It is an indisputable fact that the news of starting hemodialysis, which patients with chronic renal failure (CKD) receive, is an extremely traumatic psychological moment – where starts suffering not only the body, but also the soul of the patient.
Dialysis treatment that continues for years, and the fact that the patient is dependent on the specialized equipment – the dialysis machine, on the observance of a strictly defined dietary regime, significantly limit the personal freedom of the patient, his social contacts, and seriously disturb his professional realization.
As a result, the patient experiences stress and anxiety, which have an adverse effect on the entire healing process, adaptation, emotions and quality of life.
Is hemodialysis treatment so scary and hopeless?
The short answer is: NO.
Here’s the longer one:
Hemodialysis treatment is now years away from what it was in the 90s – the equipment in private dialysis centers is at an excellent level, and in most municipal hospitals the old dialysis machines with hundreds of thousands of hours of service have already been replaced with new ones.
Competition between medical facilities raises the level of service for patients, and brand new Fresenius machines and consumables can now be seen more and more, which contributes to the excellent cleansing of toxins from the patient’s body.
The procedures, in turn, are tolerated by the patient much better, there are no constant vomiting, headaches during dialysis caused by low-quality and repeatedly used consumables, “disinfected” in formalin solution, there is no shortage of drugs to maintain a good level of hemoglobin, iron, calcium, phosphorus no longer “flys in the sky”. Hepatitis epidemics have not occurred for decades.
The many dialysis facilities scattered in the cities allow all patients not to be “tied to the machine”, but to be able to travel, if they wish, to go to the sea or on holiday abroad.
Most patients of working age continue with their employment.
Dialysis patients at a younger age, and not only that, have an excellent chance and opportunity for transplantation – again thanks to the quality dialysis they perform, which preserves the body as much as possible and gives it the necessary time until the cherished moment of transplantation, the chance also increases for the new authority to be accepted.
Cases of patients of childbearing age who, after a successful transplant, become mothers and continue their lives to the fullest are no longer rare.
Of course, for a job between two people to be done successfully and well, both must participate equally. Efforts are also needed on the part of the patients.
A good diet, strict adherence to dietary restrictions, no matter how unpleasant they may be at times, is a necessary part of the process.
Regular control of blood pressure, timely help from various specialists (cardiologist, endocrinologist, etc.), when necessary, are the best helper for the patient with CKD.
Last, but not least, is the choice of a dialysis structure – it is most important that the patient chooses that place where there is a successful symbiosis between excellent, new equipment, excellent medical control carried out during the dialysis sessions – which means the doctor to be constant between his patients, because in dialysis “whites” happen in seconds. One of the most important people in the dialysis facility is the dialysis nurses – they literally hold the patients’ lives in their hands. When the dialysis nurse is experienced, she can “stab” even the most difficult fistula, can sense an approaching danger for the patient even before the doctor has thought about it, and prevent it.
Medicines are also an indispensable part of the treatment and help in the long term to maintain the good general condition of the body. Saving them, unfortunately, does not lead to anything good.
In conclusion, dialysis is a team game, a game of trust and professionalism.
And let’s not forget that there is always a chance!