CHF and Kidney transplant?

[The Noob]

Husband started PD in january 2010, has just been DX with CHF? not severe at this time.
set up to see cardiologist, more meds, etc. this seems to have cropped when he started dialysis.
been online reading, was wondering if anyone here had any feedback about this? he is 56, normal hgt/wgt, no other medical issues. is out of the running for a transplant? we haven't even gotten on the list yet.

[cariad]

I had congestive heart failure as a child before I started dialysis. For reasons that remain secret to all but the doctors involved, they put me on digitalis. Did they not realise this was secondary to renal failure? My records are so horrible it is impossible to tell. (Eight pages for over 2 months in hospital.) I received a transplant in 1976, after this episode, so I would guess your husband could do the same, but the CHF needs to be sorted.

I once remarked to my GP that when I read my records and see 'heart failure', I would never believe this person was still alive if I didn't know that I was in fact reading about myself. He said "Oh, no. This is a totally expected side-effect to renal failure." The thing is though, Noob, congestive heart failure as far as I've ever known is due to fluid overload. It sounds for all the world to me that your husband is not getting adequate dialysis and may need to switch to hemo. Did they discuss this with you?

I wish you luck, and a long overdue break.

[The Noob]

thank you, i am praying this is it. we're going back to stronger solution. was reading about Left Ventricular failure, most common for dialysis patients. i am praying to find the best medical care hubby that can address all this. i am so sorry to hear your story. having been there with DH i can't fathom anymore what the patients and caregivers have to endure. bless you cariad..

[MooseMom]

After reading your posts over the past weeks, I have to agree that he may not be getting adequate dialysis.  He just seems so ill, and you seem to be able to get so few answers.  Cardiovascular difficulties are COMMON among renal patients.  My cousin had a heart attack while on dialysis (I mean, at the clinic!), but he went on to be successfully transplanted.  I have completed (I hope) all my pre-transplant tests, and next week I have an appointment with the cardiologist (my very first visit to a cardiac specialist) to see if my risk of cardiac surgical complications is high, medium or low...there has been no mention of being banned from the list.

If your DH has no other medical issues, my guess is that he should still be a candidate for transplantation, but I do think it is essential that you hear this from a cardiologist, not a MooseMom.

[The Noob]

  now wait, moosemom is a good resource..

he has cardiologist appts end of june. also spoke with intake worker at cleveland clinic. she said same thing. common and no reason to deny transplant and they find after transplant, it usually goes away.
she did tell me that for A blood type, the wait list is 3-4 years now. if he has a family/friend to donate it is only as long as it takes to do all evals on each. so far shortest wait time is WV. 2-3 years max. getting him on all 3 lists but loads of stuff to do first.

[MooseMom]

OK, noob, I just have to ask, since you mentioned transplants and donors...  Your husband has worked closely with many other like-minded people in saving lives and helping the sick and injured.  If anyone should be in line for a live donor transplant, it's him.  Have any of the other paramedics he has worked with mentioned anything about possibly looking into being a donor for him?  Do they understand the nature of his illness and the possibility that transplantation could be an effective treatment for him?

It's never too early to start thinking along these lines...

[cariad]

thank you, i am praying this is it. we're going back to stronger solution. was reading about Left Ventricular failure, most common for dialysis patients. i am praying to find the best medical care hubby that can address all this. i am so sorry to hear your story. having been there with DH i can't fathom anymore what the patients and caregivers have to endure. bless you cariad..

Aw, thank you, Noob. This was so sweet to read. My story had a rough start, but it has turned out very well for me. I probably sound quite bitter at times, but happily, I'm really not. It all comes out in the wash....

I am keeping a good thought for you, your husband, and of course your remarkable son.

[The Noob]

yes, we asked his job to post about it in newsletter, just in case. you never know. it asks alot from a donor but well, it can't hurt to put the question out there.