Sick day

[Quita55]

Hi I'm wondering what to do should I ever get sick. I know what to do if I get sick for my diabetes ,but not for kidney failure. (I'm not on dialysis yet) in the near future. Open for suggestions and advice.

[HealthBuddyMelissa]

Could you be more specific, or you just mean sick in general like the Flu or a cold?

[Quita55 in reply to HealthBuddyMelissa]

Yeah what do I do if I got the flu or a bad cold,? Do I still go to dialysis?

[Jayhawker in reply to Quita55]

I’m not on dialysis yet either. So right now I follow directions from my PCP Internist. Once I’m on dialysis I’d expect some explicit directions about this from the dialysis clinic. I’ll be using PD dialysis so I’d expect I’d still connect at home to do exchanges, but am actually not sure.

Good question!

Jayhawker

[Hidden in reply to Quita55]

It would depend on what type of dialysis your doing as you can pick up infections during dialysis. Any infection picked up during dialysis is dealt by your renal team, coughs, colds and flu are dealt with your PCP or GP. It would also depend on the severity or how ill you are and what support you get if your ill during dialysis.

[HealthBuddyMelissa in reply to Quita55]

I am not on Dialysis, but everything I have read says to continue your dialysis treatments. Talk with your doctor about safety precautions you can take, but definitely wear a mask and an N95 if you can find one, don't touch your face, and keep your hands clean. Make sure the center you go to everyone is wearing a mask also.

[KristiS_NKF]

Hi Abigale,

As everyone here has mentioned, if you are not feeling well you should always contact your doctor. However, as a general rule of thumb if you are a dialysis patient, you should NOT miss your treatments. If you feel sick, be sure to tell a member of you healthcare team so they can guide you.

There's also another community here specifically for dialysis, if you'd like to check that out as well:

healthunlocked.com/nkf-dial...

Best,

Kristi

[Darlenia]

Excellent advice from KristiS. There is another group on HealthUnlocked devoted to dialysis. In short, dialysis goes on in an established pattern. If you have in-center HD dialysis, there is an isolation room that is used for those who are ill. If you have in-home PD or in-home HD, then that goes on as usual as well. The whole idea is to mimic normal body function...with as much regularity as possible. My husband, for example, just went in for a colonoscopy - a transplant requirement. We planned the cleanse to occur in such a way that it wouldn't interfere with his PD routine. If an emergency occurs and a dialysis session must be missed, adjustments are made with close monitoring involving greater solution strengths, extra sessions, etc. Hope this helps.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Never miss a dialysis treatment. If not on dialysis and you get sick, do your kidneys stop working? Of course not. Think of dialysis as a replacement for kidneys. You must have those treatments. I used to own a farm where we had cows and goats. They required milking twice per day, sick or not. Dialysis is akin in that it must be done....sick, on vacation, going to school, special occasion, dialysis must come first. Without it can cause organ stunning, spikes in potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and more. Once on dialysis consider it your faithful companion, where you go it must follow. Again, must follow.

Amy

CKD 40 years

Dialysis 18+ years

Blessings

[Helloyall]

Define sick? You go to doctor or ED. Like for the the diabetes keep track of your ketones if sugar running high -ketoacidosis affects kidney function you know

Watch out for edema or lesser production of urine

Nausea etc. Deink fluids if you get a cold and watch pfor otc counter medicarion tjat are contra indocated in the presence of kidney disea( read the directions and leadlet enclosed. What is your base. level kidney functioning now?

[Quita55]

Hello I'm currently at stage 4 kidney failure. I'm not on dialysis yet. I was just trying to get some advice on what to do if I got sick because of my kidney failure.