Hello From Texas--Help please

[lyndie32]

Let me start out with my mother had surgery 2 years ago and they clamped off her kidneys too long in surgery which required her to have a few dialysis treatments that have lasted 2 years now... She goes to dialysis only twice a week now 2 hours and 45 min. each time... He BUN is usually in the 70's but a doctors office called me today and said it was only 10... Her creatinine is usually 5 and has been as high as 7 and as low as 4.1 and today they called and it was down to 3.9 . Most of the time she only goes 1 time a week because she makes excuses to me why she cant go the other day.  JUST LOOKING FOR HOPE.  Dialysis says the lab had to mess up on the BUN.  When dialysis runs her creatinine its always higher than the doctors office which has nothing to do with the center she goes to.  This was only supposed to be temporary, can anyone offer me some hope for her. She holds no fluid so I won the battle with them to stop fluid take off, they only take off what they put on, she has no heprin(sp) because it would thin her blood too much, she is down to only one blood pressure pill a day and all other tests are in normal range.
She asks me everyday if she will get off someday (she has some brain damage from surgery). Just looking for hope

[Tracy]

Hello,

I'm from Texas too!  I do not know how to answer you, but I wanted to say hi and I'm glad you are here.  This place has helped me a ton!  Good luck!  I know someone on here will be able to help you.

Tracy

[lyndie32]

Thank you so much Tracy.  For me I think dialysis is a miracle because it keeps my mother with me longer.  We lost my father during hurricane Ike in 08 to cancer, diagno. for only 31 days so its been a very hard 2 years on me.  I took care of him (65 years old) and when we lost him I started taking care of my mother and love every minute of it but It brakes my heart when she asks me if she will ever be normal again and what she has done to desearve this, I tell her everytime to thank god that there is a machine that helps her to live!!

[monrein]

Lyndie,    to IHD and I'm so sorry that you and your mother are having to deal with this and hope is a necessary thing, as long as we can be realistic.  Since your Mom's need for D was caused by a trauma during surgery, it sounds as though it is being considered as acute kidney failure rather than chronic, which is the situation with the majority of dialysis patients.  When the body is in an accident or is traumatized, shock can cause the kidneys to shut down temporarily and dialysis can be an interim measure until hopefully they start functioning again.  If the kidneys are in fact damaged, they may not recover full function and dialysis might then continue to be needed.  What are her potassium and phosphorus levels like?  BUN is an important but unreliable measure of kidney function since it is reflective of what a person has eaten so if someone eats very little, the BUN can be lower but the kidneys still not working.  Creatinine is more reliable since it reflects the toxins created by the body's natural processes of tissue breakdown and therefore less "controllable" by the person.  It can vary depending upon a person's activity levels....more exercise can create higher creatinine level but exercise is still good to do within one's capabilities.

As far as hope goes, your Mom may have more than some, due to the initial acute nature of the cause but I think she may be doing herself a disservice by skipping sessions since toxins will build up and she won't feel as well as she could nor will she be able to think as clearly as she might be able to with adequate D.  I don't know if skipping has any effect on the ability of the kidneys to regain their former function or not and I think you should be asking your doctor to look over the entire situation and answer some of these questions.
I'm so glad she's still producing urine but remember that urine can still be produced without the kidneys removing the toxins from food and the body's natural processes.  It's urine without some key elements...salt, potassium, phosphrus to name a few.

I hope you'll find this site as useful as so many of us have and although we share so much, every journey is as different as the person who undertakes it.

[lyndie32]

thank you so much monrein for your input, I did not get the other numbers this last time from the doctor other than they told me all other numbers were in normal range, they are mailing me a copy of the labs so i can go over them, im also going to ask the clinic today what the other numbers are because they dont seem to give them much unless you ask for them and i quit asking months ago because of it getting moms hopes up too much and then knocking them down again but now it seems to have my hopes up, i still think the world of that amazing machine!! will get somemore numbers today, Lyndie

[kellyt]

Hi Lyndie.      Welcome to IHD.  I'm also from Texas.  I don't have any answers for you, but you will find loads of support and answers here.     Hugs to you and your Mom.

[sullidog]

I had acute kidney failure, they gave me 3 months for my kidneys to come back on because they gave them a chance to recover, almost a year later and I'm still on dialysis, but don't give up that hope.
I still urinate and I'm still fighting the battle of no fluid removal and so far my neph and I are losing.
Troy

[Rerun]

Hello Lyndie and welcome to IHD.  Yes, there is hope.  Her kidneys sound like they are struggling to keep going.  Dialysis helps take the pressure off them so they can heal.  Most of us don't have that hope.  We do dialysis 3x a week for 3 to 4 hours.  Just keep her going to dialysis and praying that her kidneys will return to a suitable function.

I'm glad you joined us.  Keep us posted.

Rerun, Moderator               

[paris]

Hi Lyndie, I wish I had some good answers for you.  I think HOPE is something we all relate to. We have to keep having hope.  Your mother is very fortunate to have you to help her through this.  Keep insisting she goes to dialysis and not miss any sessions.  This is giving her kidneys a break and not stressing them.  We are so glad you joined this site. There is great support here, especially for caregivers.   Welcome to IHD.  Keep us updated on your Mother.   


paris, Moderator

[mamanan62]

Lyndie, I do not have any solutions for you but I do want to commend you and all the daughters, including mine, who take the time out of their lives to help us Moms, and Dads.  It puts a lot of stress on you and your family. and I for one think of you as my Hero's.  Keep up the good work and keep Hope alive.  And good luck to your mother May God see fit to return her kidneys to full and healthy function

[looneytunes]

Hi Lyndie and I also welcome you to IHD.  I have a friend who is also on dialysis as the result of acute trauma.  After a year, his function has improved and he is now taking D once a week.  His neph says eventually he will be able to stop D treatments but it will take a little more time to help his kidneys clear the toxins.   I surely hope the same is true for your mom. 

This is a great place to learn or ask questions so I am looking forward to seeing your posts.  Again, welcome!