I am a patient in the UK currently dialyzing 3 days a week. I'm soon due to move to home hemo in the new year and have managed to get the agreed funding for 6 days a week dialysis. I'm wondering if it is worth doing the 7th day which I can pay for myself in terms of supplies and so on. Is there any one out there actually dialyzing 7 days a week and is there going to be a big benefit for me in doing this?

Thanks

Neal

I think that is a question you will need to answer for yourself. I don't think you will find a considerable difference in the way you feel going for the 7th day but there are other things to consider. If you are a big fluid drinker you may want the extra day to keep the fluid being removed reasonable. If your a big eater you may not want the build up of potassium between treatments. You are very lucky to have this option and I hope you come back to tell us the difference in your life prior to and after starting this.

I've the option to dialyze everyday but have found a day off makes me feel better then another treatment. I agree with Marty give it a try for yourself but I for one would be surprised if you noted much of a difference. Another option, I do, is to take 36 hours off between treatments twice a week. I do this by doing my normal Thursday night dialysis, skipping Friday, dialyzing Saturday morning, dialyzing Sunday morning, and then go back to evening treatments Monday night. I like to break up the routine when I can and this is one way. Good luck, by the way are you going to be running short (me, 2.5 hours) or long (Marty's dad, 8 hours) on daily?

Hello people. Im really new to this. I live in the UK and am diabetic and approaching the need for dialysis (probably a couple of months). They have suggested Hemo 3 times a week in hospital, CAPD or APD everyday. I dont know much about any of them but APD sounds the best bet. They said it would involve a catheter connection and 7 days a week dialysis for 8 hours a day. Is anyone else currently doing this. Has it got problems. Whats all this about paying for the service? Any help appreciated. Please reply or email me at jonnyfez@ntlworld.com. Thanks

Jonnyfez
Don't know which part of UK you're from but I suggest that you go back to the unit that you have been referred to and ask to discuss the options again.

I would suggest that you ask to see the pre-dialysis nurse if they have one, or at least a nurse who can explain the options to you.

Alternatively contact their patients association (again if they have one) or try and talk to other patients who are currently on dialysis.

You should not make a decision without knowing as much as you can.

As for the cost, if you are under the NHS, there shouldn't be any, at least if you stay within the bounds of what is available.

Hi:

There is no question that the more dialysis, the better. Home dialysis, which allows patients to dialyse up to seven days a week, is normally done only six days a week by most patients. Others I've known, however, have done it every night. Have written about my experiences under the "Your Words" section at this site. Gladly open to any other queries.
Best,
Mike

I have been on nocturnal for 18 months now and find that the 7 day off makes for a rather ordinary day. It is a nice break and allows me to both stay up or out late and sleep in with no interuptions. You did not say if you were one nocturnal, or short daily. Some of the other people in my program dialyse 2-3 hours on the 7 day. It is something you need to try for yourself. Nancy

I was on CAPD for about a year and a half until I finally was forced to go off due to problems with a hernia that had developed due to the size of my polycystic kidneys.

Anyway, I never felt better than I did on CAPD. I am currently on HEMO and woudl really like to be back on CAPD. I had a much more normal life (travel, diet, etc) plus I just plain felt better. This was due no doubt to the frequency of my process of dialysis.

Whatever you decide - best of luck

Hi, I wanted to comment on short daily hemodialysis.
I have had 2 transplants, done CAPD for 6 years and
traditional 3 day a week hemo for 5 years. 2 years ago I switched to 6-day-a-week short daily dialysis. It has been wonderful. I feel SO much better, I have had a major improvement in my quality of life and find that I have much more energy than I did before.
I would strongly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to try it. For those people who don't have the option, talk to your nephrologist and tell him/her that it is something you are interested in and push them to start a program. If enough people
demand this as an option to stay healthier, eventually medicare may cover the costs.

Elisabeth,
How many hours a day do you dialyze and which machine are you on? Diet and fluid restrictions?