Dialysis Support Group
Dialysis is a type of renal replacement therapy which is used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function due to renal failure. It is a life support treatment and does not treat any kidney diseases. Dialysis may be used for very sick patients who have suddenly lost their kidney function or for quite stable patients who have permanently lost their kidney...
Hi Everyone,
Hoping for a little advice here because my husband starts kidney dialysis tomorrow. He is a heart transplant receipient who got a heart 15 years ago and the anti rejection medication has finally done its toll on the kidneys. We knew all along that if he lived long enough the kidneys would get bad. Today his Creatine was 5.22 and his BUN was 122. Each day both numbers are rising. My husband has other health issues...very poor sight, loss of hearing, emphysema, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) to name a few. He is currently in the hosptial fighting bronchitis, shortness of breath, and his kidneys went downhill quick once he entered into the hospital a week ago, so bad getting him on dialysis ASAP is needed. I was wondering if anyone can give me tips, advice, suggestions, anything I can do to make this easier on him (and me too since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. My RA is not real bad, but at times i hit the exhaustion wall hard) He will have his first dialysis tomorrow, and probably one other treatment before he can get discharged....assuming they can clear up the lungs too. Then we will have treatment 3 times per week in the town where I work. My husband swears he will not live on dialysis, but he also swore he would never go on it either! But when it comes down to do or die, he changed his mind quickly! Now....here is a question also, any of you know the stats on what chances he might have to eventually get off dialysis? Any advice is appreciated!
Hoping for a little advice here because my husband starts kidney dialysis tomorrow. He is a heart transplant receipient who got a heart 15 years ago and the anti rejection medication has finally done its toll on the kidneys. We knew all along that if he lived long enough the kidneys would get bad. Today his Creatine was 5.22 and his BUN was 122. Each day both numbers are rising. My husband has other health issues...very poor sight, loss of hearing, emphysema, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) to name a few. He is currently in the hosptial fighting bronchitis, shortness of breath, and his kidneys went downhill quick once he entered into the hospital a week ago, so bad getting him on dialysis ASAP is needed. I was wondering if anyone can give me tips, advice, suggestions, anything I can do to make this easier on him (and me too since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. My RA is not real bad, but at times i hit the exhaustion wall hard) He will have his first dialysis tomorrow, and probably one other treatment before he can get discharged....assuming they can clear up the lungs too. Then we will have treatment 3 times per week in the town where I work. My husband swears he will not live on dialysis, but he also swore he would never go on it either! But when it comes down to do or die, he changed his mind quickly! Now....here is a question also, any of you know the stats on what chances he might have to eventually get off dialysis? Any advice is appreciated!
I'm just slightly younger than your husband (23 yrs old) and I don't have all these extra complications that your husband does, but here are a few things that helps me and my husband:
- We vent. We both do. I hate losing so much time wasting away in a dialysis chair. He hates the careful meal-planning. Keep talking to your husband and be honest about how you both feel. It may not solve the problem, but it will make you feel better. I promise.
-While he is in dialysis, take a rest. You wrote about getting exhausted sometimes. Your husband will be fine in dialysis and get well taken care of, so don't worry, go home and rest (if you're not working).
-Take up on the help that people offer. Anything helps. Someone bringing you groceries or doing some vacuum-cleaning will save you some energy you'll be able to invest in something else.
-Be strong. Your husband might need surgery for a fistula or a graft. Be honest and open about what you feel, but don't make him start to worry about all your fears. It won't help his recovery or mental health. Console him if he does get scared.
-Get in touch with a social worker and/or kidney foundation. They can help you with anything you need or suggest things that you didn't even think you'd need. Both of them have been a great help for me in my own battle. They'll give you the strength and the trust that you're not alone.
The chances of him getting off of dialysis are very small, in his case, I think. I'm not a doctor, but what you describe is chronic kidney disease. Dialysis can't help him recover from that. If his meds have permanently damaged his kidneys, only a transplant will help him to get off dialysis again. Had it been acute renal failure, his chances of recovery would have been higher.
I really hope this helps. Take care!
I too believe that his chances of getting of dialysis are really slim as this was not an acute onset.
the choice was sitting on a cloud or the dreaded machine.
I swallowed my pride and accepted all the medical support the hospital
provided,councilling.mild seditive,advice on diet,prayer support.
researching plan B
I have been on dialysis over a year now,three times aweek inbetween
sessions I try to live life to the full,I live alone.prayers for you
Here are a few suggestions based on what I have gone through.
*A lot of people don't realize that it is just as hard on the spouse/significant other as it is on the person who is actually sick. Find a support group for you and your husband or just yourself. There are lots of message boards that have special sections for caregivers.
*Don't feel bad for taking care you yourself first. I know this sounds bad but if you don't take care of you then you won't be able to help him.
*As Merell said, vent, vent, vent. If you don't want to vent to him try journaling. That has helped me in the past.
*Have you been informed of peritoneal dialysis? If not ask if it is something he can do (it's done at home so no traveling and no needles) I'm not sure if that may be easier on him and you both or not. You have to have some room to have supplies stored (a spare bedroom is where we keep my boxes). They deliver the supplies and put them where you need to. I do one manual exchange and then am on the night cycler for 9 hours overnight. You are continually being dialyzed so that the restrictions are fewer then on hemo.
*Ask questions. Keep a notebook handy so that when you think of something you can write it down. If you are anything like me I would forget what I wanted to ask when I saw the dr and remember during the night.
*Again take care of YOU.
I hope this helps and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I hope being a transplant recipient and having done both hemo and pd dialysis I can help you.