What type of Dialysis fits you?

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When it comes to treating end stage renal disease (ESRD), one size does not fit all. With your physician’s guidance, you can choose from several types of treatment options to find the one that best suits your health and lifestyle needs.

Before knowing - How to choose which treatment option is right for you, remember that you're not stuck with this option for life.

The treatment that's right for you right now may not be the best 

tomorrow, and you can always speak with your doctor about changing.

Here are a few considerations to help inform your decision.

1. Do you like to lead an active lifestyle?
2. Do you want more control of your schedule and time?
3. Do you currently have daytime obligations such as work or school?
4. Do you want to consider performing your own dialysis treatments?
5. Do you want to do your treatments at home or in a center?
6. Do you have someone available to help you with treatments at home?

Which treatment suits your needs?

Take a brief look at the different treatment options:

Kidney transplantThe preferred treatment for kidney disease. Freedom to enjoy life with no dialysis-relatedschedule restrictions. Virtually no diet or fluid limitations.The wait for a kidney transplant varies greatly.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Usually preserves remaining kidney function for a longer period of time than hemodialysis. Can be performed at home or work. Needle-free and blood never leaves your body. Fits your schedule, with fewer diet restrictions and more travel flexibility.Peritoneal dialysis is often done at night in your home for 8-10 hours, using an automated cycler machine while you sleep.Or you may use a manual PD method, which usually means doing four to five 30-minute fluid exchanges a day to clean your blood fully.

Home hemodialysis (HHD)

Performed in the comfort and privacy of your own home.Flexible treatment times can be arranged around your schedule.A care partner is needed to assist you with treatments.People on home hemodialysis have the option to dialyze more frequently to achieve improved health benefits.Short, daily treatments are generally performed five or six times a week for two to three hours per session.

In-Center Hemodialysis 

Performed in a dialysis center.Trained medical professionals are withyou at all times.Social interaction with staff and other patients.The usual schedule for in-center hemodialysis is three times a week, for about three to four hours each treatment, plus travel time to and from the center.Or you may consider in-center nocturnal dialysis (available at some centers) 

If your kidneys have failed, you will need to have dialysis treatments for your whole life unless you are able to get a kidney transplant.

Life expectancy on dialysis can vary depending on your other medical conditions and how well you follow your treatment plan.

Average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years, however, many patients have lived well on dialysis for 20 or even 30 years.

An End Stage Renal Disease patient needs minimum 3sessions of HD per week and anything less than that curtails the lifespan of patients deviating from the above informed statistics.

This is irrespective of their financial or social status and hence stick to the protocols.