AV Fistula – The Dialysis Lifeline

April 2, 2009

In every dialysis session, a patient’s blood is cleaned through a dialysis machine. The process is quite simple: the machine is hooked through bloodlines in the arm, blood is pumped through the machine, cleaned, and then returned to the patient. This is a continous process in which only 300 millileters  of blood per minute is [...]

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In Session

March 30, 2009

I went to the clinic yesterday for another dialysis treatment session. Travel from the house to the facility was a bit of a hassle due to a sudden drizzle. Can you imagine that? Rain in the middle of summer and at noontime. Well, that’s Philippine climate for you, unpredictable as they can be. I forgot [...]

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Chronic Illness… Chronic Coping

March 29, 2009

Yesterday was my Dialysis schedule. Everything went well for me, in a ‘kidney failure patient’ sense of ‘well’, in any case. For us, patients that is, going to dialysis sessions has become somewhat of a routine. Even the pain, the Hypotensive experiences and bouts of cramps, has been part of my life ever since the [...]

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FAQ’s Part III

March 28, 2009

What will happen if I refuse pre-ESRD care? Refusing pre-ESRD care may result in accelleration of kidney damage and earlier development of or worsening of complications of CKD, such as anemia, loss of appetite and fatigue. In short, progression to ESRD or early death may become inevitable. Cardiovascular complications such as heart enlargement and heart [...]

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FAQ’s Part II

March 27, 2009

What are the signs and symptoms of CKD? Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help people detect it early enough to get treatment. Signs and symptoms of CKD include: Changes in urination – making more or less urine than usual, feeling pressure when urinating, changes in the color of urine, foamy or bubbly urine, [...]

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) Part I

March 26, 2009

I have been meaning to share some FAQ’s on kidney failure these past few days. Though I wasn’t able to get the chance because of my dialysis schedule. But finally, I am posting this now to promote awareness on kidney failure. My heartfelt thanks to the Philippine Society of Nephrology, where I got this information, [...]

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Summer is Here

March 24, 2009

It’s summertime once again and the time for outings, picnics, and beaches is at hand. If you would tune in to the weather report each day, temperatures averages at around 35 degrees Celsius. Good for people who badly needs sunshine, or a tan maybe. But BAD for us suffering from kidney failure. Why?… It is [...]

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Greatest Surprise

March 23, 2009

It was May 23, 2003 when I was first diagnosed with kidney failure. I was hospitalized for a simple nosebleed and one thing led to another until my doctor told me the bad news. It’s not that bad actually, for I learned early in life to accept the unexpected things that come on my way. [...]

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Kidney Failure at a Glance

March 22, 2009

What is chronic kidney disease?What is kidney failure? Kidney failure is a condition where the kidneys stop working normally. There are two kinds of kidney failure: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In both conditions, the kidneys fail to efficiently remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. Imbalances in the amounts [...]

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