Question about rides

[dadinfo]

How many people are able to drive themselves to dialysis?

[Darlenia]

Hi! My hubby began with in-center hemodialysis. At the start, I drove him back and forth as he was weak and shaky. After he got his strength and confidence back after a month or so, he drove himself. He was 70 years at the time. I noticed your dad has had Covid, which can create acute kidney injury. Perhaps that happened to your father. If so, some do slowly recover from it. Hope this is the situation in your father's case. You're a wonderful person for caring about him.

[dadinfo in reply to Darlenia]

My dad is 79 I’m driving the first week, but I live 45 minutes each way and I’m in bad health. My brother works so he can’t give him a ride, he also I has bad health. I’m trying to get rides setup through the dialysis center, but he is fighting it he wants to drive himself. I’m hoping the staff there can convince him to take the rides. Ty for replying.

[cs65 NKF Ambassador in reply to dadinfo]

When I first started dialysis my husband drove me back and forth for the first month. That was the instruction from my dialysis center because the dialysis process can make you weak and lower your blood pressure and not really a safe driver until your body gets used to it. After that I was able to drive myself almost all the time. My husband and I were retired and he was able to drive me whenever i needed him to. I would suggest that you and his social worker set up a transportation van for him at least at first. Your dad will know when he is able to drive again.

[dadinfo in reply to cs65]

The caseworker said his health insurance probably wouldn't cover rides, but he can use the smart bus it’s on $1 a ride for dialysis patients.

[dadinfo in reply to cs65]

Ty

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

I drove myself back and forth (30 miles each way) for 7 months. I was 43. Then we switched to home hemodialysis.

[dadinfo in reply to KidneyCoach]

Ty

[07gmctruck]

i drive myself to dialysis 3x's a week after a 4 hr. treatment

[dadinfo in reply to 07gmctruck]

Ty

[Nullity]

I am able to, I just choose not to :). Of course, I’m only 15 min away.

[dadinfo in reply to Nullity]

Ty

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Please remember that we are all different. One person may not have any problems with driving to the center and back, and others get really weak. I would advise you to drive your Dad at first till you see how he reacts to the whole process.I have had a transplant, but I remember when I went to the dialysis center. I had problems when the dialysis center had to get excess weight off me. Would make me feel weak and lightheaded.

[dadinfo in reply to WYOAnne]

Dad has a lot of fluid retention. I wish I could drive him, but I live far away and we are having financial problems. My brother and I have heart problems both have defibrillators we do what we can. They said he can take the smart bus, but doesn’t want to wait for a ride. I do check his records on line talk to his doctors about his care and have to fill his meds every week. Ty for replying. 🙏🏻

[lovemesomeflowers]

I don't drive but am blessed to have a service available here in my county. It costs 7$ a day well worth it.My driver is always on time. The dialysis center is 30 minutes away. Can stop in town for groceries or other things before I come on home. I think there may be 4-5 people at the center that drive themselves.

[dadinfo in reply to lovemesomeflowers]

Ty

[Porter20]

I had PD and felt great drove myself most times. In the beginning my husband drove me until I knew how I would feel.

[dadinfo in reply to Porter20]

Ty

[Mizmahogany]

I drive myself, and will continue to do so as long as I stay healthy.

[dadinfo in reply to Mizmahogany]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Shamara]

I did when I was in the I center. It was connected to a large hospital, parking was limited. I found out the nursing and technician staff was parking in handicapped and I complained. I got retaliated against and they kept doing it. I had to call the hospital parking helpline for them to drive me around the 4 floor parking structure to find my car because I was so out of it from my treatment, I couldn’t remember where I parked. All the while, staff was taking up handicapped parking right outside the clinic........