Fact # 16: Polycystic kidney disease is the most common
life-threatening genetic disease, and occurs equally in men and women.
Dialysis
Dialysis is one way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys can no longer do the job. See what Grizz says about dialysis in the video below.
In hemodialysis, a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or a dialyzer, are used to clean your blood. To get you blood into the dialyzer, the doctor needs to make an access, or entrance, into your blood vessels. This is done with minor surgery, usually to your arm.
In peritoneal dialysis the inside lining of your own stomach acts as a natural filter. A soft plastic tube (catheter) is placed in your stomach by surgery. A sterile cleaning fluid is put into your stomach through this catheter. After the filtering process is finished, the fluid leaves your body through the catheter.
Need more information on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis?
The National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin has many informational brochures available free of charge.
Make Your Own Renal Sleeves
Materials: One 5 or 7 oz. skein acrylic 4 ply knitted worsted yarn Size 5 and 8 needles * Only use washable yarn. No wool or wool blend due to allergies.
Sleeves knitted on four needles are preferred. Size is given for small or large sleeves.
With smaller needles, cast on 44 (48) stitches
Knit ribbing of K2 P2 for twelve rows
Change to larger needles
Knit one row increasing one stitch at beginning and end, 46 (50) stitches
Next row increase one stitch at beginning and end, 48 (52) stitches
Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 13 (15) inches
Change to smaller needles and knit ribbing of K2 P2 for eight rows
