Kidney Failure Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), occurs when your kidneys can no longer adequately remove waste and extra fluid from your blood. At this stage, people usually need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

In Grand Rapids, MI, kidney failure care is available through major health systems including Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health-West (Metro Health), and Mercy Health, as well as independent nephrology and dialysis centers across Kent County.

Kidney Failure Can Happen Suddenly or Gradually

Kidney failure can develop in two main ways:

  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) – kidney function slowly worsens over years
  • Acute kidney failure – kidney function drops suddenly, often over hours or days

Having kidney disease does not automatically mean you will develop kidney failure. However, CKD is common:

  • About 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. has at least one sign of chronic kidney disease
  • Tens of thousands of Americans receive dialysis or a kidney transplant for kidney failure each year

In many people, kidney disease is “silent.” You can lose up to 90% of your kidney function before noticing symptoms, which is why early detection is critical.

In Grand Rapids, routine screening for kidney disease is often done by primary care providers at Corewell Health Medical Group, Trinity Health Medical Group, and community clinics supported by the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs.

Early Kidney Disease Often Has No Symptoms

In the early stages of kidney disease, many people feel completely well. Some do not notice symptoms until more than 90% of kidney function is lost. This delay is especially concerning because early treatment can slow or prevent kidney failure.

Possible Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Symptoms can be vague and may be caused by other conditions, but common signs include:

  • Tiredness or fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Changes in how often you urinate
  • Changes in the appearance of urine or blood in the urine
  • Puffiness in the legs, ankles, or around the eyes
  • Pain in the kidney area (mid-back or flank)
  • High blood pressure
  • Itching
  • Bad breath or a metallic taste in the mouth

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and have these symptoms—especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease—talk with your doctor or a local nephrologist (kidney specialist).

Treatment Options for Kidney Failure in Grand Rapids

When kidney function falls below about 10–15%, you may need one of the following:

  • Dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis)
  • Kidney transplant
  • Comprehensive conservative care (non-dialysis supportive care)

These are also known collectively as renal replacement therapy (RRT) options.

In Grand Rapids, these treatments are available at:

  • Hospital-based programs (e.g., Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital)
  • Outpatient dialysis centers throughout Kent County
  • Regional transplant centers in Michigan (for example in Grand Rapids and larger centers in Ann Arbor and Detroit)

Some people choose non-dialysis comprehensive conservative care if dialysis or transplant is not right for them, focusing on comfort and quality of life.

Dialysis: Replacing Some Kidney Function

Types of Dialysis

There are two main types of dialysis:

  1. Hemodialysis (HD)
  2. Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Both remove waste and extra fluid from your blood, but they do it in different ways.

Hemodialysis (HD)

Hemodialysis can be done:

  • At home, after training
  • In a dialysis center, if you need more support or have complex medical needs

In Grand Rapids, hemodialysis is offered at:

  • Hospital-based units (e.g., Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • Community dialysis centers (often called satellite centers) across the metro area

How Hemodialysis Works

  • Your blood flows from your body into a machine through a tube
  • Inside the machine, blood passes through a special filter called a dialyzer
  • The dialyzer contains many tiny fibers (tubes) with microscopic holes in the walls
  • A special fluid called dialysate flows around these fibers
  • Waste products and extra fluid move from your blood, through the fiber walls, into the dialysate
  • Clean blood is returned to your body, and the used dialysate is discarded

Hemodialysis is usually done three times a week, often for about 3–5 hours per session.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)

Peritoneal dialysis is usually done at home. You or a family member can be trained to perform it safely.

Your kidney care team in Grand Rapids (often at Corewell Health, Trinity Health, or U of M Health-West) will provide training and ongoing support.

Types of Peritoneal Dialysis

  1. Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

    • Done manually during the day using dialysis “bags”
    • Usually 3–5 exchanges per day

  2. Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)

    • Done at night with a machine called a cycler
    • Allows you to dialyze while you sleep

How Peritoneal Dialysis Works

  • A soft tube called a catheter is placed into your abdomen
  • Your peritoneal membrane (the thin lining around your abdominal organs) acts as a natural filter
  • Dialysate fluid is put into your abdominal cavity through the catheter
  • Waste and extra fluid move from your blood vessels in the peritoneal membrane into the dialysate
  • After a set time, the used dialysate is drained and replaced with fresh fluid
  • This process continues throughout the day (CAPD) or night (APD), so your blood is cleaned continuously

Kidney Transplant in Michigan

A kidney transplant involves placing a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys have failed.

Transplant services for Grand Rapids residents are typically coordinated through local nephrology teams and regional transplant centers in Michigan.

Transplant: Treatment, Not a Cure

A transplant can:

  • Offer a more active lifestyle
  • Eliminate the need for regular dialysis
  • Improve quality of life for many people

However, it is not a cure. After a transplant, you will need:

  • Lifelong follow-up with a transplant team
  • Daily medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney (anti-rejection or immunosuppressive medications)

If the transplanted kidney stops working, dialysis will be needed again, and another transplant may be possible depending on your health.

Comprehensive Conservative Care (Non-Dialysis Option)

Comprehensive conservative care is an option if you decide that dialysis or transplant is not right for you. This approach focuses on:

  • Quality of life rather than extending life at all costs
  • Managing symptoms such as pain, itch, nausea, or breathlessness
  • Emotional, spiritual, and social support for you and your family

Reasons people in Grand Rapids choose this pathway may include:

  • Having other serious health issues
  • Wanting to avoid frequent hospital or dialysis center visits, especially during harsh Michigan winters
  • Having tried dialysis and deciding to stop treatment

Even without dialysis, you will:

  • Be monitored and supported by a kidney care team
  • Receive medications and a kidney-friendly diet plan to help you feel as well as possible

Comprehensive conservative care will not extend life once the kidneys fail completely, but it can help you live more comfortably and in line with your values.

Causes of Kidney Failure

Kidney failure can result from many conditions, often developing gradually over years.

Common Causes

  • Diabetes (diabetic kidney disease) – even well-managed diabetes can damage the kidneys over time
  • High blood pressure (hypertension) – damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys
  • Glomerulonephritis – inflammation of the tiny filtering units (nephrons) in the kidneys
  • Polycystic kidney disease – an inherited disease causing many cysts in the kidneys
  • Medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD) – another inherited condition affecting kidney function
  • Urinary reflux (reflux nephropathy) – a bladder-valve problem that allows urine to flow backward into the kidneys, causing scarring
  • Certain medications and toxins, including:
    • Some older compound pain medicines (now banned)
    • Long-term or high-dose use of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
    • Certain prescription drugs such as lithium and cyclosporine

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

If you permanently lose more than 40% of your kidney function, it is called chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD can progress to kidney failure, especially if not detected and treated early.

Who Is at Higher Risk of CKD?

You are more at risk of CKD if you:

  • Have diabetes
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Are over 60 years of age
  • Are obese
  • Have established heart problems (heart failure, past heart attack) or have had a stroke
  • Smoke
  • Have a history of acute kidney injury
  • Have a family history of kidney failure or hereditary kidney disease

In Grand Rapids, these risk factors are common, especially diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Cold Michigan winters and less physical activity in winter months can also worsen blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar control, increasing kidney risk.

Why Early Detection Matters

Early diagnosis and treatment can:

  • Slow or stop CKD from getting worse
  • Reduce your chance of kidney failure
  • Lower your risk of heart attack and stroke

If you have any risk factors, ask your Grand Rapids healthcare provider for a kidney health check.

Acute Kidney Failure

A sudden drop in kidney function is called acute kidney failure or acute kidney injury (AKI). This can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical care, often in an emergency department or hospital.

Causes of Acute Kidney Failure

Causes are often grouped into three categories:

  1. Pre-renal – reduced blood flow to the kidneys, for example from:

    • Severe dehydration (more likely during summer heat waves or winter illnesses with vomiting/diarrhea)
    • Heart failure
    • Major blood loss

  2. Renal (intrinsic) – damage to the kidney tissue itself, for example from:

    • Severe infections
    • Certain medications or toxins
    • Autoimmune diseases
    • Prolonged untreated pre-renal problems

  3. Post-renal – blockage in the urinary tract, for example:

    • Kidney stones
    • Enlarged prostate
    • Tumors blocking urine flow

Many people with acute kidney failure need temporary dialysis while the kidneys recover. Treatment may also involve:

  • Correcting blood pressure
  • Balancing blood salts (electrolytes)
  • Treating infections or removing blockages

The outlook depends on the cause and your overall health. If the cause is found and treated quickly, the kidneys often recover well.

How Kidney Disease Is Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

If your doctor suspects kidney disease, you may have:

  • Blood tests

    • To measure waste products (such as creatinine)
    • To calculate your glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), an estimate of how well your kidneys are working

  • Urine tests

    • To check for albumin (protein) or blood in your urine

  • Blood pressure checks

    • High blood pressure both causes and results from kidney disease

  • Ultrasound

    • To look at the size and shape of your kidneys
    • To find kidney stones, cysts, or tumors

  • CT scan

    • To get more detailed images of the kidneys and urinary tract

  • Kidney biopsy

    • A small piece of kidney tissue is removed with a needle and examined under a microscope
    • Helps identify the type of kidney disease and how much damage is present

In Grand Rapids, these tests can be done at:

  • Local hospitals (e.g., Corewell Health Butterworth/Blodgett, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • Outpatient imaging centers
  • Nephrology clinics throughout Kent County

Living With Kidney Disease in Grand Rapids, MI

Michigan’s climate and lifestyle can affect kidney health:

  • Cold winters can raise blood pressure and limit physical activity
  • Icy conditions may make it harder to attend dialysis appointments or clinic visits
  • Seasonal infections (like flu) can worsen kidney function, especially in older adults

Local kidney care teams can help you:

  • Plan for winter travel to dialysis centers
  • Manage blood pressure and diabetes year-round
  • Connect with dietitians experienced in kidney-friendly diets
  • Access social workers and support services for transportation and financial concerns

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids

If you are concerned about kidney disease or kidney failure, contact:

  • Your primary care doctor or family medicine clinic
  • A local nephrologist (kidney specialist)
  • Hospital systems:
    • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • U of M Health-West (Metro Health)
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs for screening and community resources

For urgent symptoms such as severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, no urine output, or sudden swelling, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.

Key Points About Kidney Failure

  • You can lose up to 90% of kidney function before noticing symptoms
  • Early kidney disease often has no symptoms
  • Early detection and treatment are the best ways to prevent kidney failure
  • Symptoms can include tiredness, swelling, changes in urination, high blood pressure, itching, and a metallic taste in the mouth
  • Treatment options in Grand Rapids include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, and comprehensive conservative care
  • Regular checkups are especially important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, or a family history of kidney problems

If you live in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area and are at risk, ask your healthcare provider for a kidney health check to protect your kidney function as early as possible.