Hi Jan...my husband who is 77 started on dialysis last April. His kidneys failed due to medication he had been taking for the last 17 years. It was not unexpected, just a matter of time because he had a heart transplant 15 years ago and the medications used to prevent rejection eventually burn up the kidneys. He was sent home with a catheter and has dialysis 3 days per week at a Davita dialysis center. there are thousands of these centers throughout the United States so most likely your husband will go to one of these centers. My husband is having the final surgery for his permanent fistula this Friday so hopefully soon the catheter can be removed. He is also not a candiate for a kidney transplant. what is ahead? That is a giant question, but here is what I have found to help. Be prepared!!! I pack a drink, a sliced apple and some sliced carrots for him when he goes to dialysis. Bring a blanket for him. They have TV's but my husband is nearly blind so i bring books on CD for him to listen too. Maybe crossword puzzles if he likes them. His diet will have to be changed and you will be given all sorts of info on it. You didn't say if your husband has started dialyssi yet, or is about too. I think you just can't plan to far ahead with all of this, but learn as much as you can. I learned a lot from the internet about catheters, home dialysis, infections, fistualas, etc. I don't want home dialysis because frankly, he can not see well enough to be in charge of learning it, and I enjoy the 3.5 hour break from all this while he is in dialysis. I just won't add another duty to my already overbooked life with caring for him. Feel free to send me any messages thru daily strength if you have more questions. Good luck with all this.

Hi, Janni. I am actually a Dialysis RN. I have been working in a dialysis clinic for just over 2 years now. I have helped a number of new patients aging from 17 to 90 deal with the stressors of beginning dialysis. You are going to be bombarded with a TON of information and it is going to seem overwhelming at first. The first thing I would push for would be to get a permanent access in the arm and get that catheter out of there. Catheters have much higher risk for infection than an access does. All an access is, is a surgical connection of an artery and a vein in the arm. This causes the vein itself to become large, making it easy to access the blood stream with two needles to run the blood through the dialysis machine. If you want to see what these access' look like, google "dialysis fistula" and "dialysis graft."

From my own personal experience and having worked in 3 different clinics ranging from 10 chairs to 31 chairs, what I have learned about the staff is they are all there because they love what they do. In the dialysis world, people either love working in it or they hate it and leave. The in-center staff will more than likely be willing to spend a large amount of time with you and answer any questions you have.

Treatments are 3 times per week and normally range from 3-4 hours. Most physicians start new patients for 4 hours treatments 3 times a week. Bring a bag packed with a blanket and pillow...sitting in one place for that long can be uncomfortable and make him even more anxious, and every unit I have been to has been cold. There are many people requiring dialysis, and you will be in a large room with people a few feet away from you also receiving treatment.

Dialysis itself does not hurt, you won't feel anything while you're sitting there. There will always be staff within eye sight.

The biggest thing I can say is not to let this consume your life. Many people who are on dialysis continue to work and lead fairly normal lives. Attitude goes an extremely long way. It may take a month or so, but your husband WILL begin to feel better after receiving treatments. It just takes some time for your body to adjust. Feeling tired after treatment is completely normal, many people go to sleep when they get home or just sleep through their treatments.

I work for Fresenius, but there are a few other major dialysis companies. Let me know how it all goes or if you have any questions you wanna ask me. Good luck!

Hi Jan,

My name is Sasha..my kidneys shutdown back in July 2015.was admitted to the hospital and stayed for 7 days..had the groan catheter and then the venous catheter put in my heart.after I left the hospital I went straight to the dialysis center..I'm there 3x a week 4hours a day.I too am not eligible for a transplant because of the diabetes and heart disease..so I opted not to be put on the transplant list.I have had a av graft put in my arm and hopefully it will work and I can have this thing taken out of my chest.He is going to be on dialysis the rest of his life.It is tiring and you need to work things around your dialysis schedule,but it can be done.The staff where I go is nice and helpful.they make it as stress free as possible.by the time you get this message he will have already started dialysis either in the center or at home.have him bring things to read and/or write for the time he is there.Bring a blanket because it will be cold in there..my center has heated vibrating recliners,cable tv,internet all at each individual station.those things keep me occupied most days..but other days i just sleep through my time lol.visit the center to get an idea of what to expect..ask questions..everyone is helpful..Good Luck..Take Care..God Bless