How Does it Start?

[kyshiag]

When you do your first treatment, do they usually start you out at 4 hour 3 times a week or do they gradually work you up to this over weeks or months?

[billmoria]

There are many factors. Most people start with 3 days a week and many start with 4 hours at a time. It depends on your doctors evaluation of your needs.
 

[galvo]

I started on what is known as 'The Pathway' - first couple of days on 2 hours, then a day on 2 1/2, one on 3, then 3 1/2, then 4 hours. A good way of getting into the groove.

[RichardMEL]

Like Galvo, down here in the land of oz, they tend to start out gentle to get you used to things (and your body). So a 2 hour session at a low pump speed with no fluid pull (unless there's a desperate need, which some acute or emergency cases might need). So it's a gentle and short session. Then they will go up to say 3 hours with some minimal fluid off, then take you up to 4 or 5 or whatever the neph has perscribed and go from there. I think it works well.

[cookie2008]

When I started, first day 1 1/2 hour treatment no fluid pull, second treatment 3 hours with minimal pull, then my third treatment was 3 1/2 hours and what ever had to be pulled off. 

[Joe Paul]

I started on what is known as 'The Pathway' - first couple of days on 2 hours, then a day on 2 1/2, one on 3, then 3 1/2, then 4 hours. A good way of getting into the groove.

Same here Galvo. But, my first couple treatments were cut short due to clotting of the lines and artificial kidney. After that, the docs figured my system out and no more clots due to thick blood.

[tyefly]

  I started off with three hour treatment for three days per week..... they wanted to increase my time to 4 hours  but my labs were really really good....  I will admitt I felt the best I did in a very long time.....   So I did not let them increase my time......  and stayed that way for 4 months or so untill I went to home training.... Now I do 4 hour treatment 6 days a week..... I feel nearly perfect now.....More dialysis is way better..

[Stoday]

My first session lasted 0 hours.

They stuck the venal needle right through my vein so the machine started pumping into my arm. I was quickly disconnected and that was it for the first session.

The second wasn't much better, but I did get 2 hours on. After a couple of weeks, I was on my now normal 3½ hours.