If patients drink too much fluid, the excess can cause swelling of the limbs, or edema . Too much fluid can also cause heart or breathing problems, and make dialysis treatments harder on the patient. The patient's doctor and dietitian will explain how to help your loved one adjust food choices in relation to blood chemistries. Today, hemodialysis is the most common method for treating chronic kidney failure. Most hemodialysis patients dialyze at a center in an outpatient clinic or hospital.
Some patients choose to do hemodialysis at home.
Both home and in-center hemodialysis have pros and cons for patients to consider. Making a Case For Home Hemodialysis For Doug, home hemodialysis provides a sense of control over treatment and the ability to work normal hours. If you know about your health care and you're committed to following the treatment prescription, you can plan dialysis around your life instead of planning your life around the dialysis facility schedule. Doug says home hemodialysis allows him to feel healthier because he spends dialysis time in the comfort of his home with his wife and daughter or friends, rather than going to a clinic. An added benefit, he says, is eating a hot meal during dialysis.