I am OK?

[Minea]

Hi,
Am I totally lost because I do not feel miserable etc. I am on dialysis (home hemo) and I plug myself to the machine every other night (for 8 hours).  I feel fine, my labs are good, I do not feel I have to change my life too much. I travelled during my summer vacation as before. I still go to work and have my hobbies. I have been on dialysis for 7 months now. Sometimes I just don't remember that I am sick at all.

Question is: is there something terrible still to come? I am confused that so many people here are feeling so bad.

[Epoman]

Hi,
Am I totally lost because I do not feel miserable etc. I am on dialysis (home hemo) and I plug myself to the machine every other night (for 8 hours).  I feel fine, my labs are good, I do not feel I have to change my life too much. I travelled during my summer vacation as before. I still go to work and have my hobbies. I have been on dialysis for 7 months now. Sometimes I just don't remember that I am sick at all.

Question is: is there something terrible still to come? I am confused that so many people here are feeling so bad.

You are still on your "Honeymoon" phase come back in a 5 years.  But seriously when I first started on dialysis I was feeling great, I hated dialysis but I was feeling better than I had been feeling before. Things will come however it all depends on how you handle the situations. Some people do very well on dialysis and have very little problems for several years, others have a lot of problems associated with End Stage Renal Disease. As long as your labs are good and you feel fine, that's great, lucky you! Just take care of yourself, be carefull with your access, and live everyday to the fullest. You don't ever have to feel bad for feeling good. NEVER think what happens to someone here will happen to you, everyone is different. By the way welcome to the site. 

[hephziba]

Hi minea, I hope you are just one of those people who are just ok with it all, I think I hate dialysis because it really has interfered with my life, and I tend to have complications, but if its all going nicely for you , congratulations.

 

[angieskidney]

I know I felt the same way but only when I was on CCPD (Nocturnal Peritoneal Dialysis) for 5 years. I don't have any experience with Home Hemo but I find people complain the most about in CLINIC Hemo.

[Panda_9]

Minea, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Its wonderful that you are feeling good, if only everyone were the same! You are also very lucky to be doing nocturnal after only being on dialysis for 7 months. I suspect that may be why you are feeling good. Your body hasnt had a chance to develop some of the nasties as a result of conventional dialysis. Keep up the good work!

[Zach]

Hi,
Am I totally lost because I do not feel miserable etc. I am on dialysis (home hemo) and I plug myself to the machine every other night (for 8 hours).  I feel fine, my labs are good, I do not feel I have to change my life too much. I travelled during my summer vacation as before. I still go to work and have my hobbies. I have been on dialysis for 7 months now. Sometimes I just don't remember that I am sick at all.

Question is: is there something terrible still to come? I am confused that so many people here are feeling so bad.

You're on home hemo, and nocturnal.  You're receiving one of the best forms hemo there is today.
Keep doing what you're doing ... you'll have a long life!                     

Everything is beautiful once the eye likes the view

[Black]

Hi,
Am I totally lost because I do not feel miserable etc. I am on dialysis (home hemo) and I plug myself to the machine every other night (for 8 hours).  I feel fine, my labs are good, I do not feel I have to change my life too much. I travelled during my summer vacation as before. I still go to work and have my hobbies. I have been on dialysis for 7 months now. Sometimes I just don't remember that I am sick at all.

Question is: is there something terrible still to come? I am confused that so many people here are feeling so bad.

I think everyone is right.  You are doing one of the forms of dialysis which is most like normal kidney function.  With the short wait time  for a transplant  in Finland, you may never be on dialysis long enough to experience any of the long term side effects so many here suffer.

Please continue to post about how well you are doing so others will know about the good effects of home hemo and that it is available outside of the US.

[Rerun]

I'm glad you are feeling good on nocturnal.  I'm going to try it when I move.  It is one of the best options we have other than PD in my opinion.

[Panda_9]

I think nocturnal is better than PD, well in my case it was, not sure about others. My clearances on PD where shit!

[thom]

can you have home dialysis whilst your asleep? like if i went to bed at 10pm hook myself up then when i get up at 7 it's all done? 'cause that would RULE.

[goofynina]

Thom, I am on PD and if i hook up at 10pm my session is over at 8am.  It really doesnt matter what time you hook up as long as you run the 10 hours, (or however long they put you on)  i know some only run 8, it depends on your clearance and stuff.  Hope that answers your question,  feel free to ask any more questions and hopefully i (or someone) can answer them for ya, k,,,,  Good luck

[Minea]

hi all,
thanks for your answers

I have nocturnal home dialysis and the treatment is always 8 hours. Since I do not start sleeping immediately I usually sleep awhile after dialysis. First I did not sleep so good during the treatment but it is getting better all the time. I do it every other night. I have noticed that after dialysis I am more tired and sometimes I feel a bit like in hangover. Though I have been on dialysis only 7 months I have been on the waiting list for a 3,5 months now. That is very quick even here in Finland. I suppose it has something to do that I am so healthy except my kidneys of course….

[angieskidney]

I always wondered about nocturnal Hemo because I have only been on nocturnal PD. What about the needles if you toss and turn on HD?

I guess it is the same as my inclinic hemo but I have never fallen asleep  ... because I just can't get comfortable

[Epoman]

I always wondered about nocturnal Hemo because I have only been on nocturnal PD. What about the needles if you toss and turn on HD?

I guess it is the same as my inclinic hemo but I have never fallen asleep  ... because I just can't get comfortable

Remember Angie you use "Blunt" needles. And believe me it would take a lot to pierce the fistula. But I have heard some people tying their arm down while they sleep.

[Panda_9]

goofinya, when I was on the PD cycler over night I had to do 16 hours. Even then my clearances where pathetic.
On nocturnal I do 10hrs every second night. I dont sleep real well on the machine as Im not sleeping the whole 10 hours.
Thom, nocturnal is alot better for you but it is a hell of a lot to take on. I wont beat around the bush here, it can be rather stressful. I am extremely stressed at the moment and ready to throw in the towel. Its not always as easy as it seems.

[Minea]

I just use lot of tape and nothing else. I had a training period about 5 weeks long. I needled myself from 2nd treatment but allways with assistance of nurse. When you learn how to do it yourself you never let anyone to do it anymore. It is also very very much less painful when you do it yourself. And I have to admit that I truly have fier for needles. Yet today if some takes blood of me (do not know the word for it... ) I cannot look it without feeling dizzy.

[goofynina]

16 hours?? GOOD GOLLY,,    I am on 10 and i can barely handle that.  hang in there with nocturnal girlfriend,   i wish you the best....

[angieskidney]

I always wondered about nocturnal Hemo because I have only been on nocturnal PD. What about the needles if you toss and turn on HD?

I guess it is the same as my inclinic hemo but I have never fallen asleep  ... because I just can't get comfortable

Remember Angie you use "Blunt" needles. And believe me it would take a lot to pierce the fistula. But I have heard some people tying their arm down while they sleep.

ah yes! Okay. Ya in inclinic hemo there is one guy who they have to tie down his arm because he jumps when he sleeps.

I miss PD It was soooo easy to do that nocturnal!