Father of son with Iga Nephropathy

[Cleo0806]

My son is almost 44. He suffers from Iga Nephropathy. He received his first peritoneal dialysis treatment last night. He is on transplant list. His wife is accepted to be a donor. Hopefully a paired living donor match soon.

[Kbristow]

Best wishes to your son. I was about 45 when I did PD; a year later I got my transplant. I also have IgA nephropathy (after first being misdiagnosed with PKD). PD worked out very well for me. The first month was a bit rough, but the nurse did some adjustments to make it more comfortable, and I got got used to just walking around with a belly full of fluid. After I switched to the night time cycler, my days were freed up even more, and I could walk around without the extra fluid. I was able to travel and enjoy life, just at a slower pace. PD chased away much of my symptoms (nausea, lack of appetite, inability to concentrate, itchiness all over). I was still tired but not as much. I hope all works out well with his donor. Don't give up hope if the first donor doesn't work out. I had several people get tested before the surgery finally happened.

[Cleo0806 in reply to Kbristow]

TY for the info. My son goes to a clinic 3 times a week for the PD. His symptoms include being cold all the time. He is looking forward to do the PD at home. My son have 2 young children. My wife and I are trying to help them out as much as we can. Keep in touch!

[Cleo0806 in reply to Cleo0806]

I have been accepted to be screened to be a potential donor at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville . I am 70 years old. My son is on transplant list there at Mayo and U of Pa.I am excited to be able to be screened as a possible donor.

[bisley in reply to Cleo0806]

Hi Cleo, I'm sorry your son has to go through this. I went from hemio dialysis at the clinic 3 days a week to home PD. For me, the PD did not work out as I was not meeting adequacy. Probably due to some previous abdominal surgery. I then transition to home hemio dialysis five days a week. While I found this better than going to the clinic its not for everyone. Learning to stick those 15 guage needles in your arm is difficult. The idea here is that you deveop what they call buttonholes. Supposedly, a track or channel is formed that the needles will follow. Aftter eight months it was still occasionally hit and miss. My situation was complicated by poor veins which I developed from having IVs for 30 days.

After a total of two years on dialysis I had decided to terminate treatment. At the same time my sister-in-law turned out to be a perfect match and about six weeks later I had the transplant at the ripe old age of 70. It turned out to be a new lease on life. Whatever path your son chooses I wish him well.