Peritoneal vs Incenter Nocturnal Dialysis

[Leroy1]

If I do not get a transplant first, I may have to choose a method of dialysis. My doctor recommends peritoneal but I'm attracted to incenter nocturnal dialysis. Does anyone have information on how each compares in regards to how the recipient feels generally from each?

[Jayhawker]

I’m in the same situation. My first nephrologist put a tremendous amount of time and effort into patient education with me focused on both dialysis options and transplants.

Based on that and his guidance I’ve settled upon PD dialysis as my modality if choice.

1. It cleanses your blood daily rather than three times a week so is closer to what our native kidneys do.

2. It’s easier on our hearts.

3. It preserves remaining renal function longer; this is especially helpful for those waiting for s transplant.

4. I can do PD independently in my home so will be able to make it fit around my work schedule.

5. It has virtually no recovery time immediately after disconnecting from the machine.

From many who participate in this forum who have done both HD and PD, the majority preferred PD although not all have been able to stay on it fir very long...

I’m sure others will chime in with their thoughts. There are many in this forum who have had good experiences with HD dialysis too though.

Bottom line? They’re both live saving treatments. We’re fortunate to have these. My first day in the transplant education class as I was starting through the evaluation process the head transplant nurse coordinator said that one reason the transplant waitlist is so long is because unlike other organ transplants, kidney recipients have a treatment that will keep them alive as they wait for the transplant. That treatment is dialysis. We are, indeed, fortunate.

Jayhawker

[steve680]

I tried to do nocturnal hemodialysis but it didn't work for me because:

1) It's very difficult/uncomfortable to sit still in a dialysis chair for 6 hours at a time.

2) The hemodialysis is very hard on my cardiovascular system. It jacks up my blood pressure and sometimes results in a rapid heartbeat towards the end of dialysis. Last time the dialysis nurse almost called 911 because they thought I might be having a heart attack.

I will be doing PD as it's my only alternative left, and if there are problems with that, then I'm out of options and will probably choose palliative care.

[Darlenia]

Hi Leroy. I'm a caregiver to my husband who recently and unexpectedly went on hemodialysis and is also facing this decision as he needs to transition from a temporary catheter to something more long term. To add to what others have said, you may want to check where the nocturnal dialysis centers are located in your area. There aren't that many of them so drive time may be an issue. We're located in the Washington, DC. metropolitan region. Here, dialysis centers tend to specialize - several will only do daytime hemodialysis, fewer will do daytime hemodialysis as well as provide training on peritoneal or home hemodialysis, but only one will provide nocturnal dialysis. I'd like to add that at least three professionals (our nephrologist, a transplant center doctor, and the peritoneal training coordinator) stated that peritoneal dialysis is viewed most favorably by our chosen transplant hospital. So you may want to ask around and see what people say in your particular area as you make your choices based on your personal interests. We've come to our own conclusions (peritoneal dialysis) only in the last few days.