Considering In Center Nocturnal Dialysis

[cat]

Hi, everyone.  Yesterday my neph suggested I consider in center nocturnal dialysis.  I am not sure why, even though I asked.  His answers didn't really relate to my questions.  I have read as much as I can on nocturnal and I will call the nurse who runs the program here.  It is brand new to our area.  In some ways, I hate to be one of the guinea pigs for their new program.

I am getting good results from my daytime sessions.  I do not gain weight between sessions (I am still urinating).  My labs are always good and I am very careful with my diet.  I am unable to sleep during my regular 3:45 session and worry that I will not sleep in the nocturnal one. 

I would love to hear what those on in center nocturnal dialysis really see as the benefit for them.  I would also like to hear reasons NOT to try it.  Thanks.

[del]

Cat my husband has never done in center nocturnal but he has been doing nocturnal hemo at home for 3 1/2 years and he has nothing but good things to say about it.  The long slow treatments do a lot better job of removing phosphorus and potassium from the blood. If you take binders you will probably not need them if you do nocturnal. Hubby has to eat high phos and potassium foods to keep his levels up.  It is supposed to be a lot easier on your body as well.  He felt good and had really good blood results when he was doing 3x a week in center but he feels 100% better on this!!  There are several people on here who do in center nocturnal so they can probably help you more.

[RichardMEL]

I guess I'm a bit unqualified to answer this since I've never done it... but I will put by 2 cents in because I'd LOVE to be able to do it.

Some reasons to do it that I can think of:

* You could relax your diet restrictions somewhat - getting more dialysis would be better for you. More K and PO4 would be removed and the sessions would be gentler on your system due to lower pump speeds and longer run time.
* re sleeping I believe nocturnal folks use beds, which may be easier for sleeping rather than the chairs. I agree I could never sleep in those darn chairs no way.. sometimes I pine for a bed!! LOL
* your labs may be great but perhaps your clearance is a little low and could be improved by nocturnal?
* you would get your days back to work/do stuff.

I guess some reasons to not try it:

* If it ain't broke don't fix it - your labs arre good, you're not retaining fluid, you're good with your diet and happy with D - why change what's working?
* if you're worried about being a guinea pig in a new program it would be reasonable to put it off until the crew is settled into it and have everything working OK.
* You may not be able to sleep, which would make an 8 hour session that much worse

I still think you should give it a go. I know I would if given the chance.

[cat]

Thanks for the input.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and discussing it with my husband and friends.  I really feel that I have too many doubts right now to try it.  As a wise man once said "If it ain't broke don't fix it".  (Thanks, Richard.)  Maybe after it has been around for a while here I will reconsider.  Thanks, again.