I need NxStage advice...!!!

[migaguiar]

I am in terrible need of a vacation and would want to miss 2 days of dialysis.

Here is my plan:
sunday - friday dialysis
Friday evening- Monday mid morning enjoy Puerta Vallarta. 

Dialyze Monday night.

My nurse says skipping 2 days on NxStage is like missing 4 days @ in-incenter.
She also doesnt think my Dr. would approve of this schedule.

I have missed 2 days three or 4 times and have felt ok but i wouldnt make it a habit because i dont feel great either.
No one noticed and my numbers didnt seem so bad either. Nothing that 2 days of dialysis couldnt make up.

Please tell me from your experiences how bad has it been if youve missed 2 days in a row.
Am i pushing it?

[jbeany]

Have you considered running a longer session with more fluid the days before and after you skip?  Arrange your time on Friday to run perhaps 30 L instead of your usual 20, and do the same on Monday.  I've run longer sessions to "make up" missing time and treatments when I've had problems with the machine.    You just have to up your heparin dose accordingly.  I've also had to miss more than two days in a row because of access issues.  The second day isn't so bad - but I wouldn't want to try 3!  As long as you can control the fluid, I doubt you'll be more than a little bit tired.

[Bill Peckham]

Now that I'm doing over night two days off isn't an issue. I've basically been on a five day on, two days off schedule since early April because of travel - Dallas, Cleveland, LA, Chicago

How many liters are you doing? I think Jbeany is right that running longer with more fluid before/after the trip is the way to go.

I'm surprised by what your nurse said. It's not that it couldn't be the case but if it is the case then I think you should be increasing your prescription.

[alrightstill]

I too have done it before.  I took a 3 night vacation last year to Texas and was machine free.   I left early Friday morning and came back on Monday morning.  By Sunday night in Texas I wasn't feeling completely horrible - but I did have that "man I need a good dialysis treatment" feeling.

Like jbeany said, before your days off just up your treatment time.  Throw on an extra bag and do the same after your two days off.

And of course, watch your fluid and food intake! 

[migaguiar]

Thanks guys. I just need confidence so i can be worry free down there and have a good time.