Checking in from Canada eh

[Ojam]

Hello, I've been on hemo dialysis since July 2009 (Currently doing home hemo since April 2010), before that I had a transplanted kidney that I received when I was 12 in 1994, before that I was on peritoneal dialysis for 4 months, and prior to that I have lived with failing kidneys my whole life. I currently run a blog all about it. It can be found at http://www.thisoldkidney.blogspot.com

[Genlando]

         

Pleased to meet ya, Ojam!

[MooseMom]

Hiya!  Do you think you will attempt to get another transplant?

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  We are glad to have you with us.  You certainly have lots to share with us.  You have been through all the renal challenges there are.  You are now part of the wonderful IHD family  
Looking forward to hearing much more from you.




Bajanne, Moderator

[cloud393]

Welcome.    Look forward to getting to know you.

[peleroja]

Welcome to the group.  Lots of good information and friends here.  Glad you joined!

[Desert Dancer]

Hi, Ojam!    What kind of home hemo are you doing? I start training for mine this coming Tuesday.

[Ojam]

Thanks to the welcomes, and to answer the question about, yes I am currently on our transplant list here, have been since July 09, so I'm just waiting at this point. I'm told the average wait time is 2-3 years, but it could be less, or it could be more.

[jg]

Ojam:

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Canadian. I am in Calgary on home nocturnal hemo waiting for a transplant.
The wait here is 4-6 years. But you say it is 2-3 years for yourself.  Where in Canada are you?

Jeff           

[Ojam]

Ojam:

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Canadian. I am in Calgary on home nocturnal hemo waiting for a transplant.
The wait here is 4-6 years. But you say it is 2-3 years for yourself.  Where in Canada are you?

Jeff           

Hi Jeff,

I'm in New Brunswick, the list here includes all the maritime provinces.

I also do the home nocturnal, I have been since April, there are both benefits and downsides to it, but I think the health benefits make it the better treatment.

[Bruno]

Hello Jeff
A big welcome, champ. Loved your post. I'm very interested in 2 things you mention...your longer hours being easier on fluid extraction and health benefits. I'm about to go on home HD and I've been giving a lot of thought as what schedule might work best for me. I have similar issues to yours if they go too hard at fluid extraction. I'd like to hear your views.

[Ojam]

Well I do home nocturnal, it's 7 hours a night for 5 nights a week. I take a max of 4L of per night which is the same max as when I was going to the centre. My blood speed is set to 200 though instead of 3-400 so my blood is being pulled out and pushed in my slower so it gives time for any extra fluid to redistribute it's self around my body so that it will also be removed, instead of just drying out one area.

[Genlando]

Sorry about going off-topic, everybody:  Ojam, what are the downsides of home HD?  I'm thinking about moving my HD home.  The folks at the center say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.  However, I'd really like to hear about the disadvantages of home dialysis.

[Ojam]

My biggest downside is that I can't just stay up doing stuff until I'm tired and then just go to bed. It takes about an hour or so to get everything setup to get hooked up, so I need to anticipate that time. You need to be stiff awake enough to do the setup, so it's not something that can be left until the last minute. Thats really my absolute biggest issue. There are other things to think about too, like if the power goes out I would need to manually pump my blood back. I haven't run into that, but it does make me nervous, even though I have lost a line of blood before. Sometimes there will be clots in the line so I wont be able to do my treatment and I will need to rush into the unit the next morning to have the line flushed before I go to work. The machine and supplies to take up a lot of space, plus the tanks for cleaning the water take up more, and all the plumping and electricity work that needed to be done. But really the big thing for me is not being able to just go to bed when I want too.