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Resisting Dialysis

Posted , 4 users are following.

tony78174
tony78174

my mother is 73 she has no other health issues, but she use to smoke and take bex powders (mixed annalgesics) many years ago. she was diagnosed with kidney cancer 12 years ago, and the offending kidney was removed, at that time her kidney function was 20 %, the decline continued and 2 years ago she went down to 6% function, she has maintained 6% function for 2 years, she is resisting dialysis, although i spoke to her specialist he was reluctant to tell me how long my mother can maintaiin 6% function, and what he likely otcome would be,  so can some please shed some light on to my mother's potential outcome ? thank you.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • sonia68053
    sonia68053 tony78174

    Posted

    I asked the same question when my kidney function was 15%. The answer I got was that it might diminish about 1% per year, might remain stable but could be affected by other health conditions e.g. rise in blood pressure. Mine was affected by heart attack and by-pass surgery. The truth is that the prognosis can only be guessed at and kidney function monitored 3 - 6 monthly to track changes.

    Is you mother resisting dialysis because she is afraid of it or is there some other reason? Could she be depressed and feel that this is a way out? It is worth getting to the bottom of this.

    Starting dialysis was, for me, an emotional decision. I was always a happy, positive person but a year of illness and hospitals knocked me for six, so agreeing to go on dialysis was difficult. The reason I did was in the desparate hope of feeling well again and the knowledge that the stress my family suffered was affecting their lives. Three months down the line of peritoneal dialysis (at home) and life is worth living again - it takes some getting used to - but is worth it in the end.

    Good luck with supporting your mother.

    • tony78174
      tony78174 sonia68053

      Posted

      thank you for your reply, my mother is resisiting dialysis because she has been told infections are a common occurence and she thinks that dialyis will be to time consuming, she thinks it will interupt her life and her freedom will be gone.

      she isnt the depressive type, but lately i can see she has become very irritable and tired, and there's a lot of arguing.

  • sonia68053
    sonia68053 tony78174

    Posted

    I would think that your mother has had all the possible options of dialysis has been explained to her. Do you understand these too so that you could discuss these with her and support her? If I tell you what I know perhaps it would help.

    Haemodialysis: where a fistula is created (usually in the arm) so that the blood supply can be attached to a machine that cleanses the blood beause the kidneys cannot. People who have chosen this option have told me that they could not be doing with a roomful of boxes and/or a machine at home. They go (usually) three times a week to a dialysis centre where they meet people with the same problems and it becomes quite a social affair. If they want to go on holiday, they can arrange for the same treatment in most countries if they book ahead. Trouble is, it can cost about £400 per session overseas. This can now be done at home but I do not know anything about this method.

    Peritoneal dialysis: is the d.i.y. version.

    A small tube is inserted in the tummy (permanent) and this is attached to bags of special fluid (dextrose mixtures) that allow some into the peritoneal cavity for about an hour and then drains out taking the waste with it. Choices are:

    i) No machine, 4 times a day; hook yourself up to bag, read, watch tv. etc. for about 40 mins. Some people go to work with a couple of bags and do it at their desk! Or one could sit in the garden or park.

    ii)Using a machine: This is what I do. I have a machine by the bed and plug into it overnight. It has been every night for nine hours but the occassional night off does not do any harm. All day is free to do as I please. Fortunately I am retired and my time is my own.

    If I go on holiday I can take my machine and arrange to have

    everything else delivered to any address in this country or abroad (almost any country). This could take a bit of forward planning. Or I could opt for not using the machine and do the 4 times daily routine. The first 3 weeks took a bit of getting used to but now it feels like my safety net and I could live forever.

    If I want a night off to go the theatre or a wedding it will not do me any harm.

    Hope this gives you a little insight. All good wishes

    • tony78174
      tony78174 sonia68053

      Posted

      thank you for all your effort Sonia, actually i did know about the two methods, and she does have a Fissula in her arm, however she only went through this fisula proceddure, not yet having had  made the decision  to refuse treatment, she also thinks this form of dialysis will expose her to many infections and impact about here freedom, however hearing your story, it seems your existence isn't as she believes her existence will be (however i will show her your post, thank you)

      also Peritoneal dialysis is not an option for her, doctor said there was to much stomach scarring from previous oppereations, so a fisula through stomach is not possible.

      thank you so much for your time and effort Sonia.

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