Patient’s True Story
Kidney Failure Treatment: Fast Recovery with Hemodialysis
and Physical Therapy
- "My mother is an elderly; she came to see the doctor with kidney failure.
When the kidneys failed, it had domino effects – the heart started to beat irregularly,
the lungs filled up with fluids, and every other organs could not function properly.
Only a miracle... could make my mother recover."
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Acute kidney failure -- the risk a daughter had to accept.
Ms.Patwarin Purichjaroenpong recalled the unforgettable experience back in mid-2022. On that day, she urgently brought Mrs. Sirikan, her mother, who had a heart problem, to MedPark Hospital. After the medical evaluation, the findings showed that Mrs. Sirikan had kidney failure, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrhythmias, and gastrointestinal infections. As a daughter, I had to accept her serious condition because of her advanced age. However, every doctor formulated a treatment plan, prescribed medications, and continuously monitored her status. Now Mrs. Sirikan can live at home as usual.
"The doctor told me to accept the fact and be patient. Taking care of my mother involves not only physical care but also her emotional health, which is very crucial. The doctor used the term TLC – Tender loving care. From that day to this moment, my mom has improved significantly. From needing nasogastric tube feeding, she can now eat on her own. I have to take my mother to dialysis three times a week. Every blood test shows excellent results."
During treatment, Ms. Patwarin worried that lying in bed during dialysis and sleeping all day after returning home could lead to arm and leg weakness. She was also concerned that her mother could develop depression and feel despaired. She consulted the doctor for solutions, and the doctor readjusted the treatment plan to hemodialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in a private room at the Hemodialysis Center, having equivalent safety to ICU and with attentive nurses who can immediately assist Mrs. Sirikan when she feels unwell or in case of emergency. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are for physical therapy sessions at the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic. Even though this treatment plan requires a hospital visit almost every day of the week, for a better life quality under the care of medical specialists, Ms. Patwarin is willing to do it.
"Without dialysis, fluids will build up in her lungs, affecting her cardiovascular function. The question is how to relieve her from boredom. So, I let her do physical therapy. I would like her to get some exercise. In-bed exercise at home is unlike doing physical therapy with the doctor."
In the early stages of physical therapy, Mrs. Sirikan's arms and legs were too weak, and she could barely walk. With ongoing physiotherapy, she became physically stronger. From barely being able to move in bed, she can move more and begin to sit up. Previously, she could not even sit for 3 seconds. Then, she could sit and begin to stand up. After standing up, she began to practice walking. Besides the doctors who look after her physical and mental health, nurses also care for her like their family members.
"We must have trust in doctors and faith and confidence in nurses that they will take good care of our mother. As her daughter, I looked after her emotional side to be with her as much as possible. When all three parts join forces, I think her health improves tremendously. I feel this is already very worthwhile. I told the doctor, "Wow, this is a miracle." The miracle happens when everyone fulfills their duties.”
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Understand the symptoms and causes of acute kidney failure.
Dr. Kawin Tangdhanakanond, a nephrologist member of the medical team, explained that kidney failure occurs when kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from the blood, leading to waste buildup and an imbalance of fluids, electrolytes, and minerals. Without urgent treatment, the organ systems cannot function properly and can be life-threatening.
We classify kidney failure into chronic and acute kidney failure, which occurs suddenly. If you develop symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, paleness, anemia, late-night cramps, low urine output, enema, swelling of the eyes, difficulty breathing, cannot lie flat in the bed, high blood pressure, and dry and itchy skin, please seek immediate medical attention.
Common causes of kidney failure include:
- Excessive bleeding or fluids loss
- Hypertension
- Type 1 and 2 diabetes
- Infection in the kidney's waste filtration system, ureters, and surrounding structures
- Side effects from medications
- Vesicoureteral reflux
- Urinary tract obstruction, such as enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and some types of cancer.
Regarding Mrs. Sirikan’s symptoms, the doctor explained after finding low serum protein levels, generalized swelling, and pulmonary edema, additional laboratory tests and treatment were performed under the supervision of a team of medical specialists in the gastrointestinal tract, heart, and infectious diseases. The total length of hospital stay was about three weeks.
Currently, Mrs. Sirikan still comes for hemodialysis and physiotherapy sessions every week. She cannot have both treatments on the same day because she feels exhausted after hemodialysis, so the physical therapy is done on the following day. This personalized treatment plan involves care by Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialists, enabling faster recovery and increased physical strength.
Request a consultation at Hemodialysis Center (Private Bed),
3rd Floor, Counter C (EAST Lift)
Tel. 02-090-3126 during 8:00 am.- 8:00 pm.
