80+ Parent Starting Dialysis

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experiences to share?

[Anonymous]

I would not do it. My mom was on dialysis for several years, and it is extremely exhausting. If I were over 80 there is no way I would let them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not do it. My mom was on dialysis for several years, and it is extremely exhausting. If I were over 80 there is no way I would let them.

How old would your parent be if you were over 80?

[Anonymous]

OP here, total kidney failure. Parent will die in a week without it and wants to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, total kidney failure. Parent will die in a week without it and wants to live.

it is their choice. Do they have other health issues?

[Anonymous]

Let them? Not your choice. If the patient doesn't want it, and I wouldn't ... I don't think, the patient needs to say to the doctor that they are declining the procedure, "against medical advice". The doctor puts that in the medical record to legally protect themselves.

[Anonymous]

My parent has been on dialysis for many years. Total kidney failure, and needs to go every other day for 4 hours.

It's hard to predict what types of side effects dialysis will bring...some people have chills, pain, cramps, etc. during and after the procedure. So it's hard to say how it will go--it really is different for each person.

Hopefully the dialysis center is close by. Also, most are open close to 24 hours, so hopefully you can get the time slot that works best.

The other thing is that--it can be really boring and you can't move around or do much. So make sure your parent has some movies on a tablet. Warm blankets and some high-carb snacks for energy afterward. That kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

OP here - please don't turn this into a debate about health choice. I'd really like to hear from anyone with experiences to share. Please don't hijack the conversation.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parent has been on dialysis for many years. Total kidney failure, and needs to go every other day for 4 hours.

It's hard to predict what types of side effects dialysis will bring...some people have chills, pain, cramps, etc. during and after the procedure. So it's hard to say how it will go--it really is different for each person.

Hopefully the dialysis center is close by. Also, most are open close to 24 hours, so hopefully you can get the time slot that works best.

The other thing is that--it can be really boring and you can't move around or do much. So make sure your parent has some movies on a tablet. Warm blankets and some high-carb snacks for energy afterward. That kind of thing.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

My 76 year old parent is thriving with dialysis. While she is tired a few hours after dialysis, the remaining time she lives a normal life and feels better than she has in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parent has been on dialysis for many years. Total kidney failure, and needs to go every other day for 4 hours.

It's hard to predict what types of side effects dialysis will bring...some people have chills, pain, cramps, etc. during and after the procedure. So it's hard to say how it will go--it really is different for each person.

Hopefully the dialysis center is close by. Also, most are open close to 24 hours, so hopefully you can get the time slot that works best.

The other thing is that--it can be really boring and you can't move around or do much. So make sure your parent has some movies on a tablet. Warm blankets and some high-carb snacks for energy afterward. That kind of thing.

Thank you!

You're welcome. Please post any other questions you have.

I forgot to add--your parent should try to build a good rapport with the staff there (or you should try to go at least once in a while) since the nurses and techs on whatever shift will see your parent more than any other medical professionals and will be monitoring his/her information. My parent has been going to the same dialysis center, seeing the same staff for years. They are the ones who noticed a potentially deadly issue and sent my parent to the ER for a life-saving treatment.

(I'm going to go with my parent and hand out bottles of champagne there for Christmas/new year's to the staff.)

[Anonymous]

Also, don't plan anything for the rest of the day after dialysis if you can help it. It's tiring and sleep is the best way for the body to recover.

Make sure your parent has a healthy, kidney-safe (they will have nutritionists at the dialysis center, most likely, to tell you what s/he can or cannot eat) meal to eat when s/he comes home (you can make things and freeze them or you can even maybe get some sort of meal delivery that meets their diet requirements) or later that day. Kidney diets are really specialized/different and it's important to eat enough and eat the right foods.

[Anonymous]

Er... it's not your choice to make, 11:14.

You DIE if you don't do your dialysis. Sooner or later.

Actively preventing life-saving treatment is criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Er... it's not your choice to make, 11:14.

You DIE if you don't do your dialysis. Sooner or later.

Actively preventing life-saving treatment is criminal.

+1. You die without it. And you die quickly.

Also, NOT EVERYONE REACTS THE SAME WAY TO DIALYSIS OR HAS THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Er... it's not your choice to make, 11:14.

You DIE if you don't do your dialysis. Sooner or later.

Actively preventing life-saving treatment is criminal.

+1. You die without it. And you die quickly.

Also, NOT EVERYONE REACTS THE SAME WAY TO DIALYSIS OR HAS THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

Also, for some people who have been living with diminished kidney function for a long time before it finally reached the point of needing dialysis, they might feel much better after dialysis. (Like the person who mentioned his/her mom feels better than she has felt in a long time).