• Removes waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body.
• Keeps a safe level of certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate,  which helps to control blood pressure and improved breathing.
  

Common Feelings During Dialysis Treatment

• Faintness
• Black spots
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Headache
• Sleepy after treatment, feel washed out
• Shortness of breath
  

 
Adequacy of Dialysis

 Symptoms if you are not getting enough dialysis

• Tiredness, Weakness
• Nausea or poor appetite
• Losing body weight
• Blood count is dropping because ( EPO Erythropoietin ) does not work so well.
  

Is kidney failure permanent?
Not always. Some kinds of acute kidney failure get better after treatment. In some cases of acute kidney failure, dialysis may only be needed for a short time until the kidneys get better.
In chronic or end stage kidney failure, your kidneys do not get better and you will need dialysis for the rest of your life. If your doctor says you are a candidate, you may choose to be placed on a waiting list for a new kidney.

How long do hemodialysis treatments last?
The time needed for your dialysis depends on:

• how well your kidneys work
• how much fluid weight you gain between treatments
• how much waste you have in your body
• how big you are
• the type of artificial kidney used
  

Usually, each hemodialysis treatment lasts about four hours and is done three times per week.

Will dialysis help cure the kidney disease?
No. Dialysis does some of the work of healthy kidneys, but it does not cure your kidney disease. You will need to have dialysis treatments for your whole life unless you are able to get a kidney transplant.

Is dialysis uncomfortable?
You may have some discomfort when the needles are put into your fistula or graft, but most patients have no other problems. The dialysis treatment itself is painless. However, some patients may have a drop in their blood pressure. If this happens, you may feel sick to your stomach, vomit, have a headache or cramps. With frequent treatments, those problems usually go away.

Do dialysis patients feel normal?
Many patients live normal lives except for the time needed for treatments. Dialysis usually makes you feel better because it helps many of the problems caused by kidney failure. You and your family will need time to get used to dialysis.

Can dialysis Patients travel?
Yes. Dialysis centers are located in every part of the United States and in many foreign countries. The treatment is standardized. You must make an appointment for dialysis treatments at another center before you go. The staff at your center may help you make the appointment.

Can dialysis patients continue to work?
Many dialysis patients can go back to work after they have gotten used to dialysis. If your job has a lot of physical labor (heavy lifting, digging, etc.), you may need to get a different job.

Do dialysis patients have to control their diets?
Yes. You may be on a special diet. You may not be able to eat everything you like, and you may need to limit how much you drink. Your diet may vary according to the type of dialysis.

Why do I need to be on a special diet?
Because your kidneys are not able to get rid of enough waste products and fluids from your blood and your body now has special needs, you will need to limit fluids and change your intake of certain foods in your diet. How well you feel will depend on:

• eating the right kind and amounts of food from your diet
• having the hemodialysis treatments your doctor orders for you
• taking the medications your doctor orders for you.
  

Your diet is very important to your care. It is important that you have the right amount of protein, calories, fluids, vitamins and minerals each day. Your dietitian will help you plan your meals to make sure you get the proper balance. Some general guidelines to follow can be found in our free brochure, "Nutrition and Hemodialysis." You can obtain a copy by calling 800 622-9010.

How will I know if I am eating right to keep me healthy?
Because you are on dialysis, you have some very special needs. Eating well helps you stay healthy. Eating poorly can increase your risk of illness. Your dietitian will talk with you about how well you are eating.
Some questions you might be asked:

• Have you noticed a change in the kind or amount of food you eat each day?
• Have you had any problems eating your usual or recommended diet?
• Have you lost weight without trying?
• Have you noticed any changes in your strength or ability to take care of yourself?
  

What if I have high cholesterol?
Changing your diet may help lower the cholesterol level in your blood. Your dietitian will talk with you about the kinds of fat and animal foods you eat. Also, your doctor may decide you need a special medication to reduce the cholesterol in your blood.

What if I have diabetes?
In some cases, you may need to make only a few changes in your diet to fit your needs as a kidney patient. For example, some of the free foods you have been using may need to be limited on your kidney diet. Your dietitian will help develop a meal plan especially for you.

Is there anything else I should know?
The following important tips can be helpful with your diet:

• Fresh or plain frozen vegetables contain no added salt. Drain all the cooking fluid before serving.
• Canned fruits usually contain less potassium than fresh fruits. Drain all the fluid before serving.
• Non-dairy creamers are low in phosphorus and can be used in place of milk.
• Labels on food packages will give you information about some of the ingredients that may not be allowed in your diet. Learn to read these labels.