Otto's going to try Nxstage

[okarol]

I've been kinda drawing up plans for mine. After the TV, wet bar, microwave, and fridge, there wasn't much room left for dialysis equipment. I guess I need to select a larger room.

Has anyone tried the new dialysis chairs?

You forgot to save room for the Wii, the massage table and the ice maker.

[flip]

the Wii hooks into the TV
the new dialysis chairs are heated and give massages
the ice maker is built in the fridge

 

[lola]

Today was Otto's 1st day at home and things went pretty well just a few minor . I could not believe how fast it went by even Otto was amazed. I really hope anyone considering home-hemo tries it, once you get past being overwhelmed from training it's well worth it in the end. Thank you guys so much for all your support

[okarol]

  Yay lola! I hope it just gets easier everytime!

[flip]

How long is Otto dialyzing and how many days?

[lola]

he will be on 5 days for 2.5 hours. No more drive time or wait time

[G-Ma]

and how did Otto get by with only 5 days...they told me in no undertain terms 6 days....grrrr.

[flip]

why can't you do 3 days with longer runs?

[G-Ma]

Has to be 6 days a week....with any day in between off...I checked and double checked that...I even asked for longer and every other day and the answer was unequivocable "NO".  I can do 3 on, 1 off..they don't even like 2 off together...grrr....where's a grrrr icon???

[jbeany]

3 on, 1 off works out to 5 days a week most weeks, G-Ma.  Every once in a while it rolls over to 6.  Check it out on your calendar.

[G-Ma]

Thanks jb...     I know but I wanted what I wanted....every other    ...oh well...grabbing my teddly and dragging my feet off to bed.

[flip]

I think they just want to sell the extra supplies.

[cherpep]

I was told that the NxStage machines are gentler and cannot perform the same dialysis as the in-center machines.  that's why it must be done more frequently.  G-MA, they originally told me 6 days.  Then, after consulting my labs after being on the machine a while, my nurse spoke with NxStage and they worked it down to 5 days, and increased my dialysate from 20liters to 25liters.  I have to dialyze a few minutes longer each session, but I got it down to 5 days.  That's a big difference!

[flip]

I may back out then. I don't want to spend more time on dialysis than I already do. I'm usually in and out of the center in 3 1/2 hours and I don't have to do anything. No storage, no cleaning and no hassle. This is giving me a whole different perspective.

[G-Ma]

thanks cherpep....I now have a goal.

[cherpep]

Good luck G-Ma.  I do it 3 days on 1 day off, 2 days on 1 day off.  I will vary my days off according to my schedule.  So, occasionally, it will be 4 days on, or even just 1 day on.  It depends.  My nurse told me to that I can take whatever 2 days off that I want, they just prefer them to not be back to back.  My labs have been fantastic, so that is working well for me. 

During training, we actually trained for 5 days then 2 days off during the weekend.  This was not their preferred schedule for long term.  However, at least I learned that I could do that if necessary.  This weekend, I will be camping with my family.  I'm not taking the machine to the campground.  So, I've done dialysis each day this week, and will take 2 days off together this weekend.  I'm sure I'll be fine, as long as that's not what I do every week.  I am really looking forward to getting away.  Wish me luck!!

[lola]

Otto is keeping his training schedule of M-F. He wants his weekends off.

[cherpep]

Good for Otto, that's a great schedule.  Let us know how he feels and how the lab tests come back after his first month.

[lola]

His labs are already showing amazing results. Most of his labs are now "normal". But the biggest thing is how much better he feels

[jbeany]

I've gotten so used to never having fluid build-up, I don't think I'd want to go to a 2 days off in a row schedule.  I've also got twice as much energy as I had on in-center.  Glad Otto is seeing that difference, too!

[flip]

Davita has agreed to let me go solo if my doctor will approve it. They also said I would have to do 6 days due to my size (78 kilos). She said only small people can do the 5 day routine.

[jbeany]

Baloney, flip.  I weigh more than that, and I'm on 5 days with a 3 on, 1 off schedule.  My labs are spectacular.

[flip]

I kinda got the feeling that it might be negotible. I don't see how so many people can run the same amount of time every week. In my center, people run anywhere from 3 to 4 1/2 hours and some only run 2 days while a few run 4.
I still don't understand why you couldn't do NxStage for 4 hours, three times a week.

She also said that it wasn't approved for nocturnal either.

[lola]

Flip, Otto weighs 88 kilos, I'm glad they'll let you go solo.

[flip]

It still depends on whether my neph will sign off on it.