Switching to home hemodialysis

[platypusak]

I have been on peritoneal dialysis using a cycler, which has been wonderful, for two years. Unfortunately my clearance has been falling over the last four months and treatment increase in the amount of dextrose has caused me to gain nearly 30 lb. My clinic has me scheduled to begin training for home hemo on July 5 which will certainly help with my hugely high blood sugars and weight gain. Has anyone else been through this. Am excited but apprehensive….I thouroughly trust my physicians and the nurses, but would love to hear from people who have made the transition from pd to home hemo.

Thanks

[bumblebee_tuna]

I don't think I've seen anyone on this board that does home Hemo, but I hear great things on it at my dialysis unit, I think more than half the home patients are on home Hemo. I am sure you'll do just fine, are you doing it solo or with a partner?

Now you have to figure out how to get rid of all the PD boxes!

[Bassetmommer]

HI, I am sorry that the PD did not work out. The weight gain and the sugar are the reasons why I said no to it and I am going on home hemo. I am not there yet but I have met with my Patient Advisor. The training is extensive, like 5 weeks or more. He said they do that so the patient is totally confident in the process. My Neph is fully on board with this and keeps telling me how much better I will feel once I am on a schedule. She tells me she has one patient who feels so great on HHD that she is not going to continue being on the transplant list. Once I start the process, I am planning on writing about it here.

[RonZone in reply to Bassetmommer]

I definitely want to hear ALL about this.

[platypusak in reply to Bassetmommer]

I’m hopeful. My training starts July 5th four days a week for at least 4 weeks. Have met with the team and they are wonderful

[RonZone]

Hey, just curious for those of us on PD. Did they say what caused your clearance to "fall" (change)? What was it before, and what is it now?

[rabbit01 in reply to RonZone]

The peritoneal membrane gets clogged over time and additionally it shrinks. Both of these conditions cause the dialysis to be less effective. They measure the toxins our waste dialysis fluid every six months or so and the minimum score to be considered as effective PD is 1.7.

[Darlenia in reply to RonZone]

Sadly, membrane failure apparently happens sooner for those who are diabetic - diabetes literally affects the entire body. For others, the membrane can hang in there for a long time. I assume one hears of membrane issues quite a bit since diabetics are the largest segment doing dialysis. Hope this helps fill in the picture a little bit for you.

[platypusak in reply to RonZone]

over time PD become less effective. The last six month I have had a slowly decreasing clearance in spite of increasing number of daily exchanges

[RonZone in reply to platypusak]

so I guess the peritoneum just stops doing whatever it does to remove stuff from the blood. I have been banking on it working for 5 or 6 years, but your experience of just two years does concern me a tad.

[Darlenia in reply to RonZone]

I can understand. I worried about it too when my hubby was on PD. Your question interested me...then, while researching, I ran across reports that catheter issues can contribute to membrane failure too. Could that dreaded drain pain be a signal? Dunno. Anyway, if that's still happening, maybe discuss it with your nephrologist. Otherwise, just make sure you don't get peritonitis and so forth too. Sometimes one just has to step out in faith and trust that things will work out okay.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Yes, I switched frome home hemo to PD and then back to home hemo. I've been doing HHD for over 21 years. Blessings

[Bassetmommer in reply to KidneyCoach]

Oh my, Kidney Coach...... this certainly gives me hope. Can you tell me a little about your daily routine and how HHD has worked for you. The organization I am working with is looking for people to be patient advisors......

[platypusak in reply to KidneyCoach]

thanks for replying. Am feeling more comfortable about this change.

[Sod6pnts in reply to platypusak]

Greetings... I am new to dialysis...48 and ckd... staryed dialysis in Feb of 2023... YOU WANT IN HOME DIALYSIS!!!! *more control of your own treatment, more options when to get your treatment, you have the ability to be more productive, you have less time preparing (travel time and center "goings-on"... PRIVACY... this definitely helps with attitude and overall mental acceptance for me... So with that, just that that, alone. Is it possible you could consider this a gain in the journey?

I started with inhome dialysis training. The clinic here in NY has a wi g for just training. Id be happy to explain some of my experiences and frustrations further if you like.

I am also new here too...just gettimg the feel for it amd kinda opening up a little... so hey everyone, its nice to notice and find I too am not or had been scared or concernrd about this all.

[platypusak in reply to Sod6pnts]

I’ve done home PD for two years, but my clearance has diminished so I’m switching to Hime hemo . I agree about doing it at home. My husband will be training alompng with me so great support. Am. Hopeful for a good outcome, but a little overwhelmed med right now. Thanks for the supportive post

[Sod6pnts in reply to platypusak]

More than welcome... sometimes it is hard to understand individually how each person has their own journey when we're "all in the same boat". The wholesomeness and support offered here has helped me through the dark times presenting themselves. When every which way way looks , for lack of better term, dismal. Just Simply checking in daily has helped exponentially.

[rabbit01]

Did they not try you on Extraneal? I dread the day they tell me I have to go on haemodialysis. I have been on PD for 42 months but my last KTV was 1.3 so that's a fail. I just absorb the yellow fluid as I am a fast transporter. Fortunately I use Extraneal which is a non sugar based fluid and is really good for me.

[platypusak in reply to rabbit01]

we discussed it, but they felt, with my agreement, that at this point it would not help and HHD was a good option.

[rabbit01 in reply to platypusak]

Ok well good luck with it all. I hope it all works out.

[RonZone in reply to rabbit01]

You are 36 months ahead of me. I hope I make it to 42 months or more.

[rabbit01 in reply to RonZone]

Just one day at a time!

[RonZone in reply to rabbit01]

You got that right. Keep me posted on how this goes for you.

[checkman]

One of the most important items you need to consider is your water source. Here is a website you can go by zip to see all the horrible chemicals in your tap water. EWG.org/tapwater I would never use the water in my house. I did HOURS of research and could not find any home filtration system that could get even close to filtering all/most of the horrible chemicals from tap water being provided to me.