CKD (CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE)
We need to take better care of ourselves!!!
When your doctor tells you that your GFR (Glomerular filtration rate) is down to 30% and that you need to start preparing for Dialysis, you all of a sudden want to know all there is to what I should be doing, you are now paying attention to terms such as creatinine levels, and End Stage Kidney disease. You now want to know about this GFR Calculator and how it applies to you.
| STAGE 1 | Kidney damage with normal kidney … | GFR of 90 or higher |
| STAGE 2 | Mild loss of kidney function | GFR of 60–89 |
| STAGE 3 | Mild to moderate loss of kidney … | GFR of 45–59 |
| STAGE 4 STAGE 5 | Moderate to severe loss of kidney … End Stage Renal Failure | GFR of 30–44 GFR of 15 or less |
GFR is the best measure of kidney function but both creatinine and GFR can be useful indicators of your kidney health. If GFR goes down, it’s a bad sign. If creatinine goes up, it’s a bad sign. In general, a “good” GFR number is above 60 and a “good” https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/can-my-gfr-get-better
The fear really steps in when you have to make the appointment for venous mapping to see if your arteries can handle the stress of the fistula being put into your arm.
I found it disconcerting that my discussion around dialysis only centered around Hemodialysis only, after talking with a family member who was already on Hemodialysis did I learn about the other options available to potential patients,
There are three different types of dialysis.
- Hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis. …
- Peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis involves surgery to implant a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter into your abdomen. …
- Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
What is dialysis?
The kidneys filter your blood by removing waste and excess fluid from your body. This waste is sent to the bladder to be eliminated when you urinate.
Dialysis performs the function of the kidneys if they’ve failed. According to the National Kidney Foundation, end-stage kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are performing at only 10 to 15 percent of their normal function.
Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine. This helps keep your fluids and electrolytes in balance when the kidneys can’t do their job.
There are three different types of dialysis.
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis. This process uses an artificial kidney to remove waste and extra fluid from the blood. The blood is removed from the body and filtered through the artificial kidney. The filtered blood is then returned to the body with the help of a dialysis machine.
This method requires your doctor to perform surgery to create an entrance point (vascular access) into your blood vessels. The three types of entrance points are:
- Arteriovenous (AV) fistula. This type connects an artery and a vein. It’s the preferred option.
- AV graft. This type is a looped tube.
- Vascular access catheter. This may be inserted into the large vein in your neck.
Hemodialysis treatments usually last three to five hours and are performed three times per week., and treatments are performed at a hospital, doctor’s office, or dialysis center..
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Peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis involves surgery to implant a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter into your abdomen. The catheter helps filter your blood through the peritoneum, a membrane in your abdomen. During treatment, a special fluid called dialysate flows into the peritoneum. The dialysate absorbs waste. Once the dialysate draws waste out of the bloodstream, it’s drained from your abdomen.
This process Is usually performed while you’re sleeping.
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Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
This therapy is used primarily in the intensive care unit for people with acute kidney failure. It’s also known as hemofiltration. A machine passes the blood through the tubing. A filter then removes waste products and water. The blood is returned to the body, along with replacement fluid. This procedure is performed 12 to 24 hours a day, generally every day
We need Organ Donors
It is important to know that the best solution for anyone suffering from severe kidney failure is to eventually have a kidney transplant. Kidney transplant surgery involves removing your affected kidneys (if removal is needed) and placing a functioning donated organ. One healthy kidney is all you need, so donors are often living. They can donate one kidney and continue to function normally with the other. According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 23,000 kidney transplants were performed in the United States in 2019.
There are over 114,927 Patients on the transplant waiting list, of which 95% need a kidney, and at last count there were 650,000 facing end-stage renal failure, and close to 500,00 on dialysis (https://transplants.org/get-informed/)
I am sharing this information because you wouldn’t believe how many people out here are just like I was ….not knowledgeable or not informed until someone shared information with me.
So this is a start.
If you know someone that can be helped by this short dialogue, then more information can be found at the links that are included here.
https://www.kidney.org/donation
BY: John D. McAllister
jmack1010@att.net
May 20th 2021