Intro

[chatrbee2]

I hope I'm doing this right      I've read over rules but I'm still trying to get the hang of it.  I do better by actually using something over reading the directions...please forgive me. 

Hello!   My name is Cindy, age 37, mother of one girl, age 15.   I help care for my father who is 78, he started dialysis in February 2010.  He and my mother live across the street from my residence, when the going gets rough, they call me in to deal with it  .

It's been a long rough road, and I read here often hoping to help him.  He was very sick and unable to eat for a long time.  It started to get better and he looked to be getting stronger.  The vomiting, nausea, and being unable to eat most foods has returned and he's heading back down hill. 

I hope to continue reading here to pick up tips for feeding him and helping him feel better.  He gets treatment Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  My mother mostly transports him to most appointments, however, I try to take one day a week to give her rest from all the travel.  We drive 17 miles to get him to DCI center. 

[breezysummerday]

 

[okarol]

  Hi Cindy,
The forum does get easier as you use it. I am glad you're giving it try, and I hope you get the support you need.
 
okarol/admin

[YLGuy]

  Welcome Cindy

[MooseMom]

Hi Cindy!  My mom was around your dad's age when she started dialysis; she lost her kidney function due to a botched operation, so it was a real shock.  Dialysis is hard on an older person, especially when the clinic is so far away.  My mom could easily drive to her clinic as it was only a 10 minute drive from her home, but that was the only relatively easy part of the whole thing.

Loss of appetite is a real red flag.  Poor nourishment, age and dialysis can all go hand in hand (in hand!).  Anything you can do to get him to improve his nutritional status would be very helpful.  Of course, if he is being underdialyzed, he won't feel like eating, and you have the ultimate vicious circle.

There should be a renal dietician at his clinic, and if you or your mom haven't already, it might be an idea to ask the dietician for some tips on how to increase your dad's appetite.  It is a common problem.

I know this is a hard road for you and your family.  Know that we are here to give you our support whenever you need it.  There are a lot of people here who would be happy to help.

Oh...my mom became a VERY fussy eater the longer she was on dialysis.  She would often comment on how food she normally liked began to taste odd.  That may be one reason your dad is no longer eating well...things are starting to taste bad.  Her eating patterns changed, too.  She stopped eating three regular meals a day and began eating more small meals.  This kept something in her stomach all the time which seemed to make her feel better.  Perhaps this is something you could try with your dad.

[Desert Dancer]

Hi, Cindy and  to IHD. You're in the right place!

[chatrbee2]

Thanks all suggestions are welcomed.  It's been a log road it started with ulcers he ignored but he walked into the hospital to be checked out.  They ran the dye tests and killed his kidneys.  He woke up later and we found him on the dialysis machine and that's how we learned about dialysis.  It has definitely been eye opening.   He has other health issues as well so he can't drive himself, transportation in our area isn't provided.   And the dialysis center closest to all his doctors they made him switch from and that makes it very hectic as well.  We drive 17 miles one way either way, however, it would be easier if all appointments for doctors and for the people we use for our own things were in the same town.  Thanks to insurance moving him it makes it about 30 miles between the 2 places so everyday someone has to be somewhere.  It is really running the wheels off the cars but at least there are 3 of us (mom, me, s/o) who can take turns driving.  And I have many friends as do they if an emergency ride needed to happen.

Yesterday we were able to get him into family doctor. He gave him something incase it's a stomach bug and he wondered why the ER doc removed his circulation med he takes.  He said that would make him to tired which wouldn't help him eat or hold down things if it was a bug.   He ate this morning no vomiting

We have turned to little meals and he's lucky he's spoiled (but doesn't know it) if he wants anything he usually has someone within reason always willing to get it for him or have it made.

[chatrbee2]

 

Hi, Cindy and  to IHD. You're in the right place!

Thanks I was amazed in a fit of anger typing in hating dialysis to find a great site. 
I often feel guilty it's him instead of me or someone else sometimes because he doesn't really understand it as well as he should.  He ended up once with delirium from the things that go on in hospitals.   I did learn I hate delirium more than dialysis, lol, hope to never see that again