I started my dialysis treatment on September 2003 and has been through it for almost seven years now. I have experienced so many things all that time, have seen fellow patients come and go , but still I’m at it up until now. A friend once asked me if I ever get tired of dialysis? Of course I do. But for someone who’s been through a lot and fought all the way, succumbing to weariness is [...]

Hypertension or high blood pressure runs in our family. Several of my relatives either died of a heart attack or stroke caused by hypertension that’s been left untreated. I had hypertension as early as my high school days, although I am completely unaware of it. It was just brought up to my attention six years ago, when I was first diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. It was both shocking and unbelievable for me at that [...]

I recently wrote an article on why dialysis patients must be sensible on their eating habits, and the equal importance of consulting with your Nephrologist and Renal Dietitian before starting a diet plan. This time, I’m writing about the basic minerals found in food that concerns a dialysis patient, like Protein, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, etc. You can work closely with your renal dietitian to decide on the meal plan that includes some of your favorite [...]

Diet and nutrition are two important things a dialysis patient must consider. Food gives you energy and helps your body repair itself Your blood picks up nutrients from your food and carries them to all your body cells. These cells take nutrients from your blood and put waste products back into the bloodstream. Good nutrition is the key to good health for everyone. It is especailly important for people with kidney disease. Even with the [...]

“Love is all we can take with us to the grave…” A bit morbid isn’t it? But I must admit that there’s a grain of truth in it. You can’t take money, clothing, and any earthly thing with you when you die. But what about love? Indeed you could take the love of your family and your friends with you to the other side, for it’s in your heart and soul and nothing could take [...]

CKD can go unnoticed because your kidneys have a lot of spare work capacity. Your kidneys may be able to lose more than 75 percent of their ability to function before you realize that anything’s wrong. Consequently, CKD can be quite advanced before it’s discovered. That spells trouble not only for your kidneys but for your cardiovascular system as well. The risk of cardiovascular problems — which mainly include heart attack and stroke — rises [...]

I was waiting for my turn at the dialysis clinic last Thursday when I overheard the conversations of the other waiting patients. Somebody has “Graduated” recently from kidney failure and dialysis treatment. In our clinic, and I’m guessing on others as well, “graduating” has two different meanings. One is that you’ve recently underwent kidney transplant, thus freeing you from the bonds of dialysis sessions; and the other is simply succumbing to the disease and passing [...]

How is dialysis done? Dialysis is done by using a special fluid called dialysate. Dialysate, a mixture of pure water and chemicals, is carefully controlled to pull wastes out of your blood without removing substances your body needs. A semipermeable membrane keeps the blood apart from the dialysate. This membrane lets the wastes and fluid in your blood flow through into the dialysate. Your blood cells and larger molecules, like protein that you need, cannot [...]