Kidney Failure

Beat The Heat

April 15, 2009

Summer is one of the seasons we dialysis patients dread. It’s because the intense heat that this season brings makes us want to drink more water to quench our thirst. This is not possible for us patients because we cannot get rid of the excess water we take due to our malfunctioning kidneys. If we [...]

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FAQ’s Part IV

April 6, 2009

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 [...]

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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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