Do I really need a partner at home for home dialysis?

[malaka]

I just started home dialysis training and the materials I've read emphasize the need for a partner to be at home for home dialysis.  If this is so, then both my wife and I will be "prisoners" of dialysis 4x per week.  Great, except that she's working.

This factor, if true, weighs against home dialysis (unless I can do it while sleeping) and my nephrologist mentioned that if I travel, I'll have to locate and treat at a dialysis center. 

So much for some of the so-called advantages of home dialysis, I guess. 

Anyway, my question remains:  do I really need to have someone at home with me during home dialysis? 

Thanks.

[cattlekid]

I just started home dialysis myself this week (trained the last three weeks).  The way my training nurse put it is that while my husband is my designated "care partner", he does not have to be present for all dialysis sessions.  He was scheduled to be out of town this week and I just lined up a couple of friends who would sit with me while I was doing my sessions.  The training nurse said that as long as the person who is with me knows to call 911 if anything goes awry, that would be good enough. 

Will you be placing your own needles or will you be relying on your care partner to place your needles? 

Also, the part about travel is hoo-hah if you are using NxStage.  You can take the machine with you and set up with your supply company to deliver supplies to your destination. 

Finally, you may want to check out meinuk's posts about dialyzing alone.

[mcclane]

for my home hemo, i don't need any assistance.  The nurses teach you how to be independent and to rely on yourself.  It is a good idea to have a partner know the basics (just in case of a crash), but other than that, I've been doing home hemo by myself since april of this year.

[malaka]

Thank you both.  I was concerned that she'd have to be sitting by my side which wouldn't work real well.  I can do it from 8:00 'til midnight (when she'll have gone to bed) as long as she's near enough to help if I run into some sort of trouble.  If not, home dialysis was going to be more restrictive than in-center dialysis.

I'm actually hoping for PD, but with a history of 2 abdominal surgeries and peritonitis, my nephro doesn't think I'm an especially good candidate.  Having diabetes is like "strike three" against me for PD. Unfortunately.

[Desert Dancer]

Malaka, my husband only had to be trained to get me on and off the machine, and to deal with emergencies. My nurse told me they prefer you have a partner but it is not a hard-and-fast rule and they allow people to train and dialyze alone on a case-by-case basis. I think as long as you can demonstrate proficiency you've got a good argument.

[HouseOfDialysis]

Word. Even though, I'm on PD, my neph said I would be a great candidate for home hemo. He likes that I'm independent and a control freak.

[bleija]

when i had to have my PD cath removed and qas put on hemo, my neph tried to puh home hemo on me, but i made it very clear that i was a pd girl and hated every aspect of hemo... it was funny bc he was pushing the home nurse to start me on pd rather that the other way around lol

[mogee]

I have no assistance at home whatsoever and have successfully dialyzed five times a week for seven years.  I told my wife and daughter that if I haven't moved in several days and appear to be decomposing, call Steeles Memorial Chapel. 

[boswife]

oh my goodness mogee........ you made me laugh     And.... Im proud of you and all who do this home D.. I think it's amazing, and a great accomplishment..  I tell ya, im amazed at those who D alone.  I have been doing the D for my hubby for almost a year now and i STILL dont think i'd be comfortable to be alone if it were me doing it to myself.  I think your truly an amazing bunch. 

[bevvy5]

Yeah, I have to second that those who dialyze alone are really really brave.  Hubby and I are just getting ready to "leave the nest" - have trained and practised for about five weeks and are hopeful to get the renos done and our machine in soon.

Neither of us can imagine doing this alone.