Obesity, diabetes and hypertension are on the rise in this country. Because of this fact, kidney failure is too. There are 472,000 people in the United States who have kidney failure and 19,621 of them, live in Ohio. The numbers are expected to rise.
Patients who have kidney failure are forced to have dialysis in order to live. The majority of them go to a dialysis center, three times a week, for approximately four hours each visit.
The body is made to eliminate waste daily. Hemodialysis patients are often fatigued and do not feel well because their bodies are either building up waste or eliminating it quicker than their kidneys are used to.
In 2005, the FDA allowed for the first home hemodialysis machine. Patients are now able to do their treatments six days a week from the comfort of their own home. No more driving in snowy weather conditions. No more time away from the family.
“I absolutely love it,” Jennifer Beattie, from Cuyahoga Falls stated. “I feel like I have a portion of my life back. I can determine what I want to do, when I want to do it. I can decide how much fluid is taken off.”
Beattie loves her new lease on life. “I feel more human. There is no comparison. It has been transforming for me.”
Beattie’s husband gives her the treatments, every day. “He has been more than wonderful. He is tremendous and has no problem drawing blood.”
Doris Jackson has been giving her husband, Willie, treatments. She is a retired RN and does not mind.
“We love it!” she stated. “It only takes about an hour or two a day. We get to spend more time together. We just sit down, talk and relax while he’s on dialysis.”
Lorie Zinson, from DSI Dialysis in Akron explains why a partner has to be present. “The partner has to be willing to do it six days a week and put needles in their arms. They have to access their blood stream and that is hard for some people to do. If their blood pressure would drop suddenly and they become unconscious, there would be no one there.”
The home dialysis machine performs as well as those in a traditional center.
“The results are exactly the same as in lab values, but the problem with people who are on hemodialysis, is routinely they only get it three days a week” Zinson explained. “Home hemodialysis helps them to feel better because the waste products are removed more like your natural kidneys, which is daily.”
“Willie feels better,” Doris explained. Willie, age 72, has been on dialysis since 1995. He has been doing home dialysis since April 2008. “He has more energy and his diet is not as limited. He has a more liberal diet and fluid intake.”
“It is so freeing,” Beattie explained. “I would rather die than go back to transitional hemodialysis.”
If you would like more information on the portable hemodialysis machine for your home, contact DSI Summit Dialysis Center at 73 Massillon Rd. in Akron. Their number is 330-733-1861.
Green, Ohio —
