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Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:59 pm
by sporti
Hi - My friend's husband had to quickly start dialysis. Weren't really prepared despite his numbers falling. He's having trouble on haemo dialysis. He has a neckline. He's being very sick and has headaches. Apparently the dialysis is doing 50% of its work. They have slowed it down and given him extra time. This seems to have helped but still only getting 50% benefit from dialysis. His bloods are all over the place and next week he is having the tube put in for peritoneal dialysis. They say he is going to need help with a machine as well. Can anyone comment on this please as it seems rather tough to now start peritoneal dialysis when he is clearly unstable plus a machine. What machine do they mean? They are in UK. Any advice that can be given would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:58 pm
by wagolynn
On peritoneal dialysis, the machine mentioned could be a special pump that pumps the dialysate into and out of the peritoneum rather then using gravity. This is usually referred to as APD.

The machine (that is the pumping machine) is fully automatic, and designed to do it's job while the patient is asleep. He will be given training in using the machine, and there is always support available by phone.

Information about PD: http://www.kidneypatientguide.org.uk/pd.php

The problems on haemodialysis are not unusual, the chemistry of the blood is being changed, and for some people it takes a while for their body to acclimatize to these changes.

With a neckline it is difficult to get a sufficiently high blood flow rate to achieve adequate clearance. Usually patients not prepared for dialysis are given a neck line to start with because it can be quickly fitted and used at once, later they have an operation to produce a fistula this cannot be used for about six weeks. With a fistula blood flow rates can be as high as required to get adequate clearance, and a fistula is less vulnerable to infection than a neck line.

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 12:32 pm
by sporti
Thank you Wagolynn. He's had his tube put in and I believe still has his neckline. He had dialysis before tube operation and then again after operation. Again the next day more dialysis. Now he is at home recovering sleeping all the time. Seems to be having a tough time. Any questions my friend should be asking anyone please. Thanks ...oh should say she does try but told too busy

Sheila

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:03 pm
by wagolynn
Has he been asked to modify his diet?

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:39 pm
by sporti
Yes low potassium diet. His potassium is very high

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:46 pm
by wagolynn

Re: Need advice on dialysis problems for a friend please

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 5:06 pm
by sporti
Hi Wafolynn

Thanks for info. He's been on low potassium diet for a while now. He was asked to modify his diet when first diagnosed I believe. Thanks