I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) => Topic started by: sophiasmom on August 07, 2007, 08:22:55 PM
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Hi Guys,
Alot of new patients and caregivers, seem to wonder how long a person can live on dialysis. Let me just say that you DO NOT DIE from dialysis itself.
Most people on dialysis die from co-morbid conditions (disease or disorders that co-exist with your kidney failure.) Once you are on dialysis you usually only
have less than 15-10% of your kidney function remaining. Your kidneys are shot. If you do lose the little remaining function, you may need more dialysis
time or larger dialysis needles etc, but dialysis will keep you alive. I for example have along wth kidney failure heart disease and a liver disease, so one of those problems
will probably end my life eventually. The dialysis treatment itself wil not kill you.
There are grim statistics out there about people and how long they live on dialysis, but you must take into the facts that alot of patients are elderly, and average lifespan
for men in US is 70 and for women 80 years old. And as I mentioned earlier alot of patients also have co-exisitng medical problems.
There is very rare human errors which could kill you while on dialysis.
If a poorly trained tech or nurse reinfuses your blood and does not realize the saline bag is empty, major air can get into your blood stream and well that wouldn't be good.
Another way you could die while on dialysis is if you crashed really bad and could not be revived. (I only saw this happen once 9 years ago) (Crashing is when you are about to or do pass out because your blood pressure drops really low.) Nowadays they catch the symptoms of low blood pressure and dehydration alot earlier than they once did and can easily remedy these issues.
Finally if you were to get an untreatable infection you could die from that. Make sure your access is always cleaned well before dialysis. Infections are usually caught very early, and
are usually very easily fixed.
So Newbies fear not dialyisis in not a death sentence. There are plenty of patients here who have been on dialysis for a long time. At my unit when I first started in Oct. 97 there was an elderly woman who had been on dialysis for 25 years. God bless her, she passed away 2 years later but she was in her late 80's.
Hang in there new friends, thing will get easier!
love,
Chris :cuddle;
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Thanks for the uplifting post Sophiasmom,
I laugh now but when I was diagnosed I thought the worst and then I found ihatedialysis.com and realized how lucky I really am. After reading what some of our members have been through, my problems almost seem insignificant. My situation could change in a heart beat, but for now I'm living like everyday could be my last.( within reason) :lol;
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Your so right Chris, Dialysis only keeps us alive. I heard many times people say; "Well he or she was on dialysis and finally passed." I think when one would hear the word dialysis they freak out and think it is a death sentence. My problems too are insignificant compared to others on this site. But since i joined i have a greater understanding of it all
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I agree, dialysis is NOT a death sentence. My husband has been on dialysis for 10 years and he is as healthy or healthier than he has ever been. As of right now he has no other health problems. If it wasn't for the dialysis treatments he would not be around here now. Thank God for dialysis!!
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Amen to all that you guys have said. I don't see it as a death sentence, although when I first started I gave myself at least 10 years (because that is how much my brother lasted on dialysis). I am much more optimistic these days. I too thank God for using IHD to help me through this situation.
I am also aware that a lot of it is in my hands. I can improve my results by diet, exercise and taking my medications (I am very poor in this). The three things that I have to particularly look out for are - my phosphorus/calcium balance, my fluid intake, my cholesterol. I know I also should exercise which would help everything all around.
I expect to be around for a long time.
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Well said sophia
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Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am not on dialysis yet but I had a call last week and my creatine and potassium are going up. Each time I get the news I feel down but its messages like yours that help a lot. I see that other people can handle it ( some for a long time ) and I know that the members of IHD are a great support group.
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i personally have heard about a woman going 32 years on dialysis before receiving a kidney. THATS AMAZING! obviously the body can do amazing things
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I guy I know started out I belive when he was 14 and has been on it now for 34 yeah, so yeah you can live a normal life on it.
I don't think dialysis will kill me, maybe my BMX or Snowboard^^
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I know this is often the first question people have when they hear the diagnosis of severe kidney disease: How long will I live? What are the averages?
I answer these questions here http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/2008/03/dialysis-lifesp.html.
Bottom line? You can live a long time on dialysis; do not max out your credit cards.
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it aint a death sentence, if i could only drink, i could do this standing on my head. :clap;
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it aint a death sentence, if i could only drink, i could do this standing on my head. :clap;
:rofl; :rofl; :rofl;
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Amen to that one!
it aint a death sentence, if i could only drink, i could do this standing on my head. :clap;
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Ain't that the truth!!
:rofl; :rofl; :rofl; :rofl; :rofl;
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Sometimes I feel like being on Dialysis is like living death. Uncontrollable vomiting, vision blackouts, unbearable dizziness not to mention how it affects my personal self esteem.
And don't get me started on when it comes up in dating. I'm tired of seeing that look of shock and disgust in beautiful women's eyes.
Not to put a damper on the thread. I'm still here and still laughing.
Just not as much as I'd like.
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Do most of you dialysis experts drive yourself to treatment? I don't know if there are rules regarding that. I worry about it because I am out in the boonies....actually, the boonies are a few miles BEFORE you get to me :rofl; :rofl;
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I have always driven myself although I will confess to keeping a clamp in my laptop bag just in case.
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lruffner, I'm sure not an expert, but driving depends on the individual. Thankfully I've been able to drive myself, even thru the boonies. My husband drove me the first time and twice over the winter during bad weather. He'll also be driving me for a couple weeks after I have surgery next week. I do confess there are days when I wish I had a warm car and driver to get me home but with fuel costs we just can't afford to double up on the trips.
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That's good to hear. I am right with you on the gas Cindy and they said on the news tonight it will go up 60 more cents over the next 2 weeks!! I truly don't know how people will survive. My husband gets on me for worrying too much about what I can't control, but I worry about those who need to be worried about....just my nature! Sings "We are the world...." lol.
Ok Flip, I must be having one of my brunette, blonde moments.....what is the clamp for exactly?
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When you finish your hemo treatment, the clamps are placed on your sites to stop the bleeding. There is always a possibility that a site will start bleeding again after you leave. It's never happened to me but it isn't uncommon either. It just makes me feel safe until I get home and get the heparin out of my system.
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Good lord! I guess so Flip! Great, just one more thing to worry about :o
How has your day been today Flip? I am sleepy today, but I think the cold, rain, and clouds are to blame.
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Cold and rainy here too, Lee. I just curled up, watched TV, drank my tonic, and peed all my fluids off in preparation for the "Big D" tomorrow. Are you going to The Derby?
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Dialysis didn't kill me it just took my LIFESTYLE away. My job, my marriage, my California house, my normal life. I'm sitting here in a dumpy 2bdrm apartment in freezing Spokane reading this post and now I've learned I'm going to LIVE another 25 FREAKING years! AHHHHHHHH Just Shoot me!!!
:banghead;
Dialysis is a slow.... death, but if you don't get hit by a car or get cancer it will get you sooner or later. Just to bring ya all back to reality!
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Sorry your life sucks so bad, Rerun. I've never let dialysis affect my lifestyle. It's just a minor inconvenience three times a week. I just hope I live another 25 years.
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Heck no, I am not going to the Derby, Flip. I was talking about that kind of stuff at the nephs office yesterday. I hate traffic so bad, that I just avoid it. I told them that I wish that I had a helicopter, just so I could bypass Nicholasville Rd. traffic!!! You know FLip, I lived just 30 minutes from the Indy Speedway, but never went to the 500. I have always hated driving in tons of traffic. It must be the small town, farm girl in me...lol. Are you going Flip?
Do you ever get back to Lexington much? You should give me a shout if you do!
Sorry things are so bad for you Rerun and I hope that it's not that bad for me....or rather, I refuse to let it. If I feel that I can't deal with it all, it will be my choice whether or not to continue dialysis too. I have known some older people who just couldn't go on with their illnesses and they stopped taking their meds....they decided to take control of their own life and end years of suffering. So, in the end, it is really our own choice....
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Sorry Cincygrandma for putting Cindy down in a post. I don't know about you all, but my eyes seem to be having a harder time focusing! Anyone else have that problem? Is it the kidney function going down that causes it?
Looks like you are pretty close to me Cincy, I live north of Lexington. All of my family use to live in Middletown, but they have all died now :(
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Hey lruffner, I'm originally from Middletown...born & raised and still have some family there...I'm south of Cincinnati now in Florence, KY...
You should check out the Derby sometime though...traffic or not, it's a great event!
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Hey KR- My name is Lee by the way....just so you don't have to type out the whole thing :rofl;
I loved Middletown and when I said all of my family, I mean my Grandmother and great aunts and uncles...the old folks. I do miss them a lot though! My uncle's family owns Capozzi's restaurant and my uncle owned the shopping center....do you know the place? Great italian food!!
Yea, you aren't far from me now, I live north of Georgetown in the boonies. 35 minutes or so from FLorence. All of us that are fairly close should plan a lunch or something sometime! I would love to meet whoever I could! Don't get me wrong, I love the net, but I love to meet people even more.
Ok, now for the derby. First, I am not a gambler at all and don't find it so excting to watch the horses run around the track....lol. I have been to Keenland down here in Lex. on Toyota day and I was bored to death. I did win a nice pot= $475 on a straight trifecta....like I had a clue what a trifecta was! :rofl; I just pick names that I like...lol. My brother goes to the derby and the Indy 500 every year, but he has major connections and gets to be in the penthouse for the derby and the pit for the 500......unfortunately, I don't know those people! lol.
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Actually, Lee, I am thinking about moving back to the Lexington area. I miss Keeneland and all the UK games. Both of my brothers live in that area and I really miss the bluegrass. The Derby is a long trip for me now so I'll probably just go to Ellis Park and watch it in the clubhouse.
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Wow Flip, come on back!! Now you know, that I am a native Hoosier and fan of IU :bow; so don't hold it against me! lol. Lexington is growing out of control....been to Hamburg yet??
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I'm actually thinking about Richmond area.
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Well Flip, make up your damn mind!! lol. Richmond sure has been in the news a lot lately...not in a good way. I guess all big college towns are that way though. I was going to go to EKU, before the kidney thing came up, but it was too far away and there are always bad accidents south of Lex. Maybe it's just the ones we hear about....they probably don't report on other areas around here as much.
Is that where your family is flip?
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There is a thread about driving yourself to dialysis.http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=7766.0
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Thanks Kitkatz...it was helpful. Sorry I don't know where all of the threads are, but this site is sooooo huge it would take me a year to read it all....that's if nobody posted anymore until I was done :rofl;
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I have a brother in Lexington and another in Louisville. I love Lexington but I would rather live in one of the smaller towns nearby.
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I agree Flip! That is why I live in G'town and not Lex. I can go there and I can also leave it there too! I am not much into the rat race anymore. I also like Frankfort a lot....It is really growing too. Go there and you will be right in the middle! lol
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My ignorant brother who now lives in Louisville, just moved there from Frankfort because he likes the urban lifestyle better.
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I hate Louisville myself. It's the only place that you can drive in a complete circle and be lost...lol. I think Frankfort is great. Just the right size w/ several new restaurants, home improvement stores, and other shopping. We go there a lot, just to escape the Lexington traffic, and we never feel like we didn't fulfill everything we wanted/ needed to do. I would definitely consider moving there, if we ever moved again, but I like G'town too.
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I have worked and lived in Frankfort (retired from KSP). Most of the people who work there live in surrounding communities (Lawrenceburg, Harrodsburg, etc). Not much night life there.
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Yea, that's probably true, but I am not much the partier anymore. I got too old for the hangovers I guess. I was on the couch for 3 days whether I drank 3 beers or 10, so I just gave it up...especially since my BP was so high. My husband's Aunt and b/f are big into wine making....they send for fruit in California...and last time we were there, I tried one sip and felt my BP go through the roof. Bummer.
KSP huh? That's cool Flip. Are you married, have kids...2 or 4 legged? I have 2 stepchildren and 2 pooches, but would love to have a few more pooches.
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My family consists of 4 cats and a Black Lab named Cujo. I have two kids who live close to my ex so I haven't heard from them in years. The two brothers are my only close family and I seldom hear from them.
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Well Poop Flip! I have always thought the 4-legged ones were the best myslef! You know we are here for ya! When you move back this way, give me a shout and we will do lunch or something...seriously. Whenever you miss the country, you can always swing out here to our place. My husband is great and we don't know many people anyway. I had a lot of friends until my mom got so sick....you just lose touch when you aren't available to do things.
That's too bad about your kids. I know how you feel though...I have 5 siblings and I am basically the only one who has helped my mom in any way. The rest of her kids are too busy living their life. They were always around until SHE needed THEM...now poof! My hbusband's ex moved his kids clear to Florida a few years back and it's really hard on him, especially since we pay for her boyfriend to sit on his ass and not work...anyway, we only see them once a year because of her.
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Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. It was a big relief reading this.
Thank you again so much,
Rick