A Dialysis question - Kidney Disorders Message Board

deedee1313 · 12-06-2005, 05:46 AM

My husband is 52 years old.He has been doing dialysis for about 15 monthes.During his treatments he gets these sweats.He looks like he just stepped out of a shower.Then he comes home and goes to bed.He is wiped out for the rest of the day.He says that he hasn't seen any of the other people in the room have the same problem.He has asked the nurses and the doctor why and nobody seems to know.Has anyone else ever had this problem and did you find out what caused it?He is ready to give it all up so I would appreciate any advice you have.

GHornRRT · 12-12-2005, 05:52 PM

I do not think that the staff at the nations dialysis centers can answer any questions correctly. They do not want you to know the truth about dialysis and its complications. My late sister was on dialysis for 10 years since age 34. She experienced similiar symptons after dialysis. She also had uncontrollable diarrhea for years. No one could ever give her a reason for this awful situation. Dialysis is bad enough but the resulting complications are worse. No one seems to tell you about them when you need to make the decision to begin dialysis.

My Father has been on dialysis for 3 yrs. at 81 years of age. He too is sweaty, always cold, & exhausted after dialysis. He also experiences uncontrollable diarrhea. It comes without warning even after taking 10 Immodium.Three renal physicians deny these complications and everyone in four dialysis centers nationwide offer no reason. he watches his diet closely. Yet, many dialysis patients experience the same complications. He has been tested negative for c- diff 9 times and took Flagyl for 2 years without relief.

My Father is ready to stop the 3x week treatments. The diarrhea is taking its toll. Good Luck.

deedee1313 · 12-13-2005, 05:38 AM

Thankyou GHornRRT for your reply.I didn't even mention the diarrhea.He has tried everything for it and nothing helps.He also just became a double amputee so he can't even get onto a toilet so that makes him feel worse.He says he isn't living he is merely existing and not doing that very well so what is the point?In answer to your question bigballs878,you do dialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours at a time.That is hemodialysis.There is also a kind that you can do at home.My husband was on that too but do to an infection they had to remove his catheter.

Cora1003 · 12-13-2005, 07:36 AM

Hey bigballs878. Welcome.

To answer some of your questions, when people talk about after dialysis they are talking about after the treatment (usually about 4 hours 3 times per week). There are many side effects.

No, dialysis does not do everything your kidneys do. At best it is about 10% of proper kidney function. also it is very hard on the body. You are doing over 4 hours what should have been done gradually over 2 days. So 2 days worth of excess fluid come off in that time. Dialysis is kind of like dog years. For people that do OK one year on dialysis is about 4 years worth of regular living. The treatment cuts your life short. That's why they say that transplants are so good. Despite drug side effects a transplant will more than likely more than double your life expectancy.

Take care.

Cora

GHornRRT · 12-19-2005, 04:12 PM

At 81 years of age my Dad is not a candidate for a transplant. I understand that the treatment is not a substitute for a kidney. I understand that the treatment is hard on the body and its organs. But, not one physician can explain why this poor man is burdened with chronic, uncontrollable, explosive diarrhea. He had treatment on Saturday and today his bowels let loose while he was getting a hair cut. It is completely humiliating. This is no life. The only other option is a colostomy. The diarrhea is wiping him out. I am afraid the changes in his acid/base status will cause him to go into a cardiac arrest.