As a new kidney dialysis patient, you may feel anxious about your upcoming treatment. This is a normal response, and why we have created this article to help better prepare you for your first few sessions. This article will review everything you need to know about dialysis.
Dialysis is a process that purifies the blood, removing wastes and excess fluid. While patients can undergo the procedure at home or in our clinic, the first few sessions will happen in the latter to ensure the patient is following rules and we can watch out for potential negative reactions.
The dialysis machine removes waste from the blood through an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) tube. The AVF consists of two thin tubes that connect an artery in the arm with a vein in the chest or neck. The patient’s blood flows through this system during treatment to remove excess fluid and waste products before returning to the body through another tube called a venous catheter located in the arms, legs, or abdomen.
The average length of dialysis treatment is 3 to 4 hours. If the patient has never received dialysis, the first procedure will likely last longer than usual due to the time the doctor takes to adjust the machine setting to be specific to them. Since patients will sit with us for a while, we encourage them to bring something to entertain them during treatment. Patients may bring:
The amount of time a patient receives dialysis per week varies. It depends on their condition and its severity. For example, some patients may need dialysis four times a week, while others may only need it twice. The doctor will monitor the patient’s progress and make recommendations as time progresses.
While there is an adjustment period after receiving dialysis, patients are free to resume their normal routines. Patients will be able to work and travel as normal. If they have a traveling schedule that conflicts with their dialysis treatment, we encourage them to let our team know so that the doctor may advise on an alternative plan for that period.
Patients will also need to follow a kidney dialysis diet. It can vary from patient to patient due to other underlying health conditions; however, the goal is to reduce the side effects resulting from dialysis.
As the body adjusts to its new normal, it is normal for patients to experience side effects. These include cramping, nausea, headaches, drowsiness, and dizziness. Patients may also experience itching at the access site (where we place the tubes), temperature, slight confusion, or constipation. If these side effects last longer than a few days, their temperature is over 100.5 degrees, or they are experiencing bleeding at the access site, call our office immediately so that we may advise.
We hope this information was helpful. Contact us today if you have any questions or concerns about your first dialysis session. Our team will be happy to answer any questions.
Request an appointment here: https://visoc.org or call Vascular & Interventional Specialists of Orange County at (714) 560-4450 for an appointment in our Orange office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Dialysis in Orange, CA.
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