After a year of kidney dialysis, my Dad has made up his mind of quit dialysis. He is 78 years old, diabetic, heart disease, etc. poor health, and when he started dialysis had 15% kidney function.

We' ve done research to see what will happen when he stops and it's really frightening. He could die within 2 days to 2 weeks. He doesn't care...he says he's ready to die. The dialysis is so horrible he can't go through it for very much longer. We have convinced him to keep up with dialysis until after surgery...he's having a toe removed.

Our question is... could he still have 15% kidney function once he stops or will he have nothing after relying on dialysis for this long? He won't let us say anything to his doctors yet so we have questions that we just can't find answers to. Hopefully someone out there has gone through the same thing or has an answer for us.

He thinks his kidneys will function just fine and he'll live for another year. He has all the symptoms of late stage renal failure. He's sleeping all day, he has no appetite and throws up 90% of the time during dialysis and after meals, he has started to hallucinate, he has dementia, he's depressed and feels sick most of the time.

We are so worried over what might happen. We also realize that it is his life and his decision to make about the rest of his life. It's up to him what he wants to do and we want to support him in whatever decision he makes.

Has anyone else gone through this with a loved one? Could his kidney function come back to 15% or more? or not at all? Anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated. Thank you- Kate

My husband was on dialysis for 2 years.He was at 4%.Dialysis doesn't fix the problem.It only takes over because the kidneys don't work anymore.My husband talked about quitting many times.He was miserable most of the time.He too was always throwing up.He would come home from dialysis and sleep for hours.He had no life.From what I understand about quitting,you can last for quite a while if you watch your diet.The worst is the liquids because without dialysis removing them you can go into congestive heart failure rather quickly.I guess that is the most uncomfortable way.Because of his immune system being so low due to the kidney failure my husband got an infection and died last Oct.I would not want to go through what he did.Only someone who has went through this can understand how it feels.If your father truly wants to quit all you can do is support him.I talked my husband out of it several times and I wish I hadn't.It's never going to be easy but you will get through it.I did.

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. My Dad's life is so miserable he just doesn't feel it's worth living. Only they can make that decision. Would you mind telling me how long your husband lived after quitting dialysis? I know every case is different and I appreciate your response to my questions. Take care and may God bless you. Kate

I'm sorry,I should have went into a little more detail.He didn't quit dialysis.I wish he had.Because of his immune system he got an infection.The infection went septic and caused him to have a heart attack and then he died.The doctor insisted on finishing his dialysis treatment before he recieved antibiotics.They couldn't be done together.Because of the delay in receiving antibiotics the infection went septic.The reason I am telling you this is because if he desides not to quit and this ever happens to him,insist on the antibiotics first.My husband suffered more in 2 days then he did during the 2 years he was on dialysis.Never accept everything the doctors tell you on blind faith.Get all the information you can about every decision that needs to be made.I wish I had.If I had insisted on the antibiotics first then my husband might still be here. He was only 53 and way to young to die.I'm sorry for going on about this,but everytime I get started on this it makes me mad and I have to vent some more.I wish you all the best.

Is there any way for him to get a transplant?

I was so suprised to see your topic about your father quitting dialysis and it amazes me. I don't have answers for you at this time but my family is now just beginning this process and my father who is 74 has been on dialysis for just under 1 year, he has hated every minute it causes him great stress, anxiety and pressure. He has talked about quitting for sometime and as a family we know what happens if he quits, he has been told he has 4% kidney function. I am certain his kidney function will not improve but at this time I think it is time to let nature take its course with my father. He quit his dialysis the first of this month which means he has now been without for 10 days today, he is not feeling well, he sounds big cat purring cause you can hear him breathing across the room which really scares me. We were able to reach his doctor who told us it could be a couple weeks to a couple months. I figure with his breathing at this point it will not be a couple months. But one thing I can say is we do not talk death to him we just go thru each and see what it brings. We actually will be meeting with Hospice tomorrow afternoon which my only hope is that they keep him comfortable and content. If that can happen I will be happy. I worry every minute and try not to think of this negatively I think it really is about the quality of his life and he does not have good quality. He had heart surgery last February and this is when every thing went bad he was in intensive care for over 2 months and many times we should have lost him as grave as his diagnosis was, as a result of his surgery his kidneys failed and he had what they call a brain trauma which means the man that went into surgery was not the man who finally woke up. He does not remember any of it so he does not know what happened one day he was fine the next day he is like this. His short term memory very bad and he is hard. Before his surgery he had the beginning stages of dementia and now very difficult sometimes. Then you add dialysis to that and oh my..... So long story we are beginning the process and I do not know what will happen but I am happy to share with you while we go thru this so maybe when you are there it will not be so scary. I can say one last thing that since he has quit his dialysis he does not feel great but he has been so much happier and in better moods that that is nice to see once again.
:angel:

And also cause I am very long winded. I have seen another side to this I have a daughter who had kidney disease for many years from the time she was 6 years old to 19 years when she transplanted. She was given a kidney from my sister, she has since gone on to have one child, and she is turned 30years old today. Her transplant was a miracle before my eyes and it was one of the best things in my life. So there are good sides to this. And if dialysis had a means to an end I would feel very differently about my father but with his age, and health he will never be dialysis free and with that I feel like this is really his decision. QAULITY of life is so important.:angel:

When my husband talked about quitting dialysis I was told that there was an easy way to go and a hard way.I know this is an upsetting subject but if you are like me you want to do the best that you can and make it as easy as possible.Once you quit you need to cut way back on fluids.Dialysis is the only way your body can get rid of the fluids.If you retain too much fluid then you go into congestive heart failure and you basically drown in your own fluids.I was told that it is a painful way to go.But it is also the fastest way.A person can live a long time without dialysis if they are really careful abut the fluids.