How long without dialysis: I'm on hemo... - Kidney Dialysis

Kidney Dialysis

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How long without dialysis

DaisyKelsch profile image
12 Replies

I'm on hemo dialysis and I only go twice a week. I want to take it down to once a week. How long have you been able to go without dialysis? Also what should I look for as signs of being off to long? I know you probably think I'm crazy but I'm trying to heal my kidneys instead of getting a transplant and I don't think dialysis is helping me heal them.

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DaisyKelsch profile image
DaisyKelsch
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12 Replies
WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador

We are not medical experts on this site, but can only post from our own experience. It is all up to your nephrologist the number of times you need to go to dialysis. You need to stay well.

Discuss with him/her your thoughts on " healing" your kidneys. I do hope you realize that once your kidneys are damaged, there is no reversing that - or healing them, especially if you need dialysis NOW!

You need to stay well! That is most important!

DaisyKelsch profile image
DaisyKelsch in reply to WYOAnne

My nephrologists don't really look into each separate case, they look at all cases as a whole. So if the majority of people go 3 times a week that's what they want me to do.There have been studies that show you can actually heal your kidneys. My cousin had brain cancer and the doctors told her she would die. That was over a year ago shes alive and cancer free. If she can beat the odds so can I.

Rmatthew profile image
Rmatthew

Hi, i was on heamo for 12 years, 3 times a week, and I missed one session and never felt worse in my entire life. Definitely listen to what your doctors etc have to say about it. I can’t comment if you can reverse kidney failure or not, because I’ve had it my whole life and I’m only going on personal experience.

DaisyKelsch profile image
DaisyKelsch in reply to Rmatthew

That's crazy that you feel so horrible because I'm supposed to go 3 times a week but I only go 2 and I feel fine when I skip a day.. I actually plan to start only going once a week.

Rmatthew profile image
Rmatthew in reply to DaisyKelsch

Everyone’s different. I just listened to what my doctor and dialysis team told me what I need to do, I’ve known too many people fall seriously ill and pass away from missing dialysis sessions.

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador in reply to DaisyKelsch

This is just me saying this...once you are dialysis your kidneys are nor functioning or barely functioning or you would not be on dialysis. I was diagnosed with FSGS, my kidneys were getting all scarred up inside. There was no "healing" my kidneys as they were the size of "ping-pong" balls by the time I had my transplant.

Do you know the cause of your kidney failure?

From what I know, you can sometimes stabilize your CKD, but not once on dialysis.

Dialysis is not a cure, but a treatment. Dialysis is filtering your blood, because your kidneys can no longer do it. Your kidneys also send a message to your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. That's why you wind up anemic. Kidneys also control your electrolyte balance, but if not functioning like they should...

Do they weigh you when you first go to dialysis for your session? You feel like "crap" right after your session because they were getting excess fluid off as well as filtering your blood. I felt awful day of dialysis, but always felt great the next day. Before my transplant, I was having hemo 3 x a week.

Don't be afraid of a transplant! I am living well 21 years later!

After my transplant, I had over a 20 year career in Gerontology.

I travel with my husband - Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, etc.

Saw my daughters marry and made me a grandma.

I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains in Glacier National Park in Montana, 8 months after my transplant.

Life is worth living to the fullest.

Take care. Think long and hard about all of this before you make a decision. You alone can make up your mind.

mingmiley profile image
mingmiley in reply to WYOAnne

It's too bad I had to use Prednisone for my transplant that lasted 16 years. for some reason, it altered the brain chemical in my brain, I felt my brain dimmed after taking anti-rejection, felt a veil came over my brain.

DaisyKelsch profile image
DaisyKelsch in reply to mingmiley

That is terrible I'm so sorry. I was also on prednisone and I could feel it messing with my brain too.

mingmiley profile image
mingmiley in reply to DaisyKelsch

I heard that nowadays they don't use prednisone for transplant now except rare cases. My antibody has grown so high because of the first transplant, that's why I'm stuck with prednisone if transplanted. My dialysis friend said her doctor don't want her to go for transplant because she has some mental issues, this doctor said transplant is not for mental............, Sorry don't mean to tell you all these, this just my experience, what I know. Thank you for wrote back to me.

cs65 profile image
cs65NKF Ambassador

Dear Daisy, This may not have anything to do with your problems going to dialysis, but I wanted to invite you to sign up for the Renal Support Network's prom for young people on dialysis. It sounds like a really wonderful event that they do for young patients every year. You can find out more on their website rsnhope.org. It would be a great opportunity to meet other young patients and have a lot of fun!

DaisyKelsch profile image
DaisyKelsch in reply to cs65

Thank you so much I will look into it.

MikeChe profile image
MikeChe

Hello Daisy, I have been on dialysis for five years. Most of the time I did regular dialysis,which is three times a week. The longest time I've tried without dialysis was 6 days,in 2016. Although I didn't feel a thing at that time,I felt extremely terrible on the next session and the treatment last for only 2 hours because of my severe headache.

As for signs of being off too long,in the first several years,I didn't feel anything different even when I was off for six days. But recently I feel nauseous and sometimes thirsty after a two- day interval.And I believe thats also related to what I eat.

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