PD dialysis

[miketrial]

Does anyone have recommendation as to starting PD v. in center Hemo. No partner so home Hemo seems problematic. Infection, discomfort with fluid in abdomen with PD. Hemo seems hard to sit in a chair for 3-4 hours, and maybe washed out afterwards.

[Hidden]

Hi,

If you live in the USA may I suggest that you go to davita.com and sign up for a Kidney Smart class in your area. It's free and lasts about 90 minutes. It will be taught by a kidney knowledgeable person and you can ask questions about all of the modalities available and get some excellent information that will make your decision easier.

There are many options and all have pluses and minuses and once you get all of the information, and armed with your own personal situational knowledgeable will be better informed. There are many reasons to go for each type of modality and you need to be proactive and learn all of the facts available before you make your big decision.

Check out mydialysischoice.org before you attend the KS class and get some basic information.

[Frankie24]

I am in the same position, want to do home hemodialysis without partner. I have been doing research and talking to centers etc. I have been told it is up to my nephrologist to decide if I need a home partner or not. There is a wealth of information on the internet. You can call clinics, they have help lines and your nephrologist should have referred you to a dialysis nurse, if not then ask. They can provide valuable information. I hope that you find what is best for you !

[KelliC_NKF]

Talking with someone who has done PD, incenter hemo or home hemodialysis can be helpful! If you'd like to talk with someone who does PD or hemodialysis we would be happy to connect you with someone by phone through our NKF Peers program: kidney.org/patients/peers

[KelliC_NKF]

You can also reach out to other on our Dialysis Community: healthunlocked.com/nkf-dial...

[miketrial in reply to KelliC_NKF]

thank you

[Kalyn]

I did in center Hemo for about 3 months when I decided to switch to PD and it was honestly the best decision. I would personally say that PD has more advantages than in center Hemo. I was on PD for 2 years and didn't experience any infection. As long as you keep your catheter clean and follow the steps to ensure that you avoid infection then you should be fine. There is very mild discomfort with the fluid in your abdomen, but it doesn't last long at all. The amount of time you're on the PD machine varies with each person. I was on for about 10 hours, but I did it while I slept so the time didn't bother me. I enjoyed it more because there wasn't any blood involved and I didn't feel as awful after the treatment. I always felt horrible after my in center Hemo treatments. I was 22 when I started PD and I didn't need any help with hooking myself up to the machine. I've also heard about many elderly patients who are able to do it themselves as well. Overall, PD was a lifesaver literally and figuratively. I wish you the best with your decision

[miketrial in reply to Kalyn]

thank you for posting

[SaraEads]

I did PD for 2 plus years with no problems. However, I was extremely careful when connecting and disconnecting to dialysate. The biggest danger is getting an abdominal infection. I dialyzed for 8-9 hours at night and found it easy to sleep. I ran the tubing to drain the dialysate exchanges into my shower drain. Later on it was necessary for me to add an early afternoon dialysis of an hours and a half but I found this to be a rejuvenating break in the day. This dialysis method worked extremely well for me and I did not feel trapped. I dialyzed 7 days a week and when I received my transplant, I was in fantastic condition due to constant cleaning of my blood by the dialysate. When not on the machine, I taped the in and out portals to my abdomen and opted for loose fitting clothing. The machine I used was very portable and I flew or drove many places. The machine fit easily into the overhead bins on planes. I don’t know how it is today, but 15 years ago I had a condo in Florida and a house in Atlanta. My supplier delivered my dialysate to whichever location I specified. I did travel by car quite a bit and just carried sufficient dialysate in my car trunk for the time needed.

The most important thing about PD is the care that must be exercised during connecting and disconnecting to avoid abdominal infection. This is crucial!!!

Sara Eads

[miketrial in reply to SaraEads]

thank you