If you're diagnosed with kidney disease, especially in its early stages, your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes and medications to help protect your kidney function and slow disease progression. These steps may include:
However, as kidney disease progresses to kidney failure - when your kidneys can no longer effectively filter waste from your blood—you’ll need to explore additional treatment options.
Your provider will also outline your treatment options. As your kidney disease gets worse you may need different treatments. You can consider your options and ask questions ahead of time so you’re better prepared when your kidneys are no longer working well.
Medications can help manage conditions contributing to kidney failure and address symptoms related to reduced kidney function. These include:
Your provider may also want to adjust or change medications you take for other conditions, since your kidneys may not be filtering them properly.
If you have severe kidney failure, you may need dialysis to remove waste and fluids from your body, regulate levels of minerals and manage your blood pressure.
If you need dialysis, you may be able to choose from three options. You don’t have to pick one type and stick with it forever. You may start with one and change to another based on your needs and preferences. Talk to your health care provider for help deciding which type is best for you.
Dialysis options include:
Hemodialysis uses a machine to clean your blood. It accesses your blood vessels through an entry point in your arm, pumps your blood through a filter that removes toxins, solutes, salts and water, then returns the clean blood to your body.
You can have hemodialysis performed in an outpatient dialysis center. You’ll usually need dialysis three times a week for four hours each time, so it’s a big time commitment.
Many people prefer these dialysis sessions, though, because they feel more comfortable being monitored by staff. They also enjoy the social network at the dialysis center and form close relationships with their nurses and technicians.
You can do hemodialysis yourself, without leaving home. Sessions are typically either three times a week for four hours each time, or five to six times a week for two to three hours each time.
At home, you will need someone with you to monitor you during your session, and you will need to place needles into your blood vessel access points yourself.
Many people who do home hemodialysis have more energy and a better quality of life than those who do hemodialysis at an outpatient center.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) uses your own abdominal cavity to remove the toxins, solutes, salts and water from your blood. In this process, a catheter is inserted in your abdomen. Dialysis solution is placed in the abdomen through the catheter and your body naturally filters your blood.
You can use an automated machine to fill and drain your abdomen during the night while you sleep, so you don’t have to travel to a dialysis center or use a machine in the day. If you choose, you can perform the treatment during the day instead of overnight. With PD, you don’t need anyone to monitor you.
Many people who choose PD like the flexibility and freedom it offers.
In some cases, you might not need dialysis for long. If you injure your kidneys or have a medical problem like shock, disease or infection, dialysis can take over while they heal.
However, if you have end-stage kidney disease, you will need dialysis permanently. If that’s the case, you should be evaluated for a kidney transplant, which could give you the best survival odds and quality of life.
A kidney transplant may be the best long-term solution for some people with kidney failure. When possible, it is done prior to the need for dialysis. With a kidney transplant, surgeons place a healthy kidney from a donor inside your body to take over your kidney function. You can live well with one kidney and so can a living donor. Sometimes, kidneys come from organ donors who have died.
The transplant process includes:
Transplant is usually a good option for people who are healthy enough for major surgery. But there’s a waiting list for donated kidneys and it can take months to years to get a kidney transplant. People who have been on the list for the longest time generally get kidneys first, but age, location and blood type can also come into play.
Transplant surgery takes about three to four hours and many people start feeling better right away. You’ll probably stay in the hospital for several days. Blood tests can show how well your new kidney is working. While waiting for a transplant, dialysis can help manage kidney failure.
Living with end-stage kidney disease often requires lifestyle adjustments. You may need to find ways to balance treatment schedules with your work and family responsibilities. It can affect your relationships with loved ones.
It can also lead to stress and emotional challenges. It may help to:
Kidney disease is a major health challenge but you don’t have to face it alone. Banner Health is here to provide comprehensive care and support tailored to your needs. If you or a loved one is facing kidney issues, reach out to Banner Health today for expert guidance and care.
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