OT - Dialysis?

[DaddyChoc]

what actually happens when you go? Do some people go more than others, if so... why?

what our your thoughts on this procedure?

 

[temery]

what actually happens when you go? Do some people go more than others, if so... why?

what our your thoughts on this procedure?

If your doctor says it's time for dialysis, it's time for dialysis. And you'll be sick enough to know s/he is right.

There's only one other choice.

 

[UcMiami]

It can be a really unpleasant experience. My aunt ended up on dialysis and she was going twice a week - she ended up feeling good about two days each week, and the rest of the time it was just miserable. The process itself takes maybe 90 minutes and she always felt completely bone numbingly cold for about 4 hours during and afterwards. After about two months she just decided it wasn't worth it, and chose the alternative, which was fairly quick (3 weeks) and relatively painless. It got down to a quality of life question for her - and feeling good 2 days out of 7 just wasn't enough.

I have known others who didn't react as badly to the process, and had better results in terms of feeling better for longer periods, and kept it up.

A lot depends on what the 'end game' for the individual is - if there is a hope for recovery/transplant, then there is a better future to hope for and the equation is clear. If it is just a prolongation then it becomes the same kind of questions that are involved in living wills and medical directives.

On your questions - the frequency I think varies from about once to three times a week, the process involves a loop of draining blood from a vein, 'filtering' it and then reintroducing it to the body. The frequency depends on the patient's own kidney function, diet, and how quickly whatever toxins are not being processed build up in the blood.

 

[easttexastrash]

The experience described by UCM is similar to what my brother experienced. He was extremely fatigued most of the time but he was on dialysis while on the kidney transplant waiting list. After a few failed transplant opportunities due to infection, he gave up on the donor list and my sister donated a kidney. Unfortunately, the anti-rejection medications made it harder for him to manager his blood sugars and he passed of low blood sugar at the age of 42.

I am also diabetic and have stage 3 kidney disease. My kidney disease if in the early stages and I am far away from needing dialysis and I plan to keep it that way.

 

[JimGunther]

My baby (Age 46 - after 38 years Type 1 Diabetes) recently had a kidney transplant (Thank God and Science!).
It had been in-the-pipeline several months but her function deteriorated to the point where she required several weeks of Dialysis before the actual live donor surgery.
The process is not "uplifting" (although it IS life saving) but, she said it would have been hard to contemplate going through it if she didn't know the transplant was imminent. That said, with a husband and child.......
Yale New Haven, of course, works miracles. Surgery and aftercare have been a piece of cake (walking around 4 hours and home 3 days after scope surgery) and no sighs of rejection. Medication not at all extreme.

A pitch for a replacement Pancreas - Recycle Organs - Don't Bury Them!

 

[uconnfan68]

The experience described by UCM is similar to what my brother experienced. He was extremely fatigued most of the time but he was on dialysis while on the kidney transplant waiting list. After a few failed transplant opportunities due to infection, he gave up on the donor list and my sister donated a kidney. Unfortunately, the anti-rejection medications made it harder for him to manager his blood sugars and he passed of low blood sugar at the age of 42.

I am also diabetic and have stage 3 kidney disease. My kidney disease if in the early stages and I am far away from needing dialysis and I plan to keep it that way.

Best wishes to you.

 

[RowdyFan]

My Mom had kidney failure. There is no history of kidney disease in our family and it is still a mystery as to why her kidneys stopped working. She was "fortunate" to be able to do home dialysis(hooked up overnight...every night...fairly mild) for close to 8 years. But dialysis takes it's toll..she eventually had to do outpatient and it was heartwrenching. I am one of 5 siblings and we figured we had 10 kidneys to potentially donate, but my Mom refused. She was afraid we would need each other's kidneys somewhere down the line. Yale is one of the best places to be if you need care.

 

[DaddyChoc]

thanks for the insight and personal stories...

 

[JimGunther]

Just a thought:

People go through Chemotherapy (and everyone's heard the horror stories) but, if you believe you're needed and life is worth living, you do what you have to do.

Dialysis alters your life-style (it's time consuming) and - absent transplant - there's no light at the end of the tunnel but, you can still have a productive life.

HANG IN THERE!

 

[01Neaggrad02]

what actually happens when you go? Do some people go more than others, if so... why?

what our your thoughts on this procedure?

My mother had to go three times a week and it usually takes 2-3 hours.... afterwards she was exhausted. Thoughts on the procedure... well she is alive..... granted after about a year she had a kidney transplant.... but again... she is alive.

Remove the blood is being removed from your body to be cleaned and then put back into your body.... Some might go more than others because they have more to that needs to be cleansed. Not exactly sure.... but again... keeps people alive

 

[BroadwayVa]

It can be a really unpleasant experience. My aunt ended up on dialysis and she was going twice a week - she ended up feeling good about two days each week, and the rest of the time it was just miserable. The process itself takes maybe 90 minutes and she always felt completely bone numbingly cold for about 4 hours during and afterwards. After about two months she just decided it wasn't worth it, and chose the alternative, which was fairly quick (3 weeks) and relatively painless. It got down to a quality of life question for her - and feeling good 2 days out of 7 just wasn't enough.

I have known others who didn't react as badly to the process, and had better results in terms of feeling better for longer periods, and kept it up.

A lot depends on what the 'end game' for the individual is - if there is a hope for recovery/transplant, then there is a better future to hope for and the equation is clear. If it is just a prolongation then it becomes the same kind of questions that are involved in living wills and medical directives.

On your questions - the frequency I think varies from about once to three times a week, the process involves a loop of draining blood from a vein, 'filtering' it and then reintroducing it to the body. The frequency depends on the patient's own kidney function, diet, and how quickly whatever toxins are not being processed build up in the blood.

I have had 2 relatives : a Cousin and my wifes sister both had diabetes, both had kidney failure. The wife's sister had dialysis 3 times a week--for 2 years. The cousin opted for none and died within 5 yrs , the wifes sister suffered the pains and dilation of blood filtering and died within 2 years --her heart gave out. I t was
a terrible time for her--she clung to life by her finger tips--courageous to the last second. She was as you described.
However--where there is life there is hope and medical break through s the other choice , not pleasant to me, is unknown for many.

 

[B BLOCK]

Not sure of your entire status but many people tolerate HD quite well. A lot depends on your age and other medical problems.
Most people go three times a week for 1.5 to 4 hours, some go for less time and for fewer days but occasionally patients need and extra session here or there.
Although your kidneys have failed there are things you can do to manage your care and these will make HD more tolerable. First and foremost, follow your dietary and fluid guidelines religiously. Eat the wrong foods, miss meds or drink too much fluid and yes indeed you will pay the piper on your HD sessions.
I hope this all works out for you. Keep fighting and you are in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[cbraarj]

My Brother-inlaw was on Dialysis for 5 years and 2 of his sons were a match. He would not take a kidney from either. Kidney disease ran in his family also lupus. My sister had breast cancer for the 2nd time in 2008 and had surgery. He had surgery 5 days later to remove a kidney that became cancerous. They planned a vacation for the 2 year mark but he passed away right before the 1 year anny. My sister and I went to the Uconn vs Baylor game in 2013 when they raised money together for breast cancer. They had all the survivors and their stand up and we stood and cheered with everyone. The only bad part was Uconn lost but it was an amazing night being there with my beautiful sister! A week later she was diagnosed for a 3rd time. Surgery again for her and she is doing well now. Between dialysis for her husband and chemo for her. I am amazed at her resileancy. I am a diabetic. I found out in 1998 and so far my kidneys are fine. The last 3 years my A1C has been between 6 and 6.5 but before that I had a hard time with my sugar. Thinking back now I think I had it a lot earlier. First one in my family to have it. I have had 7 amputations between both feet and might be going for another one soon. The damage was done. My heart goes out to evrybody here and my prayers with your families and mine!

 

[huskypantz]

There are different flavors of dialysis - hemodialysis and peritoneal. Some folks go 2 days, some 3 days per week. It can be draining (no pun intended). The stricter you are about your dietary habits (fluid, sodium, potassium, protein), the easier it can be and maybe.....just maybe.....you don't go as often. That's usually on top of the need for good glycemic control as most folks are diabetics with chronic renal failure. Best of luck.

 

[DaddyChoc]

My Brother-inlaw was on Dialysis for 5 years and 2 of his sons were a match. He would not take a kidney from either. Kidney disease ran in his family also lupus. My sister had breast cancer for the 2nd time in 2008 and had surgery. He had surgery 5 days later to remove a kidney that became cancerous. They planned a vacation for the 2 year mark but he passed away right before the 1 year anny. My sister and I went to the Uconn vs Baylor game in 2013 when they raised money together for breast cancer. They had all the survivors and their stand up and we stood and cheered with everyone. The only bad part was Uconn lost but it was an amazing night being there with my beautiful sister! A week later she was diagnosed for a 3rd time. Surgery again for her and she is doing well now. Between dialysis for her husband and chemo for her. I am amazed at her resileancy. I am a diabetic. I found out in 1998 and so far my kidneys are fine. The last 3 years my A1C has been between 6 and 6.5 but before that I had a hard time with my sugar. Thinking back now I think I had it a lot earlier. First one in my family to have it. I have had 7 amputations between both feet and might be going for another one soon. The damage was done. My heart goes out to evrybody here and my prayers with your families and mine!

thank you for your testimony, best wishes!

 

[DaddyChoc]

I'm fine, this post isn't about my personal health... I don't have diabetes nor go to dialysis.

 

[BroadwayVa]

There are different flavors of dialysis - hemodialysis and peritoneal. Some folks go 2 days, some 3 days per week. It can be draining (no pun intended). The stricter you are about your dietary habits (fluid, sodium, potassium, protein), the easier it can be and maybe.....just maybe.....you don't go as often. That's usually on top of the need for good glycemic control as most folks are diabetics with chronic renal failure. Best of luck.

An expedition, in the late 1800 or early 1900's were locked in the ice of the North Pole and for 6 or 7 months could not move and lived on animal meat. Before they were rescued many of the crew of the ship died from kidney failure due to the amount of protein and lack of vegetation.

A sister in law did HD 3 times a week, as UCMiami noted, she was exhausted each day after spending nearly 5 hours, including transit--eventually died immediately after an HD appointment

 

[UcMiami]

I just want to add something here after reading through everyone's stories and comments.
Just a cautionary note: The diet and fluid intake are very important, but there are a huge array of medical conditions that can lead to kidney disfunction (not always failure), and so the idea that the discipline or indiscipline of the patient can in some way alter the results is not necessarily true, and might cause some to feel either guilt or anger that is unfounded.

Specific to my aunt's case, she had a rare cancer and one of the symptoms was that it produced long and complex protein strings in the blood that her kidneys could not process, while they performed the rest of their functions fairly adequately. She was on a diet designed to restrict the building blocks for those protein strings, but her own body already contained enough of them that diet could only reduce the speed at which the proteins were constructed. There was nothing that she could do nor any restrictions she could make that would stop the process.

For those with diabetes (and I am a 12 year type II diabetic myself), if you are not taking a prophylactic kidney drug already please ask your doctor about this possibility. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed during a year I spent in England, and was treated by a world renowned specialist (with an in-house dietician.) I had been at a critical stage but was able to get control of my blood sugar within three months and my A1C has been normal to below normal ever since. From the very beginning my medication has included Altace/Ramipril as a prophylactic against future kidney issues though my kidney function has always been normal. This may not be for everyone, and I am no expert, but ever since I returned to the US my primary care physicians (4 in all with my various moves) have always asked why I was taking this medicine, and after I explained the reason, decided that it was a really good idea. This suggests to me that many US doctors might not have thought of this addition to treatment themselves, but like it after the fact.