Your journey with chronic kidney disease could result in you experiencing one type of treatment or all the different dialysis treatments at some point in time, as well as a one or more transplants.
Once you select a dialysis option, you should review whether it suits your lifestyle after a few months to ensure it is the best option for you. If you are unhappy speak to your doctor or nurse.
There is a summary of different treatment options on the Baxter Health Care my journey website. You can also see specific resources on the different sections Haemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis and Transplantation and Conservative care.
Some overall resources to help
What is dialysis – this is a simple video about what is dialysis, the different types and how it works. The majority of dialysis is done at home and people are encouraged to ask their medical providers about this.
Here is a link to a decision aid available you may find useful when trying to decide which treatment best fits your life.
Baxter Healthcare have also developed three key questions to help you decide which treatment suits your lifestyle.
Capacity and decision making in chronic kidney disease | Kidney Care UK – this is really useful to help you understand capacity for decision making. You can download it from the Kidney Care UK site or request a copy.
Ready Steady Go is a transition programme for young people moving into adult care. It provides support and questions for people to take to their consultation with their doctors. There is information for parents and carers of young children with kidney disease – see also our KIN carers resource section.
Haemodialysis
There are many sites which explain what haemodialysis is. Here are a few for you to have a look at different information:
Haemodialysis (HD) | Kidney Care UK – this is a clear and easy to read information leaflet about haemodialysis.
What is haemodialysis (HD)? – CKD explained summary of what haemodialysis is.
Home dialysis the advantages – National Kidney Federation (NKF)- summary of why home dialysis may be a good option for you.
Therapy Options – Home Haemodialysis | Baxter Renal Care – some videos on this site which explain incentre and home haemodialysis. American voice overs which you will either love or hate.
Shared Care is when people take care of their own haemodialysis (press the link and watch the excellent video from Kidney Care UK). The more you do for yourself the more control you have over your treatment and your life.
National Peer support for people on home dialysis – National Kidney Federation (NKF) peer support service for people thinking about or on home dialysis, and shared care.
If you are interested in the history of haemodialysis have a look at this really well written article History of haemodialysis – Chronic Kidney Disease Explained (ckdexplained.co.uk).
For information on choosing to stop dialysis, see our KIN Conservative Care Section.
Access for dialysis
Haemodialysis access with an arteriovenous fistula – this leaflet from Kidney Care UK explaina that to have haemodialysism you need access to your blood supply. This is usually achieved by creating a fistula, which is joining a vein to an artery with a small surgical procedure (usually but not always in your arm).
How to check your fistula and advice on needling | Kidney Care UK -leaflet on how to look after your fistula and when to report a problem.
You may have catheter inserted if you are unable to have a fistula created (or whilst you are waiting). Inserting your tunnelled haemodialysis catheter (permcath) | Kidney Care UK is an information leaflet to help you understand what is involved.
Diary of a kidney warrior – search for podcasts relevant to haemodialysis created by Dee Moore. More podcasts can also be found on Kidney Care UK website.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Lots of different sites offer information about peritoneal dialysis. This is a treatment you do at home, using a peritoneal catheter (tube into your abdomen). You can do peritoneal dialysis manually yourself or a machine can do the dialysis overnight. See the links to help you find information you need.
What is a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter?
Found this medical animation of peritoneal dialysis see what you think.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) | Kidney Care UK – explanation of peritoneal dialysis.
Peritoneal Dialysis | National Kidney Federation – a simple summary of what peritoneal dialysis is.
Peritoneal Dialysis at Home | Baxter Renal Care – includes a video of peritoneal dialysis both assisted and manual.
If you are interested in the history of peritoneal dialysis, have a look at this really well written article History of peritoneal dialysis (PD) – Chronic Kidney Disease Explained
Diary of a kidney warrior – search for podcasts relevant to peritoneal dialysis created by Dee Moore, podcasts also found on Kidney Care UK website.
For information on choosing to stop dialysis, see our KIN Conservative Care Section.
