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Home > Archive > Kidney Failure > March 2005 > need for information and advice
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need for information and advice
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| My mother is 70 years old and will go on dialysis very soon. She has been
taking insuling for near 10 years and, I suspect, known about her kidney's
failing for a few years. Unfortunately, she has never been very forth coming
about such things, she likes to be in control and frets about becoming a
bother. I only heard about the arteriogram she had a day before I was asked
to drive her to the hospital. This was to be, as I later heard from my
brother, the last thing they could try before dialysis. As it stands they
did not see anything that could be fixed with a stint.
Anyway, these a a few of the questions that have been rolling around my
head. The last couple of weeks have been hard... Her eyeslids are all puffed
out like Rocky after a fight, the insulin has been difficult to control and
she has trouble staying awake for more than two or three hours at a time
(though she is clear of mind while awake). When she starts dialysis will
some of these symptoms improve? One of my concerns is that keeping her
spirits up will be the major chore... she is frightened of the dialysis
(process?), but if it led to greater independance and functionality, perhaps
I could use that to help offset some of the initial angst.
Secondly, do 70 year olds get kidney transplants? What about a living
donation? I am the youngest of the 4 children and the only one without a
diagnosed chronic illness - though that may only be because I do not have
medical coverage: Whenever I go to the clinic they are only treating the
ailment of the moment. Once I was told I had the hepatitis antigen in the
blood asmple, though that could have been from a fatty liver - I've lost a
few pounds since then. Anyway, I'd not begrudge mom a kidney seeing as I've
got two and she's been a great gal. I do, however, worry about the costs.
She has had no trouble with her insurance so far, but I have nothing I can
offer on the financial side of things.
Any help in sorting things out would be appreciated.
Thanx,
Donald
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| I'm afraid that I can't be of too much help with many of your questions but,
I can certainly relate to only being able to be awake and fully functional
for a few hours at a time due to toxin build up in the blood stream. I was
diagnosed with end stage renal failure shortly after a liver transplant. One
thing that comes to mind though is the matter of quality of life.
Occasionally my wife will invite her foster mother over for "Tea". I found
out that the whole affair was actually for my benefit!. But, I does give one
a reason to get up and out of bed. Do a little buffing and puffing and try
to look like a reasonable facsimile of oneself! It's amazing what a pot of
tea or good quality coffee, some finger sandwiches and cookies can do for
ones attitude on the day!! As for the puffy eyelids, a little preparation-H
or Tucks medicated pads will help the swelling go down temporarily. It's an
old theater/ makeup artist trick. But, it works! And as a side benefit,
while she's in the other room having tea it'll give you the chance to change
the bedding and pillows and such. There's nothing worse than having to lie
in bed all day. Clean sheets and freshly fluffed pillows are a great
attitude adjuster!! It works on me even when I'm at my grumpiest.
I hate to suggest this but you might go so far as to learn the story line
(if you can call it that) from her favorite soap opera and have a little
gossip over that. Once again it works! (even though it does hurt!). And of
course be prepared for the time when she passes. This will be painful. But
you need to be prepared. Not just "is the will made out correctly" but
things like costs of burial plots etc... Don't get slapped with sticker
shock from a salesman when your family is likely to be at it's most
vulnerable. Well, I know it's not much but, I hope some of this helps a
little anyway.
Shawn
"Gisgo" <look@them.com> wrote in message
news:33fdd$422a7842$18d6fa5a$15613@KNOLOGY.NET...
> My mother is 70 years old and will go on dialysis very soon. She has been
> taking insuling for near 10 years and, I suspect, known about her kidney's
> failing for a few years. Unfortunately, she has never been very forth
> coming about such things, she likes to be in control and frets about
> becoming a bother. I only heard about the arteriogram she had a day before
> I was asked to drive her to the hospital. This was to be, as I later heard
> from my brother, the last thing they could try before dialysis. As it
> stands they did not see anything that could be fixed with a stint.
>
> Anyway, these a a few of the questions that have been rolling around my
> head. The last couple of weeks have been hard... Her eyeslids are all
> puffed out like Rocky after a fight, the insulin has been difficult to
> control and she has trouble staying awake for more than two or three hours
> at a time (though she is clear of mind while awake). When she starts
> dialysis will some of these symptoms improve? One of my concerns is that
> keeping her spirits up will be the major chore... she is frightened of the
> dialysis (process?), but if it led to greater independance and
> functionality, perhaps I could use that to help offset some of the initial
> angst.
>
> Secondly, do 70 year olds get kidney transplants? What about a living
> donation? I am the youngest of the 4 children and the only one without a
> diagnosed chronic illness - though that may only be because I do not have
> medical coverage: Whenever I go to the clinic they are only treating the
> ailment of the moment. Once I was told I had the hepatitis antigen in the
> blood asmple, though that could have been from a fatty liver - I've lost a
> few pounds since then. Anyway, I'd not begrudge mom a kidney seeing as
> I've got two and she's been a great gal. I do, however, worry about the
> costs. She has had no trouble with her insurance so far, but I have
> nothing I can offer on the financial side of things.
>
> Any help in sorting things out would be appreciated.
>
> Thanx,
>
> Donald
>
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| In article <33fdd$422a7842$18d6fa5a$15613@KNOLOGY.NET>,
"Gisgo" <look@them.com> wrote:
> Anyway, these a a few of the questions that have been rolling around my
> head. The last couple of weeks have been hard... Her eyeslids are all puffed
> out like Rocky after a fight, the insulin has been difficult to control and
> she has trouble staying awake for more than two or three hours at a time
> (though she is clear of mind while awake). When she starts dialysis will
> some of these symptoms improve?
Her mental clarity and general well-being should improve with the
dialysis. The facial edema (the puffy eyelids) is pretty common with
kidney disease/failure and may not improve with the dailysis; however,
if she is able to get better quality sleep once on it, it may improve.
Also, if she's able to sleep with her head elevated - like a person with
a cold - that can help with the facial edema.
> Secondly, do 70 year olds get kidney transplants? What about a living
> donation?
That you'd have to ask your transplant coordinator, but some of the
things they take into consideration with any patient is the patient's
general condition and ability to survive the surgery and anti-rejection
drugs. Diabetics in general usually make excellent transplant
candidates, but again, talk to the coordinator at your mother's facility
for specifics.
--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather
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| Barb. G. 2005-03-19, 6:25 pm |
| I agree to this poster about dialysis--my mother is 84 and wants to
live.
She has so many other health problems but with her attitude, she's a
survivor.
I was told with mother having dialysis 3 times weekly, she could live
for another 2 yrs. By then one never knows about one's mental and
physical state of mine.
Barb.
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