Navigating Hemodialysis with Confidence

Dialysis is a life-saving treatment but also a life-changing treatment as well. Kidney failure patients need to go through many life changes which can be tough. People usually face difficulty in handling emotions and stress that come from dialysis treatment. However, certain ways can help make this transition easier. Learn how dialysis affects your life and what you can do about it in this article. If you want to know more about bladder health, visit us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center and consult with the best nephrologists and urologists in East New York.

What can you do?

Dialysis treatment can be a big lifestyle change. However, you can do a few things to ease your transition to dialysis and feel better. It includes:

  1. Take medication on time:

People on dialysis don’t need many medications, however, they should take them at the right time. For instance, your doctor prescribes phosphate binders to take when you eat or a renal vitamin to be taken at night or after your treatment. To make a daily routine easier, you can follow these tips, including:

  • Listen and learn: Make a list of your medications including over-the-counter vitamins and supplements and talk with your healthcare team to learn why it was prescribed and when you should take them, to understand their vital role in your kidney care.
  • Work with a pharmacist who understands your condition: When you start dialysis, your prescriptions for other conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease, need to change. If the pharmacist specializes in kidney care, then it will be extremely helpful for you because they can thoroughly review your medication and ensure you’re not taking any prescriptions inappropriate for kidney failure patients.
  • Keep yourself organized: Try using a plastic medication organizer to ensure you take each medication at the same time every day. Another great tip is to link your medication timing with other daily events like watching your favorite TV program or going to bed.
  • Stick to it: If you experience side effects, speak with your doctor before stopping it. Additionally, avoid running out of medication by refilling prescriptions on time.
  • Know your medicines well: You should know about kidney disease medications and stick to your prescribed regimen to stay healthy. You should know what medications you should avoid including over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and some supplements that can damage kidneys.

 

  1. Handle your emotions and manage stress:

When people start dialysis, they experience many emotions from shock to acceptance. But the transition between these two emotions is not easy. Here are some tips to manage your emotions and stress, including:

  • Do the activities that give you pleasure: Don’t let dialysis prevent you from doing things you love to do. Instead, keep a separate time aside for your dialysis treatment for hobbies and interests. If you can, continue working, socialize with friends, and enjoy your life fully.
  • Educate yourself: Collect all the information about kidney dialysis from your healthcare providers and look online as well. You can keep a notebook to write questions you want to ask from your healthcare providers to get all important medical information in one place. This allows you to have a sense of control over your health.
  • Stay connected: Talk with your partner, family, and friends, and be open about everything you are experiencing and how you’re feeling, don’t be afraid to ask for support. Explain to them what you need, and probably they will help you unless you don’t tell them what you need.
  • Seek additional support: No matter how good your friends and family are, they will have difficulty understanding what they aren’t Talk with your doctor about joining a support group for people with kidney disease so that you can connect with people who are going through the same things as you are.
  • Take a deep breath: Relaxation exercises such as meditation and yoga allow you to lower your stress. Exercise greatly boosts mood in people who are undergoing dialysis. So, talk with your doctor to learn what exercises are safe and appropriate for you.
  • Give back: Continue helping others who you love, volunteer your time, or do charitable things to remind you that you have valuable skills to offer, even if you can’t work or make as many commitments as before.
  • Seek professional help: When you’re dealing with a chronic illness, it’s easy to develop negative thought patterns. Take professional help to manage these negative thoughts and adjust to the unique challenges of dialysis.

If you’re concerned about your emotional state or stress levels, then some people can help. Doctors and mental health professionals at dialysis centers are trained to discuss these concerns with you to help you manage them. They also provide you with resources and referrals to other local mental healthcare providers in your community to help you. Apply the above-mentioned tips to adjust your life with dialysis to ensure the transition happens smoothly without any major difficulty.

 

Need help with dialysis and kidney problems visit our urology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help with not only treatment but also the change’s effects on life. Our professionals ensure your treatment doesn’t take away the happiness of your life. Call us to book your appointment now or for inquiries!!!

Going through dialysis is never easy. And having your family with you is an important part of your healing journey. So, if you have symptoms of losing kidney functions, talk to your medical provider immediately. Never take any symptoms of kidney problems for granted. It is better to have it checked early on, before it progresses. Doral Health & Wellness provides in-center hemodialysis that is managed by our highly trained medical team. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org/solution/dialysis/.