I have been on dialysis for over a year. It's not bad. I chose to live rather than die quietly. I have four treatments a week. I spent $55,000 to buy my own equipment. Insurance pays for a portion of my supplies. I have some fatigue but not that bad. I am not depressed. I am not on antidepressants. I have some minor itching. The one thing I don't like is how my arms look with distended veins, etc. But I wear long sleeved t-shirts and blouses all the time I spend my treatment time meditating, dozing, reading or visiting with family. It's not fun, but dialysis has allowed me to live, see my son and grandchildren, family and friends. My technician takes good care of my access ports and equipment.
I suggest that you go to a dialysis center and talk to staff. Talk to people who are actually on dialysis, not to people who have seen dialysis. I had seen my dad and my cousin have dialysis and I wasn't sure I wanted to try. At some point in the future I may elect to quit. But for now I choose to live. Do your research, talk to people. Develop a positive outlook. I'm not trying to be Suzi Sunshine, but I try to stay away from the Debbie Downers of the world. Attitude Can be everything. Choose to live your life with the hand you've been dealt.
Are you deciding for yourself? That is so much easier than for someone else. Let me just say this, since you give us no details. I cannot answer what YOU should decide. I can only tell you what I as a (long) retired RN have decided for MYSELF. That is that I have long had written into addendum on my Advanced Directive (and discussed with my proxy) that I will NEVER under any circumstances, even temporarily accept dialysis. The MD will tell you "Well, that's an awful death". On the contrary. It is more and more tired with some other stuff like itchy and etc, and then gone. And hospice is there to make certain NOTHING is horrible with enough good drugs. I have seen elders on dialysis. I know the constant depression, exhausting, the 3 days out of 7 in ruination, the exhaustion before it, the exhaustion after it FROM it. The other refusal of mine is for total parenteral nutriton, and for any tube feedings either PEG or nasogastric. When I cannot eat then I do not want to be kept alive artificially. At 80, I will no longer be on a ventilator. Nor have CPR. We all die. I am ready. But I do not want to be tormented to death. Now you may hear from others that they or their loved one thrived. I as an RN likely never saw those who thrive. So I hope others will give you a choice. This is by no means an easy decision whether making it for yourself or for others. I am glad you are reaching out, thinking, researching. I hope you will get a Palliative care consult. I hope you will look into hospice. I wish you the best. More complete questions will get better answers; did you best I could with what you gave us. Good luck.
I suggest that you go to a dialysis center and talk to staff. Talk to people who are actually on dialysis, not to people who have seen dialysis. I had seen my dad and my cousin have dialysis and I wasn't sure I wanted to try. At some point in the future I may elect to quit. But for now I choose to live. Do your research, talk to people. Develop a positive outlook. I'm not trying to be Suzi Sunshine, but I try to stay away from the Debbie Downers of the world. Attitude Can be everything. Choose to live your life with the hand you've been dealt.
That is that I have long had written into addendum on my Advanced Directive (and discussed with my proxy) that I will NEVER under any circumstances, even temporarily accept dialysis. The MD will tell you "Well, that's an awful death". On the contrary. It is more and more tired with some other stuff like itchy and etc, and then gone. And hospice is there to make certain NOTHING is horrible with enough good drugs.
I have seen elders on dialysis. I know the constant depression, exhausting, the 3 days out of 7 in ruination, the exhaustion before it, the exhaustion after it FROM it.
The other refusal of mine is for total parenteral nutriton, and for any tube feedings either PEG or nasogastric. When I cannot eat then I do not want to be kept alive artificially.
At 80, I will no longer be on a ventilator. Nor have CPR.
We all die. I am ready. But I do not want to be tormented to death.
Now you may hear from others that they or their loved one thrived. I as an RN likely never saw those who thrive. So I hope others will give you a choice.
This is by no means an easy decision whether making it for yourself or for others. I am glad you are reaching out, thinking, researching. I hope you will get a Palliative care consult. I hope you will look into hospice.
I wish you the best.
More complete questions will get better answers; did you best I could with what you gave us. Good luck.