Renal Unit

Renal Unit Renal-Unit7

Kidney disease is complex. As a patient you will have many questions. Our experienced staff will help you manage your disease. Our goal is to help you to live well with kidney disease.

Your Hemodialysis team includes: Yourself, family and support people, doctors, nurses, clerks, clinical resource nurse, dietitian, social worker, pharmacist.

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Common questions for patient's recieving Renal Unit Care

Why am I the most important team member?

Your team is busy caring for many patients, but you take care of just one – yourself. You are the leader of your healthcare team. Learn all you can about your illness and its treatment. All the other people on the team work together to help you manage your kidney disease.

My family and I are having a hard time adjusting to our new lifestyle. Who can I talk to about this?

There are many changes in your lifestyle when you start dialysis. It can mean a change in your finances, your employment, the place where you live and your energy level. If you or your family are feeling overwhelmed and want to talk with someone about these changes a Renal Unit Social Worker will assist you.

Do I need a Family Doctor?

You will need to keep your family doctor, and continue to see them for your yearly physicals. Please remember to remind them that you are receiving dialysis treatment.

What about my medications?

Most medications that are required for treatment will be covered by:

1. Private drug plans (i.e. Blue Cross)

2. Third party insurers (Veteran’s Affairs, FNIHB)

3. Provincial Pharmacare (you will need to reach your deductible first)

However, some renal related Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications necessary for treatment may not be covered by your plan. Some examples are Calcium Carbonate, Ferrous Sulphate and kidney related multivitamins. For now, these OTC medications will be provided to you with no extra cost. Do not take any OTC medications before speaking to your pharmacist or Dr. Riche. If you have questions about your medications, please talk to the pharmacist at your drugstore or the renal unit pharmacist.

What if I cannot afford my Pharmacare Deductible?

You may be able to have your deductible lowered if your income now is a lot lower than the year before. You can call the Manitoba Pharmacare Program toll free at 1-800-297-8099 with questions about this. The Renal Unit Social Worker can help you with this. You can ask any team member to contact the social worker to talk with you.

What are Blister Packs?

Blister packs are an easier way of sorting out your medication by day and time so they are easier to take. If you ask, most pharmacies will put your medication in blister packs for you.

Can I take herbal supplements?

Please check with doctor or dietician before you take any herbal supplements, as some are high in potassium. Herbal supplements may not work well with your regular dialysis medication.

What about traditional healing?

If you are taking part in traditional healing practices or are currently taking traditional medications please let the dialysis staff know.

How is my dialysis schedule decided?

There are many things that are considered in deciding your dialysis treatment schedule (where you live, your health, if you work, etc). We will try to give you a treatment schedule that works for you. However, schedules sometimes need to be changed. There are many people taking dialysis and we must provide the safest care for everyone. If the dialysis unit needs to make a schedule change then we will give you as much notice as possible.

What happens if I need to change a shift?

You may need to change one of your treatment times for a medical appointment or something personal like a wedding or a graduation. As soon as you know that you need to change your schedule, please phone the Clinical Resource Nurse or the Unit Clerk. We will try really hard to change your schedule. In order to make this change happen we usually have to ask another patient to switch with you.

Do I need to watch how much I drink?

Most people on dialysis need to be careful with what they drink. The dietitian will review what and how much you are able to drink. This is called your fluid restriction. Because your kidneys are not working like they used to, most of what you drink will stay inside your body until your dialysis treatment. Extra fluids can cause high blood pressure, swelling, shortness of breath, and added stress on your heart. Remember that it is hard to limit how much you drink if you eat too many high salt foods or if your blood sugars are too high (greater than 15 mmol/L). These two things can make you very thirsty.

Is following a dialysis diet important?

Yes. Since your kidneys no longer work (or work very little), the dialysis diet helps control the build-up of food wastes and extra fluids. Your diet plan has been developed by the dietitian to ensure that your nutritional needs (protein, calories, other vitamins and minerals) are being met. Since people come in different shapes and sizes with different medical conditions your diet plan is made especially for you. Although the diet seems difficult to follow at times, the closer you follow your diet restrictions the better you will feel.

What happens if I become sick between treatments?

Should you become extremely ill between treatments (i.e. shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, high temperature, shivers/chills) go to your nearest Emergency Room. Make sure you tell the Emergency Room staff you are a dialysis patient as it may affect the care you need. Take your blister packs or medication list with you. Do not come to the dialysis unit, as the dialysis unit is not equipped to provide emergency care.

For minor illness (earache, minor coughs, etc), follow up with your family doctor. Please make sure you tell your family doctor or walk-in doctor you are a dialysis patient. Remember to take your blister packs or medication list with you

Are there supplies I should keep at home?

You should try to always have a supply of clean gauze and surgical paper tape at home with you.

What about my dialysis dressing?

Keeping the dialysis line site covered at all times helps reduce the risk of infection. If the dressing becomes loose at home just add tape to secure it. If this dressing falls off please cover your site with clean gauze. If the dressing becomes wet, please reinforce it with gauze and tape. If you do not have any supplies you may need to go to your nearest Emergency Room.

What if I am bleeding from my dialysis site?

If the needle site is bleeding cover it with a band-aide and apply pressure for 10 to 15 minutes. Leave band-aids on the site for 6 hours and then remove. If the bleeding still hasn’t stopped go to your nearest Emergency Room.

What if my Dialysis line is pulled out?

If the dialysis line is completely pulled out apply pressure if bleeding and cover the site with a band-aid or gauze. Please call the Renal Unit as soon as possible and leave a message, as the dialysis line will need to be replaced before your next dialysis treatment Be prepared to come in at least 3 hours early as the line replacement takes time. If the dialysis line is partly pulled out tape it in place and call the Renal Unit as soon as possible and leave a message. The line will need to be fixed or replaced.

Should I have a medic alert bracelet?

We recommend that you use a medical alert device. Information pamphlets are available from the Renal Unit staff.

Can I travel?

In Manitoba:

To travel to another dialysis unit in Manitoba arrangements must be made through the Manitoba Renal Program Community dialysis nurse. To request a treatment with them you need to call (204) 787-7950 and ask to speak to the community nurse. You must ask if they can provide treatment at the location and time you are requesting. You may require certain blood tests to be done before they will let you come to their unit. This is one of many reasons that we need to know your plans approximately one month ahead of when you want to travel.

Out of Province:

You can travel, but a lot of planning is required. If you want to travel to another province, or to another country, you must call the Dialysis Unit where you want to go, to see if they are able to give you a dialysis treatment. Ask if there are any personal financial costs to going to their unit. You may require certain blood tests to be done before they will let you come to their unit. This is one of many reasons that we need to know your plans approximately 3 months ahead of when you want to travel. If the out of province dialysis unit can give you your treatments, they will want to know who to contact in Brandon for your dialysis information. Give them the name of the Brandon Social Worker or the Brandon Clinical Resource Nurse. They will help make sure all of the required medical information is sent.