A local medical clinic recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of a nocturnal program that has given patients more control over their daily routine.
Fresenius Medical Care — New Braunfels, part of Fresenius Medical Care North America, offers patients a nighttime alternative to the more traditional dialysis treatment.
Dialysis is a mechanical filtering process that cleans waste products out of a patient’s blood, removes extra fluids, and controls body chemistry when the kidneys have failed.
The condition affects more than 1.5 million individuals worldwide, according to information on the company’s Web site, fmcna.com.
However, dialysis is not a cure for chronic kidney disease and patients typically require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.
“Generally, dialysis done during the day takes about four hours, but it can leave patients feeling washed out and suffering from cramping,” said Colette Parson, a registered nurse and clinical manager of the Medicare-certified facility.
“With the nocturnal program, we work with twice the amount of time as during the day. Patients receive the same dialysis treatment, but at a much slower rate.”
In addition, the program offers numerous lifestyle benefits, including more time for regular daytime activities, Parson said.
The nocturnal service, which is usually given three times a week, allows patients to receive treatments at Fresenius, while either sleeping or resting.
In addition to having their days free for other activities, patients often report having more energy and better dialysis results, officials said.
One local patient, Carlos Aldana, who has suffered from kidney disease for more than 20 years, said he used to receive his life-sustaining dialysis treatments during the day.
However, after he started the nighttime treatment program, he said, switching from his previous regimen meant he now is able to spend that time with his loved ones.
“I am a different person since I began dialyzing at night. I feel better and have more energy during the day,” Aldana said. “I’ve had better dialysis results, and I feel less tired. It also has allowed me to spend more time with my wife and grandchildren.”
With nearly 2,400 clinics worldwide, Fresenius is a subsidiary of German-based Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. — the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis due to chronic kidney failure, officials said.
Headquartered in Massachusetts, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides dialysis treatment to about 115,000 patients nationwide, according to recent company statistics.
Fresenius Medical Care is also the world’s leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products, officials said.
Parson said she encourages other local dialysis patients to consider the nocturnal program as it “could greatly improve their overall quality of life.”
“Since I started the nocturnal program about two years ago, my life has dramatically changed — in a good way,” Aldana said. “I feel a whole lot better and my family gets to see me during the day — without all the cramping — so they really like it, too.
“I’ve even recommended this to other people with the same (end-stage kidney) disease.”
Fresenius Medical Care — New Braunfels, at 1561 IH-35 N., is located across the highway from Canyon High School.
For information, visit fmcna.com, or call (830) 606-0333.
