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What can I expect on dialysis? How does it affect your daily life?
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Oct 16, 2022 | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
@pegalini Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I just had my fistula placed on 12/27/21, at age 68 1/2. As a left-handed person, I was lucky to get it on my right wrist. One thing I didn't stop to think about, was how much I use my non-dominant hand! They have told me it is a 3-4 month healing process for this fistula. It was placed as a "backup" since my intention is to do peritoneal dialysis.
As my nephrologist told me, you watch yourself carefully, and enter dialysis in as good a health as possible. Follow what a renal dietician will tell you, keeping your protein levels up, as dialysis will deplete your system. Pay close attention to your fluid intake, and how you spend your energy.
Peggy, do you have a support system in place, family and friends? Is there a support group nearby to you? I suggest you take a look at rsnhope.org. They host a Zoom support group twice a month, and the website is a great source of information. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you? What is the cause of your kidney disease?
Ginger
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Hey Ginger….Thank you for responding to me. I had endometrial cancer back in 2000. I had a hysterectomy followed by extensive internal and external radiation. The radiation caused the damage to my kidneys, urinary tract and bladder. All was fine until about 2012 when I started having frequent uti’s and then in 2016 was when everything really went bad. One kidney is totally gone (damaged ) the other barely works, my bladder is non functioning. I have had a catheter since 2016 and a suprapubic catheter (one that comes out the side of my abdomen ) since 2018. My kidney disease has gotten worse to the point of now the fistula is needed to start dialysis.
I do have a good, supportive family but I really need a group that understands the diet and what I am going thru. I will check into the site you sent me and see about the Zoom group. I really do not know much about the diet. My nephrologist is not into the nutrition aspect of it. I don’t know…sometimes I wonder about him. Other than that I feel I do get good care.
Thank you Ginger for the information. Thank you so much for reaching out. Peggy
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