How do I choose?

[FredBe]

I am having a hard time with this whole kidney thing. I have read too much info 'bout treatments and dont know what to think or what to pick. My doc says I have a few months before I have to start dialysis but I dont know the best way to decide what to do. Help?

[Budforce]

Well, I chose Peritoneal because I dont want to travel 3 times a week to a clinic to spend however many hours it takes to do Hemo, PD allows me the freedom I need. My PD exchanges take less than a half hour at a time, and there is the option to do the cycler machine, which is a treatment that is done during sleep, and with that there is only one exchange during the day. I find the manual PD fairly convienient for me, however there is the travel issue, I have to bring along an IV pole, and however many bags I will need for the trip, and I usually throw in a few extra for safe measure. I also have to take a small bundle of ancilliary supplies, caps, clamps, tape, IV pads, antibiotic soft soap, and instant hand sanitizer. Another reason I decided upon PD, is the fact I HATE needles, its not the stick I hate, it's the fact that there is a foriegn object in my veins, this is totally terrifying to me. I deal with it on the monthly labs, and the other necceary blood draws, but the hemo thing just does not sit right with my fear. This PD is wonderfull, I am dializing all the time, as opposed to hemo, which is done at the time of the treatment. With PD, the constant dializing keeps me feeling good nearly all the time, and I hear hemo does not always do that, sorta like a rollercoaster. I have never done hemo, so you would need to have someone on Hemo tell you how it is for them...good luck on your choice, and welcome to Davita forums....

[Nunnergirl]

My husband chose Periteanal with the cycler because he wanted his days free, and didn't want to worry about staying home or being home at a certain time and doing his exchange if we went somewhere for the day. It takes about 9-9 1/2 hours at night while he sleeps. That is so convient! (the only thing he hates is staying in bed when he is used to only 5 hrs of sleep) The whole process is, you do 4 exchanges at night while sleeping and then on the last fill he keeps that inside his perineam all day long and then he has the initital drain at night then goes through the whole process again. He said he would highly recommend the cycler for anyone who is busy during the day. It's a great way to constant dialyize yourself. And it's a better dialysis than hemo, because your blood is constantly being cleaned.

As with Budforce, he didn't want to spend the time in a hemo clinic for 3-4 hrs 3 x a week. He couldn't stand not being able to be free to do the things he wants to do during the day. He feels great every morning and looks forward to the day. Unlike hemo, what do you have to look forward to, sitting a machine? Not feeling well or worn out? Not his idea of fun!

[Budforce]

Oh Ya, I nearly forgot, Nunnergirl reminded me, the bigest reason I choose to do manual exchanges, rather than the cycler machine is this...I still have the use of my kidneys somewhat, and am still peeing, and at night, oh boy I have to get up at least 5 times a night to go potty, so, I felt that being hooked to the cycler for 8 hours would limit me to a portapotty, and I have no room in this bedroom of mine as it is, so the cycler was not an option for me, and besides, I dont like to be tied down so to speak

[Nunnergirl]

We don't have room in our bedroom as well for a "port a potty" so a urnal works out just fine, it's small and doesn't take up alot of space. Problem solved!

There are different reasons people choose what type of dialysis, though it is known that PD is the best way to dialyzise because your basically it cleans your blood 24 hr's a day.

[Budforce]

Hmmm, urinal, I never thought of that. I should be going back to school in the next few months, and I am thinking, maybe the cycler would be a decent choice for me at that point, as I will be spending much of my day in classes, I was planning on exchanging at school, but I think that cycler will make a differance, and well, I am gonna ask to be trained on it now...