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Palliative Care
Patients with CKD have the option of palliative care, which is comprehensive care that provides relief from kidney failure symptoms. The goal is to provide quality of life for you and your family, controlling your symptoms through medication and other therapies. This is a team approach and includes your doctors, advanced practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other specialists.
Palliative care can be provided alongside restorative treatment (i.e. dialysis, transplant) and at any other point of your CKD journey.
Conservative kidney management
We understand how difficult and life-altering CKD can be. It’s important to empower yourself with information and know your options. If you choose not to partake in dialysis or transplant, the alternative is conservative kidney management.
Conservative kidney management means that you and your health care team will continue to manage your CKD without dialysis or transplant and focus on symptom control and slowing loss of kidney function. You may selectively choose conservation kidney management (no desire to go through dialysis) or you this may be your only option because you are not a good candidate for dialysis or transplant. The focus of conservative kidney management is to provide the best quality of life for as long as possible.
Hospice Care
Hospice care is medical and emotional care for patients with a terminal condition and a life expectancy of six months or less. This can be provided in the home, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or a hospice facility. The goal is to provide comfortable, compassionate care for as long as possible.
Advanced directive
Advanced directive gives all legally competent adults the right to make decisions today about future health care treatments they would want if they could not communicate in the future. There are two kinds of advanced directive:
Living will: list which life-sustaining medical treatments you want or don’t want if you become unable to make decisions. Examples include CPR, dialysis, and mechanical ventilation.
Durable health care power of attorney or health care proxy: determines who you wan to make healthcare and medical choices for you if you are unable to convey your wishes.
Common Emotions about kidney failure
It’s normal to have concerns about kidney failure and beginning treatment. Here are some common worries about kidney failure:
How long can I live?
How will I feel?
How will I pay for treatment?
What about my sex life?
How ill others react to me?
Can I still work?
How ill others react to me?
Can I still travel, exercise, and eat foods I like?
In addition to your physical health, it’s important to focus on your emotional/mental health. You may experience feelings of loss/grief, confusion, sadness, denial/shock, anger, anxiety, fear, and guilt. This is all normal. Please be mindful about your mental health and acknowledge any signs of depression. Depression is a serious medical condition and is very common in people with a chronic illness.
What’s in my control?
It helps to identify what you can and cannot control. Try to continue to do all of the activities that you normally do, build a strong support system, and set realistic goals with your CKD. Continuing with your employment/work can be advantageous because it helps you stay active and connected to the world around you.
It’s also important to understand your financial needs/resources and know your current insurance insurance coverage - Medicare, private health insurance, employer health insurance, COBRA, state programs veteran benefits, state kidney programs (where available).
Please remember that kidney disease is part of your life, not your whole life. Take things one step at a time and maintain social support from family/friends and keep doing activities you enjoy. Other action items:
Maintain a healthy diet
Exercise regularly
Travel when you can - it is possible!
Take your prescribed medications
You have health care professionals and other experts to support you and answer your questions. You are not alone in this journey so take advantage of the healthcare professionals and other experts that are here to support you and answer your questions.
HOW CAN INTERMED CONSULTANTS HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR KIDNEY CARE?
InterMed Consultants has been providing renowned kidney care in the Minneapolis area, as well as greater Minnesota, since 1979. From diagnosis to treatment, we provide extensive care for all of your CKD needs, including slowing down the progression of CKD, addressing additional problems associated with CKD, and educating patients and preparing them for all treatment options.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us (952) 920-2070.