Your kidneys are a filtration system for your body. These bean-shaped organs located at the left and right side of the body in the lower-back region help remove impurities and excess fluid to keep the blood healthy and clean.
When your kidneys are unhealthy or too weak to function normally, dialysis treatment may be required. Dialysis is a treatment that cleans and purifies your blood when your kidneys are no longer strong enough to do so on their own. This treatment can be done in-office at a dialysis center, or in the comfort of your own home.
Here are some things you should know about treating your kidneys at home with dialysis.
Types of Dialysis Treatments
There are two types of dialysis: peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen to act as a natural filter for disposing waste from your body. A catheter is surgically implanted near your belly button. A sterile cleansing fluid called the dialysis solution flows into the abdomen through the catheter to filter out impurities. Once the determined amount of solution has entered the stomach, a cap is placed on the catheter, allowing you to move around and perform your usual activities. The dialysis solution inside your belly absorbs wastes and extra fluid. After a few hours, the solution can be drained from your body via the catheter, into an empty bag and disposed of. This process of draining and refilling is called an exchange and needs to be repeated 4 – 6 times every day. Peritoneal dialysis is currently the most common type of dialysis performed at home.
Hemodialysis uses an external filter called a dialyzer, which mimics the function of your kidneys to clean your blood. This machine uses an access point that is surgically created in your arm, typically an arteriovenous (AV) fistula that connects artery and vein – allowing for access to a large quantity of fast-moving blood and the AV fistula can last for decades. Blood exits the body via a catheter, is run through the external dialysis machine, which then returns clean blood to your body. If done at home, it’s usually recommended that patients perform this treatment 4 – 7 times a week. New technology is making hemodialysis more affordable and easier to perform at home.
Your At-Home Dialysis Options
Each person has different lifestyles, responsibilities, and preferences. Speaking to your nephrologist about the best option for you can help minimize the inconvenience of dialysis. Both the peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis can be performed without the need of assistance (although a nurse is usually available 24/7 by phone).
Benefits of at-home hemodialysis include:
- Schedule flexibility: You are free to perform it around your social activities, work, hobbies or school.
- Saves time and money: You save travel time and transportation expenses by not having to go into the doctor’s office regularly for dialysis.
- Dietary choices: You possibly gain more freedom with what you can eat, especially if you are regularly receiving more dialysis treatments.
Benefits of at-home peritoneal dialysis include all the benefits of hemodialysis, plus:
- No needles
- Your blood does not need to leave your body
- Preserves natural kidney function
- Can be performed almost anywhere, even while traveling
If you believe you may need to see a nephrologist, visit Commonwealth Nephrology Associates in Massachusetts. We are devoted to caring for patients with kidney diseases and associated conditions such as hypertension, kidney stones, and electrolyte disorders. Schedule your appointment today by calling our offices at (617) 739-2100.