Adventures in Dialysis
The Punctual Patient: There for Dialysis
Why you should comply with going to and staying the whole amount of time at dialysis treatments.
Fork & Filter: A Day in Dialysis Eating
A day in the life of my dialysis food journal. I give you my go-to choices of meals I eat morning, lunch and dinner including snacks. I offer links to my choices and in some cases, nutritional facts.
Diabetes I'm sweet, ESRD I'm salty
We're going to address the dual diagnosis of Diabetes and ESRD. Its much more common than you think both with dialysis and non-dialysis patients. The struggle is real! Below are some real facts about what its about and what some helpful solutions are, or where to find them.
We Dialyse at Dawn : CKD and Dialysis
Dealing with CKD and Dialysis. There are several challenges that people with these diagnoses face. There are also various resource links to help you out, if you need and want it.
The part-time job that I never applied for
We're dealing with "The Invisible Social and Emotional Toll that Treatment Takes On a Person".
There were new rules to live (and eat) by, a new means to stay alive, a whole different routine to follow(and strictly so) and even more tests.
Mental Health and Chronic Illness
Coping with anxiety, asking for help, and the importance of having a supportive care partner.
Fighting "Brain Fog"
Some dialysis patients get "brain fog" after or even during dialysis treatments. It's a problem for some and there are ways to combat it.
Coffee and Cocktail Culture on Dialysis
How to safely navigate cafes, bars, and social events without overloading on fluid restrictions or restricted minerals.
Why A Vascular Access Surgeon or Diagnostic/Interventional Radiologist?
Defines fistula and graft first. Then talks about why you'd need to see one of them. Then it explains the various reasons for needing one and ends with resources.
3 Cheers for the Caregiver!
The topic is caregivers and their role in our lives. The caregivers are the unsung heroes. Whether its family, a friend, a significant other, a spouse or someone from an agency, they're there when you need them.
Your dialysis bloodwork results,... huh?
Hemodialysis lab tests are vital tools that show how well your treatments are cleaning your blood, balancing your body's chemistry, and managing your overall health and prognosis. Tracking these numbers helps your medical team fine-tune your dialysis schedule and medications to keep you feeling your best. (Your dialysis nephrologist and renal dietician will inform you of this information periodically).
The 5 Stages of Kidney Disease
The five stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) measure declining kidney function using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Renal Eating
The Thirst Games: finding your way with fluids
8 practical tips to manage fluid restrictions and dry mouth between sessions because strict fluid limits and dry mouth can be tough to handle, but using simple, everyday tricks can help you manage your thirst without drinking extra liquids.
8 Renal Diet Myth Busters!
A renal diet is often perceived as an incredibly restrictive set of rules. However, current research and the KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition in CKD show that many feared foods can actually be safely enjoyed with proper portion control and preparation.
Top 20 foods to avoid if your on dialysis
Avoid these foods if you have CKD, ESRD, or are just concerned for your kidneys.
(CAVEAT:Each Renal Dietician has their own views of the ingredients listed here. There are different schools of thought (and even that has evolved over time) on what are good choices and what to avoid. ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR RENAL DIETICIAN FOR WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.)
Get That Potassium Outta There!
Leaching is a cooking technique that pulls potassium out of high-potassium vegetables (like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams) by soaking and boiling them. This process can reduce the potassium content of these vegetables by 50% to 75%, allowing dialysis patients to safely enjoy restricted foods in controlled portions.
Potassium Prison: Doing time on a low-K diet.
Hemodialysis patients must carefully monitor their potassium intake. Because dialysis removes excess potassium, levels can spike dangerously between treatments, risking heart rhythm issues or a heart attack. Balancing diet, dialysis frequency, and specific medical advice is essential.
"Where ya gonna get the waaater?"
A fluid is generally defined as any food or beverage that is liquid at room temperature. This includes obvious drinks, as well as semi-solid foods that melt when they reach body temperature, and foods with very high water content.
Keeping your Phosphorus in Check
Today we have phosphorus on the menu. What is it, what is it for, why do "we" have to limit it and how? All you could want in a blog(and probably more!). Let's take a walk on the phos-side.
Dialysis-Friendly Snacks
Dialysis-Friendly Snacks: Sweet and savory treat ideas that satisfy cravings without compromising your lab numbers.
Watch out for that sodium.....
**DISCLAIMER: I am focusing this mostly for patients doing hemodialysis because that is the perspective I am personally coming from. I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL
The recommended range for maximum sodium intake for a hemodialysis patient is typically between 1,500 mg and 2,000 mg per day. This limit (often generalized as < 2,000 mg per day or roughly 1 teaspoon of salt) prevents excessive thirst, fluid buildup, and severe increases in blood pressure between treatments.(*Sodium limits are critical to managing weight gain and cardiovascular strain. )
Dialysis,Caffeinated & Shaken
"Coffee and Cocktail Culture on Dialysis:" Explore how to safely navigate cafes, bars, and social events without overloading on fluid restrictions or restricted minerals.
Albumin, what's the hype?
So, why's this stuff important? Albumin's a big deal for your health. Doctors usually check it in blood tests to see how your liver and kidneys are doing, and if you're getting enough nutrients.
Protein, protein, protein!
We're diving into why hemodialysis patients need to keep their protein levels up for optimal health (along with regular dialysis treatments). A higher protein intake is crucial during hemodialysis to replace lost proteins and amino acids, prevent muscle breakdown, and reduce the risk of fatigue, infection, and hospitalization. Dialysis is a physically demanding process that breaks down cellular protein and strips vital nutrients from your blood, so prioritizing your protein intake is critical for several key reasons.