Why Dialysis Patients Feel Tired after the Dialysis

Fatigue is a common complain among kidney patients on dialysis. This is because dialysis is just a machine that replaces parts of lost kidney functions including discharging metabolic wastes, excessive water and electrolytes from the blood and balancing water, electrolytes and acid-base.

However the kidneys has far more functions than dialysis does such as secreting erythropoietin, prostaglandin, renin, parathyroid hormones and regulating the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium, etc.

Since dialysis can not fully replace the kidney’s functions and along with the way that dialysis is carried out, there will be a series of side effects and complications after a period of dialysis including fatigue, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle cramps, skin itching, etc.

The main reasons of fatigue after dialysis are loss of kidney functions and malnutrition due to loss of appetite and dietary restrictions. Besides, many dialysis patients suffer from extreme stress, anxiety and worry which might be another reason of fatigue.

How long will fatigue caused by renal dialysis last?

First patients should not be too worried because most dialysis patients will suffer from fatigue and this is quite common. Some diet adjustment and proper aerobic exercises can help alleviate fatigue and boost your energy. Consult dietitians and nephrologists for proper diets and exercises according to your specific illness and physical conditions. Some mild exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, Tai chi, Qi gong are all good choices.

Of cause, the root way to treat fatigue is to try to reduce the frequency of dialysis and improve kidney functions. Find out which part of the kidney is damaged according to the underlying cause of kidney failure and seek whatever treatments that can help preserve and recover kidney functions. For example, if renal damages are caused by diabetes, patients should try to control blood sugar and at the same time protect kidney functions. Some herbal medicines have magic effects on stopping renal fibrosis and repairing damaged renal intrinsic cells and tissues and can to a certain degree recover parts of kidney functions. So long as kidney functions are improved can dialysis be stopped or at least the intervals between dialysis will be extended.