What is hemodialysis?
Coastal Dialysis Center offers hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses a machine to filter your blood outside your body. At our private and brand new dialysis center, an HD nurse and a patient care technician will educate you and treat you for HD. You will have a team of health care workers to help you with various needs. In addition to the nurse and patient care technician, your health care team will include
• your doctor
• a dietitian
• a social worker
If you choose treatments in the dialysis center, you will have a fixed time slot, usually three times per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. If you work or have children to care for, you will need to consider that when choosing a dialysis schedule
How does hemodialysis work?
At the start of a hemodialysis treatment, a dialysis nurse or technician places two needles into your arm. A pump on the hemodialysis machine draws your blood through one of the needles into a tube. Your blood travels through the tube to the filter, called a dialyzer. Inside the dialyzer, your blood flows through thin fibers that filter out
• wastes
• extra salt
• extra fluid
After the dialyzer filters your blood, a different tube carries your blood back to your body through the second needle.
Hemodialysis can replace part of your kidney function. Hemodialysis is not a cure for kidney failure; however, it can help you feel better and live longer.
You also may need to make changes to your diet, medicines, and liquid intake. Changes to your diet and liquid intake and the number of medicines you need depend on the amount of kidney function you have left and whether you receive treatments three times a week or more often.
How will I know if I need hemodialysis?
Talk to your physician about the stage of your kidney disease. Based on your clinical presentation and history, your doctor will determine if hemodialysis is necessary for you whether it is short-term or long-term.