What are the dangers of HemoDialysis?
Dialysis is a life saving treatment. And not without its own risks and changes to my body.
Hypotension: A common issue during dialysis sessions, hypotension can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and fatigue due to the rapid removal of fluid from the blood.
Muscle Cramps: Patients may experience painful muscle cramps as a result of fluid and electrolyte shifts during the dialysis process.
Infection: The use of catheters or access points increases the risk of infections, including bloodstream infections and localized infections at the access site.
Access Site Complications: Issues may arise from the vascular access method used, including clotting, narrowing (stenosis), or aneurysm formation at the access site.
Electrolyte Imbalance: Hemodialysis can lead to imbalances in essential electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and phosphate, necessitating careful monitoring and management.
Anemia: Chronic kidney disease and the dialysis process can contribute to anemia, requiring treatments such as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents or iron supplements.
Bone Disease: Patients on long-term dialysis may develop renal osteodystrophy, resulting from imbalances in calcium and phosphate metabolism.
Cardiovascular Issues: Hemodialysis can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart disease, due to fluid overload, hypertension, and electrolyte abnormalities.
Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome (DDS): This rare complication occurs when there is too rapid a change in urea levels in the blood, leading to symptoms like headache, nausea, and, in severe cases, seizures or coma.
Psychosocial Effects: The demands of a hemodialysis schedule can burden mental health, leading to issues such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
These things are complicated when there are multiply underlying and front and center medical issues a person has. As an otherwise healthy person (no other diseases) these are all new risks that increase the longer I am on dialysis.
