Many years

[Taylor1506]

Hi all I seen this group an thought I'd join..I started with dialysis when I was 11 years old.. im 45 now an had 3 transplants which lasted a total of 10 years.. I think the news tries to make out that dialysis is worse than it actually is.. if you don't miss treatment you can live a healthy life away from the machine..

[Philipjm]

Hi Taylor,

Totally agree with you. Some of the soap programmes in the Uk have trivualised kidney transplant and never explain the tests etc one has to go through and that many people do not have a good experience and then there is the fact you have to take many strong drugs for the rest of your life which also have their own risks to life.

Inan on nocturnal dialysis for 7.5 hours every other day. This gives me as much clearance as a transplant and I do not take loads of medication.

I am 71, still work full time in a demanding job, have a large garden, do a brisk walk of 5 miles most days, enjoy walking with my wife at weekends and still use my cycle.

As my consultant says I now have choices, a transplant if one comes along but am I better staying on dialysis which is a minimum disruption to our lives. Just means yiy have to plan for future events.

I have travelled with my HHD kit and we are of to Australia next year, life can be and is still good.

Main thing is to have a positive attitude.

Best wishes

Philip

[1034picky in reply to Philipjm]

Hi,

I was really interested in your post and somewhat more hopeful so thank you!

My father has been told he needs to prepare for dialysis, however we have been advised due to previous surgerical procedures around the abdomen that he will not be able to have Peritoneal dialysis, I see in your post you have been using ‘hdd’ Kit when on holiday, can you explain what that is whether this can be used through your arm and how we go about getting it, we are visiting the local dialysis unit for tomorrow so am trying to find out as much as i can before we go,

Thank you

[Philipjm in reply to 1034picky]

Hi,

I use the nxstage dialysis machine which is transportable, using it away from home, bags of dialisate fluid are suspended from a carousel attached to the back if the machine. Works very well. This will depend if your unit uses nxstage. Ifyou search for nxstage Uk you will find out more

This is used through my fistula which I have in my forearm.

Works well overnight with as good a clearance as a transplant.

Life away from the machine is really good for me

Philip