What Is Kidney Dialysis Treatment?

Dialysis is a treatment that removes wastes and excess fluid from your blood.

If I Have Kidney Disease, Will I Need Dialysis?

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), you do not need dialysis. The stages of chronic kidney disease can last for many years. But if your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive.

When Should I Start Dialysis?

National Kidney Foundation guidelines recommend you start dialysis when your kidney function drops to 15 percent or less — or if you have severe symptoms caused by your kidney disease, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting. Your doctor will help you decide when to start dialysis, based on your symptoms and the results of lab tests that measure how much kidney function you have left.

Insurance and other funding bodies or sponsors (e.g. Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam, SOCSO, etc.) may cover treatment for kidney failure whenever your doctor determines it is needed. If you are not having symptoms, you may be able to wait to start dialysis. Since chronic kidney failure often happens slowly, sometimes people do not realize how bad they have been feeling until they start dialysis and begin to feel much better.

It is important to start getting ready for dialysis or a transplant well in advance — when your kidney disease reaches stage 4 or 5. Learning about the types of dialysis and transplant options will help you make the choice that is best for you. Any type of dialysis will require surgery to allow access for your treatments, and this should be done well in advance to allow time for healing before dialysis begins.

What is The Duration of Kidney Failure Treatment per Session in Malaysia?

Haemodialysis is one of the kidney disease treatments in Malaysia. It is normally done 3-4 sessions each week. It takes approximately four hours per session. However, the duration of the treatment still depends on individual factors such as the functionality of your kidney, the water you gain after treatment, the waste your body produces and the size of your body.

Does Kidney Disease Treatment Cause Discomfort?

Depending on your body, you may experience discomfort at the beginning of your kidney dialysis treatment as the needles are inserted in your fistula or graft. Although dialysis treatment is naturally painless, you may experience headaches, vomiting or cramps after dialysis sessions if your blood pressure drops.

This happens to a small number of patients, especially if the patient is dehydrated. However, most patients report no further problems after several treatments. If you have any symptoms during or after your kidney failure treatment, you should let your doctors or nurses know. 

Your dialysis care team will help you to feel better by consistently checking on your condition, providing you with proper medications, and slowing down fluid removal during the dialysis treatment process.

What does The Average Kidney Dialysis Treatment Cost in Malaysia?

Kidney dialysis treatment costs in Malaysia may vary according to the diagnosis and conditions of the patient. It is best to get your consultation and advice from our professionals first to find out the exact dialysis treatment prices for you. You may contact us at 1-800-180-780 to book your appointment.

Dialysis Where It is Needed—Even on Vacation

DaVita offers dialysis services to people travelling to Malaysia from other countries. It’s a good idea to call ahead to be sure the centre you will be visiting has all the information they need, and so you can make sure you have all necessary documents prepared in advance. Find a centre near your travel destination or map out your travel plan based on our centre locations. You can also call DaVitaLine for assistance on arrangements at 1-800-180-780.

Tips to Travel on Dialysis Treatment

If you are receiving your kidney problem treatment, you are still capable of travelling with confidence. However, you should remember to get approval from your doctors and ask them about what adjustments to dialysis dose or medication may be necessary.

As a dialysis patient, you should start planning your trip at least two months before you go so that your dialysis care team can make a proper arrangement for your kidney dialysis treatment at the nearby dialysis centre.

Preparing your trip earlier can help ensure the entire trip's smooth-running journey. Here are some suggestions for dialysis treatment during travel that you can follow:

  • Let your family know about your travel plans.
  • Bring certain important phone numbers as well as copies of your medical records with you while travelling.
  • Let people who are travelling with you know where your medical records are kept and what your medical needs might be.
  • Bring enough of your medications with you, also enough for emergency situations such as lost luggage or spilled drinks. Always remember to keep some copies of your prescriptions with you.

The MSQH accreditation is achieved by completing a thorough application process including onsite surveys, educational activities and assessment of the quality, safety and use of services. The center was assessed against eight dialysis treatment standards including: governance; access to care; human resources; haemodialysis treatment; ethical practice and patient and family rights; prevention and control of infection; facilities and equipment; and quality improvement activities. Currently we have 8 DaVita centers with MSQH accreditation which are:

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