
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...
Medicare has certain blood test requirements before they will pay for dialysis. Theoretically you could pay to start earlier.
It seems to me that Medicare seems to prefer to wait until the last possible second before they'll authorize treatment. Like maybe you'll get hit by a bus while waiting and they won't have to pay for dialysis. I know I thought I was going to die for awhile there.
You will feel much better when dialysis starts but you will never feel normal inside. But you will feel good enough that you will live a normal life and everyone will comment on how well you look and act.
So hang in there and accept the weakness things will get better.
Life on dialysis is not perfect but definitely worth waiting for and living with.
If you are anemic and have a low blood cell count that could be a solution.
As far as fatigue goes, 9 times out of ten is caused by anemia. There are three shots (EPO, aranesp and Procrit) that I know of which will help build your red blood cells to bring hemoglobin to a normal range. (Normal is above 12). When patients are extremely anemic Drs sometimes use an intrevenous drug called Venofer which brings iron stores up quickly. They try the shots, then venofer, if none of those treatments work, they have no choice but to give blood transfusions.
As far as when does Medicare start paying for dialysis? When a patient is considered ESRD (end stage renal failure) or a GFR below 15% It's up to your Dr/labs when you start treatment. While some Drs wait for a patient to be with a GFR below 10 and feeling terribly sick, my Dr decided to start me at 13-15% and I never felt sick (Thank goodness for that!!!)
Clinics are reimbersed a set amount. If a Dr orders EPO and orders a larger dose because you are running more anemic than standard, many clinics refuse to let the Dr order the larger dose because its VERY EXPENSIVE and the clinic administration (way up) actually make many of the decisions without the Drs input.
Now, if you have a good Dr and is one that goes to bat for his or her patients they will not tolerate that. But, they are contracted with the clinics in most cases. Some Drs run their own clinics.
I have seen the best of the best and I have seen what I would not let treat my cat. Sad, but true.
It is completely alright for you to find out who actually owns your clinic.