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[mama28]

Hi... I am the spouse of a dialysis patient.
He is on home dialysis. He goes to Sheldon Chumir. But only every 2-3 months. I think it should  be every month.
He is peritoneal. He also does his own bandage change. And not one infection since he started.
He also has a bad heart. He was told they couldn't do anything about his heart because the arteries clogged are too small.
He is diabetic. High blood pressure.
He was told that with dialysis his kidney is functioning at 6%.
His feet and ankles swell up quite a bit everyday. He has been sleeping a lot. He is always tired. Just to go out to the vehicle is tiring for him.
They are talking about a kidney transplant. But first has to see a specialist for his heart. If he can take the surgery. And for his stomach. He has been spitting up mucous for several months now. Dr's can't find outwhat is s causing this.
Everyday in the morning different times he is clearing or hacking up this mucous. During the night as well.
At the clnic they told him about two weeks now about the transplant, the specialists. But still haven't heard anything yet.
He has to watch his potassium Now. It's gone up again. But he as no appetite. He tries to eat.. Forces himself to eat.
But just has no appetite.
I think I got everything.
But having said all this. Is this common. All what he is going through. And does it take this  long to see a specialist in this city.
He wants to move back to Regina Sask. because they looked after him better there. I don't want to move back there. But it's for his health we might move so I will go.
But is it common the extreme tiredness. The swelling. The spitting up of mucous. And the type of care from this particular clinic?
Any info would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you.....

[mama28]

I forgot to mention that he gets short of berate. He as to sit up in his chair n the bedroom to sleep at night. Usually he will lie down but ends  up jumping up to catch his breath. Any ideas what this is? Mydaughterand I looked it up. Since he has a bad heart the info said congestive heart failure.

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Mama!

 

I'm not familiar with PD, so I can't give you any specific ideas, but I'm sure other folks will give you some answers.

 

Aleta

[billybags]

first of all mama28  to the site. Yes all the things you have put down about your husband are common for the dialysis patient. Most people have them all some people have a few. I think the breathlessness is the hardest, when you see them struggle to breath , it is awful. Mostly it is down to fluid that is lurking some where. Some people get the swelling in their feet others get it in pockets all over the body. My husbands accumulates in his lung because his heart is not good and not strong enough to move it. The doctor has upped his blood pressure tablets and that has eased it a lot.The coughing and hacking is also a part of it and so is loss of appetite, I get fed up of throwing food away. Loss of weight is also there as well. Keep phoning your specialist up, don't be fobbed off. Keep posting and let us know how things are, but don't worry all these things are normal.

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Mama28.  Glad you found us!  How long has he been on Dialysis, Im sorry if you already mentioned it somewhere?  If he just started, it could be he has alot of fluid to be removed then he can reach his comfort level.   But if he has been doing PD for awhile, it could be the solutions are not strong enough to remove excess.  There are so many variables that I do not know about.

But I'd say, he is not getting enough D.  Im not a doctor though, but whatever, there is clearly something going on here!  If he is a diabetic, please watch his feet.  You see any blistering or cuts, please have that attended to.  You don't want infections to form on feet.  Feet are the first things neuropathy takes place!

Again Welcome & God Bless you & hubby,
lmunchkin
 

[Poppylicious]

  mama.  And hubby of mama!

[cassandra]

welcome mama28, and lots of strength to you both

[Rerun]

Hello Mama28, and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you found us. 

Shortness of breath may indicate he has too much fluid on.  Maybe they could change his solution for that.

Stick with us and ask questions.

Rerun, Moderator     

[Kammie]

Hello Mama28 & Welcome - I'm a 'Newbie' too!

First of all, let me say your husband is very lucky to have you throughout this.  I am a single parent, on PD, so I applaud your willingness to seek answers for him.

Like most here, I agree that it sounds like he's retaining too much fluid.  I have alot of blood pressure issues so I am constantly having to monitor and change my solution strengths according to what my daily readings are.  I've never been diabetic, but I'm sure that also plays a part.  The tiredness, etc., is common also for most kidney patients..I take EPO shots once a week and sometimes have to go in clinic to get iron treatments if my hemoglobin drops too low.  That has helped with my energy alot - as before, getting out of bed & dressed was exhausting!

I hope his heart problems can be addressed and he can go through with his Transplant.  It IS a long and tiring process, but I've had a transplant now for 15 years - so I am very PRO-TRANSPLANT!     I am on PD now because my 'new' kidney was damaged awhile back due to a rejection episode and has been slowly declining ever since.  I've only been on PD for about 6 months now, but have learned a great deal about it since beginning.  Reading through all the posts and questions here has helped me too!

Hang in there, it gets better!

[buffalogal855]

   Hi mama 28 and welcome.  I am new too.  my husband hasn't started dialysis yet, but we are leaning toward peritoneal dialysis.  I am trying to learn as much as I can so we make a good decision for us!  God bless and remember you are not alone and this is a great website.  everyone has been so kind and helpful.   

[mama28]

Hi everyone...thank you so much for all the helpful information. His feet are swelling up a little worse yesterday and today. He is still coughing up "slime" he calls it. His doctor only sees him ever 6 weeks...we don't think this appropriate. It should be every month. And with calls in between. But I'm sure they are very busy with other patients. He still doesn't have much of an appetite. The doctor told him they would put him on that nocturnal...I'm cant remember the name. Still trying to remember all these new terms. But we haven't heard from them about it. He has been using 2.5% first thing in the morning then again at lunch. Then 1.5% at supper then 7.5% at bedtime. He takes two shots of the Eprex every week now. He thinks he needs that iron as well. But the doctor thinks he doesn't need it!!! So frustrated about the care in this province....

[conchman]

Welcome to the both of you...


 

[looneytunes]

Hi mama28 and I'm glad you joined us.        There are quite a few care partners here at IHD and we would all agree...it isn't easy.  Bless you for being there for your hubby.   What you describe sounds like excess fluid with the breathing difficulty, swelling and hacking up "slime".   Is the nocturnal PD coming to you perhaps a cycler?  My hubby used one when he was on PD and it was much easier for us and allowed us more freedom during the daytime hours. 

I sure hope you and Mr. Mama28 get things straightened out soon.