Hæmo or peritoneal? I can't make up my mind

[Stoday]

I shall be talking about my preference for dialysis at the hospital next Tuesday.

I've done a lot of homework on the web and I've been to the hospital's pre dialysis seminar, but I still can't make up my mind.

The main merits and disadvantages balance out finely for me. So, it will be the little differences that will tip me one way or the other. I'd like to hear of the less important issues that might stack up on one side or the other.

[paddbear0000]

I chose in-center hemo over PD because I'm diabetic, but I would have chosen it anyway even if I wasn't diabetic. I prefer it because I wanted to meet others in my position and needed to get out of the house. I enjoy talking with the nurses and techs and patients. I also get computer work done while there that I always seemed to procrastinate on when at home. I did not want PD specifically because I did not want a tube sticking out of my stomach. I am very self conscious. I also didn't want a bloated stomach. Those are my reasons. Hope I can be of some help!

[Rerun]

You may want to choose PD because there are no needles and you can do it by yourself and at home.

[djgaryb11]

It really depends on your lifestyle and personal preference.  For me, PD was the way to go, since you do it yourself at home ( or away from home if you travel)...there are no needles and no blood to worry about....its much more flexible, since you can do it at night when you sleep ( using the cycler), or you can do it the "manual" way ( usually this means 4 times a day) and you are not locked into a set schedule as to exactly when you have to do it, unlike Hemo when you have a very set schedule for when you have to be in the clinic and getting your dialysis.  It really just depends on you...for many people Hemo is a good fit, for others PD makes more sense.

[Ang]

have  a  chat  to  your  neph  and  be  guided  by  what  he  /  she  says, i  could'nt  do  pd  cause  my  kidneys  were  to  fat

[jbeany]

I've done only hemo - Pd not being an optimal choice for an overweight, brittle diabetic.  I've done both in-center and home hemo.  I preferred home by far.  I liked having the control and the ability to adjust my schedule to my life, instead of the other way around.  I think that's also true of PD.  I'm currently back on in-center, and it feels to me like I have a 4 day week now.  The day spent at the center on MWF is pretty much shot by the time I get home, and stagger off to bed for a nap.  I can't schedule anything for those 3 days - I simply don't have the energy.  From what I've read, PD doesn't give you that washed-out, no energy feeling like hemo does.  If I was starting and had the choice, I think I'd try PD first.

Regardless of which you pick, you can always switch if you want to.

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Stoday!
Everybody has their own preferences. For my husband, it was always going to be Hemo. He has never liked things on his skin - watches, bandages, etc. He couldn't tolerate the idea of the catheter in his abdomen. On the other hand, needles don't bother him at all. (He gets the bandages off after treatment ASAP!) 

We do NxStage at home which gives us flexibility with our schedule instead of the 3 days of in-center dialysis.

There are several options. Good luck with your choice!
Aleta

[monsterman]

I chose in-center hemo over PD because I'm diabetic, but I would have chosen it anyway even if I wasn't diabetic. I prefer it because I wanted to meet others in my position and needed to get out of the house. I enjoy talking with the nurses and techs and patients. I also get computer work done while there that I always seemed to procrastinate on when at home. I did not want PD specifically because I did not want a tube sticking out of my stomach. I am very self conscious. I also didn't want a bloated stomach. Those are my reasons. Hope I can be of some help!

My thoughts exactly I figured if I went with the PD I just wouldnt get as good of care as I would if I went with Hemo.. I enjoy getting out of the house and pretty much hanging out with the other patients for the few hours in my day it takes to get cleaned out..

[willowtreewren]

Chris,
You may want to consider your assessment of getting better care in-center rather than at home. If you read through the many posts here you'll find that there is a wide range of quality of care.

The important thing is to stay informed and in control. You will know your body and what it needs far better than any staff at the treatment center. Speak up and be pro-active. Don't just accept whatever the staff tell you, especially if it doesn't seem right.

Aleta

[Stoday]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.   

In the event, I didn't really have a choice. I've just got back from the hospital and a consultation with the big cheese of the nephrology department. It really has to be hæmo for me because:
1) I had only recovered from ulcerative colitis 21 months ago and it could return.
2) I've got a slight aneurysm of the aorta.
3) I had an undiagnosed stomach problem which disappeared 3 months ago.

Oh well, I don't have to have my umbilical hernia repaired.

Got a consultation with the fistula surgeon 1st week in May. I have about six months before I start dialysis.

Happily I had not set my heart on peritoneal...