A “New Normal”: Life on Dialysis - The First 90 Days - Helpful Guide for New Dialysis Patients

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Sarah

A practical booklet offering supportive guidance for people who have recently started dialysis and for their families. It explains what to expect during the first months after kidney failure, including how dialysis works and the differences among hemodialysis, in-center care, home dialysis, and peritoneal dialysis. The text addresses emotional health, coping with depression and stress, physical health and lab testing, support systems, communication with the care team, and planning for employment and travel.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages66

Reading Time2 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Introduction

What to Expect in the First Few Months

What is Dialysis and How Does it Work?

Hemodialysis

In-Center Dialysis

Home Dialysis

Peritoneal Dialysis

Passing the Time During Dialysis Treatments

Emotional Health

Challenges Associated with Being on Dialysis

Ways to Cope

Depression

Quality of Life

Physical Health

Lab Tests

Other Diagnostic Tests

Support Systems

Your Spouse or Life Partner

People Who Are Already on Dialysis

Family Members, Friends and Co-Workers

Spiritual Support

When There is a Child in the Family

Communicating with Your Dialysis Care Team

Employment, Travel and Activities of Daily Living

Can I Travel While on Dialysis?

Can I Continue to Work While on Dialysis?

Children on Dialysis

Kidney Failure and Your Child’s Growth and Development

Summary

Suggested Resources

Helpful advice from people on dialysis A “New Normal”: Life on Dialysis—The First 90 Days A “New Normal”: Life on Dialysis—The First 90 Days Supported by an educational grant from Dedication To all people with kidney failure, and their families, who have recently entered the new and unfamiliar world of dialysis. Special thanks to: The many people who shared their experiencesand innermost thoughts about their lives on dialysis. Charles Corr, PhD, for contributing to this book. “My friends and family are an emotional support, but in the end, I have to depend on me. It ’s my responsibility, my body, my life.” Table of Contents Introduction ..................................... 4 What to Expect in the First Few Months ........... 6 What is Dialysis and How Does it Work?....... 7 Hemodialysis ............................... 7 In-Center Dialysis ........................... 9 Home Dialysis ............................. 10 Peritoneal Dialysis.......................... 12 Passing the Time During Dialysis Treatments....................... 14 Emotional Health ............................... 15 Challenges Associated with Being on Dialysis......................... 15 Ways to Cope ............................. 17 Depression ................................ 20 Quality of Life ............................. 20 Physical Health ................................. 21 Lab Tests ................................. 29 Other Diagnostic Tests...................... 33 Support Systems ................................ 35 Your Spouse or Life Partner ................. 36 People Who Are Already on Dialysis ......... 36 Family Members, Friends and Co-Workers.......................... 37 Spiritual Support ........................... 39 When There is a Child in the Family ......... 40 Communicating with Your Dialysis Care Team .... 42 Employment, Travel and Activities of Daily Living .......................... 45 Can I Travel While on Dialysis?.............. 46 Can I Continue to Work While on Dialysis?........................ 48 Children on Dialysis ............................ 50 Kidney Failure and Your Child’s Growth and Development ........................ 51 Summary ...................................... 54 Suggested Resources ............................ 55 3 Living on dialysis can be challenging. Many issues demand your attention as you develop“new normals” in your life. This booklet can help you learn about what to expect and how to address the issues you might face. Introduction You have been living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for some time. Now your kidneys have failed and you have recently started dialysis treatments. Having to go on dialysis was no doubt difficult for you and your loved ones. However, living with a chronic illness often helps people learn how to cope with new and unfamiliar situations. This booklet is for new dialysis patients. The information comes from people who have recently started dialysis. Topics covered include adjusting to dialysis, what to expect in the first few months, emotional and physical health while on dialysis, support systems, managing cardiovascular disease and other conditions, lab values, employment, travel, daily living activities and more. People cope with difficult times differently. The first few weeks are usually the hardest, but as time passes people adjust to new situations in their own ways. “I was afraid. Now I am doing fine and am very comfortable doing peritoneal dialysis.” “I wasan emotional mess but I am coping.”“I felt scared. I feel good about it now.” “When I originally discovered that my kidneys were bad, I was devastated…. The first time I had dialysis I had a hard time watching my blood leave my body. Now that I have been doing dialysis for 10 months, I am fine with it. “Dialysis can be hard to cope with, but it’s worth it to have one more day with your family.” Most of us feel fear and u

FAQs

Who is this booklet for and what does it cover?

It is for new dialysis patients and their families. It covers adjusting to dialysis, what to expect in the first few months, emotional and physical health, support systems, managing related conditions, lab values, and daily-life topics like work and travel.

What is dialysis and how does it help the body?

Dialysis is a treatment that performs key functions of healthy kidneys when they cannot keep you healthy. It removes waste products and extra salt and water, helps maintain safe levels of blood chemicals, supports blood pressure control, and helps correct anemia through red blood cell production.

What are the main types of dialysis discussed?

The booklet discusses hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. It also breaks hemodialysis into in-center dialysis and home dialysis, and includes peritoneal dialysis as its own category.

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Sarah