Frequently Asked Questions About Dialysis

These are the questions that come up most often in the first months — the practical ones people tend not to ask during an appointment because they seem too small. None of them are too small.

Scheduling, missed sessions, and travel

How often will I need treatment? Most people having dialysis at a center attend three days a week, with each session commonly running three to five hours. Your nephrologist sets the length based on your body size, how much kidney function you have left, and your laboratory results.

Can I shorten a session if I am busy? Cutting a session short leaves waste and fluid behind, and the effect accumulates. If the timing of your slot is a recurring problem, ask about moving to a different shift rather than trimming treatment.

What if I miss a session? Tell your center as soon as you know. Between sessions, fluid and potassium build up, and potassium in particular affects your heart rhythm — this is the reason missed sessions are taken so seriously. Your team can often fit you in on another day, but they can only do that if they know.

Can I travel? Yes, with planning. Dialysis away from home is arranged routinely, but places are limited and centers need notice. Start six to eight weeks ahead, and longer for holiday periods.

Diet and fluid questions patients ask most

Why is fluid restricted when I am thirsty? Dialysis can only remove so much fluid at a time safely. Arriving with a large amount of extra fluid means it has to come off faster, which is what causes cramping, dizziness and nausea during treatment.

Does soup count as fluid? Yes. So do coffee, soft drinks, ice, gelatin and the broth in a bowl of noodles. Anything liquid at room temperature counts towards your allowance.

Can I use a salt substitute to cut down on salt? No — not without asking first. Most salt substitutes replace sodium with potassium, which is the mineral you are usually trying to limit. Use herbs, garlic, ginger, onion, calamansi, pepper and vinegar for flavor instead.

Do I still need to watch my diet if I am on dialysis? Yes. Dialysis replaces some of your kidneys’ filtering, not all of it, and it cannot remove all the extra phosphorus from your blood. Diet is what keeps the load between sessions manageable.

Should I eat less protein? Usually the opposite. People on hemodialysis are generally encouraged to eat good-quality protein, because dialysis itself removes some. Your dietitian will set the amount — do not cut it back on your own.

When to call your center

Between sessions, call your center rather than waiting for your next visit if you notice any of the following.

• Bleeding from a needle site that does not stop with steady pressure
• Redness, warmth, swelling, pus or pain around your access site, or a fever
• No vibration or buzz when you check your fistula or graft, or a clear change in it
• Shortness of breath, or swelling in your legs, face or abdomen
• Sudden weight gain over a day or two
• Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids or medicines down
• Confusion, fainting, or a heartbeat that feels irregular

This website cannot be used to get urgent care, and messages sent through it are not monitored continuously. If you are having a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call your center by phone.

If your question is not here, write it down as you think of it and bring the list to your next session. Questions about your own treatment — your prescription, your results, your medicines — are for your own care team, who have your history in front of them.