Introduction for acspears

[acspears]

hey guys, I found this forum this morning and everyone seems very nice so I figured I'd give it a shot

this morning my boyfriend of nearly 7 years was hospitalized and the neph at the hospital suggest he start dialysis asap (they want to do the cath tomorrow and fit him for a fistula in the next week).  he had a kidney transplant in 2004 from his father but unfortunately, it didn't stick.  going into the kidney transplant he had a creatine of 11.3 and still felt pretty good to be honest; today his creatine is 4.6 and he's a mess vomiting, dizzy, blurry vision etc.

truth is, he's very scared; he's never been on dialysis in his 25 years of life and I'm scared too.  we both know that there really is no other option; he's been bed ridden for a few days and has been calling in sick at work all week.  I was wondering how it was your first time and what/who helped you through it?  I mean, God bless that there is an option but it is still very scary!  he's looking at being on it for 5 to 7 years, until a cadaver's kidney comes up for him to have transplanted and 3 times a week at 3 hours each time.

also, how late do dialysis center's usually stay open?

thanks for all the positivity






EDITED:Split and moved topic to introduction threads, so you can have your own thread- kitkatz, Moderator

[Zach]

Welcome to our community!
 

[Joe Paul]

Welcome acspears, good to have you aboard.

[Romona]

 

[Rerun]

Welcome!  There are several options.  Have you looked into PD (Peritonal Dialysis).  There are no needles and you can do it at home.... by yourself or his self.  Take a look at your different options on this site.

I do Nocturnal Hemodialysis incenter.  I go 3 nights a week and just sleep 8 hours (more like sleep 6, but am hooked up for on the machine.  That way my days are free and I'm getting longer slower dialysis.

This site has losts of information.  Read this: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=5.0

Rerun~

[willieandwinnie]

  acspears. We are so glad you joined us. There is lots of information in the older threads that might help you, check them out. I'm sorry your boyfriend is going through all this and it's normal to be scared for the both of you. Please post often and educate yourself and your boyfriend to make the best decisions for him. Hope to hear lots from you and you'll get great support from this group. 

[paul.karen]

  Acspears

It is hard when you get pushed so fast into dialyiss.  But you found a great site to help you both out.
Like Rerun mentioned look at your options.
Pd vs hemo.
I am predialysis for now but decided to go the PD route.  it has less fluid and liquid restrictions and mainly i am doing it to try and be able to continue workling.  it is a nightly program while you sleep unlike 3X a week.  So it may be more involved but this is the route i am trying first.

I wish you both the best.

[lola]

 

acspears, I like you am the caregiver. My husband also had his 1st transplant and it lasted 15years until we had to go back on Dialysis. I would look into home-hemo, my husband started on in-center but it was draining and he wanted his life back and thanks to all the GREAT peeps on IHD we switched to home-hemo. Otto is able to work full time and do Dialysis on his schedule, he still rides dirtbikes home-hemo has given him his life back. Good luck and know we are all here for you

[willowtreewren]

 

You have come to a wonderful, caring community.

I am a caregiver for my husband. As many others have said, there are so many possibilities for dialysis. I'm sure your boyfriend will find one that fits into his lifestyle.

Take care, and post often.

Aleta

[Wallyz]

Welcome.  One thing that you might look at is home hemo, and doing it at night.  That has been the best option fro me in terms of both health and having my days free.

[paris]

   You are right, it is all very scary.  We are glad you found us. It will give you a safe place to be scared in, and to find out more information.  We also support each other and really care.  Please let us know how your boyfriend is.  Once you post, we start worrying about you like family.      Keeping you in my prayers.   




paris, Moderator

[TeenHatesDialysis]

 

I am glad that you found this group. Everyone here is very supportive. I think that he will feel much better once he starts dialysis. I wish that the docs could save his kidney.  Has he had his creatinine tested again since it went from 11+ to 4?  What was his BUN? That # will give you an idea of the toxin buildup in his system. Then when they perform dialysis the BUN level should go down at least 60%. It tells you how much of the toxin buildup is being cleaned out of his blood through dialysis.

He is lucky to have you by his side. The first time he does dialysis, watch his blood pressure. The nurses like to practice on new patients and sometimes take off too much fluid, your BP drops and you crash (pass out, turn pale...not good).

Stay positive. It doesn't always take that long to get a new kidney. He may find a living donor. I sorry that you and your BF have to go through this. This is a very supportive group.  I think that all docs should recommend it to their dialysis patients.  I think that the ony reason that they don't recomment it is that many of the people here know more than the docs.

 

[Ang]

   ac spears


   its  all  a  bit  scary  in  the  beginning,but  its  just  like  a  part  time  job  you  volunteer  for.

[monrein]

   There's so much information and support here that I hope you'll find some of the answers to your questions as you read through some of the threads.  It is scary and will be so for a while but good information about the choices can help a little.

[G-Ma]