Are you on dialysis? - Kidney Disorders Message Board

sixx788 · 08-21-2006, 10:52 PM

Are you on dialysis? Would you be willing to share what your experience is like on it? My father in law, bless his heart, has heart failure and kidney failure. Our family really doesn't know much about dialysis. Is it painful? How long does it take? Please share with me EVERYTHING!!! My father in law is in the hospital as I post this and I would LOVE to print out your messages about dialysis.....since that is what the doctors are telling him the next step is after getting his heart fixed. I wonder if a kidney transplant would be out of the question. He is 77 years old. I know I am willing to donate to him....but if my blood doesn't match his, I am sure another family member would jump at the chance. Trust me, this is a special man here......no one else in the world like this man. So you can see why we want to keep him with us for as long as we can.....of course, in the best possible health. But I would love to hear some encouraging words about dialysis, since just the word seems to scare the family.

Thanks!

deedee1313 · 08-23-2006, 10:00 AM

My husband has been on dialysis for almost 2 years now.It hasn't been an easy time.It is the only thing that keeps him alive.There is no choice for him.He is 53 years old. He isn't healthy enough for a transplant.Even with a relative donating you have to wait at least 6 mo.after anything heart related.At least that is what we were told.We have gotten to know a lot of people at the treatment center and a lot of them do well.They feel good and they carry on a normal life.My husband isn't so lucky.Dialysis wipes him out.He has a lot of other health problems though.I wish I could say that you are going to have an easy time but it is different for everybody.My husband has talked many times about quitting.He knows that he would die but sometimes the treatment and the things that he has had to give up are almost too much for him.The renal diet is another thing that is hard to take.Because the kidneys aren't doing their job there are certain foods that you can no longer eat or at least have to almost cut out.Things like bananas and oranges because of potassium.Potatoes unless they have been soaked because of phosphorus.You can only have 4 cups of liquid a day and that includes anything that is liquid at room temperature like jello.Salt and anything that has a lot of salt in it like bacon, sausage,lunch meats.Milk products because of calcium are on the no no list.It is all a bit overwhelming at first but do some research and learn everything you can and it will get easier.I hope I have helped you a little and I hope you have a better time with this then we have.Good luck.

sixx788 · 08-23-2006, 07:02 PM

deedee,
Wow! I am sorry to hear your husband has such a hard time with it. I have heard that doing it in the evening helps because they don't get wiped out until later on in the day, therefore, enjoying more of their day. I will have to check online somewhere for a renal diet. I haven't even gotten that far. I am really hoping my father in law will not have to go through dialysis, but thats probably a slim chance unfortunately. But not out of the question. Not to mention he is diabetic.....so the sugar is cut out too! What the heck is this man going to eat??!!!

Jayfish · 08-26-2006, 03:31 AM

Sixx ~ As Deedee said, dialysis is different for everyone. Some people do it tough, while others manage okay. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones. I've been on haemodialysis for about 5 years now. I have my treatment in the evenings three times a week and go home to bed straight after. I'm fine in the morning and all day on my non-dialysis days. The food and fluid restrictions are a bit of a nuisance but do-able. I run a home with a hubby and a full-time student teenager, and also hold down a job as courier working an average of 48 hours a week. I'm in a dialysis centre that services about 55 regular patients and I think about 15-20 of us have full-time jobs. And yes, some of them are diabetic too. So you see, going onto dialysis is not always going to be totally bad news. For some - it's okay. All the best to you and your family and especially to your father-in-law.

Cora1003 · 09-01-2006, 08:49 AM

Some people do poorly on dialysis, many do ok, and some do really, really well. It is impossible to say how your Dad will do. The important thing to do at first is to give it time. It takes a while for the docs to figure out the right prescription. And it is a prescription, like any medication. They need to figure out how much to take off and how fast, how fast to run the machine, and how to adjust other meds because of the dialysis.

It took me about 6 months to get used to it, but after that the 2nd 6 months were fine. I travelled and enjoyed my life while I was on.

A gentleman who was dialysed beside me for a long time had open heart surgery and wasn't eligible for a transplant. But eventually, his health improved and he was put on the list. I also know a gentleman who was 70 years old and otherwise doing well who received a transplant.

On the dialysis front, I know a couple of folks who have been on dialysis for decades and are doing well. One has been on for almost 20 years and the other was on for 30. They did fine.

Hope this helps.

Cora