Ckd stage 5

[Ianm]

Just been told by my nephrologist that I will bee starting dialissis next week and I don't know what the next step is please help me

[Nicolala]

Hi ianm

You must be feeling very anxious. Are you in the UK? My reply is assuming you are.

I am guessing you have a fistula already. If not, you will need access for the dialysis machine to be connected. Your first dialysis may take place on a renal ward, rather than the dialysis unit. You will have your 'dry weight' assessed by a nurse or doctor and your blood pressure will be checked. It will most likely be shorter than the usual 4hrs, you will be monitored throughout, especially your blood pressure. You may feel light headed or have a headache. The nurses will take good care of you. If you have a fistula, different hospitals vary in opinions on numbing it before inserting the needles, but once they are in you should feel no pain. You will be given another session two days later. Eventually you should be dialysis on the unit and have a regular slot, 3 times a week. I hope this helps. Please ask if you have any questions. Above all, try not to worry. The fear of the unknown is usually worse than the reality.

Good luck.

[Ianm in reply to Nicolala]

I do have a fistula fitted I was told it might be 4 days a week

[Nicolala in reply to Ianm]

4 days a week isn't typical, but maybe you will need it initially? Most units just don't have the availability to accommodate patients 4x a week.

It takes a little while for the body to adjust and for things to settle down, but once your dialysis prescription is sorted ie the type of dialyser (artificial kidney) and dialysate ( chemicals used to balance the toxins drawn from the body) are decided, you should start to feel a bit better than you have been.

[Ianm in reply to Nicolala]

I am in uk I am being transferred to Moriston hospital from bridgend

[clem556]

The unit I was on, (I had a kidney transplant 5 weeks ago), offered skin numbing cream, ( never used it), freeze spray (I found to be painful), and just putting the needles in.

I personally found putting the needles in not too bad, it hurts for less than a second which I copped with by either a sharp intake of breath or exhale, it depends on your pain threshold.

Actual dialysis was pain free except on rare occasions when a needle touched the wall of the fistula.

Words of advice.

Don't worry, any concerns talk to your nurses, they will have heard them all, and will be able to address them.

If you start to feel odd in any way while dialysing.

Some times you might get light headed, or start to get small cramps, don't wait for feinting or strong cramps. Press the call button, your nurses will help you, they can stop taking fluid off or give fluid back, easy.

Never ever touch your needles while they are in your fistula, call button = nurses.

You might get the impression that nurses are the answer to every thing, they are, you will grow close to them and they will get to know you.

They can escalate to get a doctor, if you need it.

I did HD for about 5 years, the only time I had a problem was early on when I did not call a nurse, I thought I was tough and it would pass.

Good luck.

And talk to the other patients they started too, and will know how you feel.