Christmas is around the corner and many people are already looking forward to the festivities. It’s a time of joy, presents and luxurious food, but many people don’t realise the impact that living with CKD has on patients’ lives during Christmas time. We spoke to three of our patients, Dave, Linda, and Pamela, about what it is like to be on dialysis during the festive period.
One of the things you must consider is whether you’re set to receive dialysis on Christmas Day. Dave told us, “Most clinics are closed on Christmas, so one of the first questions you have to ask yourself is whether you’re set to receive it then. If you are, you have to move it to either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day – that, in itself, is a huge impact, as it changes your dialysis schedule.”
Linda explained that it’s important to her that the festivities continue across the whole festive period, and don’t end after Christmas. “It can really bring you back to reality if you’re dialysing on Boxing Day. You can’t be with your family so it can feel like the festivities have stopped suddenly, and your festive spirit has gone. Many people don’t realise the psychological impact that this has on you.”
To counter this and ensure there is a festive atmosphere throughout the whole holiday period, at Fresenius Medical Care UK & Ireland, we encourage our staff to decorate the clinics with Christmas trees and decorations, and some of our staff even dress up in festive clothes to help make the experience more enjoyable for our patients dialysing on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day.
One of the most difficult things that dialysis patients have to deal with on a daily basis is restricting their food intake and liquid consumption to ensure they are following a renal diet. For many, the only way that any liquid they put into their body can come out, is through dialysis, so limiting their liquid intake is vital. Around the holidays, this can be particularly difficult, with many friends and family opting to be overly generous with portion sizes. This also has an impact on the strict nutrient intake that a renal diet requires. “You dread your monthly blood tests around Christmas time,” Pamela said. “It can be all too easy to rock your nutrients. One piece of Christmas pudding, and that’s all your potassium and phosphates gone for the day!”
Dave echoed this, “It can range, but for many people on dialysis, they’re limited to about a litre a day. If you think about your fluid intake on Christmas day, just adding gravy to your Christmas dinner can take up 150-200mls of that, and that’s after your morning cup of tea, which is usually about 200mls.” Pamela added on, “When I had no kidneys, and I fully relied on dialysis, I could only intake 500mls a day. It can be difficult for people to understand how restrictive you have to be with yourself.”
Despite the restrictions that dialysis patients need abide by, Linda explained that you need to enjoy yourself as much as possible, “It’s important not to deprive yourself. Know your limits, but also remember it’s not Christmas every day. Rather than having a plateful of roast potatoes, have one, or have just one chocolate, rather than a whole box!”
“As they say, the best things come in small packages,” Pamela added, “Don’t deprive yourself completely or you’ll crave like mad.”
All three patients agree that most family and friends might not understand how being a patient on dialysis might impact you around the festive time, with food and liquid restrictions, and going to dialyse on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, it can lower their mood. Loved ones can help by being mindful around this time, ensuring they are offering appropriate portion sizes of both food and drinks and helping to keep the Christmas spirit alight for their friend or family member who is dialysing.