As COVID-19 has made it extremely risky for dialysis patients to do in-person activities, many are turning their attention toward home dialysis. Interest in home dialysis has been trending upward in the last few years, but the pandemic has highlighted the need for home treatments more than ever. For those who are newly considering home dialysis, here are a few things you should know.
At Cincinnati Home Dialysis, we see the positive effects home hemodialysis has on the lives of our patients every day. They’re living life on their terms and seeing better outcomes in their overall health and wellbeing. If you’re willing to learn to dialyze at home, you’ll need to properly prepare your abode for treatment. Your care team will work with you to develop a personalized plan for your living situation, but in general, here are a few things to expect during the process.
If you have chronic kidney disease, there are several types of dialysis that may be right for you. In general, dialysis is designed to perform similar functions that your kidney can no longer do effectively on its own. This means removing toxins and wastes from your bloodstream, maintaining your body’s chemical balance, and preventing extra water from accumulating in your body.
There are two main types of home dialysis treatment: home hemodialysis (HHD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).
Home hemodialysis (HHD) can allow you to take more control of your kidney health and your life by offering flexibility and comfort that’s harder to come by with in-center dialysis. For many patients of chronic kidney disease, assuming greater responsibility for their care can be empowering.
Doing dialysis on your own terms can be liberating, but often comes with a little unease at first. If the thought of using needles yourself for home dialysis treatments makes you nervous, you are definitely not alone. But with proper instruction, practice, and coping strategies, inserting needles can become just another part of your routine.
An experienced dialysis professional will train you on how to use all of your home dialysis equipment properly, including needles. This individual will teach you tips and tricks to be gentle with the needle and how to get an effective stick on the first try to minimize or eliminate pain. Your care technician can also help you with strategies to reduce your needle anxiety and connect you to local and online communities where other patients are sharing their best practices for reducing their fear of needles.
It may take some time to find what best calms your fears, but try playing your favorite music in the background, putting on a TV show you enjoy, or repeating a calming mantra while working with the needle. Remind yourself that starting dialysis only takes a few minutes, and after that you have the whole day ahead of you.
When you’ve finished your home dialysis treatment and are done with needles for the day, indulge in a small snack you enjoy or do a fun, relaxing activity. Having something to look forward to after your home treatments can help ease your anxiety during dialysis.
When you’re just starting home dialysis, there’s a lot of new technology and processes to manage, and getting a comfortable routine down takes time. Try to be patient with yourself as you learn what practices are most relaxing for you during treatment.
Our care team at Cincinnati Home Dialysis is here to guide you through home dialysis and all the comes with it. Contact us anytime at info@cincinnatihomedialysis.com.
