What To Expect When Living On Dialysis

Life Expectancy

With kidney failure, dialysis is necessary for the rest of a patient’s life, or until they can obtain a kidney transplant. Life expectancy on dialysis varies widely, as other medical conditions and how well the patient follows the treatment plan must be taken into account. Typically, a patient can expect to live five to ten years on dialysis, although there are documented cases of patients living up to twenty or even thirty years. Patients must consult with their health care teams to determine how to extend their life expectancy on dialysis while still taking care of themselves and remaining healthy.

Comfort During Treatment

Patients can expect a relatively normal and comfortable life between dialysis sessions. During sessions, patients may experience mild discomfort when the needle is inserted into their access point, but many do not. The treatment itself is typically painless, though some may find their blood pressure drops, which does have potential side effects. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cramps. The good news, however, is frequent dialysis helps make these issues disappear. Hospitals will typically make the rooms in which patients receive dialysis as comfortable as possible. Patients doing these treatments at home can also make their stations comfortable.