Treatment of Kidney Failure

When kidney function gets significantly reduced due to kidney failure, the damage cannot usually be reversed. However, if the proper steps are taken early enough, then it could slow down the progress of kidney failure or even halt it altogether. The treatment for kidney failure differs depending on what phase the kidney failure is and other individual factors. For those whose kidneys no longer function well enough on their own without renal therapy, specialist will typically recommend either renal dialysis or a kidney transplant.

There are two kinds of dialysis—Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. Dialysis does some of the things a normal kidney does, such as: removes extra water from the body and removes the waste products that have built up in the blood.

• Hemodialysis is usually done in a dialysis center, however there are some patients who use this therapy at home. Nurses and technicians do your dialysis treatment.
• Peritoneal Dialysis is always done as a home therapy. This treatment is for patients who want to be more independent. You do your peritoneal dialysis at home and/or at work. You will see your doctor and nurse monthly.

A third option for kidney failure treatment is a kidney transplant. During transplantation a new, healthy kidney is implanted into the patient so that they can take over the function of the natural kidneys. This not only gives the patient relief from kidney failure symptoms, but it also frees the patients from dialysis treatment. The patient’s own kidneys are usually left in place unless there is an infection or if they will be harmful to the host. The recipient of a kidney transplant must take medicine for the life of the transplanted kidney to prevent rejection and must also go see the doctor regularly.

Recovery
During your recovery from kidney failure, you will probably need to take medicine, especially if you received a transplant, so you can prevent rejection. You must also visit your doctor regularly to monitor any changes. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a special diet to help support your kidneys and limit the work they must do. A dietitian may be the best, because they can analyze your current diet and suggest helpful lifestyle changes that include:

• Consume foods that contain lower potassium. Foods like bananas, oranges, potatoes and spinach are high in potassium, while apples, cabbage, carrots, and grapes are examples of low-potassium foods.
• Avoid salty products. Many foods that are quick and convenient contain high amounts of sodium. Frozen dinners, canned soups and fast foods are all examples of foods that are rich in salt.