How to choose a dialysis treatment to help you live your best life

A kidney disease diagnosis is frightening, and it’s common to feel confused and even overwhelmed.

One of the most common reactions to receiving the news is to put off learning about treatment options. It’s useful to remember that having a treatment plan in place makes transitioning to dialysis much easier as kidney function declines. Once the initial shock wears off and treatment begins, most people start feeling better physically, and with the support of their care team, more emotionally positive and hopeful.

The good news is that each of us has the strength and courage to make the transition, once we start focusing on achieving a positive outcome and staying healthy. The professionals at Satellite Healthcare are here to help you with the best information, the highest quality of care, and constant encouragement – today, tomorrow, and every day.

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Know your treatment options

As your health and lifestyle changes, your treatment may change. Understanding all your options will help you and your doctor decide on the right treatment for you, now and in the future.

Dialysis

Dialysis is the most common treatment for those living with end-stage kidney failure. Dialysis treatments remove toxins and extra fluid from your blood. Treatments can be done either at home, or in a treatment facility with other patients.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Needle-free dialysis through the abdomen

Peritoneal dialysis treatments use your abdominal lining (peritoneum), along with a special solution (“dialysate”), to remove waste and extra fluid from your blood.
At-home treatments can be performed anytime, day or at night – or both – either using a machine or doing it yourself.

Learn more about peritoneal dialysis

Hemodialysis (HD)

Blood is cleansed via an artificial kidney machine and filter

• A dialysis machine draws blood from the body and into the machine, removes toxins and excess fluid from the blood, and then circulates the blood back into the body.
• Treatments can be administered at home, in a dialysis center, or sometimes in a hospital setting.

Learn more about hemodialysis treatment options

Dialysis and lifestyle

Different types of dialysis offer varying levels of flexibility and freedom. The grid below shows a summary of some things to keep in mind when considering dialysis options.

Kidney transplant

A healthy kidney is transplanted surgically

• A successful kidney transplant is the preferred treatment.
• A kidney from a human donor is surgically transplanted into the body.
• It can take years to find a kidney that’s the right blood and tissue-type.
• Patients who need a healthy kidney sometimes ask a special person in their life to consider donating one of theirs. This can reduce the wait for transplant surgery. Also, receiving a kidney from a living donor improves the chances of long-term success.
• Most patients begin dialysis treatment while waiting for a transplant.

Learn more about kidney transplants

Care without dialysis

Sometimes patients receiving dialysis therapy struggle with other serious medical conditions and find that their quality of life has become unacceptable. In such cases, the patient may decide to end dialysis and opt for dignified, compassionate care. The medical team helps make the individual as comfortable as possible for the remainder of their life.