Kidney Failure and its Management: Patients with CKD can lead a good life while being on dialysis or after having transplant if he or she gets regular treatment, maintains diet as prescribed by doctor, takes regular medicines and remain active.
Q: Is Chronic kidney disease curable?
A: Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease. There is no cure for kidney failure, but with treatment it is possible to live a long life. Having kidney failure is not a death sentence. People with kidney failure can live active life for years and continue to do the things they love.
Q: Is transplant the last resort if moving towards kidney failure?
A: Three major types of treatments are available for patients with kidney failure. They are haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. Hence, transplant is not the last resort for the CKD patients.
Q: If kidney transplant is unsuccessful (kidney is not responding as expected) what options does one have?
A: First of all, Rejections happen much less often nowadays. That’s because there have been many improvements in immunosuppressive medicines. Rejections can be acute or chronic. Once the grafted kidney fails, the person can opt for re-transplantation or dialysis.
Q: What precautions should a person take while on dialysis?
A: Regulate the amount of liquid intake, If not maintained this can lead to serious complication leading to build up excess fluid in your tissue, blood, and lungs. Avoid eating potassium and phosphorous rich food; also keep a check on the amount of salt being consumed. Don’t skip or shorten dialysis session and take medicine on time as prescribed.Take care of vascular access as suggested by doctor.
Q: Do one have to change eating habits or restrict on things that he or she eating, if getting dialysis?
A: Diet is an important part of the treatment plan. One will need to limit fluids and control the intake of certain foods in diet. Dietitian can prepare a personalized meal plan. One will need to have high protein foods, eat low sodium, low potassium and low phosphorus diet.
Q: Can a person lead a normal life while being on dialysis?
A: Yes,with their doctor’s permission, dialysis and transplant patients are encouraged to return to work. An exercise program approved by the doctor can increase strength and endurance, prevent fatigue, reduce stress and depression and can increase the overall quality of day-to-day living. Travel for kidney patients requires advance planning and prior appointment for dialysis slots should be confirmed after discussing your treating doctor.
Q: If any person is diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease at a young age, can he think of getting married having a family leading a normal life?
A: Yes, person can live a normal life though men with CKD have less chance to be father and women with kidney failure have high risk of complications during pregnancy but under strict supervision of doctor and their guidance one can get fruitful results.
Dr. Deepak Agarwal
Vice President Clinical Excellence
DCDC Health Services Private Limited, New Delhi
