Scared of hemo dialysis

[NurseRed]

Im a 44 year old mom ive been doing PD at home now since 2019.i have been currently told my bmi to high due to extra calories in PD solution now im told to do hemo and have had anxiety attacks before for one time hemo....any advice or tips to get me thru this?

[Bassetmommer]

HI Nurse Red,Just a thought because although I am not on dialysis, I would choose PD. So, I started looking in to the weight gain issue because having a higher BMI stops one from being able to get transplanted. I have been asking around and supposedly, there are solutions that are not so high in the glucose concentration. It might help you if you can find out about that.

ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386...

[checkman in reply to Bassetmommer]

I actually checked into this several years ago and found that lower dextrose pd solution was available...for some reason I'm not finding that info now though....I would def. ask a PD nurse.

[Darlenia in reply to checkman]

My hubby, a T2D, was on PD dialysis for about a year and has used all available solutions in one way or another. As people have noted, PD solutions generally use dextrose (red, green, and yellow bags) to filter and extract impurities. This, of course, does drive up blood sugar. There's also a non-dextrose based solution that uses 7.5 icodextrin (purple bags) that doesn't drive up sugars. However, the purple solution is potassium based and the body can't work with it as well as the others. So while a purple bag is tossed into the mix here and there, it's rarely used exclusively. It simply won't get the job done.

[Jayhawker in reply to Darlenia]

Yes, this is consistent with what my nephrologist told me a few years ago.

Jayhawker

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

Not necessarily true! Robotic transplant surgery has greatly improved outcomes for obese patients. I was part of a paired kidney exchange. All four of us — 2 recipients and 2 donors — had bmis exceeding the limits of normal, open kidney transplants. 15 months later we are ALL doing very well.

All four of us had robotic surgery. My main incision, for transplant, is 4 inches long. It’s quite amazing as each of my other family members had traditional, open transplants (due to PKD) with approximately 12 inch incisions.

At least at my clinic, calcification from prolonged dialysis might be a limiting factor but not bmi.

[Bassetmommer in reply to Hidden]

Lucky you. There are very few transplant places that will allow higher BMIs. And yes, even my medical center has the robotic arm, but the wait is still 6 to 7 years.

[OperationKidney]

Switching from PD to hemo is definitely a valid fear. I haven't had the same experience but I do know doing hemo took some time to get used to. After a bit though it wasn't too bad. Wishing you all the best ❤️

[Quita55]

Hi Nurse Red I have been doing hemodialysis for about an year now in the beginning I was scared, but after about 3 weeks I got adjusted to it. Before you get started ask your nephrologist about some numbing cream it really helps I barely feel the needles that will help you get through. Remember that you are not alone and coming to healthunlock there is lots of support to help you get through with all your questions and to help ease some of your fears. I wish you the best of luck

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

May I ask, why or what is your fear from? The needles, blood, clinic setting? Been doing hemo for near 20 years. As I began using needles I was a bit scared but " feel the fear and do it anyway " was my mantra for awhile. If I can help your fears dissipate please let me know. Blessings

[NurseRed in reply to KidneyCoach]

Im a nurse but when i give a shot i dont feel anything let me explain what happens in my anxiety attacks i start hurting in other arms then legs then i squirm around and while unable to move that arm i start panicking and eventually yelling out help me god at top my lungs upsetting everyone

[NurseRed in reply to KidneyCoach]

Are there things that help listening to music or something during

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

I used emla cream (a numbing cream) an hour before each treatment and even got to the point where I didn't need it sometimes. Your body loses sensation in the area of frequent needle sticks. Also, I would take a deep breath and let it out as the tech put each needle in and I generally looked away as he did it. Each tech has a slightly different technique, which you will learn and get used to. I would also ask for the techs that worked well with my fistula, if possible. Yes, you will learn the best areas of your fistula to access ( I had a lower area that would either hit a nerve or infiltrate, so I told everyone to avoid it). You will probably be very afraid at first - I know I was, but caring techs and nurses helped me to face my fears. I even got to the point where I would laugh instead of cry when a problem happened, because I was confident the tech/nurse could handle it. I did hemodialysis for 4 years before I got my transplant last year. Good luck to you!

[rabbit01]

I can really relate to everything you are saying. I have been doing PD for two years and am a fast transporter and absorb a lot of that sugary fluid. Consequently I have put on weight. I have always been overweight but now with this dialysis fluid adding hundreds of calories I am fighting a losing battle. Similarly I am terrified of going onto haemodialysis.

[07gmctruck]

i have been on hemo at a fresenious clinic .i'm in my 6th year.it is a little scary at first,but as time goes on it gets easier.i have a lot of respect for my drs.and all the staff who take care of me and the other patients at my clinic.i consider them my second family.i was getting ready to get on the tranplant list ,but i had 3 mini strokes and other medical conditions.i was not a good candidate for a transplant. it was like some one kicked me hard in the stomach.none of us like it ,but consider the alternative.it is a way of life now.don't fight it .i take it day by day.you will have good days and bad days just like regular people not on dialysis.unfortunately depression and anxiety is part of it.i take meds. to help me cope.hopefully you have support from family and friends.good luck .YOU CAN DO IT

[horsie63]

PD failed and I ended up in hospital where they put in a chest catheter and have been doing hemo for a month now. I was so sick and there was no time so no anxiety. Hemo actually makes me feel better with appetite again.