Decisions

[Rmchan3]

My phone has not stopped ringing today... has anyone ever heard of starting dialysis while in stage 3 or 4 instead of waiting due to other health complications.... everything I have read says not til stage 5????

[Hidden]

I've never heard of starting it before you absolutely had to. A single digit GFR would be what I would think is a more likely time to begin. Was anything said to you about other issues that might trigger this? Was a biopsy performed that the doctor determined you had to have this done now? It takes some time to prepare for dialysis, either with a catheter or fistula and healing time. What was said to you specifically?

[Rmchan3 in reply to Hidden]

She said it was something that was being considered due to other health problems that meds can't control due to kidneys are not filtering them properly

[Hidden in reply to Rmchan3]

I understand you may be reluctant to speak of the other issues you have, but if you could amplify more of what your doctor was concerned with it might be understandable. I have Type II Diabetes and Hypertension but I'm controlling both at this time. Diabetes is by diet and exercise only, no meds and only one med for Hypertension.

I've had some severe drops in my GFR over the last couple of years but always, so far, after a big drop I had a smaller increase in GFR on the next labs. All of this has brought me to a GFR of 35.

Because of my having some control over the Diabetes and Hypertension he mentioned that the drops aren't explained away by a known reason and he wanted me to think about possibly having a biopsy to get at the root of the kidney function drops. I should have more information by the end of next month when I re-do labs and see both my nephrologist and PCP again.

Have you ever considered what form of dialysis you would want to use to keep you healthy?

[Rmchan3]

They think the biggest problem is my thyroid due to 20 years ago I had radioactive iodine treatment and now my replacement medication is not being filtered and absorbed properly, which in turn is affecting my heart... no idea about dialysis

[Charlene_Coxhead]

I've never heard of any one going on dialysis before stage 5 and even then there's no set figure. I'm an example of that I'm at 7% but controlling it with meds, fluid restriction and high dose of diuretic. Where some one else I know started at 11% and no restriction it's all about how you are coping and how bad your symptoms are. I suffer extremely badly with gout. No I don't drink and very petite it the uric acid build up it's that bad it's crumbled by big toe joint but even dialysis won't help unless I do it 6 times a week. So surprised they think it will help.

Have they not talked about live donors, but even then I think it's to early. I would phone your consultant again.

If your having Haemodialysis you don't need and prep work if they think it's urgent they will put a line in your neck and you can start straight away and then have the fistula done which takes about 3 weeks to be able to be used. If your think of PD dialysis then you will need an op before and it takes 6 weeks before it can be used.

Good luck and don't feel pushed into any decision as it will change your life as you know it

Charlene

[hazel-hearty in reply to Charlene_Coxhead]

Gee, how nice that at 7% you are controlling the progress of your CKD. I am at 15 and also maintaining by exercise, diet, and trying to stay focus on what is important. My biggest aggravation is High Heart Rate (SVT)). I take mediation but it seems to lower my BP and increase my HR. Next month I am going to a battery of tests: stress-ECHO, VO Patch, Ultrasound. I had gout once and stop eating beef and reducing my meat consumption to about 3-6 oz per meal. I am tall and wt about 135.

[Charlene_Coxhead in reply to hazel-hearty]

Hopefully the tests will work out what's going on. You need to watch not eating beef and reducing your meat consumption as it can help with the four but cause issue with your iron and ferritin levels. Unfortunately it's a double edged sword.

Take care

[hazel-hearty]

Thank you!

[LyFrazier]

Ive read that dialysis should begin at stage 3b or 4. Stage 5 is renal failure.

[EndStageRenal in reply to LyFrazier]

Most likely a Nephrologist won't start you on dialysis until your GFR gets to about 10 or so. My sister stayed at a GFR of around 15-18 for years but did not start dialysis until she dropped to about 11 as I recall. Plenty of time to install her fistula and prepare her--she has PKD like her brother--our shared inheritance.