How do I start Home dialysis?

[Lilu323]

I had no idea you can do hemodialysis at home!!! Who,Where, & How do I get the information if I am a good candidate for this?? 

[Adam_W]

You can go to www.homedialysis.org and find a centre in your area that offers it, and when you find one, you're unit's social worker should be able to work things out from there.

Adam

[Lilu323]

Thank you so much for the information. I added the site to my favorites. Looking forward to learning about it.

[Vlynn]

OMG it's so easy I helped my mom set up her machine NxStage is the best!!! We moved NY about a year ago and we started off with our facility they are on call for us 24 hours!

[G-Ma]

my 2nd day at home and everyone is fighting for a chance to set it up....getting ready to go....very easy....make sure you know the trainer has experience before you go in and find out what you need to supply and have fun with it.
Ann

[paris]

Lilu, that is one reason this site is so great.  You learn about things that your doctors never tell you about.  Keep us posted as you learn more about home hemo.

[Lilu323]

Who puts in the needles? Do you learn to do it yourself? Can you have a nurse come to the house and do it? Are you alone when you do it?? What happens if something goes wrong with you or the machine? What do you do or who do you call??? I sound a little crazy..long stressful day.sorry

[G-Ma]

I put in my own needles.  I started when I got my new fistula...only my daughter in law and I stick it.  I learned iduring in center but was then trained during nxstage training.  Davita/NxStage want you to have a partner all the time. Davita/NxStage gave us all kinds of phone numbers to reach anyone at any time and you learn not to panic when the alarms go off..I was panicked when I started training and today was first day alone with my granddaughter helping and we did great, it was quiet, sat in my living room, didn't have to leave home...I love it.

[twirl]

G-ma   you are so brave....... my hero

[G-Ma]

thanks twirl...I think we are all brave in our own way and many times we don't see our own bravery but do see other peoples so we all need to give ourselves a pat on the back...ta da....   

[Lilu323]

wow GMA you are awesome! you help others gain strength

[G-Ma]

Thanks...ok I'll be the presidential pat on the backer....what a title huh....

[Lilu323]

   Serioulsy though hopefully one day I can acheive that.

[monrein]

I hope you can too Lilu.  G-Ma is inspirational and courageous and you CAN follow her lead.  I'm sure of it.  Now YOU must be sure of it too and it will happen.  All of us here will be behind you, cheering you on all the way. 

[Lilu323]

Thank you so much monrein! It feels nice to know that! I return the same back of course!

[kitkatz]

The first step is to contact your social worker at your clinic and tell the head nurse you want to do home hemo.  Then pester the hell out of them until someone comes to shut you up about it and gives in to your wants.

[Lilu323]

When I start getting a little bit more use to the dialysis then I will def. start the wheels rolling on that!

[monrein]

Will they let you start putting in even one of your own needles?  Would you consider this? 

[Lilu323]

My unit knows that when I am ready I want them to show me how to cannulate myself. I beleive there is one or two other people that put their own needles in. I am a certified phlebotomist but thats not going to help me with 16 gauge needles   

[monrein]

Home dialysis or no home dialysis, if you can learn to cannulate yourself you'll be eliminating a lot of the stress that comes from the uncertainty of others sticking you.  Especially if you ever travel anywhere and your fistula is an unknown quantity to everybody at the clinic.  The more control the better I always say.  But of course you need to be ready and you can start out with just one needle.

[Lilu323]

I would start with in clinic dialysis. Then after a  lot of practice I would go to home but thats not anytime soon.

[dwcrawford]

I'm exploring trying to make rational decisions about dialysis.  I live alone.  As far as I can tell, I'm the oldest, or one of the older, of the people in here.  I have no family to help with dialysis.  Is HOME Hemo out of the question for me?  Do you think I could find a trained person to come to the house for two hours six days per week?  I mean for a reasonable amount of money (professional nursing is out of the question).  My insurance won't cover that or rides to and from the center.  ( don't see well enough to drive that much and also I hear that the treatment can really bum you out making driving difficult.  Expenses are certainly something I need to think about (although not priority at this point).

My doctor says NO -- but who knows but I might find another doctor.  (just kidding xxxxx and staff if any of you read this).

Thanks for reading.  This is one of my lesser concerns at the moment, but I'm trying to put it ALL together.

    Wine and music... that's what we should be doing anyway!  I could absolutely go wild with all these cute little peope and faces.  What are they called?

[jbeany]

dw - have you looked into PD?  If that's an option, it might be easier to do that alone by yourself.

If you can afford to pay someone to be your home hemo aide, then there's no reason you can't do it at home.  If you are doing NxStage, the person doesn't have to be a trained professional, just someone with the time and patience to learn the machine.  Maybe you could find someone who would be willing for a nominal fee - maybe a retiree who wants a part time job.  Home dialysis has a lot of benefits.  It's worth looking into.

[dwcrawford]

Thanks... can some one tell me what PD is and NcStage.  I know.  I know.  Look it up!  Thanks for that tip my friend.