Medicare's "You Can Live: Your Guide For Living With Kidney Failure"

The dialysis machine controls how quickly your blood movesthrough the tubing and how much water is being removed.Some machines measure your blood pressure too. In a center, thenurse and technician monitor your vital signs, the amount offluid removed and machine settings during your treatment. Ifyou get dialysis at home, you and your care partner are taughthow to do your monitoring.Care of your Hemodialysis AccessAn access that works well will help keep you healthy. Membersof your hemodialysis team will teach you how to take care ofyour access. When you wake every morning, check for a strongpulse and a buzzing or rushing feeling in your access. This iscalled a “thrill” and is a sign of good blood flow. Also check youraccess for early signs of infection. Signs can be redness, swelling,or feeling warm to the touch. If you see signs of infection, can’tfeel your thrill, or have other problems with your access, callyour kidney doctor and treatment center right away.“Every morning,check for a strongpulse and abuzzing feeling inyour access.”You can help keep your access working well. Keep your accessclean and dry between treatments. Don’t let anyone take yourblood pressure, draw your blood, or put an IV into the arm orleg that has your access. Don’t wear jewelry or tight clothes on,over, or above your access. If your access is in your arm, don’tcarry a bag or purse on that arm. Also avoid sleeping on the armor leg where your access is. Try not to bump your access, andnever cut it. Remember that your access is your lifeline.9