Life expectancy on dialysis.

[Epoman]

Well, all my life I lived thinking one day it would all be over. Now that I am on dialysis, I hope I last long enough to know Ive done the best I could do for me & all the people I know. Most of all, I will live long enough to know my daughter wont have to depend on anyone for anything, especially love. I trust God put her in my life for a reason, as she is now my reason for living thru this. 

EXACTLY! I have 9 more years to see my son turn 18 and ship him off to college. GOD gave him to me AFTER I started dialysis, all I ask is that GOD let me FINISH the job he gave me. I LOVE being a DAD, it's the best thing in the WORLD. I ask GOD to keep me alive to spare his grief of losing his father as a youth.

  Joe Paul.

[paris]

Re: life expentance---- Children are my reason to fight for more days here.  The children I teach, my 4 children, my 7 grandchildren ( I am not old enough to have 7 grandchildren!!!) -- they are the light of my life.  I want to see my youngest get married and see my grandchildren graduate. There is still so much to see in this world and so much more to learn.  So I will fight and be grateful for each day -- well maybe not the ones that I am throwing up all day or can't move enough to get out of bed!!!  So, I EXPECT  to live as long as I can regardless of statistics.

[jedimaster]

I had my Dr's appointment today and I told him: "if I die I hope you feel guilty the rest of your life"....and he said to me: Jedi: you know you are gonna die one day, right?....and I said....NO. He looked at me.... Dying is not part of my plans so far....too much stuff to do....I know people in my clinic that have been on dialysis 20 years and still kicking....so I'm aiming for 8, transplant, and the will see....

[stauffenberg]

So far in the history of the world approximately six billion people have died.  In every single case observed so far, the person dying has never been me.  Therefore, there is excellent statistical confirmation for the hypothesis that I am immortal.

[Epoman]

So far in the history of the world approximately six billion people have died.  In every single case observed so far, the person dying has never been me.  Therefore, there is excellent statistical confirmation for the hypothesis that I am immortal.

LMAO

[kitkatz]

I need that on a T-shirt!

[Zach]

So far in the history of the world approximately six billion people have died.  In every single case observed so far, the person dying has never been me.  Therefore, there is excellent statistical confirmation for the hypothesis that I am immortal.

But only with a transplant.     

[kitkatz]

Can I borrow the quote for T-shirt???

[mallory]

So far in the history of the world approximately six billion people have died.  In every single case observed so far, the person dying has never been me.  Therefore, there is excellent statistical confirmation for the hypothesis that I am immortal.

Seriously, Stauffenberg, that's good.  I like the way you think!

[Epoman]

So far in the history of the world approximately six billion people have died.  In every single case observed so far, the person dying has never been me.  Therefore, there is excellent statistical confirmation for the hypothesis that I am immortal.

Stauffenberg. is that your quote or did you read it some where. I would like to put that on a T-shirt. 

[stauffenberg]

That phrase is just my own invention, which came to me one night after studying for a philosophy of science exam.  Anyone who wishes to use it is welcome to it.

[DeLana]

I made the innocent remark yesterday evening to one of the nurses in my unit asking how long I had left to dialyze.  Do you know what he replied?  He meant it as a joke and said "about 15 years!".

Now, I know this was a joke and he would`ve been offended if I took it the wrong way.  But the problem is, it got me thinking about how long I really do have left with or without a transplant, I`m not even on the list at the moment.  How long can you last on dialysis for??? I know everyone is different but what`s the longest time anyone has been on dialysis???  I don`t want to be morbid but I also know that most people in the end, pass away from some other illness related to kidney failure, not the kidney failure itself.  I`m only 34 and the thought of possibly living until I`m only 50 has me slightly anxious and worried!  I think it was a stupid comment to make anyway cos I got enough on my plate without having to worry about long I may or may not live for!!!

As a nurse, I would never make this kind of comment, even as a "joke".  Yes, the patient you say it to may realize that this is your intention, but obviously it has been bothering you nonetheless; and other patients who overhear it probably don't realize it's supposed to be a "joke".  Bad, bad idea.

No, I'm not claiming to be supernurse and I'm not perfect; I'm sure I've said my share of things I shouldn't have.  But back to the topic.

Statistics can be very misleading.  Since they're derived from large groups of people, they can never be applied to any individual; but too often they are.  This is why, for instance, an oncologist (cancer specialist) will usually not answer his patients' questions regarding life expectancy.  Say the average for disease X is 10 years after diagnosis; this means that some patients (with very advanced disease that doesn't respond to treatment) may only have a month while another may have a normal life expectancy - simply because he responds welll to treatment, has no comorbidities (other diseases at the same time) or other factors in his favor.  But what does the patient hear, even the one with the best prognosis?  I have up to 10 years.  That's why numbers are just never a good idea.

ESRD statistics have the same problems of course.  And more, because therapies have improved greatly in recent years - better dialyzers, machines, meds (EPO!), better transplant meds, better knowledge in general.  So statistics derived from patients years ago will not be valid today.  Then add to that all the other statistical shortcomings (such as individual comorbidities, etc.) and you see why nobody should focus on "survival statistics".

There is much an individual patient can do to maximize the odds even further:  treatment compliance (don't miss any treatments; take your meds, including phosphate binders; blood pressure control to minimize the risk of heart attack, stroke and blood vessel damage; fluid restriction compliance to minimize heart and blood vessel damage; and of course diabetes control).  And if you smoke, quit. Sorry, I'm a nurse and couldn't help myself. Not trying to preach though!  

HTH.

DeLana   

[okarol]

Health Tip: Dialysis Aids Failing Kidneys

Wed Oct 25, 7:02 PM ET

(HealthDay News) -- Dialysis is a common procedure used to treat patients with end-stage kidney failure. At this stage, the kidneys can no longer function by themselves and dialysis is used to rid the body of excess salt, waste and water.

The National Kidney Foundation also says dialysis can regulate vital chemicals in the blood -- such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate. It can also help control blood pressure.

Dialysis is not a cure for kidney disease. Many people must undergo dialysis for the rest of their lives.

"We do not yet know how long patients on dialysis will live," the foundation says on its Web site. "We think that some dialysis patients may live as long as people without kidney failure."

original post: http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/news/hs535608.jsp

Jeeez - sounds too good to be true.....

~Karol

[Rerun]

They drug some poor old lady in the center today in a flat wheel chair.  They had to use the lift to put her in the chair and prop her up.  She yelled when they stuck her, so I know she was alive.  She sat there for 3 hours trying to lick her lips.  No one to get her water or an ice chip.  Why in God's name are they keeping her on dialysis.  It made me sick. 

I put this post here to prove a point.  Life expectancy is a case by case basis.  That is like trying to ask how long blonds live.

[okarol]

They drug some poor old lady in the center today in a flat wheel chair.  They had to use the lift to put her in the chair and prop her up.  She yelled when they stuck her, so I know she was alive.  She sat there for 3 hours trying to lick her lips.  No one to get her water or an ice chip.  Why in God's name are they keeping her on dialysis.  It made me sick. 

I put this post here to prove a point.  Life expectancy is a case by case basis.  That is like trying to ask how long blonds live.

Good point. Quality of life is key, not just length.

[Lori1851]

My opinion its up to the Almighty God.
Lori/Indiana

[petey]

Marvin has been asked before, "How long can you live on dialysis?" (obviously from those who are not up-to-date on dialysis, ESRD, etc.).  His standard answer is, "I'm going to live until I die.  I mean I'm really going to    L I V E    until I die!"

[paris]

Me too!  I am going to LIVE the best life I can.  They told me 3 years ago that I would be on dialysis in 6 months----so I changed nephs! 

[CW]

This is something I always worried about. I always assumed I would die very young I started at 21/22 I figured I would  live to 35 barring a major medical event. I am not sure now, I want to be here for my family as long as I can but I want to be real about the situation. I want to start paying for my funeral now so the arrangements will be taken care of (things like this make me want to be conservative with my life expectancy and plan ahead). I try to communicate my feelings to those I love and I have tried to teach my teenage daughter  all I know.

I do not know what will happen but while I am here I will enjoy life, be happy, have fun and do all these thing with my friends and family

[NVRWKN]

Does it really matter how long we live? If you wakeup tomorrow it's a good day! If not so be it. I don't worry about dying. I just enjoy everyday now. Never Weaken!!

[rose1999]

Does it really matter how long we live? If you wakeup tomorrow it's a good day! If not so be it. I don't worry about dying. I just enjoy everyday now. Never Weaken!!

I think that's a great philosophy and we should all try to remember it. Thanks. 

[rookiegirl]

Came across this thread and I have a question?

Which has a longer mortality rate Hemo or PD?

Does anybody know the longest anyone been on PD?

[okarol]

Kitkatz - is this the thread you were looking for?

[flip]

These mortality rates are so skewed that it isn't even funny. There are too many other factors involved such as other health problems. A dialysis patient like me is probably going to live longer than one with diabetes and heart problems that doesn't drink moonshine or take steroids.

[Zach]

These mortality rates are so skewed that it isn't even funny. There are too many other factors involved such as other health problems. A dialysis patient like me is probably going to live longer than one with diabetes and heart problems that doesn't drink moonshine or take steroids.