I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis => Topic started by: Tío Riñon on September 13, 2013, 04:02:58 AM
-
While I am generally happy with PD as my modality for dialysis, I've noticed when people are talking about hemodialysis (whether home, in-center, or nocturnal) that they talk about doing the process 3-5 times per week. This means that they get 2-4 days where they don't have to deal with being hooked up to a machine. I'm jealous! I wish that I could look forward to at least one day each week where I don't have to haul out my supplies and be hooked up to the cycler, be awakened by alarms, or carefully drag my tubing moving from room to room. I'd treasure a little freedom.
I know that I can survive at least a day without dialysis since I've had to do it a few times when traveling internationally. What I'd like to know is whether or not anyone on PD regularly takes a day off and if so, does your nephrologist condone it.
Also, I don't want to switch modalities. I chose PD for some specific reasons over HD. I just want to know if I can get a break like those on HD.
-
Talk to your Neph Tio. I would think if you have a good enough clearance, and you are behaving otherwise, you might be able to get away with it.
-
It will also probably depend on whethet you have residial renal function. Once you don't you tend to feel pretty crappy if you miss days.
-
One has to know just how well your kidneys are doing their natural job before even considering "taking a day off" from dialysis. Of course that's just my humble opinion.
-
I am a former PD patient currently on the Baby K every other day schedule home hemo treatment.
While the days off I get with HD are nice, I found it MUCH easier dealing with PD every day than dealing with hemo every other day. I would gladly give up my "days off" for the convenience of PD.
If you want to live a long life, the proper question for your neph is not "can I get away with less?" but "what treatment is optimal for me?".
-
I was on PD for 3 years and would love to go back, but infections took that option away. Doing any type of dialysis daily is much better than skipping a day or two. WHY - it is more like how your kidneys function. It is easier on your body. Grumpy
-
Do not be mislead by the 3 day gap you get once a week in traditional 3x/week hemo - your body pays a price (numerous studies show an increase in mortality and morbidity with 3x compared to every other day treatment). I do traditional home hemo (baby K) and my doc prescribed every other day treatment for optimal results. I refuse to space it out an extra day even when convenient - in fact, I had to do two sequential days when traveling to avoid a 2 day gap.
The real question is do you value convenience over your health? If you place a higher priority on your health, keep asking your team what is best, not what you can get away with.
-
Believe me, PD is a lot less onerous than any form of hemo. At least with PD you get to do it while you sleep, assuming you use a cycler. If you do not use a cycler, maybe you should give this a try. it really is the least onerous option. Remember the saying 'the grass is always greener....'
-
For the past year on Pd I've taken off one or two days a month with no problems that I can physically detect. The doctor has never spoken against it.
I do have renal function and do 5 cycles of 1.5 dialysate at 2 litters a cycle. Your best recourse is to ask your doc. Before I started Pd a doctor told me that I may not have to do Pd every night. Because I was peering.
Good luck!
-
Don't tell my Neph, however, I take most weekends off. My Neph told me I could skip every now and again. I still have urine and my clearances are great. I have no swelling and stick to my diet, except for Thanksgiving, I ate everything I wanted to eat. My phosphorous went up a little but not much. So, check with your Neph, you may be surprised at the answer. The most I have skipped is 4 days. I actually felt better off dialysis than I do on dialysis.