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

@trishanna, no worries, I can think of other sins we could commit besides drinking, smoking, eating too much, and staying up past 8 PM. Oh, wait! No, I can't think of a thing. Guess we'd better be good little old patients.

@gingerw & @kamamama, Oh, Ginger, Pulese Do! Grrreat idea....and if not enough bail nickles found, would you Promise to come visit us?

@trishana, All bail contributions appreciated!! Oh, Darn! Reading your post brings me to the stark reality that like you, I'm pretty limited to coming up with mischief options...Sigh. Maybe @kamama94, @gingerw and others will have some suggestions??? As for being an 81 yr old runaway, keep your eyes peeled and if you see a goofy 77 yr old wandering about, trying to hitch a ride please give a wave! Smiles to all

Update for Tues, 8/25 - for what it's worth neph says procedure schedule ok as is: radiology on Wed, surgeon appointment Thurs AM, hospital pre-op cert Thurs noon, permacath placement on Tues, Sept 1. I find it reassuring neph thinks it's safe to follow that schedule.

Warning! This is a rant!

Primary reason am having to have permacath placement and will have to go to dialysis cllinic 3 times a week instead of doing peritoneal dialysis at home is the total unreliability of Fed-Ex to deliver equipment and supplies on time if at all.

Not oonly do they seldom deliver on time, they usually lie about delivery attempts being unsuccessful, either saying I'm not home (I'm home all the time except for doc appointments because I'm homebound) or saying my business was closed (I don't have a business so can't be closed.)

Truth is, delivery peeps don't read and/or follow large print instructions posted on building door and in entryway as to how to access this secure building despite my and other tenants' explanations as to how deliveries are to be made.

Wanted to get this off my chest. Let 'em sue me, I don't have any money and what I said above is provable truth.

In the interest of fairness and honesty, additional equipment and supplies in my home do pose a huge fall risk neph would prefer we not take..

This in no way excuses shoddy delivery services, however.

There! I feel much better now. Thanks for letting me babble.

I appreciate your frustrations. I met with a surgeon for peritoneal dialysis but due to an abdominal aneurysm surgery, was told I wouldn't be a viable candidate. My nephrologist keeps trying to convince me to do in-home dialysis. There is no way I could stick those roofing nails up my arm and my partner can not deal with the sight of blood should there be leakage.

@dhelmstetter, I could do the roofing nails part without a problem but PD equipment and supplies would take up so much space in my tiny apartment it would be hazardous, especially since am in a wheelchair. Home HD also would be impractical as I already sleep with CPAP mask & tubing and small machine plus my wheelchair is on a charger near my bed all night so where would I put another machine, even assuming I could afford to do dialysis at home with just Medicare and a Medicaid spenddown so high it's about a third of my income? The stark reality is that wealthy and/or well-insured people get treated and poor people die from lack of treatment. If I sound angry, I am. But right now I prefer anger to tears. Sorry to be so blunt.

Oh my! You ARE a mess! I feel the same way and mean NO disrespect by that! Crazy how every year I seem to get older - funny how that happens. Realize, hemeo-dialysis WILL help save your life - I have to keep reminding myself of that before each appointment. Fortunately, I only go in twice a week - but for 3 1/2 hours - it literally drains me!

'Tis with true regret, @trishanna & @gingerw, that I may have to turn the mischief making with @kamama94 over to one of you youngsters. While I might be up for the drinking, smoking, and overeating, the staying up past 8 pm would simply stop me in my tracks. Shoot, Kamama, I never Once figured you for being such a night owl ! Hmmm, you probably sleep in till 7 or 8 am each morning too!!

@kamama94, Sounds like you are going to be a busy girl keeping those appointments. Let us know how they go and glad your neph is in agreement with the schedule.