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Kidneys are failing and i'm down to 20% remaining function ,i was wondering for those on dialysis what symptoms drove you to say its time , my nephrologist is setting me up to get a stint to facilitate being hooked up to the machine but i'd like to maintain my independence from a dialysis machine for as long as i can. Any one with experience to share?
jambo, so sorry to hear this. I know it is a hard thing to deal with, as it is so confining. good luck to you. And I agree with you: following the advise of your medical team is the best way to handle your condition.
I have the cramping big time, the itching is driving me crazy, major edema in legs, nausea in the form of a general feeling of ill health all the time and i'm full of water from head to toe.. While the docs tell me i can go for some time at 15-20% kidney function the symptoms are such that i;d like to address the possibility of improvement.
Today i see the vascular surgeon to review the findings in my recent Doppler imaging and to talk about getting a fistula implanted for the eventual hook up to a dialysis machine.
Hi jambo....did you have the appt, and do you want to share what happened...?
Been keeping up with your thread.
Have you made any further decisions??? And how are you right now?
Hi jambo....did you have the appt, and do you want to share what happened...?
Been keeping up with your thread.
Have you made any further decisions??? And how are you right now?
The surgeon examined my arms for potential fistula locations,before proceeding we will do another venous doppler imaging session and if all goes well we can implant the fistula sometime in July, he asked if i want to be put to sleep for the 1 hour operation or just go with freezing, he also said my last blood test has my kidney function down to 15%.
As for how am i?
much edema in legs.much cramping every night, and crazy itching all over and a feeling of much water in upper torso. I also feel like crap all the time. This dialysis cant come soon enough if its going to alleviate these maladies.
.
The surgeon examined my arms for potential fistula locations,before proceeding we will do another venous doppler imaging session and if all goes well we can implant the fistula sometime in July, he asked if i want to be put to sleep for the 1 hour operation or just go with freezing, he also said my last blood test has my kidney function down to 15%.
As for how am i?
much edema in legs.much cramping every night, and crazy itching all over and a feeling of much water in upper torso. I also feel like crap all the time. This dialysis cant come soon enough if its going to alleviate these maladies.
.
So you've made your mind up, then to go ahead with dialysis? I've not experienced your symptoms but after working for dozens of years in the medical field I've seen the before and after of dialysis.
The best news is you should feel so much better after a session... Feeling that bad, seems like it'd be hard to carry on some days...swelling and especially itching are difficult to tolerate.
This way you'll feel REALLY good in a way you haven't for so long...best wishes.
So you've made your mind up, then to go ahead with dialysis? I've not experienced your symptoms but after working for dozens of years in the medical field I've seen the before and after of dialysis.
The best news is you should feel so much better after a session... Feeling that bad, seems like it'd be hard to carry on some days...swelling and especially itching are difficult to tolerate.
This way you'll feel REALLY good in a way you haven't for so long...best wishes.
Downside is i'll be hooked up to a dialysis machine for 4-5 hours 3 days a week. Does any one get dialysis just one or two days a week or is 3 days a mandatory requirement?
And AnnSmithJones i did read your post #47 and as i get further along in the process will explore that option.
thanks
Downside is i'll be hooked up to a dialysis machine for 4-5 hours 3 days a week. Does any one get dialysis just one or two days a week or is 3 days a mandatory requirement?
And AnnSmithJones i did read your post #47 and as i get further along in the process will explore that option.
thanks
These are questions for your MD...
I imagine they would allow you to tour a dialysis facility with your doctor's permission. Would that help you think?? Or I know your MD has nurses that work nephrology and could answer some of your questions, likely have a lot of printed material for patients.
I imagine they would allow you to tour a dialysis facility with your doctor's permission. Would that help you think?? Or I know your MD has nurses that work nephrology and could answer some of your questions, likely have a lot of printed material for patients.
The nurse in nephrology has promised to take me on a tour of the dialysis unit at the hospital, she says there are 20 stations, unfortunately the last few times at the nephrologist the nurse hasnt been there.
Downside is i'll be hooked up to a dialysis machine for 4-5 hours 3 days a week. Does any one get dialysis just one or two days a week or is 3 days a mandatory requirement?
And AnnSmithJones i did read your post #47 and as i get further along in the process will explore that option.
thanks
it's always 3 days/week - otherwise there is too much fluid build-up
So many doctors DON'T know it all. They don't study outside their drug world. Big factor why I lost so much faith in them.
Everyone goes on their paths and decides what to put in their bodies.
It's one thing to take supplements when you are relatively healthy and are doing it "just in case" as just ONE of the things to stay healthy.
It is a very different thing to have a chronic disease that has progressed to this degree - why would you do something that could possibly stress your body even more when you are already on the brink?
If you'd ever been really sick you'd know that you don't take such chances unless you are already on your deathbed. I can't believe you are so sure of yourself that you're advising people to do something that is against their doctors' orders - it's a good thing this is anonymous on here or you just might get sued.
Good luck, jambo. So sorry to hear your illness has progressed to this level. But hopefully you will feel better soon. We will all be rooting for you.
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Feeling that bad, seems like it'd be hard to carry on some days...swelling and especially itching are difficult to tolerate. 
