Hello everyone !

[geeman67]

Wanted to say hello to everyone on the board.  Just completed my first week of hemodialysis.  Still am not used to the needles being plunged in my arm.  I am 47 yr old male with type 2 diabetes for over 20 years.  Went to a primary care provider last September and said to go see a nephrologist.  I got two options:  transplant or dialysis.  I chose dialysis.  It sucks but what can I do?   Hope to hear from everyone .... geeman67

[iolaire]

Welcome, I'm glad you found the site.  Its great for seeing different points on things like transplant and dialysis methods.  I find it helpful to read people experiencing side effects from transplant meds and those that have opted not to go the transplant route. 

[Rerun]

Hi Geeman67 and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you found us.  There is lots to read on this board and remember to ask questions and we will do our best to answer from experience.

Welcome - Rerun, Admin.   

[Simon Dog]

I got two options:  transplant or dialysis.

Did you get the more detailed options:

- Peritoneal Dialysis
- In center nocturnal
- Home hemo w/Baby K
- Home hemo w/NxStage

If your neph just steered you to dialysis without covering the various flavors, you were under served.

[cassandra]

Hi geeman67 welcome to the site

   


Take care, Cas

[Darthvadar]

  to IHD...

Hope dialysis is working out for you... Perhaps you could update us when you get a chance....

Darth... Moderator...

[Simon Dog]

I got two options:  transplant or dialysis.  I chose dialysis.  It sucks but what can I do?

That is the short form, there are actually many choices:

- In clinic, conventonal
- In clinic, NxStage (not as commonly available)
- Home PD
- Home HD - conventional
- Home HD - short daily
- Home HD - nocturnal
- Living donor transplant
- Paired exchange transplant
- Political prisoner transplant (BEK in Shanghai)
- 2nd or 3rd world purchased organ
- Certain death

If you are the right personality type (stubborn, self-reliant, not a technophobe) you may find one of the home options more appealing than in-center.

[Zach]

Good to have you join our community!
 

[Michael Murphy]

Welcome, sorry to hear you have started dialysis but  glad you joined.  The only advise I can give you about the nneedles is don't look.  When I see them  before insertion  they appear to be as big as the Holland  tunnel.  I use 15 gauge needles the only thing that makes me like my 15 gauge needles is there's a patient where I go that has 12 gauge needles put into him.  He also has a 5 hour treatment. 

[Jean]

     to our little community. Hope your dialysis continues to be tolerable and you get to meet a lot of the very nice people here.

[Maurice2]

Hope your brother in law is a match!!!

[Vt Big Rig]

Welcome to the site. I am also new and I think you will find nice folks and kindred spirits here.  Glad you found the site but I hate welcoming people to the land of needles, chairs, and hoses.

I agree with the don't look. I am a big strong dude. But I help my wife line up the horizontal and vertical angel and look away  . Seems much easier that way. I look back to stop her on the depth of insertion and it works for us.