During my visit, the primary diagnoses of the patients I met may have varied widely, but they were all there to get the same life-preserving treatment. It is important for dialysis patients to understand that dialysis is not a cure for kidney disease, or any other comorbidities which may be present. End stage renal disease (ESRD) involves permanent damage to the kidneys, and dialysis is intended to help the body run as normal as possible without kidney function. If an ESRD patient does not get dialysis treatments regularly, sodium and other waste products would build up in the blood, and they would become fluid overloaded, eventually leading to death of the patient. Common causes of ESRD include diabetes mellitus, severe uncontrolled hypertension,
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Chronic renal failure often has a detrimental effect on patients. From an economic standpoint, receiving hemodialysis treatments three times a week, or having to perform exchanges at home, makes it difficult for patients to work or attend school. It can be very hard for a patient on dialysis to support a family. Many patients go on disability, but often the amount of money received is not enough to sustain themselves or their family. Psychologically speaking, dialysis patients often experience depression, loneliness, a feeling that they have lost control, and episodes of anger. Hemodialysis patients especially have a hard time socially. They often miss social or family events because of their dialysis schedules, and often come to treatment alone, their only socializing being with the staff. Therefore, it is important that nurses and staff at hemodialysis centers sometimes use …show more content…
A diet for a patient on hemodialysis is designed to reduce the amount of fluid and waste products that build up between treatments. High quality protein at a level determined by the dietician is essential. Foods with high amounts of sodium, phosphorus and potassium are highly restricted, as is fluid intake. The diet for patients on peritoneal dialysis is slightly different. The protein requirements are higher, because more protein is lost through the peritoneal membrane during dialysis. These patients are usually able to keep their potassium levels normal, but they still must restrict phosphorus. Sodium and fluid intake are not as restricted as patients on hemodialysis, but it is still important to monitor to avoid
Chronic renal failure often has a detrimental effect on patients. From an economic standpoint, receiving hemodialysis treatments three times a week, or having to perform exchanges at home, makes it difficult for patients to work or attend school. It can be very hard for a patient on dialysis to support a family. Many patients go on disability, but often the amount of money received is not enough to sustain themselves or their family. Psychologically speaking, dialysis patients often experience depression, loneliness, a feeling that they have lost control, and episodes of anger. Hemodialysis patients especially have a hard time socially. They often miss social or family events because of their dialysis schedules, and often come to treatment alone, their only socializing being with the staff. Therefore, it is important that nurses and staff at hemodialysis centers sometimes use …show more content…
A diet for a patient on hemodialysis is designed to reduce the amount of fluid and waste products that build up between treatments. High quality protein at a level determined by the dietician is essential. Foods with high amounts of sodium, phosphorus and potassium are highly restricted, as is fluid intake. The diet for patients on peritoneal dialysis is slightly different. The protein requirements are higher, because more protein is lost through the peritoneal membrane during dialysis. These patients are usually able to keep their potassium levels normal, but they still must restrict phosphorus. Sodium and fluid intake are not as restricted as patients on hemodialysis, but it is still important to monitor to avoid