Hi,
Thank you for your question.
Indeed, reaching total kidney failure and needing dialysis is a big event with a significant impact in your life, requiring in occasions huge modifications in your lifestyle. It can get in the middle of your work life (especially if you have a corporate or full-time job, because indeed each session takes half of your day); your social life; your family life; and your personal life, which can affect your mood and overall wellbeing.
This in indeed a challenge but not necessarily has to be a huge or impossible task in your life: by setting your mindset and actions into a positive one, that you can still perform and enjoy life despite dialysis, and with a supportive network and care providers, it is much simpler that it could seems.
You might need to adjust yourself to a new lifestyle but then try to do your activities as normal as possible when you are not on dialysis. If you like to go to the movies, still go. If you like to walk in the park, still do it. If you like sports, still do them, but double check with your doctor what level of activity can be appropriate for you. Many patients can continue practicing sports, just exerting certain cautions. You need to try to continue as healthy as possible, try to follow the “kidney diet”, which might not be as varied and palatable as your previous diet, but the effort pays out well. In my experience, most of my patients that live a more frugal life with diet control and fluid restriction, tend to live a healthier and longer life while on dialysis.
In short, get your treatment done while chatting and interacting with your peers having dialysis together with you (it helps in your mood and makes it more bearable), and after done, try to set your mindset into “back to normal life mode”, and then try to do the things you used to do you. It is not simple, but I trust you can do it. I have seen many patients doing it, especially if getting good social and medical support.
Travelling can be affected, but not necessarily needs to be avoided. You can get your dialysis done in foreign countries, but then patients get worried about getting infected with blood viruses or other infections. I understand their concern, and nothing is ever risk-free, but it is just matter of finding a reputable centre in which they feel comfortable and safe, especially for common travelers. Some patients that travel a lot do this.
Others opt for peritoneal dialysis which can be done manually at home or at the hotel and many of the vendors deliver the dialysis fluids for the therapy to your foreign address or hotel, so you do it yourself without worries of getting an infection in an unfamiliar environment and if you are worried about the quality of the dialysis centre. In short, find the option you feel comfortable with, get it done and continue enjoying your trip abroad.
Dr Francisco, wishing you the best possible health.
