DON’T LOOK BACK ON DIALYSIS
More cost, less life
Have you ever thought about how dialysis helps you stay alive? Your nephrologist has probably told you exactly what it does. To list a few of its functions:
- Removes and filters waste produces
- Diverts blood to a machine to be cleaned
- Removes excess fluid from the blood
- Control blood pressure
All this and more are what dialysis does to keep you alive – for some time. It truly is a machine that can stabilize your condition. Unfortunately, many patients confuse the term “stabilize” with the word “improve”. But, we will get to that later on. For now we’d like to delve into the cost of dialysis.
The cost of dialysis generally depends on 3 factors:
- Type of insurance (Medicare or private)
- Stage of kidney disease
- Type of dialysis that is needed
While dialysis services are covered by Medicare, there are other factors that have to be taken into account. According to doctor Sophie Wei, many people can even end up paying high fees, especially if it’s an emergency.
Now, you may be thinking that dialysis does not seem so bad. The government is covering 80% of the cost. Your condition is stabilized. However, your kidneys are not recovering. Nor do you have a normal lifestyle. Not to mention side effects such as low blood pressure, fatigue and muscle cramps and overall basic functions. Instead, your blood is drained from a machine that not only takes up your time, but also your
lifespan.
As a result, the average life of a dialysis patient is usually about 5 years. Sometimes even less.
A better alternative
Doctors have tried to find multiple alternatives to reverse end-stage kidney disease. Unfortunately, dialysis is a very profitable business for both clinics and private companies that provide the service. Hence, looking for an alternative may not be financially beneficial for them. This is where a kidney transplant can actually save your life.
Although kidney transplantation is a serious surgery that requires a period of recovery, it can, compared to dialysis, give you the opportunity to live a longer and more fulfilling life. Kidney transplant success rates are 98.4% in the hospitals that we work with. Research has also shown that performing as early as possible increases the lifespan of the kidney. If you’ve been on dialysis for too long, the damage to your kidney can increase twofold and cause unwanted medical problems. This will irreversibly lower your chances of undergoing a kidney transplant.
Here are just a few benefits of a kidney transplant:
- Live longer (a living donor kidney increases your lifespan by 15-20 years)
- Ability to enjoy a better quality of life
- Less restricted diet
- Improved sex life and fertility
- Not need for dialysis
- Less medical complications
- Reduced risk of death
Oxygen Blue’s network of international transplant clinics around the world can help you undergo a kidney transplant today.
Staying on dialysis can only keep you stable for 5 years. A kidney transplant can give you life for over 15-20 years. The choice is simple. Choose life.
Don’t risk your health on dialysis. Give yourself another choice. Choose a kidney transplant, today.