There are many types of renal replacement therapies, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis, and kidney transplant. The information here is for people on
hemodialysis, which may be called “dialysis” for short.
Hemodialysis treatments only replace a small part (less than 5% to 10%) of your healthy kidney function. How often you have hemodialysis and how long each treatment takes is different for everyone, and it can change over time.
Your health—and your life—depend on getting the right amount of hemodialysis.
How does having the right amount of hemodialysis help me?
Having the right amount of hemodialysis can help you:
- feel well
- have a good appetite with a normal weight for you
- feel like you don’t need dialysis even on the day you go for your treatment
- notice your skin looks healthier and less yellow
If you get enough hemodialysis, you should be able to do many of the things you did before kidney disease.
What happens if I don't get enough hemodialysis?
If you don’t get enough hemodialysis, you may have extra fluid that causes swelling in your legs and arms. This is called fluid overload.
Your blood also holds on to more of your body’s waste products, making it more likely that you'll feel sick. Too much of waste product in your blood is called
uremia.
Uremia and fluid overload can cause:
- weakness and feeling tired all the time
- shortness of breath
- high blood pressure between hemodialysis treatments
- blood pressure going down or dropping during hemodialysis
- higher risk for infection
- problems with bleeding
- poor appetite, nausea, and weight loss
- inability to exercise
- a bitter taste in your mouth
- yellow skin
- itchy skin
What happens if I shorter my hemodialysis?
It’s easy to think that coming off hemodialysis a few minutes early doesn’t matter. But shortening your treatment adds more stress to your body while your body is already weaker. This can lead to a shorter life.
This is why it's best for your health and well-being to:
- Get to your treatment on time.
- Stay on hemodialysis for your full time.
Do I need hemodialysis if I'm having a kidney transplant?
While you and your doctor decide if a kidney transplant is an option for you, follow your hemodialysis treatment plan.
If you’re on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, keep up your hemodialysis treatment. You’ll be in much better health when it’s time for the transplant.
If it’s hard to keep your appointments, ask your healthcare team if home dialysis is a good option for you.
How much time do I lose when I shorten my hemodialysis?
The chart below shows how many hours you lose each year when you stop a hemodialysis treatment early. Every minute counts.
Hemodialysis time lost with shortened treatments
|
|
Minutes shorter per treatment |
Minutes of treatment lost
per week |
Minutes of treatment lost
per month |
Minutes of treatment lost
per year | |
Hours lost
per year |
| 1 | 3 | 13 | 156 | → | 2.6 hours |
| 3 | 9 | 39 | 468 | → | 7.8 hours |
| 5 | 15 | 65 | 780 | → | 13 hours |
| 10 | 30 | 130 | 1,560 | → | 26 hours |
| 15 | 45 | 195 | 2,340 | → | 39 hours |
| 20 | 60 | 260 | 3,120 | → | 52 hours |
| 25 | 75 | 325 | 3,900 | → | 65 hours |
| 30 | 90 | 390 | 4,680 | → | 78 hours |
Adapted with permission from the Southern California Renal Disease Council, Inc. ESRD Network 18.
If you have questions about how much time you spend having hemodialysis, talk with your healthcare provider.
