What To Expect
Here is what a typical treatment session is like:
- A dialysis technician checks your weight, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, listens to your lungs, and writes them down in a treatment log.
- The technician sets up your dialysis machine, tests alarms, and sets a fluid removal goal for the treatment (this tells the dialysis machine how much water to take out of your blood).
- The blood pump is turned on. You’ll see the pump turn and slowly pull your blood to the machine. The dialyzer will turn pink.
- The dialysis machine may beep or buzz. It has alarms to protect your safety and alert the care team. The machine will beep if:
- A needle comes loose.
- Your blood pressure changes a lot.
- You bend or kink the blood tubing.
- If an alarm goes off, a nurse or technician will check the machine.
- When the timer chimes, your treatment is done.
- The staff uses saline to rinse back your blood, shuts off the machine, and takes out the needles.
- Your blood pressure is taken one more time, and the staff makes sure you can get up without feeling faint or dizzy.
- You will need to obtain your weight post-treatment.
- Once you’re ready, you can leave.
