Read more about how to enjoy your life on dialysis in the next section
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Together with your physician and your family, you have decided on a therapy modality and have started a new chapter in your life. After the initial acclimatization and discovery of a new routine, the focus is now on your daily life again.
You may notice that the routine you have established gives you more freedom to deal with other questions again. What activities did you enjoy before starting the treatment? What was helpful for your overall wellbeing? You now realize that life on dialysis requires concessions and that you had to restructure some areas of your everyday life. However, try to keep in mind that dialysis gives you the energy you need to cope with your everyday tasks and enjoy your life.
It is important for your wellbeing to find ways to combine hobbies and social contacts with dialysis.
Talk to your physician or healthcare professional about how to continue to integrate these into your everyday life.
Perhaps it was clear to you from the start that you needed more support in carrying out your treatment. Perhaps you decided on a home therapy option and have noticed that dealing with dialysis by yourself at home is overwhelming. Listen carefully to your body, there is no problem with asking for help.
For example, support may be available in the form of assisted dialysis for home dialysis. A family member or close friend may assist you with the treatment. If a family member or friend takes on the role of an assistant, that person will also receive extensive training from the supervising dialysis center. In some countries, a nursing service may be able to assist you with the treatment. However, it is important that you also understand your treatment and the related responsibilities.
We have compiled what this entails for you and your assistant.
You already know the different forms of therapy and have a new everyday life with your chosen treatment. However, in addition to medical factors, your individual lifestyle also plays a role in the choice of therapy. This may change during the course of your life or there might be complications which require switching to another form of treatment or adjusting your current treatment prescription. Many patients do not undergo just one form of treatment in their lifetime. For example, you may begin with peritoneal dialysis and then get the opportunity to have a transplantation. If the transplant is unsuccessful, you may switch to home hemodialysis. A change in the therapy modality can therefore be reasonable in some cases.
Your physician will explain which options that best fit to your individual needs are available.
As a home dialysis patient, the materials required for the treatment will be delivered to your home. For example, these include bandages or solution bags for peritoneal dialysis and dialyzers and disposables for home hemodialysis. Your dialysis center will help you compile a list of all the materials you will need and show you how to fill out the order form. Having an adequate inventory is essential for your treatment to be carried out. You should therefore adhere to the following guidelines:
Please check the stocks of each product regularly. Also, think of accessories, such as bandages and disinfectants.
Order the required quantities for a certain period of time. You should also ensure that someone is at home when the delivery is made and can receive the goods.
Even as a home patient, you are not on your own! Have self-confidence and view dealing with therapy independently as an opportunity to take control of your life with dialysis.
As with any medical treatment, there may be problems related to dialysis. We want you to be aware of some of the possible problems related to the dialysis treatment that may occur and how to manage them.
Complications may be due to different reasons: I.e., related to dialysis, the underlying kidney disease itself, or the medications that are taken. As the most important member of your health care team, you play the key role when it comes topreventing or correcting problems that can lead to long-term and even life-threatening complications. You can help prevent complications by:
In the following text, you can find the most common potential problems for PD and HD. During training, your nurse will explain these problems in more detail.
Read more about how to enjoy your life on dialysis in the next section