So tell me about kidney diaylsis?

[The Princess]

My dad was admitted today to the hospital so he can start dialysis he will have to have a port put in first before they can put it in the arm since that takes 3 months. I am so overwhelmed by all of this not sure what is ahead of us other than going to an outpatient dialysis center 3 times a week. Will he have to be on a special diet? And what else can you tell me about this to prepare myself for. thanks for any info you might have. He is very scared and to see him like that gets me upset too.

 

[AshleyW]

My dad was admitted today to the hospital so he can start dialysis he will have to have a port put in first before they can put it in the arm since that takes 3 months. I am so overwhelmed by all of this not sure what is ahead of us other than going to an outpatient dialysis center 3 times a week. Will he have to be on a special diet? And what else can you tell me about this to prepare myself for. thanks for any info you might have. He is very scared and to see him like that gets me upset too.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. My grandfather is on dialysis right now, and I also have a friend I'm going to nursing school with now that does dialysis as well - hopefully only until he can find someone able to donate a kidney. My friend does have to watch what he eats, but mostly he limits fluid, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. He goes 3 days a week in the afternoon for about 4 hours, and usually stays home all night afterwards because it's tiring, but the off-dialysis days he feels great.

It all sounds really scary, but really my grandpa (and my friend) don't really live their lives any differently than they used to - they just have to make a trip to the Big D Club (that's what my grandpa calls it! ) a few times a week.

 

[teskak]

My cousin was on dialysis for 20+ years including 3 kidney transplants.

They have to prepare to deal with the boredom,as the dialysis runs for several hours, so take up some hobby you can do with one arm.
Limit fluid, because while the kidneys don't work, there is no urine output

Watch the food intake. Will need fairly regular blood transfusions

Watch the hygiene of the needling etc, on a couple of instances my cousin's 'shunt' blew and as it is over an artery, he 'painted' the ceiling with blood while waiting for an ambulance to collect.

 

[poohlover]

My father was a dialysis patient for 3 years. As a nurse I knew it could be difficult. There is a special diet that the hospital dietican should go over with you.

Many patients do well on dialysis. My father was very sensitive to blood pressure changes and had many falls after dialysis. This does not happen to everyone. He also had the bad luck of clotting his shunt almost every 6 months or sooner. He also had many other health problems so this played into his condition.

Many patients are tired after dialysis and need someone there to take them home, they reccomend not driving after dialysis. But my father had some who did anyway.

I hope your grandfather does well. Read as much as you can, ask questions so you understand what is going on of everyone involved in his care.

PM me if you have any questions. This can be overwhelming.

 

[nmmom95]

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I have been on dialysis for 9 months. I have an autoimmune disease that destroyed my kidneys. I know how scary it can be. I spent 6 months on hemodialysis with a catheter. I did not get a fistula, instead I switched to peritoneal dialysis. You are on a special diet with hemo. You have to limit potassium, phosphorus and sodium, a well as fluids. The diet is less restrictive with pd. I always drove myself to dialysis and never had a problem. It is boring, though. My center had wifi, so I basically sat on the internet for 3.5 hours three times a week. You are very tired the days you have a treatment. I used to come home & sleep until my kids got done school. It is very important to not get the catheter wet. I honestly like pd better. I don't know if that is an option for him, but you do it at home while you sleep. If you have any questions, send me a pm. Good luck to you and your dad!

 

[luvwinnie]

My mom spent over 4 yrs on dialysis. The center should have a nutritionist on staff to go over the special diet. It's a tough one...I can't remember it all now but I know no chocolate, no nuts, potatoes must be soaked for hours to get the potassium out, etc.

Be sure he brings a blanket to dialysis. My mom used to get VERY COLD during and after it.

Prayers for your dad.

 

[funnygarcia]

Look into all treatment types, in center hemo is not the only option!

Peritoneal
Nocturnal in center
Home hemo using typical center based machines

Home hemo with Nx Stage as short daily or extended (overnight)

 

[akhenaten]

I will be starting Dialysis any time now....
i have found a great online support group...
"ihatedialysis. com" as the site says they are not negative.. just hate that they have to get dialysis...

I have found so much information on that site ... it is wonderful!!!

Good luck to your dad!

 

[funnygarcia]

OOPS! I didn't realize this post was from 2009!!

I like to use search to find others on dialysis and give support, for some reason this very old post was at the top of the list! Search feature is so screwy!

 

[akhenaten]

OOPS! I didn't realize this post was from 2009!!

I like to use search to find others on dialysis and give support, for some reason this very old post was at the top of the list! Search feature is so screwy!

Ahh.. I did not notice either.... that is nice of you to try and be supportive though!

Are you on Dialysis?

 

[funnygarcia]

Ahh.. I did not notice either.... that is nice of you to try and be supportive though!

Are you on Dialysis?

My husband, 14 years with a short 3 year break of a living donor (me) transplant. He now does hemo at home with the Nx Stage.

 

[Coach K]

My wife went on peritoneal dialysis 5 years ago and then when she got cancer went on hemo. The thing with pd was keeping everything clean and storing your dialysis bags. With hemo, the thing is keeping warm during your dialysis (her center gave her a bag when she first started that had a lot of things including a blanket) and trying to keep from getting bored. She would either watch TV (each hemo station had a TV) or sleep. Unfortunetly, she has been gone 1 1/2 years ago tomorrow which also would have been her 60th birthday. When she went on pd, it made me realize how important being a donor is. Unfortunetly my blood type was not a match - I am B neg and she was A pos (if I remember right). I have been debating on being a living donor because all B neg kidney patients would have to wait nearly 5 years for a donor and I have seen what it takes out of your quality of life.

 

[funnygarcia]

Unfortunetly, she has been gone 1 1/2 years ago tomorrow which also would have been her 60th birthday. When she went on pd, it made me realize how important being a donor is. Unfortunetly my blood type was not a match - I am B neg and she was A pos (if I remember right). I have been debating on being a living donor because all B neg kidney patients would have to wait nearly 5 years for a donor and I have seen what it takes out of your quality of life.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I was a living donor to my husband, zero HLA match. He is O positive, very difficult to find a match which is part of the reason why he chooses not to be listed. The other reason is the side effects of the meds take a terrible toll on the body for the first few years. He is doing well with home hemo for now.


I applaud you for considering being a living donor, if you have any questions let me know. The surgery is much easier on the donor now with the laparoscopy approach.

 

[akhenaten]

My wife went on peritoneal dialysis 5 years ago and then when she got cancer went on hemo. The thing with pd was keeping everything clean and storing your dialysis bags. With hemo, the thing is keeping warm during your dialysis (her center gave her a bag when she first started that had a lot of things including a blanket) and trying to keep from getting bored. She would either watch TV (each hemo station had a TV) or sleep. Unfortunetly, she has been gone 1 1/2 years ago tomorrow which also would have been her 60th birthday. When she went on pd, it made me realize how important being a donor is. Unfortunetly my blood type was not a match - I am B neg and she was A pos (if I remember right). I have been debating on being a living donor because all B neg kidney patients would have to wait nearly 5 years for a donor and I have seen what it takes out of your quality of life.

I am so sorry Coach.....

It is so wonderful for you to even think of becomong a donor!
I have been on the list for 1 1/2 years and will have a long wait due to blood type and antibodies which could cause rejection.... I have had many friends/family consider donation and it is such a good feeling to know that people would even think of donating!!!

 

[mom3sonstt]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I was a living donor to my husband, zero HLA match. He is O positive, very difficult to find a match which is part of the reason why he chooses not to be listed. The other reason is the side effects of the meds take a terrible toll on the body for the first few years. He is doing well with home hemo for now.


I applaud you for considering being a living donor, if you have any questions let me know. The surgery is much easier on the donor now with the laparoscopy approach.

I take it, since you say you were a donor and that he is now on home hemo that the transplanted kidney eventually failed? I am sorry to hear that.

I do wonder why your husband would choose not to be listed? I am also an O and have been on the list for just over 5 years. I do peritoneal dialysis (for just over 3 years now). While I am appreciative of the fact that my PD is only for 8 hours at night, so for the most part leaves my days free to be "normal" - I can't imagine resigning myself to having to do that for the rest of my life.

I don't know the ages of you or your husband - I am 44. My mother had a transplant about 11 or 12 years ago that she has never had any issues with. So maybe I see how well she did with hers and am optimistic that if I ever get one I could be as lucky. My brother also received a transplant nearly 2 years ago - but within a month we lost him to a heart attack. I believe some of that was due to the stress of the surgery, the rapid weight gain and loss (due to retaining so much fluid initially before transplanted kidney was working well) - and also due to th fact that he had complained of pains in his chest to his doctors, and they told him it was common side-effect to the post-surgery medication. Hindsight is 20-20...but I do know if when I receive a kidney, and if I have chest pains, I will be requesting additional testing and not just accepting "typical side-effect" as an answer.

 

[BellvilleDad]

My wife went on peritoneal dialysis 5 years ago and then when she got cancer went on hemo. The thing with pd was keeping everything clean and storing your dialysis bags. With hemo, the thing is keeping warm during your dialysis (her center gave her a bag when she first started that had a lot of things including a blanket) and trying to keep from getting bored. She would either watch TV (each hemo station had a TV) or sleep. Unfortunetly, she has been gone 1 1/2 years ago tomorrow which also would have been her 60th birthday. When she went on pd, it made me realize how important being a donor is. Unfortunetly my blood type was not a match - I am B neg and she was A pos (if I remember right). I have been debating on being a living donor because all B neg kidney patients would have to wait nearly 5 years for a donor and I have seen what it takes out of your quality of life.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

My younger bother has lupus, and it caused his kidneys the fail back in 2005. He was on peritoneal dialysis for a few months while my donor evaluation and surgery schedules were done. PT dialysis was handy for him, but a lot of effort keeping everything sterile.

I think we started the evals in June and the surgery was done in November. He's been great ever since.

Altruistic donations are done regularly, and the fact that you are B neg makes you a hot commodity indeed.

 

[Brandi1leigh]

I just wanted to join in that I am on dialysis. I am 34 and have PKD. I'm also a member of I hate Dialysis.com. I'm currently planning my first vacation (to Disney in Dec 2011) on in center hemo dialysis. So if anyone has any tips or tricks to surviving traveling (or just surviving), please let me know! Or if you have any questions for me, I'm happy to try and answer. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one in this forum with ESRD experiences.

 

[Bilberry]

I'm not on dialysis, and don't know anyone that it. I do enjoy reading this nephrologist's blog. He often writes about different ideas for kidney health, what works and what does not.

http://nephropal.blogspot.com/