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[viamar1]

Hi.I was told I had stage 4 CKD 3 years ago.My function is at 17.Will go next week for more blood work.Then have to get the access port put in.They are also worried because I have 3 times more protein in my blood than average.

[viamar1]

Sorry.Meant urine on the protein.

[PeaB4YouGo in reply to viamar1]

Protein in your urine?

[viamar1 in reply to PeaB4YouGo]

Yes.It is leaking from a scar on my kidneys into my urine.

[PeaB4YouGo]

Talk to your doctors about getting a fistula or graft, whichever works for you. The sooner you do this, the sooner you'll get the central line catheter removed, and the sooner you move away from a HUGE source of infection (and, the happier the dialysis center staff will be). I never had one, and I'm grateful.

I watch the folks with central lines and, while they get in and out of the dialysis clinic faster, they take longer to prep because everyone involved needs full PPEs to hook them to their machines. With me and my working fistula, my nurse wears and gown, gloves and mask, but I don't need to "gown up" as well. The disadvantage, and it's a really small item, is that I have to spend 15 minutes holding pressure on a gauze pad on my access until I quit bleeding. At the end of it all, you can tell the folks who have fistulas by the number of arms held high while waiting for their pressure bandages. LOL

Seriously, get your fistula/graft ASAP. They take a while to "mature", so you'll be using that central line for a while, but life gets easier when they can start using your arm, instead.

[viamar1 in reply to PeaB4YouGo]

I haven't had a central line catheter put in.I go the 30th to put the access port in.

[PeaB4YouGo in reply to viamar1]

My last paragraph is an important point. You will not be able to use your fistula/graft for the first few months after it is "installed". This is because it is "maturing" and will not provide the necessary flow rates and pressures required for dialysis right away. During that time, you'll need that central line.

I'm probably going to kick myself, but, are you planning to start HEMODIALYSIS, or is your access for Peritoneal Dialysis, in which case, disregard everything I've said. LOLOL

[viamar1 in reply to PeaB4YouGo]

I'm not sure

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

not sure....at this point? One goes in your belly....peritoneal and the other goes in your arm...hemodialysis. When you do not plan right, you end up in the hospital with a direct catheter, which is not great. Too many issues with infection. If it is an arm fistula, go now and see the surgeon. I waited, thinking I have more time, and that was almost four months before they started me. I had nothing but issues because it was not "ripe". I was self-cannulating by the fifth month with little to known issues with the site.

[viamar1 in reply to Bassetmommer]

I go the 30th of this month

[viamar1]

Mine is going in my arm.Sorry.Did not know the medical terms.