2 or 3 x’s per week - any benefit to more/fewer

[Jengirl805]

Hello everybody! I have really been learning a lot and appreciating s the warm, generous, and kind people and sharing of information, experiences, tips, suggestions, etc. from this community. Thank you very much.

I am fairly new and I have been pretty quickly switched from 3 to 2 times per week. However, I also jumped from basically no awareness of kidney anything to stage 3–>stage4/5, 5–>Dialysis (boom.boom.boom. Just. Like. That). So, my kidneys seem to be progressing extremely fast if this is all correct. I was so shocked and miserable that I felt they considered this in moving me down to 2 ties per week as I had been feeling like I’d rather “live” a shorter period than have to do this “full time dialysis” and add years to my life. I was really just going through grieving/adjustment period, though and I quickly bounce back from even greater tragedies, and of course was able and continue to do so all the same with dialysis and all of my medical issues.

Anyway, sorry for the long tandem background. My question is the bottom line: the longer/more dialysis we can get, the better? I know my doctor would be willing to let me do th e 3 times per week again, but I want to be sure there are benefits if I get it when I am able to survive on 2 sessions. Also, would 3, 3hour sessions be better than say, 2, 4hour sessions, etc.?

Thank you for any thoughts and especially knowledge, resources like links, etc. Again, this is such a wonderful place with like people and I am actually excited about feeling excited about being able to post this!

Jen

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

9-12 hours of weekly dialysis is considered "the minimum" to sustain life. More time is always better. I went from 12 hr/week in center and then conventional at home to nocturnal hemodialysis (48 hours) per week. I was able to discontinue all/any phosphorus binders and even had to add phosphorus to my dialysate. My lab values all went to near normal for someone without kidney disease. Serum creatinine was 2.1, normal pth, normal calcium, postassium, phosphorus etc. plus my energy levels were so great I went out and got a job.

However it all depends upon cause of CKD, current lab values, activity levels and much more. This is a discussion for you and your nephrologist.

Blessings

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

All I know is that I went for three 3 hour sessions hemodialysis and even added a day rarely when my machine malfunctioned or I needed to get more treatment to get down to my dry weight. Most people on my shift did 4 hour treatments three days a week. It all depends on the individual person and you should ask your nephrologist. I do know that the more dialysis treatments you can get are more beneficial for your body. Dialysis can only remove the toxins from your body during each treatment, not like healthy kidneys do 24/7.

[LeesKees_NJ]

Hi Jenngirl,

I do home hemo 2.5 hours treatments every other day. One week it is 3 days the next week is 4. I know my machine is not as strong as the ones in the centers, which is why I have to add the day. Most home hemo patients do 4x a week. I am lucky I still have a good amount of function and still urinate. If I was to go in center eliminating that extra day and only going 3x a week would tack time on to each treatment. It would be more like 3:20 minutes each time. I tried to go back into center one time thinking it was easier, it lasted a week and I was back home again. I'm better doing my own.