Husband had reaction from dye during arteriogram-seven weeks later hospitalized for kidney failure and put on dialysis, 3 days later had heart attack. No dialysis for life and he seems to have lost his appetite. He now has dry heaves occasionally and now gets motion sick in car. Frustrating as he wants to drink all the time and I can't give it to him and eats very little, small bowl of cereal, half a sandwich, a piece of chicken the size of your thumb at supper and maybe a couple mouthfuls of noodles or peas and that is it. He was 134 and is now 119 and only 4 days out of hosp. Dialysis 3x a week. He needs to gain his weight back as he is weak but says he is full after a couple mouthfuls. Sometimes loses his balance as he is weak or moves too fast. Does dialysis cause him to have nausea? What can I do???

The questions that you asked are good ones and ones that you should ask your husband's dietitian and nephrologist.

Regarding your husband's nausea, poor appetite and poor nutrition, the dietitian can help you and your husband find ways to improve his nutritional status. Nausea could be caused by a variety of factors including uremia (build up of toxins in the blood). It is essential that his nutrition be improved to help him fight infections and lower his risk of hospitalization and death. If you haven't already done so, you might want to also post a message on the dietitian discussion board on this site to see what suggestions you get.

You also said that your husband gets motion sickness riding in the car and gets weak and loses his balance when walking. I'm sure that this is not only uncomfortable but frustrating for him. If his nephrologist is aware of these symptoms, perhaps he/she will be able to determine the cause and what can resolve it. Your husband should know that if he keeps his fluid intake within the prescribed limits, dialysis will go easier for him and he will have less of a chance of low blood pressure that can make him feel dizzy and lose his balance. It's also possible that his hospitalization and recent heart attack have left him very weak. I'd suggest you ask the nephrologist if he can get into a cardiac rehab program. In addition to strengthening his heart, arms, and legs, exercise can help stimulate appetite and improve mood.

Because all these health problems hit so suddenly and because he is now relying on dialysis to keep him alive, I would expect your husband to be depressed. The social worker in your husband's dialysis clinic should be able to link him with a patient who has experienced similar things. The social worker can also talk with him about his interests, past accomplishments, goals, and help him see that there are those that love him so he can begin to look toward the future more positively.

Patients have told me that having a positive attitude, seeking answers to questions, and taking action through participating as much as possible in their care have helped them live long and well on dialysis. I hope that their experiences help you and your husband.