It's not bad at all. It doesn't interfere with my job or with other activities. When I wake up in the morning, I don't feel bad. I feel pretty good—like running, like I used to run."
--Smitty
Most patients have more than one choice, so it's important to be informed. This part of the series will focus on hemodialysis. To learn more about peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant, see Treating Kidney Failure With Peritoneal Dialysis and Treating Kidney Failure With Transplantation in this series.)
Whatever treatment you choose, a positive attitude will also make a big difference. As one hemodialysis patient, Alvina, notes:
"My friends all say they can't see how I can be so jolly about having to undergo hemodialysis. It's because I accept it. I don't fight it. When you fight it, you only hurt yourself and everyone around you."
Flo, the mother of a dialysis patient, agrees. And there's nothing to be afraid of, she adds,
"At first, when my daughter, Beth, went on dialysis, she didn't want anyone to know. She was afraid that people would look at her differently, think less of her, or feel too afraid to be around her. That didn't happen. She didn't change when she went on dialysis. She's still the same Beth. And her friends are still her friends."
Hemodialysis should help to make you feel better, but it won't change your life completely. Here's an overview of what to expect.
