Hawaii has one of the highest incidence of kidney disease in the country. Chronic kidney disease affects one out of twenty people and treatment requires dialysis.
A dialysis machine can be somewhat intimidating. But those with chronic kidney disease may consider it a lifesaver.
Dr. David Naai said, "Once people reach the point of requiring dialysis, there's always a choice. I always tell people there's a choice. But to not go on dialysis, means they will not survive. There's a hundred percent mortality rate there."
That was all Shirley Tanaka needed to know. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease about a year and a half ago.
A dialysis patient, Shirley Tanaka said, "I was familiar with dialysis already because my dad been on dialysis so I was not shocked or anything because I knew I already had high blood pressure."
The dialysis machine looks high tech, and it is. A far cry from where modern medicine was just a few years ago.
Dr. David Naai said, "I know a lot of people think back to about 20, 25 years ago where the technology wasn't as precise in cleaning the blood and removing the fluids so people had a lot more symptoms."
As you heard Dr. Naai say, other than a kidney transplant, there really is no alternative for kidney disease patients other than dialysis. Shirley Tanaka is okay with that.
Shirley Tanaka said,"I go three times a week. And it's for three and a half hours each session."
Shirley Tanaka said, "But it's not bad because we have tv to watch or you can read or you can do anything. People bring books to do, they have puzzles, they have crossword puzzles. There's things to keep you going for three and a half hours."
And along with that, Tanaka says, there is always support.
Shirley Tanaka said, "And they take you through the facilities, they introduce you. So there's always people. But the best support is the family."
