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When do you know if it is time to start dialysis with CKD?
Caregivers | Last Active: Jul 8 11:24am | Replies (45)Comment receiving replies
More than a year later. My husbands egfr is now at 12. The nephrologist called after the last bloodwork and asked him a bunch of questions. He has not lost weight. He is very fatigued, and about a month ago was having bouts of rage. He has bipolar but it has been in remission for years. In the past this has happened in the spring.
My questions are about the initial startup for dialysis when he needs it. He wants to do the PD home dialysis.
Can you tell me the way this happens? When do they start preparing the site and how do they train? Does someone come to the house and evaluate to help us make the space?
He had a gfr of 17 for a few years, then it was 16. Then a month ago it was 13, then a week later it was 12.
The kidney damage was from taking lithium for 30+ years. He is on a transplant list but odds are he won’t get a kidney as he is 75 years old.
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@jprust Typically, a vascular surgeon will evaluate the person to see if they can do peritoneal dialysis. Reasons that might go against it include previous abdominal surgeries, scar tissue, digestive issues, body type. If everything checks out, usually a peritoneal catheter is placed about 2 months before starting dialysis. I had my catheter placed 8/1/22, and then went through the healing process. In-center training for a week, to learn the details of what to do, and started home dialysis on my own 9/12/22. Yes, they sent a PD nurse to our house to evaluate the situation, including where I would be doing the work, how things would be stored, etc. She offered helpful comments and pointed out things that I might have missed. For me, because of my prescription, I do manual exchanges versus using a machine at night.
I started my dialysis at a eGFR of 14%.
If you want to consider a transplant, do not let his age rule that out. If you don't inquire, the answer will be "no". While there may be other reasons to not be eligible, age shouldn't be a factor so much. Remind me again of where you live, and if there is a transplant center near you? I am turning 71, and am now being considered for evaluation for transplant. What may not allow me to go further is the fact I am a blood cancer patient, not my age!
Thanks for coming back and checking in. Any other questions?
Ginger