There are many effective treatment options for kidney disease. Talk to your doctor about these options:
- Peritoneal Dialysis
- Hemodialysis
- Kidney Transplantation
There is no one treatment option that is best for everyone. There are pros and cons to all three treatments. All of them work—you and your doctor just need to decide which one is best for you.
Hundreds of thousands of people today are living well on dialysis or with a transplant. Each of them faced a decision like yours. And everyone who has been there will tell you the same thing: No matter which option you choose, you will feel better with treatment. You will have more energy for activities like work, hobbies and time with family and friends.
Over the course of your life you may use more than one therapy. If you are already using one form of therapy and your health or lifestyle needs change, you may consider switching to one of the other treatments.
Before you choose which therapy is right for you, it helps to talk to people who are in the same situation. Talk to someone currently on dialysis or who has a transplanted kidney. Ask questions and discuss your options with a health care professional. You may be surprised how well most people have fit dialysis into their lives.
Most people have to start out with dialysis, even if they want a transplanted kidney. That’s because there aren’t enough donated kidneys to go around. You can also choose not to have any treatment. However, without treatment, you will die. While it is understandable that people who feel really sick may sometimes feel like they want to die, it is important to know that treatment will help you feel better.
