Go on Dialysis then successful come off and be fine??

[ODAT]

Hi, well we had my uncle's memorial services Monday night. Mom did okay, lots of support around. I think most of us are okay while we are surrounded by love - it's when we are alone that it's tough. My uncle's eSTRANGEd wife's mother told my mom that she was on hemodialysis and that she no longer needed it. I don't have all the details as far as why she needed dialysis and from what condition, or even how long she was on it. My question is if this is possible? I don't want my mom to have any false hopes.

We have not heard back about her mapping done a week ago. Probably will go from vascular surgeon to the kidney doc to review at her Nov 6 appointment. So many questions have been answered for me just in this forum, but specific details/numbers and my mom's condition still has a lot left to be found out.

[Sluff]

I've heard of rare cases of someone getting off dialysis after being on it. I think that subject was here already I'll try to search for it.

[RichardMEL]

I think there are some injuries to kidneys or maybe even diseases that cause them to cease functioning for a time and thus dialysis is required but they can recover.. it's pretty reare though. Certainly with the type of CKD that most of us have to endure that's not an option.. but it has been known to happen.

[Joe Paul]

A neighbor of mine had a hip replacement done & while in the hospital, his kidneys failed due to medication. He spent 3 months on dialysis but regained 50% of his kidney function and is now off dialysis and doing well. Another lady from my clinic had some sort of infection that shut her kidneys down for a little over a month, her kidneys are at 75% now & she is doing fine. As mentioned, I guess it has to do with the cause of the shutdown.

[Diane]

There are 2 general types of kidney disease - one is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which is caused by the usual things like diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. and then there is Acute Kidney Disease (AKD) which is caused by trauma, medications, extreme blood loss, etc.  Acute Kidney Disease can require dialysis temporarily but then, because it is acute, kidney function can resume.

[okarol]

There are 2 general types of kidney disease - one is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which is caused by the usual things like diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. and then there is Acute Kidney Disease (AKD) which is caused by trauma, medications, extreme blood loss, etc.  Acute Kidney Disease can require dialysis temporarily but then, because it is acute, kidney function can resume.

This is accurate.  In acute renal failure, as the name suggests, it is temporary and of a sudden onset whereby there would not be any past history of any problem with the kidneys. The patient would be quite normal till the time he gets this problem. It is of sudden onset and often doctors are able to pinpoint the reasons why the person developed it. Short-term dialysis can help recover or stabilize the kidneys.  In comparison, chronic renal failure is a permanent form of kidney failure, eventually requiring either continuous dialysis or kidney transplantation.

[st789]

A lady that I had a chat with went on hemo. for 1.5 yrs. then regain 10% of the kidney function.  No need of dialysis but I think eventurally she will need to go back.

[Sluff]

Sorry ODAT I could not find the old thread on this subject but it looks like others have answered with experiences of their own.

[angela515]

I would find out exactly why she was on dialysis. Dialysis is not used just for people with ESRD... it is also used for people who need their blood cleaned and /or fluid taken off for other reasons. I was on dialysis when I was like 13 and not for ESRD, my kidneys worked fine.. It was because my Lupus was out of control and the prednisone made me retain tons of water, and I swelled up literally 5 sizes in a few days... I was on dialysis for like a few weeks until the Prednisone could be lowered.

[ODAT]

You are so right. It depends a lot on the reason why the kidneys shut down. I'll let my mom know and see if she can find out more. thanks for setting that straight!

[RichardMEL]

OK guys this is totally trippy given this topic.... just yesterday I went into the unit as usual... and a girl who also does dialysis (well she's hardly a girl.. but she's young... well my age.. so I call her a girl ) on my shift was not in. So I asked after her because I was concerned.. she's had a pretty rough run since she started about 6 months ago... and they told me. GET THIS... Her labs have improved to the point where she can skip dialysis sessions and maybe even get off it totally?!!?!!

I was totally floored thinking of this thread.

And as far as I know she has regular CKD brought on by diabetes.. she also had a dud pancreas and was telling me she's hoping to get a Pancreas/Kidney transplant... but now maybe she is OK?

VERY WEIRD.

The nurse only told me a little bit (privacy and all that) he said she'll have to tell me the "rest of the good news" if/when she is in again?!!

I'm so happy for her but so envious too! LOL

If I get more info I'll post...

[RichardMEL]

OK I have a little more on this situation at my unit.

I saw the lucky lady as she was in for dialysis today and was punnished by being forced to sit next to me so we got to chat for a bit.

She's trying to "keep a lid on it" as we say down here but was totally beaming from ear to ear.. looked really good and was so happy she was almost bouncing. Aparently her labs have improved significantly indicating an improvement in her kidney function. Further she said her neph told her that while it is pretty rare to happen, it has been known to happen but aparently ONLY with renal patients who are also diabetics.... (odd).

So she got to miss one session on Thursday but she said her neph suggested that she may be able to do just 1 session a week of 5 hours (I do 3x5! and she currently does 3x3.5 hours) and well if things improve further... maybe she can kick the electric boyfriend for good!!!

She said she feels heaps better than she has in ages, and is eating lots and everything.

While I'm envious I'm totally stoked for her and hope things DO improve for her.. anyone who can somehow get off dialysis "naturally" is one very very lucky person.

So we'll see over the next weeks what happens.

She said she'd visit us if she got off for good which was sweet

[kitkatz]

It is funny but tranplanted people do not come back to visit the dilaysis unit. It is like...see you, don't want to be you again.  It will be really unusual if she visits now she is to be free from the "electric boyfrined.  (That is a great description.)

She is very lucky!

[angela515]

It is true kit. After my first transplant (b/c I was on hemo that time.) I wet back to my clinic once, to show everyone how I was doing... after that.. I don't see any other reason to go back. Anyone of importance to me wuld have my email address or phone number.

[RichardMEL]

kit she's not free yet but the signs are promising...

I think she was indicating she'd come back to visit when she had medical appointments in the hospital - that makes sense. I love right over the road so I could visit very easily (and intend to if/when I get a transplant).

Every so often a patient who was with us but moved to another unit comes to visit when she has to see a doctor or clinic or something... it is really nice because she's also very good looking and I like that she comes to visit me *blush*

[poohkari]

Wade's doctors say that he may be one of those super rare patients ... but as his 5 month anniversary is coming up next week, there's no hope left. Now we're just focused on getting him a kidney!

[willieandwinnie]

They told me when my husband went into Sepsis shock that his kidneys would recover. We thought for a few days they had, but it wasn't meant to be. He had his transplant almost 6 years to the day that he lost his kidneys. I have been told that if they aren't real aggressive with dialysis that some patients do regain function. Interesting I think.

willieandwinnie

[RichardMEL]

Alas it seems that her miracle was short lived and aparently her labs are back in the toilet and she's back with us full time. d'oh!