My wife has been on dialysis for 12 years she has slowly taken herself off all drugs and uses only natural herbal medication , she leads a normal life ( apart from time taken to dialyse) and feels great . Anyone else doing the same ? or is she my one off miracle strong willed lady ? .

It would be enlightening to see her blood test reports that relate to anemia and bone disease, as well as the usual blood chemistries.

Are you willing to 'go legitimate' with your claims and make information available for scientific analysis and study?

Such anecdotal evidence is entertaining, but it can't help others until all the involved variables are defined. Encouraging ESRD patients to stop taking their medications may lead to serious injury or death.

For your information her bone density is now among the top 10% in the country , she took it from a terrible state to what it is now by using natural substances .Her levels are fine .Is she willing "to go legitimate " are you kidding my friend ? , the medical system don't really want anything to do with anyone who moves outside their circle of total influence . I am not encouraging you or anyone else to stop taking their drugs , so don't try and infer that I am , I merely asked a question , don't read what isn't there .

Hi Peter:

The comments you make on your wife's condition certainly makes hers an unusual, but interesting, case.

What has her nephrologist had to say about her recovery? Does he attribute her well being to the natural substances you refer to? And what substances are these, if I can ask?

Throughout my experience with dialysis, I have seen patients at both ends of the spectrum - some who have difficulty making it through the day and others who have adjusted remarkebly well and continue to lead near-normal lives while on dialysis with a minimum of medication.

I'm also sure "will" can have a lot to do with some patients' ability to cope with the disease.

Can I also ask how she lost her kidney function and does she have any residual use at this time? And, lastly, is she on a transplant list? Twelve years on dialysis seems an unusually long time.

Best of luck to both of you.

Mike

And I, walking through the woods, was met by a gypsy, bearing magic beans, and, no, i can't substantiate...

Please don't let this board turn into the negativety of other boards. I have enjoyed this board for its peaceful, non bickering approach to information sharing. Thankyou Mike for trying ot calm that waters and to quiet the bad vibes that were growing.

Thanks for your reply Mike . I shall get back to you with the information you have politely requested . It amazes me how defensive people become when confronted with an opinion outside their own fixed view , all I was asking was a simple question , so far no body has answered it in a straightforward manner other than yourself . I certainly am not trying to convert anyone but simply pointing out what she has accomplished and am not looking to argue the point , for us the facts are the facts and they are good news facts . It wasn't a doom and gloom question after all was it ?. As for people like micone their apparent scepticism and willingness to scoff is exactly what my wife has faced all along , their acceptence or rejection is irrelevant to the end result . A simple yes or no would have sufficed but instead it is easier to attack the concept because it is outside their belief system , such is life .

Peter: Congradulations to your wife for both her will and her ability to lead a normal life. I too do very well and am on a minimum of meds. Just vitamins to replace what my diet lacks and the usual binders.
I am also interested in the natural products she is using. she is indeed a lady of courage. Congrats again
Nancy

SORRY,my rude skepticism. Unfortunately there are those who prey on chronically ill patients with miracle cures. A friend in the Fla Keys just experienced a fakir who charged $10,000 for a herb drink, to critically ill kidney and cancer patients. After four weeks it was seen to be a scam. Indeed, blood pressure meds might be replaced by diet and exercise in mild cases, but in most, we're living better through chemistry.

I am curious. How frequently does your wife dialyze ? How long is each session ?

I ask because I have heard thet daily dialysis can help patients to come off antihypertensive meds and phosphate binders.

I guess I'm one of those "miracle" patients too, because I no longer use antihypertensives, I have a good appetite and my stamina is improving. And I have one HELL of a 'will!' I didn't start to get better until I got really mad about all the stuff I couldn't do anymore because of fatigue and nausea. I started forcing myself to walk around the block after dialysis instead of just going home and going to bed. It was VERY tough in the first three weeks, but it gradually got easier. I'm not taking any herbal supplements, just doing a little exercise and (whispered): I'm drinking more water! Not enough to cause respiratory problems, but more than my "allowance." I was always nauseous and itchy when I followed the fluid restriction, and the smell of food made me ill. I guess the extra water helped my digestion. My doctors know that I drink the extra fluid and don't hassle me about it, because I have no problems during treatments and my nutrition and clearances are excellent. Believe me, if I could patent this, I would-- I hate to see the other people in my unit only deteriorate, never getting better.

Hi Peter, I promise I won't stop taking my meds! I'm very interested in your wifes situation. Might I suggest that you contact a few medical universities, or manufacturers of herbals, to relate her story; maybe they would be interested in doing research on the subject. Some herbals are in fact medicines. Some legitimate meds. are manufactured from, or modeled after "natural" substances, take the heart drug digitalis for example. Keep an open mind, it helps!