Nephrology
A nephrologist is a doctor who focuses on diagnosing, managing, and treating kidney conditions. Expect well-rounded care for kidney diseases from the specialists on staff at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.
What do kidneys do?
Your kidneys help keep your body in balance by:
- Activating the nutrient vitamin D so your body can use it
- Creating a hormone that tells your body to make red blood cells
- Managing your blood pressure
- Removing waste and extra fluid from your blood
Signs of kidney disease
Talk to your primary care provider if you experience:
- Blood in your urine
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dry, itchy skin
- Fatigue or difficulty concentrating
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Muscle cramps
- Poor appetite
- Puffiness around your eyes that doesn’t go away
- Swollen feet and ankles
Conditions we treat
Your primary care provider may refer you to a nephrologist if you need advanced care for:
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease
- Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Kidney cancer
- Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease)
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
Tests and treatments
Your nephrologist will work with you to create a care plan that meets your needs and preferences. Your kidney care may include:
- Diagnostic tests, such as lab tests and imaging tests, to check how well your kidneys function
- Dietary and physical activity recommendations
- Medications
- Dialysis to remove waste and extra fluid from your blood
- Palliative care to treat symptoms so you can live more comfortably
Dialysis
If your kidneys aren’t working well, you may receive dialysis during an outpatient visit or inpatient stay at Community Hospital. Rely on our staff to make you feel as comfortable as possible and help you get the most out of your treatment. Treatment may include:
- Hemodialysis – Uses a machine (dialyzer, or artificial kidney) to clean blood and return it to your body usually through a vein in the arm
- Peritoneal dialysis – Filters blood through a catheter (long, thin tube) placed in your abdomen surgically
- Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) – Cleans blood more slowly than other types of dialysis to avoid putting stress on the heart
