What's your experience with dialysis? Give & get support here

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Mar 7, 2019

Dialysis is required if your kidneys don't function adequately on their own. Your doctor will discuss with you the type of dialysis that's best for you. Dialysis treatment is a serious responsibility, You'll need to work closely with your health care team who have experience in managing dialysis. Open communication with your health care team is essential to your overall health.

Fellow patients are a wonderful source of support and practical information because of a shared dialysis experience.
If you are a dialysis patient, or loved one of a patient, what are some things that you have experienced that might be helpful to someone who is new to dialysis? What kind of life adjustments have you had to make? How has it affected your everyday life?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 16, 2020

In reply to @hopeful33250 "I'd love to see a picture of the bald eagles if they set up housekeeping nearby,..." + (show)

@hopeful33250 I don't have a camera with telephoto lens, but if the neighbor is able to capture anything, I will get them to forward it to me. Nearby if they choose the tree stand I saw them in, is about 150 yards off our back porch. There are some large trees just outside of our property that house kestrel hawks and we have a resident red-tail hawk in the other trees. And owls, woodpeckers, scrubjays, and assorted other birds. Not to mention the ground critters!
Ginger

kamama94 | @kamama94 | Nov 17, 2020

Surgeon wants to "de-clot" arm access graft surgically next Mon. Keep your fingers and toes crossed we can save the access. Although having investigated peritoneall dialysis, I wouldn't be opposed to going that route. Send good vibes, plse.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 17, 2020

In reply to @kamama94 "Surgeon wants to "de-clot" arm access graft surgically next Mon. Keep your fingers and toes crossed..." + (show)

@kamama94 If he has to remove the graft and place a new one, make sure they get the whole "old one" out. I'll be sitting circle Sunday and Monday for you.
Ginger

fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Nov 18, 2020

In reply to @kamama94 "Surgeon wants to "de-clot" arm access graft surgically next Mon. Keep your fingers and toes crossed..." + (show)

@kamama94, Absolutely! Good thoughts and surgical success coming your way along with a gentle hug!

kamama94 | @kamama94 | Nov 18, 2020

In reply to @gingerw "@kamama94 If he has to remove the graft and place a new one, make sure they..." + (show)

@giingerw, they said they usually do not remove old graft unless the body starts to reject it since it's a major - and unnecessary - vascular repair procedure.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 18, 2020

In reply to @kamama94 "Surgeon wants to "de-clot" arm access graft surgically next Mon. Keep your fingers and toes crossed..." + (show)

Good vibes coming your way, @kamama94! I love Ginger's (@gingerw) phrase, "sitting circle." I'll do so as well.

kamama94 | @kamama94 | Nov 23, 2020

For a demo of the procedure I'm having today, click on link. https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/thrombectomy-systems/angiojet-thrombectomy-system.html

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 23, 2020

In reply to @kamama94 "For a demo of the procedure I'm having today, click on link. https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/thrombectomy-systems/angiojet-thrombectomy-system.html" + (show)

@kamama94 Wow! Let me know how it goes for you today, please!
Ginger

kamama94 | @kamama94 | Nov 24, 2020

@gingerw. not good news: Just now home from dialysis & going to bed. I was in the OR and under anesthesia when the doctor fell ill and cancelled the surgery. It was too late to get a ride home by the time they got me awake again so neph admitted me overnight then I went to dialysis today to make up for missing yesterday. I go to dialysis again tomorrow and will come home exhausted as usual, eat a bite then go right to bed. I do not know when or even if the dialysis access graft can even be saved or by whom if by anyone. I have no way to get to a vascular surgeon at the other medical center in a nearby town and there's only one other vascular surgeon here in town. Plse wish me luck!