Introduction

[grannysgirl]

  hi everyone. Dialysis happened to me suddenly and quickly. I am a 60 yr old female with a long history of hypertension. Anyway, I had bad knees and could not stand the pain anymore and agreed to total knee replacement. This began my dialysis night mare..Something went terribly wrong. I woke up to extreme pain and into a fog. I was in the hospital for a week with a fever of 102. I was forced to get out of the bed and immediately into rehab. I was able to ambulate to keep up with the expected rehab schedule. I was transferred to a rehab center and each day I was feeling worse and no one seemed to care. After two days at the first rehab center my family realized that something was not right and my legs and feet were so swollen it was painful to stand. Then I started hallucinations. Still the doctors did not notice but my sister did. I was removed by my family to another rehab center. Thanks to my youngest sister who is in the medical field she requested that certain tests be done. Thank God for her because I was rushed to the closet emergency room and she was on a plane on her way here. My kidneys had shut down and my vitals were unstable. I was taken to surgery and a cather was inserted and I went on dialysis immediately. Of course nothing was explained to me because I was to ill to understand. So, no one explained dialysis or anything else to me. To make a long story short. This happened in August 2008. To date, I at my second dialysis center and I am slowly learning. But there is one thing that I do know. I do not like dialysis and it is terribly ruining my life. There has to be a better way! I still feel that no one cares about the patient or the patient's needs. Standard procedures and practices do not work for each patient. This failure happened suddenly and I believe it can disappear suddenly? Am I looking for and expecting the impossible?

[Rerun]

Grannysgirl, welcome to IHD.  Wow, you go in with bad knees and come out with no kidney function.  Does that tell you about the best health care in the world?  AND you still had to pay!  I'm so sorry it happened this way for you.  You may ask them if by any chance this is "acute" failure and perhaps your kidney function could return.  It does happen, but if it is chronic then that means dialysis is your lifeline.

Dialysis is a "for profit" business paid for by sick people and tax payers.  They don't want to fix it.  Too much money is involved.  But, there are different types of dialysis and different clinics, so keep reading this site and you will learn more.  If you need to vent, we are here.

Rerun, Moderator               

[grannysgirl]

I have realized the hard way that dialysis is definitely "for profit" I am so frustrated with dialysis. I was told that the longer I stayed on dialysis I would produce less urine. That the biggest bs that I have every heard. For the last year I bring in zero fluids and so there is none to be removed. I asked one easy question. so why am I here??? And why for 3 days per week? I think I struck a nerve! Response::: We do not run patients just to make the money!" Help me please! No one will address my questions.  Maybe my kidneys started to function again. But would I be told or kept on dialysis for the rest of my life? There should be some written guidelines somewhere!!! The cramps are really annoying.   

[cloud393]

Dialysis doesn't remove just fluids.  It also removes the toxins that your kidney's aren't removing.  There are several people at my clinic who don't have fluid removed and they swear they feel better since starting D.  I know I feel better now (finally) than I have in years.  Again, not because of the fluids but the toxins. 

[galvo]

G'day grannysgirl and I have been in the position where 'fluid removal' is the mantra,whether you are carrying excess fluid or not. I, like cloud393, are feeling so much livelier since dialysis has started removing toxins.

[looneytunes]

Hi Grannysgirl and I also welcome you to IHD where we ALL hate dialysis.  But, it is life support for those who have suffered renal failure.  My hubby lost his renal function in 2007.  Since then we have done a couple of 3 months stints in-center, a 2 year gig on PD both with the cycler and manual exchanges, and now we are doing home hemo with NxStage.  He, like you, still has urine output though it has decreased over time. 

I pray your renal function is acute and that it will return.  I have a dear friend whose function has returned to the point he only dialyzes once a week now.  Ask your nephrologist about this. 

In any case, welcome to IHD and I hope to see you posting on the boards!   

[grannysgirl]

  Thanks you for the words of encouragement. I have been on d for almost two yrs now and I feel bad when I look around and meet people who have been on treatment for 10 yrs and more. This is not an easy thing to get use too but I am trying. Forgive me for being a cry baby but I truly wish there could be a better way to do this. I do believe in miracles and I am waiting for God to heal me. I loved to travel and have tried doing treatments while vacating. I don't thing I even need to say a word. Those who had tried this knows what it's like. Well, as the men would say I am going to man up and take it like a man lol no harm intended. Good nite to all. I have an early treatment in the morning.

[Jean]

Wow, what an intro. Sorry all this has happened to you. and    to IHD.

[MooseMom]

Welcome to IHD!  It seems like even after two years on D, you still have a lot of unanswered questions.  The fact that you were put on dialysis on an emergency basis when you were so ill robbed you of the opportunity to be given a full explanation of what happened, why it happened, and what happens next.  You are entitled to have any and all access to your medical records.  I think it might be helpful if you were to look at these records, learn what you can and then jot down any questions you have.  Then see your medical team and ask them those questions, and ask the most vital one of all...why exactly are you on D, what exactly is D doing for you and is this going to be a permanent situation?

Once you have this information, you might then make a plan for yourself.  More and more people are using modalities like NxStage where you can dialyze at home...there is a whole forum about it here on IHD.  I know you hate dialysis, but perhaps there is a way of making it more palatable for you.  Doing it at home might transform your life.  It's worth looking in to.

It's fine waiting for God to heal you, but until He decides to do just that, perhaps you can take back some control and figure out some options.  The good news, though, is that IHD is here to help support and inform you!   

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  Dialysis at best is an extremely callenging experience, and to be catapulted into it as you were is unthinkable!  But I am aware of the strength of the human spirit.  And I thank God for IHD - a tremendous place for information and real support. Please take advantage of all it has to offer.  You have found yourself areal family here    Just keep readingan keep posting.





Bajanne, Moderator