Hello everyone
I am new to this forum. I am about to start dialysis and I like to have more info before I decide which dialysis is for me. I appreciate advice from anyone who is willing to share their experiences. Please let me know the pros & cons to help me decide.
Thank you very much
Hi MightaznI can only comment on haemodialysis. I started this approx 6 weeks ago. What i like best about this, is leaving it up to the nursing staff. Then when my session is over, I just walkout and thats it, until the following session. The worst bit about haemodialysis is the inconvenience. You are litrelly trying to fit your life and work around it. Yes you can still go on holidays etc but it just feels like one big hassle. Also getting to your dialysis unit might be a problem and become costly if you are not using hospital transport. I believe if you have had stomach issues etc in the past, they advice you NOT to have peritoneal dialysis? This was the advice I was given by my consultant. Im sure someone more knowledgeable, will be along to advise you. I am just speaking as a newbie to dialysis and my experience. Wishing you all the best.
Pros and Cons on all of it...I do Home PD at night on a Cycler while I sleep...I feel good and it fits into my life quite nicely
Hey, you and I are in the same boat. I'm about to start dialysis as well (next month). I chose Periodontal Dialysis like Rhen because it will allow me to use a cycler at night, as she does. And the cycler I've chosen is the Baxter Amia which is lighter and smaller and easier to use when traveling. I'll be training to do my own exchanges because I like being in control of my life as much as possible. Now PD is a temporary solution. It's only good for an average of 5 years before the periodontal membrane wears out and either transplant or hemo (home or in center) would be the replacement treatment. It will also let me take advantage of what natural kidney function I have left (5% at this point, which ain't much, but I'll take it).
I REALLY encourage you to get the book Kidney Coach has shown from Amazon and ready it from cover to cover before you make your decision. It's an awesome book for helping understand all the complexities of each option.
Then figure out which option fits into your lifestyle and with how much you are willing to learn and be a participant in your own treatment. Some like not having to deal with it. Others obsess over every nuance and become experts. I'm sorta in the middle. Not going to replace my medical team with my knowledge, but will learn to be self sufficient at doing my own dialysis treatments unless a situation happens beyond my skill level, like if I get an infection or something.
I hope you do well with what ever you choose, but be prepared for a need to change should challenges arise. Being flexible an adaptable will be key to success, long term. And put long term goals together so your team has an idea of how you would like your life to work within the realm of dialysis. And don't be afraid to ask for what you want!
Thank you very much! Will definitely look for the book as recommended. I wish you all the best too. To be honest I am just numbed and trying to stay positive but terrified at the same time. Dialysis is imminent so I am preparing myself for the next chapter of my life.
What you are feeling is absolutely normal. Let the feelings flow. Trying to avoid them and pretending this is not reality makes it works. Facing it head on is the absolute best method that I've found. And gaining knowledge from these wonderful folks on this site is part of that head on positive attitude you will attain and keep. I just had my PD catheter surgery at 7am this morning and after a nice long nap, I'm back on here and ready to go to the next step. I'll post something about it in a new comment, but just suffice it to say that as surgeries go, it's not bad at all. I'm sore, but it's very doable! So keep posting here and you will find your fear being replaced by knowledge. That's a good thing! Like checking out Dalrlenia's post below.
Hi! This is a nifty website that guides you to a choice based on a questionnaire. mydialysischoice.org/#ey My hubby's nephrologist recommended Peritoneal Dialysis for him because it interfered less with daily activities. It was also preferred by our transplant center since PD doesn't involve accessing blood vessels, thus lessening the chance for calcification of arteries needed for a transplant. That was extremely important to us so we transitioned to PD following emergency hemodialysis. PD worked well for us and he did receive a transplant some months later. I'm glad you're looking into the situation now, instead of delaying it. I'm sure you'll find the method that works for you. It's truly a personal decision.
Here in the US, they typically limit those able to participate in PD with a BMI at or under 35. I don't know if that is a factor for you or not. With PD you have the catheter in your abdomen and cannot swim or take a bath because of potential infection at the site. Also, you have to shower every day to clean the site. They will eventually take the catheter out either when they give you a new kidney or when the new kidney starts working well.
With HD the fistula will stay in your arm forever. I think there are also some lifting limits for the arm with the fistula.
I have done both hemodialysis in center and peritoneal. I found in center a long frustrating, anxiety provoking experience. It interfered in my normal daily life. I never felt good.
While on peritoneal I felt great, slept through the night on the cycler got up and went to work in the morning and was able to go about my life. You do have to deal with a large amount of supplies and the dialycite bags for the cycler can be pretty heavy but not a problem if you’re in pretty good shape. Sadly after two years the peritoneal stopped working for me and I got peritonitis. I am now back on in center hemodialysis, hating it and my life and how I feel but this is just my experience. Wishing you the best of luck with whatever you decide.
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