What is it?

So, what exactly is dialysis? For the actual medical terminology, you could check out one of the links here. Or for the dialysis patient version, keep reading.

Because my kidneys felt over-worked from too many Coca-colas, they decided to go on strike. My kidneys completely shut down. The dialysis treatments are usually 3 days a week. Treatment times range from 3-4 hours. Although, there is one man at our center who runs 4 hours daily, six days a week. Sure am glad that is not me!

Mine is Monday, Wednesday, Friday for four hours. I am hoping to get it cut soon. The nurse or technician cleans the area where the catheter, graft or fistula is located. For a graft or fistula, they take two needles and insert them in the arm or leg at the 'site.' Two clear lines of tubing are attached to the needles, or for a catheter patient; to the tubes protruding from the site. These lines are attached to a dialyser. This machine takes a small amount of blood at a time from one tube, cleans it and returns through the second line.

This process takes between three and four hours. "Normal" kidneys work 24/7. Dialysis patients usually go to the center 3 times a week. Some patients do home dialysis, or nocturnal dialysis. While these are valid options, I did not feel that they were the best treatment option for me. My husband and I have three very active boys. They are just not able to give mama enough alone time to do what needs to be done for home "PD."

At the end of the treatment time, another nurse or technician will remove the needles. The bandage must be held for several minutes, due to the size of the needles bleeding can occur. After the site has stopped bleeding, they place a folded piece of gauze and lots of tape over each site. We are supposed to remove the tape the following day.

For a catheter patient, they will remove the tubing and re-wrap the tubes protruding from the chest.

Take one last set of vitals and weigh. Then they send us home. We will be back so they can stab us with those gigantic needles soon. We have to, For a renal patient life is dialysis. Stopping generally means death within a matter of weeks. The gunk builds up in the bloodstream, not a pleasant thought. Think about the task of your kidneys!

DaVita means He/She gives life. This is most appropriate given the nature of the dialysis treatment and what occurs here in this center. This center, and identical ones all over the world, literally give each of us the ability to continue with daily life.

Treatments make me tired, Sometimes unable to eat or sleep that night. But, what is a skipped meal or a tired feeling when the alternative is to be dead?

I hope to draw attention to this disease and encourage people, especially those at high risk to be screened for kidney problems. Early detection, diet changes and a healthy lifestyle could keep you from sitting next to me 3 days a week.