What to Expect During Your First Hemodialysis Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Starting hemodialysis is a milestone moment. Knowing what to expect lowers anxiety and ensures a comfortable transition. Step 1: Pre-Treatment Check-In Upon arrival at the clinic (such as our Indiana Ave or TriCity location), a nurse will perform a quick check-in: Weight Measurement: Determines how much excess fluid needs to be removed. Vital Signs: Blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature checks. Step 2: Preparing Your Vascular Access Your treatment team will clean your access site (AV Fistula, Graft, or Catheter). If using a fistula or graft, two small needles are inserted into the access site to connect to the blood tubing. Step 3: The Dialysis Cycle During the 3- to 4-hour treatment: Your blood flows through the dialyzer to strip away excess fluid and dangerous waste (like urea and creatinine). You can read, sleep, watch movies, or use your tablet/phone. A nurse checks your blood pressure periodically to prevent sud...