Living with Dialysis: A Tough Journey
Dialysis, an artificial kidney-blood cleaning process, poses significant challenges and impacts individuals’ lives in profound ways.
Dealing with Big Needles and Machines
- Vascular Access Challenges:
Establishing vascular access for dialysis involves a large needle inserted into a vein in the arm for hemodialysis or a surgically created arteriovenous fistula. These access points can predispose individuals to infections like bloodstream infections or catheterrelated infections due to their invasive nature.
- Machine Dependence:
Hemodialysis entails being connected to a machine for hours during each session, where blood is purified outside the body. This process, while lifesaving, can be physically uncomfortable and emotionally taxing.
- Struggles During and After Frequency and Duration of Sessions:
Patients typically undergo hemodialysis two to three times weekly, spending several hours per session.
This prolonged time commitment affects daily life and can lead to fatigue, weakness, and nausea postdialysis.
- Health Complications:
Dialysis can cause various complications like drops in blood pressure (hypotension), calcium imbalances, muscle cramps, and anemia due to the removal of essential substances from the blood during the process.
Feeling Down and Dependent
- Psychological Impact:
Extended periods undergoing dialysis often lead to psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, stemming from the significant life changes and ongoing medical procedures. The dependency on the machine for survival affects patients’ sense of independence and selfreliance.
- Infection Risk:
Dialysis machines, if not properly maintained, pose a risk of infections like hepatitis and HIV due to potential contamination or improper sterilization.
Hoping for Better Solutions
- Innovative Treatments
Ongoing research aims to develop less invasive and more comfortable dialysis techniques, such as wearable or implantable devices, to reduce patients’ discomfort and improve their quality of life. The quest is to discover alternatives that mitigate the side effects and limitations of conventional dialysis.
- Looking Forward
Scientists and medical experts are tirelessly working towards developing bioengineered kidneys and novel therapies that simulate natural kidney functions, aiming to revolutionize the field and offer more effective, less intrusive treatments.
In Conclusion
The hardships faced by individuals undergoing dialysis are multifaceted, encompassing physical discomfort, psychological distress, and a loss of autonomy.
The necessity for continued research and the development of innovative therapies is critical to alleviate these challenges and enhance the lives of dialysis patients.
