Ann stood in front of the dialysis center with a big smile on her face. She just had a dialysis treatment, and was waiting with another patient, Lydia, for transportation to get home. She felt good, kept a smile on her face, and spoke to people who did not speak back. Finally, Lydia, who did not speak to anyone, said, “How do you do this three times a week and still smile?”. Ann replied that: she woke up with enough strength to get another treatment to see another day; she is able kiss her children before she leaves for dialysis; she has time to take her neighbor, who is suffering with cancer a hot meal. Ann said she has her ups and downs, but her smile, to someone, may be the only one they get all day from anybody.
It is not always easy to stay positive in all situations. Surround yourself with like people, join a support group, read an uplifting book, watch movies and positive television programs. Keep smiling–it is just not good for the person that you smile at, but for you, too. Negativity breeds negativity! Stay positive!
The following health tips are retrieved from the Fresenius Kidney Care website (www.freseniuskidneycare.com).
Managing Your Time on Dialysis
It’s a common belief that dialysis can be all-consuming, but on average, dialysis will only take up about 10% of your time. That leaves a lot of hours for all the other things that are important to you!
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Home dialysis can mean fewer food restrictions, less medication, and more flexibility with treatment schedules.
7 tips for getting the most out of your time
- Schedule your dialysis treatments—even when you do your dialysis treatment at home, having a set schedule can make it easier to establish what’s really free time.
- Allot for your full dialysis session—including travel time to and from the dialysis center, and monthly meetings with your treatment team.
- Keep a calendar—electronically or on paper, so you don’t over schedule yourself—or miss out on something important.
- Create a routine for the big stuff—take your medicine at the same time, keep a regular bedtime, and make a habit of things like exercising and weekly grocery shopping, in addition to dialysis or doctor appointments.
- Make time for work, volunteering or a pastime you love—staying productive can be rewarding in many ways.
- Schedule some fun things—concerts, dinner parties, art lessons, gardening—if it’s important to you, block out the time for it. Planning simple pleasures like eating a favorite meal or watching a TV show can help brighten a treatment day.
- Utilize your treatment time—you’ll have downtime on dialysis, so use it for reading, browsing recipes, listening to your favorite music, going through mail, stretching, or writing in a journal. Some people also prefer nighttime (nocturnal) dialysis either at-home or in-center because it allows them more time during the day. If you’re considering nighttime treatments at a center, check to make sure they offer it.
Feel your best on dialysis
See why you can feel better, live longer and avoid the hospital when you stay for your full dialysis treatment.
Every dialysis minute counts
It’s critical to plan enough time to complete your full dialysis treatment that is recommended by your doctor. Even cutting your treatment short by 5 minutes can have a cumulative impact. You may not feel the effects of shortened or missed treatments immediately, but not getting enough dialysis allows waste to accumulate in your body over time—which can cause serious health complications. So make the time for treatment!
Need more reasons to stay for your full treatment?
Make sure you get quality rest
After treatment, you may feel a bit washed out. If you’re not getting enough sleep after dialysis treatments, it can cloud your decision making and throw you off your schedule. So, it’s important for you to get a reasonable amount of sound, restorative sleep every night.
How to get the most out of your sleep:
- Go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day
- Create an optimal sleeping environment—cool, quiet and dark
- Take a few moments to clear your head before you go to bed
- Don’t nap if you can—especially during dialysis treatment (unless it’s nocturnal dialysis)
- Exercise regularly, several hours before bed
- Eat light meals and drink only small amounts of liquid before bed
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine—they can disturb sleep
