My Home Hemodialysis in Numbers - 2025 (includes last 5-year trends)

The year 2025 was one of the hardest years for my health. It wasn't the worst, though. The worst year was probably 1997 when I was diagnosed with kidney failure. But 2025 was still pretty bad. I had to take almost three months off from work because of my health issues. Things seem to be getting better now, but I won't know for sure for a few more months.

Anyway, here is a summary of my yearly dialysis - something I have been posting on this blog for the last four years.

Number of sessions: 248 (All HDF)

Average duration: 6.8 hours (Range 2 - 7.67 hours)

Average Weight Gain: 3.1 kgs (Range 0.45 - 5.25 Kg)

Median Weight Gain: 2.75 kgs

Average UF: 3.1 l (Range 1 - 4 l)

Median UF: 3.3 l

Average Pre-HD BP: 95/62 mm Hg (Range 81/53 - 108/80)

Average Pre-HD Pulse: 87 (Range 72 - 111)

Average Post-HD BP: 86/60 mm Hg (Range 65/43 - 107/76)

Average Post-HD Pulse: 89 (Range 74 - 111)

Average RO TDS: 0.6 (Range 0 - 3) 

Average Raw Water TDS: 253 (Range 184 - 352)

Complications: 

    Cramps: 5 times

    Hypotension: 7 times

    Arterial Pressure Issues: 10 times

    High Venous Pressure: 6 times

    Others: 6 times

And here is a table showing trends from the last 5 years:

Again, most numbers don't seem to have changed a whole lot. The thing that stands out though, is the duration. This year, I did most sessions for 7 hours. The previous years, I used to do mostly 7.5 hours. This was driven primarily by insomnia that became worse this year. I have been experimenting a lot with insomnia medication. And I found that 7 hours was the sweet spot where I did not have to toss and turn a whole lot waiting for the session to complete.

Thanks for reading this post. And yes, please don't judge the weight gain numbers! Like I always say - what's the point of making so much effort to do so much dialysis - and that too HDF, if I can't drink more fluid!