Question  

When will I start dialysis? 

 Answer 

 This will depend on your symptoms – if you can pass decent amounts of urine and you are not regularly experiencing nausea and/or vomiting and breathlessness, it is common for people whose kidney function is 5-10% to still manage without dialysis.  

Blood results are also important, especially if the potassium level in your blood is high even after treatment for this, you might be recommended to start dialysis as high potassium levels in the blood can be dangerous for the heart.  

 If you are worried you can speak to one of the kidney choices nurses by calling our office – 01772 522902. 

 The kidney choices team is here to support people who have low kidney function and provide information about treatment options such as dialysis – there are different types and dialysis can be done at home or in a dialysis unit. We can advise about symptoms of chronic kidney disease and help people live well even though they have low kidney function. 

  The kidney choices team are based at Royal Preston Hospital – contact number is 01772 522902 and email: Renal. Kidneychoicesteam@lthtr.nhs.uk 

Please note that it is a Monday-Friday service and we do not work on weekends or Bank Holidays. 

 There is also a member of the kidney choices team who is based at Westmoreland General Hospital for patients who live in the Morecambe Bay area – contact number is 01539 716618