caregiver for family member

[sehaj]

My mil is a 65-year-old woman who has been on dialysis for over a year. She has had CKD for 20+ years, along with diabetes, HTN, and arthritis. I was looking for community online support because sometimes we feel information overloaded. She has been suffering from severe itching, and nothing seems to help. A family friend recommends Korsuva, but her dialysis center is not contracted with the drug company.

Faith keeps us going along with community support. The positive is that her BP is under control, and her blood sugars are in the normal range. She is on kidney transplant list

[Darlenia]

Hi Sehaj! I, too, am a caregiver (more of a care partner now) to my hubby. My hubby is also a diabetic (Type 2), who went on PD, and then received a transplant at age 71. It's a lot of work, isn't it, being watchful and keeping everything moving forward; it can turn into a very stressful and lonely job. Your mil is exceptionally blessed to have to you in her life. As for the itching, my hubby experienced that too - all over his back and shoulders. Like your center, he wasn't offered anything. But our primary doctor told him to take child-size Zyrtec when it was bad. That helped somewhat. I also discovered that spraying him with over-the-counter Dermaplast helped too. These things might help your mil too. I'm absolutely thrilled that your mil's labs are stable and she's on the transplant list. Great news! May she receive her gift soon. And please reach out anytime you have questions, concerns, and updates. We're here for you!

[sehaj in reply to Darlenia]

I appreciate your support. I will try Dermaplast. Thank you. Does he still have itching after the transplant? I was told itching disappears after you have the surgery.

[Darlenia in reply to sehaj]

My hubby not only had the itchy rash but also severe restless legs when he was on dialysis. He would sit there - absolutely miserable from top to toe. It all disappeared like magic when he received his transplant - thankfully, the new kidney started working immediately. So he went into the operating room and literally came out as a new man in that regard. I'm crossing my fingers that your mil gets her new kidney soon.

[sehaj in reply to Darlenia]

How wonderful! I pray he continues to live a healthy life.