Started Dialysis this January

[edger1]

Hello, my name is Edgar I started dialysis this year in January after severe high blood pressure killed my kidneys, I never had any symptoms until it was too late. I got on Hemo dialysis which has been pretty good i guess. I am just having problems with my phosphorus because of cheese! o well at least il die happy eating stuff i shouldnt but do. yes cheese makes me that happy. I forgot to say im 29 years old 6ft tall 220lbs no diabetes and my blood pressure is now under control

[Simon Dog]

You have probably heard this before, but you may want to look into do it yourself dialysis.  No, it's not an Amazon product (yet) .... your clinic sets it up 4U.

[Charlie B53]

Welcome to IHD. 

I'm not so picky about my cheese, most all of the cheddar's are fine.  K don't care much for the single wrapped yuk that the Wife buy but Grand kid loves it.  I prefer the blocks.  Since starting Hemo I don't allow myself the pleasure near as often as before.  Oh Well, there are lots of other things I still can eat.  But then again, when cheese is needed to make a meal correct, I'dd do it in a heartbeat.

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site Edgar

   

Like Simon Dog said: Look into home hemo


Good luck, Cas

[edger1]

when you have home dialysis, can you run the machine for longer for a better clean? and does it remove water?

[cassandra]

Yes. It's just normal dialysis. The only difference is you are in controle. So you can turn the pump speed down and dialyse the hours you want. The machine is smaller. I gather from other IHDers that in the US you can have a Fresenius BabyK or a Nxstage System One. With Fresenius quite a bit needs changing in the house (elec, water) With Nxstage less. Google them. YouTube has quite a bit of info too.

Good luck, Cas

[Simon Dog]

Fresenius offers a choice of the BabyK (similar to in-center machines) or NxStage.  I started with BabyK; have NxStage now.  NxStage has more treatments per week, but much less time in setup and post-treatment machine work.   The more frequent treatments with NxStage means less fluid off per treatment, so less problems with fluid gain and cramping.   They both take water off just like in-center.  The difference is you make your own decisions as to how much to take off at each treatment (with guidance from a home care RN) - no negotiating with a tech.

The Rx (time on machine - set by the dialysate speed and amount of dialysate) is variable.  The RN sets your Rx, but you can negotiate that.   My initial Rx had me "meeting goal".  I discussed this, and told her I wanted to exceed goal by a comfortable margin, so she changed my Rx and I now do about 20% above goal.

I find sticking myself sucks less than having various techs puncture me.

[kristina]

Hello Edgar,
Welcome to IHD and I am sorry that you were not given a better chance to pamper your kidneys and therefore lengthen the time to need dialysis,
but there we are. I also had that sort of bad luck and still try very hard to make the best of it.
Best wishes and good luck from Kristina.

[edger1]

Awesome, thank you everyone!  I am happy to be a part of this community