I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Krisna on January 23, 2008, 07:18:53 PM

Title: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Krisna on January 23, 2008, 07:18:53 PM
I was just curious as to how long other HD patients' treatments were?  Also if you do it at home or in center?

I do 3 hours in center HD.  This has been my prescription every time I've had to go back to dialysis with the exception of the very first time!
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: livecam on January 23, 2008, 07:27:14 PM
Mine varied from 3-5 depending on what the docs wanted and what I would tolerate.  In the early days I pushed for shorter treatment times then woke up to reality and ran longer.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: silverhead on January 23, 2008, 08:12:21 PM
Sharon is presently on a 3 day on 1 day off with the NxStage at home, 2 hour 32 minutes per session.....
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: kitkatz on January 23, 2008, 08:16:59 PM
Always have been 4 hours.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: jbeany on January 24, 2008, 12:13:27 AM
In center, I started at 4 hours.  They eventually dropped 12 minutes off that.  My labs stayed okay, but I refused to keep shortening it - 12 extra minutes didn't make my day any easier, and I figured that more was better.  Now I'm on home with a NxStage.  I do 3 days on, one day off, with an average run time of about 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: charee on January 24, 2008, 12:58:18 AM
I do home hemo and do 7.5 hours every second day , here in Aus they,  well where i trained  say the longer the better, all my Labs are really good and i have been able to  go off Blood pressure meds and  caltrate , no diet i eat as i did before , still have to watch my fluids which i find the hardest of all things.So most weeks i do 22.5 hours in the week :ausflag;
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Bajanne on January 24, 2008, 05:31:55 AM
We had a thread and poll on this subject once.  Maybe you want to check it out.  http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=3589.0
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: KR Cincy on January 24, 2008, 08:00:56 AM
I'm now doing 5 home treatments per week (between Monday-Sunday) and each one is about 3 1/2 hours long using 26 liters of dialysate and pulling about 96 liters of blood.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: BigSky on January 24, 2008, 11:02:10 AM
In center 4.5 hours... and pushing for more.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: oswald on January 24, 2008, 11:20:45 AM
i used to do 4 hours every mon., wed., and fri. in center hemo.  12 hours per week. 
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: stauffenberg on January 24, 2008, 12:16:10 PM
There is now research evidence indicating that excessive amounts of creatinine in the blood are pathological and promote the development and progress of arteriosclerosis.  Since everyone on dialysis by definition comes to treatment each time with an elevated creatinine level (patients would be taken off dialysis if they didn't), the more dialysis time the better, even if the other lab results, such as potasium, phosphates, urea, hemoglobin, etc., are normal. 
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: terry3004 on January 24, 2008, 04:08:36 PM
When I was in-center, I was on TTS 4 hours per treatment.

Now I'm on NxStage 6 days per week (Fridays off) running between 2:15 and 2:30 per treatment.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Krisna on January 24, 2008, 04:16:17 PM
We had a thread and poll on this subject once.  Maybe you want to check it out.  http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=3589.0

Thanks!  I will do that!   I am still trying get through all the threads from before I joined.  I didn't lurk at all before I joined, I just saw the site and the forum and thought, "This is exactly what I've been looking for!"

So, Thank you for the link!
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Krisna on January 24, 2008, 04:40:33 PM
When I was a kid, dialysis was a lot less efficient and I had to do a couple 8 hr treatments at first.  Then I did 6 hr treatments for abt a week.  Then it was 4 hrs.  I did it every day for probably a couple wks.  Now, this info is from my dad since I don't remember much of it.  I was very sick and was not diagnosed until going into Congestive Heart Failure.  I only had 25% of my total kidney function left!  Dialysis back then did not use bicarb so I got sick to my stomach most of the time I was running.  That's the only thing I really remember abt it other than the shunt that was in arm for it! 

I could do more treatments a wk if I wanted to.  I have a good relationship with my Nephrologist but I don't feel I need more at this time.  I've always been real good abt my diet and fluids.  I am especially careful on Saturdays because I know I still have to get through Sunday and half of Monday.  I average between 1.5 & 3.0 kilos between treatments.  And I am on a 4 Ca; 3.5 K bath.  I have the opposite problem most patients have with Potassium, I don't eat enough foods with it.  Right now my Phosphorus is even too low and I have been told to stop my binders.  All my other labs are great! 

Thanks for sharing! 
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Ang on January 25, 2008, 05:47:21 PM
4.5  hours   m,w,f
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: RichardMEL on January 26, 2008, 11:56:35 PM
5 hours TTS
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Joe Paul on January 27, 2008, 01:20:57 AM
4 hours in center M-W-F
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: boxman55 on January 27, 2008, 09:10:10 AM
3-1/2 hours in center M-W-F...Boxman
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: meadowlandsnj on January 27, 2008, 03:54:01 PM
I was just curious as to how long other HD patients' treatments were?  Also if you do it at home or in center?

I do 3 hours in center HD.  This has been my prescription every time I've had to go back to dialysis with the exception of the very first time!

I go 4 hours M W F.  Would not even consider taking less if they offered me.  As it is now I go in early, I get put on as soon as I get there and I don't have to wait.   :clap; :clap;

Donna
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: kidney4traci on January 27, 2008, 04:01:37 PM
I run three days on one day off then two days on and one day off.  I do home dialysis on nxstage and run about 2 hours 15 minurtes.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Cincygrandma on January 28, 2008, 10:16:49 AM
Hi, I  do 3 in center treatments, TTS, each 4 hours long.   Including waiting time and getting on and off, I'm there a minimum of 5-1/2 to 6 hours.  This is new to me and still confusing.  Last treatment I went in at 1kg under my dry weight and came out 4kg over. (?)  As much as I hate dialysis though, I am very thankful for the advancements made in recent years.  I'm curious, why would anyone want more treatment time?
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: BigSky on January 28, 2008, 02:54:08 PM
Hi, I  do 3 in center treatments, TTS, each 4 hours long.   Including waiting time and getting on and off, I'm there a minimum of 5-1/2 to 6 hours.  This is new to me and still confusing.  Last treatment I went in at 1kg under my dry weight and came out 4kg over. (?)  As much as I hate dialysis though, I am very thankful for the advancements made in recent years.  I'm curious, why would anyone want more treatment time?

Sounds like your scale was off.

A five kg difference for you to go over by 4 would be 5-1liter bags of saline added during your run.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Cincygrandma on January 28, 2008, 03:10:14 PM
BigSky, sounds scary to me either way! 
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Bajanne on January 28, 2008, 05:56:37 PM
  I'm curious, why would anyone want more treatment time?
The reason for more treatment time is that it is easier on the body.  Remember, the dialysis machine is attempting to do what your kidneys do (did) 24/7.  A longer treatment is more thorough and as I already said, easier on the body.   One of the patients in our unit just spent some time in Florida.  He went to a unit where he started at 8.00 p.m. and ended at 4.00 a.m.  That is the kind of dialysis I would like.  I would just sleep the time away and know that I was getting a good dialysis.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Cincygrandma on February 02, 2008, 04:41:58 AM
Last treatment I went in at 1kg under my dry weight and came out 4kg over. (?) 


BigSky, thanks for the info.  I went in under weight again Thursday, and questioned the tech about the weight difference.  They were not kilograms but tenths of a kilogram, so guess my change was .5 kilos.  I should have known that!! 
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Treasure on February 14, 2008, 12:05:30 PM
Greetings, I just finished my 16 weeks in the Renal Solutions clinical trial. The runs were 6 hours, 3 times a week. I decided to not continue with the Allient machine, because with the 2 hours of set-up and prime, and 6 hours on-time, I could not keep up with my homework and other activities. So, I just started back in-center 3 hours/3 times a week.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: Sluff on February 14, 2008, 12:08:34 PM
Greetings, I just finished my 16 weeks in the Renal Solutions clinical trial. The runs were 6 hours, 3 times a week. I decided to not continue with the Allient machine, because with the 2 hours of set-up and prime, and 6 hours on-time, I could not keep up with my homework and other activities. So, I just started back in-center 3 hours/3 times a week.

I think Redbomb tried the Nxstage machine but he felt the same way about setup time and all the little details so he went back to in-center as well. It's not for everyone. Glad you found what works best for you.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: stauffenberg on February 14, 2008, 07:39:39 PM
Since the normal dialysis schedule is profoundly unhealthy, given that it replaces only about 10 to 15% of normal renal function, almost everyone on dialysis needs much more treatment than they are getting to stay healthy.  But then if you invest the time in getting all the treatment you need, you will have to destroy the value of your life in the process, since all your time will be taken up trying to keep you alive to perform a procedure to keep you alive -- which is an empty vicious circle.  You have to find some equilibrium point suitable for you, trading off maximizing health against maximizing actual living.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: BigSteve on February 19, 2008, 05:19:25 PM
Big Sky and others: How do you do hemo for 4-5 hours? I have been doing 3 1/2 MWF since I started
in December. Now my labs show that my URR is not high enough so I will go to 3 3/4 hours starting tomorrow.
Unless there is some sports on TV I really hate my time in the chair. It's so damn noisy my mind can't concentrate
on anything and I can't sleep. Sorry for the gripping. I know how many of us have it worse. Steve
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: petey on February 19, 2008, 05:22:18 PM
When Marvin was in-center hemo .. he got up to 4 hours, 45 minutes, MWF

Home hemo -- around three hours, six days/week
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: BigSky on February 19, 2008, 06:24:06 PM
Big Sky and others: How do you do hemo for 4-5 hours? I have been doing 3 1/2 MWF since I started
in December. Now my labs show that my URR is not high enough so I will go to 3 3/4 hours starting tomorrow.
Unless there is some sports on TV I really hate my time in the chair. It's so damn noisy my mind can't concentrate
on anything and I can't sleep. Sorry for the gripping. I know how many of us have it worse. Steve

Most of the time I just listen to music and zone out, sometimes surf the net. 

The noise doesn't even register with me anymore unless its my machine making noise.


Guess I have had too much practice at zoning out to notice much or let it bother me anymore. ;D
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: kitkatz on February 19, 2008, 10:10:41 PM
Now go get yourself a pair of noise reduction headphones like truckers wear. My sister bought me a set and it sure cuts down the center noise!
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: stauffenberg on February 20, 2008, 09:28:06 AM
Earplugs or headphones are a big help at dialysis.  I found these essential when I had dialysis neighbors who were visiting with friends or relatives during the treatment.  I could not help overhearing their conversations, which typically involved them saying and assuming utterly idiotic things about the nature of dialysis and renal failure, or involved dishonesties, errors in reasoning, unfair and oppressive interactions, etc., which were painfully obvious to other parties, but totally invisible to the parties talking.  But as irritating as these phenomena were, of course politeness would not allow me to intervene in their conversations, so the best thing to do was just not to hear them in the first place.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: NVRWKN on February 20, 2008, 06:56:12 PM
I was 4 hrs since starting in Sept. I just got moved to 4 1/2 today. What fun...                    :boxing; :boxing;
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: thegrammalady on February 21, 2008, 09:15:47 AM
3 days a week, 4 hours at a time. one of the centers i use when i travel runs all visitors for 3 hours.
Title: Re: Hemodialysis treatment time...
Post by: BigSteve on February 21, 2008, 10:09:41 AM
A universal time for all dialysis patients in a unit doesn't sound like sound medical practice, but
a device for making the unit run easier and faster.