Kidney Failure - Criteria For Going on Dialysis?

Author

Criteria For Going on Dialysis?

Mickey Zalusky

2006-04-23, 6:29 pm

For those of you who are or have been on dialysis, what were the
determining factors that made you start dialysis. Did you have any
symptoms (los of appetite, fatigue, nausea, itchy legs, etc.)? My
creatinine level is 4.0 but I have no other symptoms. 'm carefully
following the renal diet guidlines for protein, phosphorous, potassium
and sodium and am wondering how long I might have at this state before
dialysis is required?

Larry Krzewinski

2006-04-24, 1:29 am

On Sun, 23 Apr 2006 15:52:50 -0700, Mickey Zalusky
<mickey@zalusky.com> wrote:

>For those of you who are or have been on dialysis, what were the
>determining factors that made you start dialysis. Did you have any
>symptoms (los of appetite, fatigue, nausea, itchy legs, etc.)? My
>creatinine level is 4.0 but I have no other symptoms. 'm carefully
>following the renal diet guidlines for protein, phosphorous, potassium
>and sodium and am wondering how long I might have at this state before
>dialysis is required?

I was told that a serum creatinine level of 5 or higher was usually
the point where you would start dialysis. Dialysis should make you
feel somewhat better. The loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and
itching are all common symptoms of ESRD.

I doubt if anyone can tell you how long it will take until you
progress to where dialysis is necessary. Everyone is different and
kidneys fail for any number of reasons.

Good luck.

Larry

Spot

2006-04-26, 1:26 am

Mickey,

I have been hovering between 3.7 & 4.7 for almost 9 months now on Friday my
creatnine was back down to 4.3. It's hard to say exactly how long it might
be before you have to make the next step. The best thing you can do is keep
on the diet. Also talk to your doctor about your options when you do need
to start dialysis. There are different types of dialysis and access's and
depending upon which you choose it will determine how far in advance you
need to get an access in place.

Celeste

"Mickey Zalusky" <mickey@zalusky.com> wrote in message
news:124o1cvlt1b1q19@corp.supernews.com...
> For those of you who are or have been on dialysis, what were the
> determining factors that made you start dialysis. Did you have any
> symptoms (los of appetite, fatigue, nausea, itchy legs, etc.)? My
> creatinine level is 4.0 but I have no other symptoms. 'm carefully
> following the renal diet guidlines for protein, phosphorous, potassium and
> sodium and am wondering how long I might have at this state before
> dialysis is required?

Mickey Zalusky

2006-04-28, 11:24 am

We've attended a dialysis class (3 hours or so) where all the machines
and different dialysis methods were discussed and shown. It was great
opportunity to see everything in person and then ask questions to help
determine which dialysis method to choose. Not sure if this kind of
thing is typically available to everyone but it is a valuable
information source if available.

Thanks for the advice.
Mickey
Spot wrote:
> Mickey,
>
> I have been hovering between 3.7 & 4.7 for almost 9 months now on Friday my
> creatnine was back down to 4.3. It's hard to say exactly how long it might
> be before you have to make the next step. The best thing you can do is keep
> on the diet. Also talk to your doctor about your options when you do need
> to start dialysis. There are different types of dialysis and access's and
> depending upon which you choose it will determine how far in advance you
> need to get an access in place.
>
> Celeste
>
> "Mickey Zalusky" <mickey@zalusky.com> wrote in message
> news:124o1cvlt1b1q19@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
>
>

Tom Wickerath

2006-04-30, 11:25 am

Hi Mickey,

When the time comes for dialysis, if you are a candidate for Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), you might
want to look into this option. According to my wife, who is a dialysis patient of many years, PD
is much easier.

Good Luck and God Bless You.

Tom
_____________________________________________

"Mickey Zalusky" <mickey AT zalusky DOT com> wrote in message
news:1253gneqph3ub5c@corp.supernews.com...

We've attended a dialysis class (3 hours or so) where all the machines
and different dialysis methods were discussed and shown. It was great
opportunity to see everything in person and then ask questions to help
determine which dialysis method to choose. Not sure if this kind of
thing is typically available to everyone but it is a valuable
information source if available.

Thanks for the advice.
Mickey

Tom Scales

2006-04-30, 11:25 am

My wife can't do PD, so we do home hemo. For someone with a helper (the
patient can't do it alone), it is a great option. We have complete
flexibility.

Tom
"Tom Wickerath" <AOS168b RemoveThisSpamBlock@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:0fWdnU3Xh8-z_cnZnZ2dnUVZ_vGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Hi Mickey,
>
> When the time comes for dialysis, if you are a candidate for Peritoneal
> Dialysis (PD), you might
> want to look into this option. According to my wife, who is a dialysis
> patient of many years, PD
> is much easier.
>
> Good Luck and God Bless You.
>
> Tom
> _____________________________________________
>
> "Mickey Zalusky" <mickey AT zalusky DOT com> wrote in message
> news:1253gneqph3ub5c@corp.supernews.com...
>
> We've attended a dialysis class (3 hours or so) where all the machines
> and different dialysis methods were discussed and shown. It was great
> opportunity to see everything in person and then ask questions to help
> determine which dialysis method to choose. Not sure if this kind of
> thing is typically available to everyone but it is a valuable
> information source if available.
>
> Thanks for the advice.
> Mickey
>
>

Mickey Zalusky

2006-04-30, 6:30 pm

Does your wife work outside the home? When and how often does she do
home hemo? The class we took talked about nocturnal PD but it wasn't
clear if night time (while you sleep) hemodialysis was an option?
Mickey

Tom Scales wrote:
> My wife can't do PD, so we do home hemo. For someone with a helper (the
> patient can't do it alone), it is a great option. We have complete
> flexibility.
>
> Tom
> "Tom Wickerath" <AOS168b RemoveThisSpamBlock@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:0fWdnU3Xh8-z_cnZnZ2dnUVZ_vGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
>
>

Tom Scales

2006-04-30, 6:30 pm

No, she doesn't work. She has many other health problems.

We do dialysis every other night, which is a recent change by Medicare.
That's an improvement

and all they'll pay for.

Technically it isn't nocturnal (that's defined a little differently), but we
do it at night and both sleep through it. I have to get up roughly once an
hour to check on things, but am good about falling back to sleep.

Tom
"Mickey Zalusky" <mickey@zalusky.com> wrote in message
news:125a2853gumkle5@corp.supernews.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Does your wife work outside the home? When and how often does she do home
> hemo? The class we took talked about nocturnal PD but it wasn't clear if
> night time (while you sleep) hemodialysis was an option?
> Mickey
>
> Tom Scales wrote:

Mickey Zalusky

2006-05-01, 1:25 am

You are a saint! I am also blessed with a very supportive husband and,
for now, no other medical problems. I'm going to try to stay in
"pre-dialysis mode for as long as possible. It's a lot of work
measuring and calculating everything I eat but well worth the effort if
it helps prevent my kidneys from declining any furher. Thanks again for
thie information. My first choice when I have to go on dialysis would
be PD.
Mickey
=================
Tom Scales wrote:
> No, she doesn't work. She has many other health problems.
>
> We do dialysis every other night, which is a recent change by Medicare.
> That's an improvement

and all they'll pay for.
>
> Technically it isn't nocturnal (that's defined a little differently), but we
> do it at night and both sleep through it. I have to get up roughly once an
> hour to check on things, but am good about falling back to sleep.

>
> Tom
> "Mickey Zalusky" <mickey@zalusky.com> wrote in message
> news:125a2853gumkle5@corp.supernews.com...
>
>

Alan

2006-05-01, 1:25 am

By the way as well as preparing for dialysis you should also start
looking at transplant options. It can take many months to be accepted
for the transplant list and unless you manage to get someone to donate,
can take quite a while after. its is also healthier to be transplant
before you need to stat dialysis.
Alan

Mickey Zalusky wrote:[vbcol=seagreen]
> You are a saint! I am also blessed with a very supportive husband and,
> for now, no other medical problems. I'm going to try to stay in
> "pre-dialysis mode for as long as possible. It's a lot of work
> measuring and calculating everything I eat but well worth the effort if
> it helps prevent my kidneys from declining any furher. Thanks again for
> thie information. My first choice when I have to go on dialysis would
> be PD.
> Mickey
> =================
> Tom Scales wrote:
>
>
>

Tom Wickerath

2006-05-01, 1:25 am

Hi Tom,

You have me curious now. How is nocturnal dialysis defined differently?

We also did home hemodialysis for a while, until having problems on twice with a clotted graft (a
fistula is much better, but my wife's veins are too tiny to support a fistula, so she had to have
the graft). Anyway, we did both evening treatments, and then, later switched to dialyzing all
night at a lower pump speed (250). As far as I know, this was termed Nocturnal dialysis. Also,
the staff of the Northwest Kidney Center, in Seattle, did not require that I check the machine on
an hourly basis. We did have a leakage detector, which was placed over the site of the needles,
and it would alarm if there was a problem with leakage from the needles. The Braun dialog machine
that we used had plenty of built-in alarms for other issues.

I was allowed to sleep through the night on most evenings, when we didn't have alarms that we
needed to deal with. I would get up about 30 minutes before my wife was due to come off, in order
to get a fresh cup of coffee to help wake up.

Tom
_________________________________________________

"Tom Scales" wrote in message news:%Bb5g.4888$9o4.2661@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...

No, she doesn't work. She has many other health problems.

We do dialysis every other night, which is a recent change by Medicare.
That's an improvement

Mickey Zalusky

2006-05-01, 1:25 am

Thanks Alan. My transplant class and evaluation are already scheduled
and several family members are planning to be tested for possible live
donation. The doc says that there is a chance that I might be able to
avoid dialysis all together. Fingers crossed.
Mickey
Alan wrote:
>
>
>
> By the way as well as preparing for dialysis you should also start
> looking at transplant options. It can take many months to be accepted
> for the transplant list and unless you manage to get someone to donate,
> can take quite a while after. its is also healthier to be transplant
> before you need to stat dialysis.
> Alan

Tom Scales

2006-05-01, 11:25 am

No, not really. I have the easy job. She has to deal with the
complications of dialysis. I'll take my job any day

"Mickey Zalusky" <mickey@zalusky.com> wrote in message
news:125ald8ck2rkaba@corp.supernews.com...[vbcol=seagreen]
> You are a saint! I am also blessed with a very supportive husband and,
> for now, no other medical problems. I'm going to try to stay in
> "pre-dialysis mode for as long as possible. It's a lot of work measuring
> and calculating everything I eat but well worth the effort if it helps
> prevent my kidneys from declining any furher. Thanks again for thie
> information. My first choice when I have to go on dialysis would be PD.
> Mickey
> =================
> Tom Scales wrote:
>

Tom Scales

2006-05-01, 11:25 am

You're clearly more knowledgeable than I am. Home hemo is pretty new in our
area (we're the first that we know of).

As I understood it, 'true' nocturnal is 6 or 7 nights a week. It is, as you
say, much longer -- overnight -- which we're not doing.

I suspect the big difference is our center is not licensed for nocturnal

Tom

"Tom Wickerath" <AOS168b RemoveThisSpamBlock@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:07KdnYWYKfpi5cjZRVn-qw@comcast.com...
> Hi Tom,
>
> You have me curious now. How is nocturnal dialysis defined differently?
>
> We also did home hemodialysis for a while, until having problems on twice
> with a clotted graft (a
> fistula is much better, but my wife's veins are too tiny to support a
> fistula, so she had to have
> the graft). Anyway, we did both evening treatments, and then, later
> switched to dialyzing all
> night at a lower pump speed (250). As far as I know, this was termed
> Nocturnal dialysis. Also,
> the staff of the Northwest Kidney Center, in Seattle, did not require that
> I check the machine on
> an hourly basis. We did have a leakage detector, which was placed over the
> site of the needles,
> and it would alarm if there was a problem with leakage from the needles.
> The Braun dialog machine
> that we used had plenty of built-in alarms for other issues.
>
> I was allowed to sleep through the night on most evenings, when we didn't
> have alarms that we
> needed to deal with. I would get up about 30 minutes before my wife was
> due to come off, in order
> to get a fresh cup of coffee to help wake up.
>
>
> Tom
> ____

Tom Wickerath

2006-05-02, 1:30 am

The Northwest Kidney Center (NWKC) makes daily dialysis available to patients, but they use a
different machine versus the Braun Dialog machine that we used. And, as far as I know, daily
dialysis is only 2 to 3 hours per treatment, but I could certainly be wrong on that account. The
other major difference is that the daily dialysis machines that they use are self-sterilizing; I
think one needs to change the tubing only once per month (?) or so. As you likely know, the
tubing on the more conventional dialysis machines is one-time-use. We also used the dialyzers
only one time--ie. they were not cleaned and recycled for the same patient as is often times the
case in dialysis centers.

Per your reply to Mickey, I also have the easy job as a caregiver. The really tough job is the
one who must endure the dialysis treatments.

Tom
___________________________________________

"Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:8lk5g.4918$9o4.1298@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...

You're clearly more knowledgeable than I am. Home hemo is pretty new in our
area (we're the first that we know of).

As I understood it, 'true' nocturnal is 6 or 7 nights a week. It is, as you
say, much longer -- overnight -- which we're not doing.

I suspect the big difference is our center is not licensed for nocturnal